Denis Zakaria scored on his Chelsea debut as the Blues came from behind to round off their successful Champions League Group E campaign with victory against Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge.
The hosts had already wrapped up top spot with a game to spare but were looking to respond after they were stunned 4-1 in the Premier League by Brighton on Saturday.
Watch Chelsea vs Dinamo Zagreb!
They made the worst possible start as they fell behind in the sixth minute
when the Blues defence reacted poorly to a cross and Bruno Petkovic was able to head in from close range.
Chelsea initially struggled to create much in response but a well-worked
move brought them their equaliser as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang backheeled the ball to Raheem Sterling inside the box and he kept his cool to slot in.
On-loan Juventus midfielder Zakaria
then marked a dream debut as he drove in a low shot midway through the first half that squeezed over the line despite a defender’s attempt to clear.
Dinamo needed to win to finish third and go into the Europa League
and Edouard Mendy made a good save to deny Bosko Sutalo’s point-blank header early in the second half.
Aubameyang came close to adding a third for Chelsea when he powered a shot against the crossbar and Conor Gallagher was denied late on,
but ultimately Zakaria’s goal was enough to seal the win for the Blues.
Denis Zakaria scored the winner on his Chelsea debut as Graham Potter’s side finished top of Champions League Group E with a 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge.
A 1-0 defeat at Zagreb on September 6 triggered the sacking of former Blues manager Thomas Tuchel,
but Potter saw his side return to winning ways after the weekend defeat to his former club Brighton.
Despite going behind to Bruno Petkovic’s early goal,
Raheem Sterling equalised before on-loan Juventus midfielder Zakaria – who has had to wait for a chance to impress, struck.
Zagreb went into the game requiring a win and a RB Salzburg defeat to reach the Europa League,
but were unable to get the required result in London.
There was a concerning moment for Chelsea
in stoppage time when England international Ben Chilwell was forced off after going down clutching his left hamstring.
Only seven minutes had passed when Zagreb briefly
gave their hopes of finishing third a boost when Petkovic headed the visitors into the lead from close range.
The 27-year-old picked up the ball on the edge of the box from a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang flick-on,
weaved space to shoot from and then drilled low into the back of the net.
