Chelsea frustrated in Frankfurt as Eintracht hold on for 1-1 draw
Chelsea were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The German side started brightly and took a deserved lead through Luka Jovic’s header.
Pedro equalised for Maurizio Sarri’s team in the final minute of the first half but, despite dominating the second half, the Blues couldn’t find a winning goal.
Chelsea will head into next week’s second leg as strong favourites to reach the final in Baku, where they could meet London rivals Arsenal.
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Eden Hazard was left out of the starting line-up, presumably with one eye on Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Watford. Olivier Giroud started up front - as he has throughout Chelsea’s Europa League run - ahead of Gonzalo Higuain.
Frankfurt were appearing in the semi-finals of this competition for the first time and the fans crammed into the Commerzbank-Arena were determined to enjoy it.
They came to life when the home team took the lead in the 23rd minute. Filip Kostic broke down the left before clipping a low cross into the penalty area. Luka Jovic stooped to guide a perfect header beyond the outstretched Kepa Arrizabalaga. It was the Serbian’s 26th goal of the season, showing just why he’s been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Chelsea struggled to threaten the Frankfurt goal during the opening exchanges but the visitors came to life after falling behind. Pedro almost found an equaliser when his crisp long-range drive whistled past the post with Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp scrambling.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek became an increasingly prominent force as the first half progressed. With 40 minutes on the clock, he cut in from the left before dragging a low effort wide of the near post.
And it was the England midfielder who created Chelsea’s leveller in the final minute of the first half. Frankfurt failed to clear a corner, Loftus-Cheek kept the ball alive and fed Pedro who took one touch to compose himself before hooking a well-struck drive beyond Trapp from 12 yards.
It was Loftus-Cheek again who almost gave Chelsea the lead early in the second half, driving from deep before playing a one-two with Pedro only to scoop a shot high over the bar from inside the penalty area.
Chelsea were firmly in the ascendancy and David Luiz went close with a 25-yard free kick which Trapp had to tip over the bar.
Frankfurt’s players looked to be tiring and their morale must have taken a hit when Hazard was introduced for Willian on the hour mark.
Chelsea were piling on the pressure and it was Loftus-Cheek who went close once more after 74 minutes, Trapp repelling his firm half-volley before Hazard’s effort was deflected wide.
Two minutes later, it was Luiz’s turn to test Trapp again with a free header from Hazard’s in-swinging free kick which the German stopper was able to dive to his left and gather.
For all Chelsea’s pressure, Frankfurt captain David Abraham had a glorious opportunity to win it for his team but the Argentine could only head over the bar when entirely unmarked from a 85th-minute corner.
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