Football news - Sloppy Chelsea held by MOL Vidi despite Olivier Giroud stunner
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Updated 14/12/2018 at 00:35 GMT
Europa League Group L, Groupama Stadium - MOL Vidi 2 (Ampadu OG 32', Nego 56') Chelsea (Willian 30', Giroud 75')
Sloppy Chelsea held by MOL Vidi despite Giroud stunner
Image credit: Reuters
A sloppy Chelsea team were held to a 2-2 draw by MOL Vidi on Thursday night in Hungary despite stunning goals from Olivier Giroud and Willian.
Blues boss Maurizio Sarri, as he has done throughout this season's Europa League, rotated his team with youngsters Ethan Ampadu, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all starting.
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Europa League - Group Stage - Group L - Vidi FC v Chelsea - Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary - December 13, 2018 Chelsea's Willian celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
And they took the lead thanks to a fine free-kick from Willian, finding the top corner of the Hungarians' net from the edge of the box, but were pegged back when Ampadu headed into his own net from a corner.
Vidi then went ahead after the break when Loic Nego thundered in a volley, giving them a chance of qualifying for the last 32, but a stunning free-kick from substitute Olivier Giroud denied them victory. Chelsea still qualify as group winners but this was a disappointing performance.
TALKING POINT
Will injury effectively bring an end to Alvaro Morata’s Chelsea career? This was a chance for Alvaro Morata to stake a claim for a regular starting place. Instead, his evening ended with him limping off with a knee injury before half time. It looked to be a serious one for the Spanish striker, so with speculation linking Chelsea with a number of forwards as January approaches could this be the blow that effectively brings his career at the club to an end?
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Europa League - Group Stage - Group L - Vidi FC v Chelsea - Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary - December 13, 2018 Chelsea's Alvaro Morata after sustaining an injury
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) He lacked a final product, but Hudson-Odoi was the standout performer for Chelsea in Hungary. Willian and Giroud lit up the match with two stunning freekicks, and yet it was the youngster who provided the most consistent threat for the away side. Hudson-Odoi is banging on the door of the Chelsea first team and this performance will aid his cause. He was impressive even if he didn’t get the goal he so badly wanted.
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Europa League - Group Stage - Group L - Vidi FC v Chelsea - Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary - December 13, 2018 Vidi's Szabolcs Huszti in action with Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Vidi - Kovacsik 6, Fiola 5, Vinicius 6, Juhasz 6, Stopira 6, Milanov 7, Hadzic 6, Nego 7, Hustzi 6, Nikolov 5, Scepovic 5. Subs - Kovacs 5, Patkai 5, Hodzic 5.
Chelsea - Caballero 6, Zappacosta 6, Christensen 5, Ampadu 6, Emerson 6, Fabregas 6, Barkley 5, Loftus-Cheek 6, Hudson-Odoi 7, Morata 5, Willian 7. Subs - Giroud 7, Pedro 6.
KEY MOMENTS
30’ GOAL! Vidi 0-1 Chelsea: Brilliant from Willian! The Brazilian whips a freekick over the Vidi wall and finds the right-hand side of the net. He might have dived to win the freekick in the first place, but that was an exceptional strike from Willian! Chelsea have the lead.
32’ GOAL! Vidi 1-1 Chelsea: An immediate response from the Hungarians! It might have come off Ampadu in the end! The corner kick delivery into the box was a wicked one and Ampadu was the unfortunate man in the middle who turned it into his own net! How about that for a response?
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Group Stage - Group L - Vidi FC v Chelsea - Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary - December 13, 2018 Vidi's Roland Juhasz celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates
Image credit: Reuters
42’ Good save! That was a golden opportunity for the home side to take the lead! Nego tried to curl a finish into the far corner of the net, but it was the right height for Caballero, who makes the diving save.
56’ GOAL! Vidi 2-1 Chelsea: What a sensational finish and Vidi have the lead! Milanov plays a deep ball to the backpost, where Nego had drifted away from his marker and he smashes the full volley into the back of the net, beating Caballero at his near post!
75’ GOAL! Vidi 2-2 Chelsea: Another incredible Chelsea freekick! This time it's Giroud who finds the back of the net from the set piece! There was a man back on the line and yet Giroud still managed to squeeze the shot over the top of him and in off the underside of the bar.
KEY STATS
- Olivier Giroud has now scored four goals in his last three Europa League appearances for Chelsea.
- Since his debut, Willian has scored a total of 10 free kicks for Chelsea, more than any other player.
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