MX23RW : Friday, January 31 07:57:02| >> :120:48965:48965:
[monks data]
Maribor
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 5, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-1

Ibraimi (50')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Matic (73')

Jasmin Handanovic heroics deny Chelsea

Eden Hazard misses a penalty as Chelsea slump to a 1-1 draw away at Maribor in the Champions League.

Chelsea have been held to a 1-1 draw in Maribor after Jasmin Handanovic saved a late penalty from Eden Hazard to earn the Slovenians a point.

NK Maribor's Arghus reacts after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League Group G football match between NK Maribor and Chelsea in Maribor, Slovenia on November 5, 2014© Getty Images

Nemanja Matic cancelled out a strike from Agim Ibraimi but Hazard's error from the spot has left the Blues with work to do to make the last 16.

Chelsea started the game strongly, with Kurt Zouma having a header narrowly miss the top corner and Didier Drogba seeing a deflected effort well saved by Handanovic.

Maribor improved to at least make Chelsea think twice about throwing men forward, but it was the Premier League outfit who continued to look the more likely to break the deadlock.

Drogba could only find the hands of Handanovic from a 25-yard free kick while Schurrle drove the ball wide from distance as Maribor survived until the break.

However, Maribor stunned the visitors by taking the lead five minutes into the second half. The ball found its way over to the right where Agim Ibraimi was waiting to find the top corner with precision from 16 yards out.

Chelsea were shell-shocked, and after Diego Costa had fired over from eight yards Maribor should have doubled their lead, but Luka Zahovic remarkably missed the target from three yards out and Petr Cech already beaten.

The Blues kept knocking on the door, though, and with 17 minutes remaining they had their equaliser when Oscar's corner was flicked on by John Terry for Matic to tap in from a yard out.

Jose Mourinho's side deserved their equaliser, but Hazard should have given his team the lead after getting in behind the Maribor defence but Handanovic stuck out a leg to prevent the ball going into the bottom corner.

The Belgian turned provider for Costa shortly afterwards, but again, Handanovic produced a save to stop the forward's volley finding the top corner.

It appeared only a matter of time before Chelsea found the winner and after Hazard was tripped in the penalty area with five minutes remaining, it seemed as though they would register a third victory in four group fixtures.

However, Hazard, normally so composed from the spot, scuffed his effort straight down the centre of the goal to allow Handanovic to make the intervention to secure a point for the Slovenian champions.

ID:186725: cacheID:186725:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5104:
Written by
Darren Plant
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Diego Costa of Chelsea during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on August 12, 2014
Read Next:
Team News: Costa on bench for Chelsea
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool870121
QInter Milan861119
QBarcelona861119
QArsenal861119
QAtletico860218
QB. Leverkusen851216
QAston Villa851216
QLille851216
9Real Madrid850315
10AC Milan850315
11Atalanta843115
12Dortmund850315
13Bayern850315
14PSV842214
15Benfica841313
16Feyenoord841313
17PSG841313
18Monaco841313
19Brest841313
20Juventus833212
21Celtic833212
22Man City832311
23Sporting Lisbon832311
24Brugge832311
25Dinamo Zagreb832311
26Stuttgart831410
27Shakhtar82157
28Bologna81346
29Red Star82066
30Sturm Graz82066
31Sparta Prague81164
32RB Leipzig81073
33Girona81073
34Salzburg81073
35Slovan Bratislava80080
36Young Boys80080


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!