Raheem Sterling celebrates his goal (Picture: Getty)
Champions League Group E
Chelsea 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb
Raheem Sterling ended a run of eight games without a goal and Denis Zakaria netted on his Blues debut as Chelsea put last weekend’s heavy defeat at Brighton behind them at soggy Stamford Bridge last night.
Graham Potter’s side were already confirmed as Group E winners and victory over Dinamo Zagreb restored some morale after their 4-1 Premier League drubbing on the south coast.
Potter made seven changes to his starting line-up – handing a first appearance to Swiss midfielder Zakaria since he joined on loan from Juventus in the summer.
But the hosts fell behind to a sloppy goal, Bruno Petkovic heading the Croatians ahead from close range in the seventh minute.
Dinamo’s lead lasted 11 minutes as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s clever backheel allowed Sterling to pick up the ball on the edge of the box before he made space and drilled home.
Denis Zakaria scored on his Chelsea debut (Picture: EPA)
It was the England forward’s first goal since mid-September against Red Bull Salzburg and good news for England boss Gareth Southgate with the World Cup in Qatar looming.
Zakaria then marked his debut with a goal to hand Chelsea the lead on the half-hour, his strike from the edge of the box trickling over the line as Sadegh Moharrami tried to clear.
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Aubameyang’s thumping effort hit the crossbar on 52 minutes as the hosts pressed for a third goal.
Thiago Silva headed wide from a corner, Mason Mount forced Dominik Livakovic to tip over his curling free-kick and the keeper denied Conor Gallagher from close range late on but Chelsea had done enough.
There was a worry for Chelsea – and Southgate – as Ben Chilwell needed to be helped off at the final whistle with an apparent hamstring injury.
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Not so Blue now, Raheem, after the Brighton drubbing.
