Zenit St Petersburg 3-3 Chelsea: Magomed Ozdoev scores 94th-minute equaliser as Blues surrender top spot in Champions League group
By Joseph Ayinde
Magomed Ozdoev’s 94th-minute screamer consigned a much-changed Chelsea to a damaging 3-3 draw against Zenit St Petersburg as they surrendered top spot in Champions League Group H on Wednesday.
Timo Werner scored twice as Thomas Tuchel’s side thought they had survived a scare in a thrilling contest in Russia, but Ozdoev pulled a rabbit out of the hat deep into stoppage time to ensure Juventus finished as group winners by virtue of their 1-0 win over Malmo in Turin.
Werner gave the visitors the lead inside 90 seconds when he converted from close range but quickfire goals from Claudinho (39) and Sardar Azmoun (41) in sub-zero temperatures gave Zenit a half-time lead.
The Champions League holders turned the game on its head as Romelu Lukaku levelled (62) before Werner completed the comeback after a sweeping move with five minutes remaining.
But substitute Ozdoev pounced on Malang Sarr’s headed clearance to rifle an unerring strike into the top corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Chelsea were made to settle for second place.
The result means Thomas Tuchel’s side will face a seeded team in the last 16, with the likes of Bayern Munich or Real Madrid potentially awaiting them in next week’s draw for the first knockout stage. Chelsea had the better head-to-head record against group winners Juventus, but finished two points behind them as a result of the two dropped points at the Saint Petersburg Stadium.
