Audio By Carbonatix
Two-time winners Chelsea began their Champions League campaign with a shock defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.
The Croatian champions have a woeful record in this competition – winning just five of 43 games before this meeting – but they stubbornly held on after taking a first-half lead.
The dangerous Mislav Orsic netted the 13th-minute winner, running through from the halfway line and beautifully dinking a finish past the advancing Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Dinamo came agonisingly close to a second but Stefan Ristovski’s thunderous, long-range effort was superbly tipped on to the bar by Arrizabalaga.
Deadline-day signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was handed his Chelsea debut and, although the ex-Arsenal skipper had a goal ruled out for offside, he largely looked off the pace.
Armando Broja replaced Aubameyang just before the hour mark, but the Albanian had little impact in an overall disjointed performance from Thomas Tuchel’s men.
Chelsea launched a late onslaught on Dinamo’s goal and the hosts were relieved to see Reece James’ low shot rattle the foot of the post with five minutes remaining.
In Group E’s other game, Serie A champions AC Milan drew 1-1 against Austrian champions FC Salzburg.
Tuchel did not mince his words after Chelsea suffered their third defeat in seven games in all competitions this season.
“We are clearly not there, where we need to be and where we can be,” he said. “So it’s on me, it’s on us, we need to find solutions.”
Tuchel added on BT Sport: “At the moment, everything is missing, [there is] too much to analyse. I’m a part of it.
“I am angry at myself, I am angry at our performance. I didn’t see it coming.
“We need to be much better. We are not finished, we are not happy but I thought we were on a good way. I am surprised by this performance.”
Latest Stories
-
Africa cannot rely on government budgets alone to finance climate ambitions – Deputy Finance Minister
4 minutes -
COMAC gives Finance Ministry 14 days to suspend implementation of Section 136 of Customs Act
4 minutes -
WhatsApp introduces optional parental controls for teenagers
6 minutes -
Afoko could help Bawumia pursue ‘clean break’ ahead of 2028 – Dr Amakye-Boateng
8 minutes -
Global Capacity Hub conference connects Ghanaian businesses to technology, investment opportunities in London
16 minutes -
Overcharge passengers and face sanctions, GPRTU warns drivers
18 minutes -
Government seeks $165m to complete operational phase of Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal
29 minutes -
‘Show us the evidence’ – Upper West teachers demand proof of arrears payments
35 minutes -
GH¢1 D-Levy suspension will offer relief to fuel consumers – COPEC
36 minutes -
Youth Olympic Games in Africa: policy, regulation, and perspectives on shaping youth lives
43 minutes -
Contractors move to site for construction of 120-bed trauma hospital in Bole – Kwakye Ofosu
51 minutes -
Poor institutional leadership hindering Ghana’s creative industry – Oscar Provencal
1 hour -
CSA demands faster sharing of cyber threat intelligence among financial institutions
1 hour -
CSA warns Ghanaians to verify money requests as AI makes online fraud harder to detect
1 hour -
NEIP CEO urges Africa to build systems that turn ideas into businesses
1 hour