Maribor 1-1

Independent:

Slovenians hold on for famous point as Eden Hazard misses late penalty

Maribor 1 Chelsea 1

GLENN MOORE


With Sporting Lisbon beating Schalke 04 victory would have booked Chelsea’s place in the knock-out stages but instead they were grateful not to suffer an embarrassing defeat against a team which has never won a home Champions League tie.

Maribor stunned Chelsea with a 47th-minute goal and could easily have doubled their lead before Nemanja Matic levelled. Chelsea, working much harder than they wanted to with Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Anfield looming, should then have won the match but a Diego Costa goal was wrongly chalked off, then Eden Hazard missed a late penalty. Chelsea now go to Schalke, to face former manager Robbie Di Matteo, still needing at least one more point, possibly more.

While Brendan Rodgers sent out his Capital One Cup side at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid on Tuesday Jose Mourinho fielded a strong XI. Prior to the match he said he felt teams like Chelsea should play a recognisable team as they had a responsibility to supporters in countries such as Slovenia which rarely host Champions League ties. Indeed, this is the first time a Slovenian club has made the group stages since Maribor in 1999. He was as good as his word selecting stars such as Eden Hazard, John Terry, Cesc Fabregas and Didier Drogba.

The latter was one of two changes from the team which defeated Maribor 6-0 at Stamford Bridge last month. The Ivorian replaced the injured Loic Remy, as he did on the night, Andre Schurrle came in for Oscar.

Maribor made three changes from that drubbing with the most interesting inclusion being Luka Zahovic, 18-year-old is the son of Zlatko, Slovenia’s greatest player post-independence, and now Maribor’s general manager. Luka is top scorer in Slovenia’s PrvaLiga but did did not have much opportunity to shine in the early stages as Chelsea took swift control. Kurt Zouma headed over after seven minutes, Drogba brought a good save from Jasmin Handanovic after ten, and it seemed just a matter of time.

But then Tavares burst past Matic and John Terry to bear down on goal. Zouma came across and although he failed to gain possession his tackle forced Tavares to slightly over-hit his pass to Zahovic who should have been handed a tap-in. Instead the youngster had to pull the ball back to Sintayehu Sallalich whose weak but goalbound shot was cleared by Zouma.

The near-miss gave Maribor confidence and also seemed to knock Chelsea out of their stride. Cech had to save long-range shots from Sallalich and Zeljko Filipovic as the game became more even. Willian, playing in the attacking central position usually filled by Oscar, was busy but, as usual, it was Hazard who looked most likely to break the deadlock. Drogba tested Handanovic from a free-kick won by the Belgian, then he brought a scrambling save from the ‘keeper himself. Otherwise, however, Chelsea were too narrow with even the full-backs coming inside, their passing was also uncommonly poor, notably Fabregas and Drogba.  Nemanja Matic celebrates his equaliser

With the game meandering the travelling support - reacting to Mourinho’s criticism of the Stamford Bridge volume levels - chanted ‘sing up Mourinho’ followed by ‘Jose, Jose, give us a song.’ Minutes later the half-time whistle blew and Mourinho stalked across the pitch towards the dressing room. He looked as if he was about to raise his voice to his players, but not in song.

When Chelsea re-emerged Diego Costa and Oscar were stripped for action. Schurrle, who had been especially poor, came off, along with Willian as Mourinho went to 4-4-2.

However, it was the hosts who transformed the game. Zouma headed away a cross, it fell to Agim Ibraimi, who took his time - aided by no sign of Hazard or Felipe Luis marking him - and curled a shot inside the far post. The ultras behind the goal at the river end went wild.

Mourinho responded by bringing on Ramires to play on the right flank, switching Branislav Ivanovic to the left, and effectively playing without a right-back. That nearly led to a second on 55 minutes as Mitja Viler galloped into the empty space and delivered a cross that Zahovic somehow failed to turn in at the far post.

Costa, set up by Hazard, had already shot over, and a Drogba header then flashed wide, but Chelsea were otherwise struggling to create clear chances. Then they won a corner and before they could take it Maribor coach Ante Simndza made a substitution. Maybe that broke his team’s concentration as John Terry was able to head the corner goalwards with Matic stabbing the ball over the line.  Eden Hazard sees his late penalty saved

The game was now high-tempo as Chelsea pressed for a winner and Maribor looked to counter-attack. Hazard at one end, and Tavares at the other, both missed good chances to put their team ahead. In between Handanovic made a fine save from Costa’s volley and Costa had what seemed a good goal disallowed.

The officials were already out of favour with Chelsea having turned down a penalty appeal when Oscar appeared to be tripped, but the Italian referee finally awarded a spot-kick when Viler brought down Hazard with five minutes left. The Belgian tried his usual delay technique, but Handanovic outfoxed him and saved.

Urged on by their disbelieving supporters Maribor held on for what will be recalled in these parts as a famous night, but one which will want to be quickly forgotten by Chelsea.


Maribor: Handanovic, Vler, Arghus, Rajcevic, Stojanovic, Sallaich, Filipovic, Mertelj, Ibraimi, Zahovic, Tavares

Substitutions: Mendy (Zahovic, 73), Bohar (Ibraimi, 90), N’Diaye (Sallalich, 90);

Chelsea:  Cech, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Filipe Luis, Fabregas, Matic, Schurrle, Willian, Hazard, Drogba.

Substitutions: Oscar (Willian, 45), Costa (Schurrle, 45), Ramires (Luis, 56);

Booked: Maribor Stojanovic, Filipovic, Viler Chelsea Luis

Man of match Tavares

Match rating 8/10.

Possession: Maribor 36% Chelsea 64%.

Referee D Orsato (Italy)

Attendance 12,500.


================

Guardian:

Eden Hazard misses late penalty to deny Chelsea victory over Maribor

Dominic Fifield at the Stadion Ljudski


Chelsea remain unbeaten but what once was an irrepressible rhythm has been checked. There were long periods of this display which were desperately unimpressive against a team put to the sword a fortnight ago and the memories with which the Premier League leaders left Slovenia were more of a rare Eden Hazard penalty miss, an undeniably sloppy performance and even a show of dissatisfaction by the travelling support which clearly went unappreciated by those in the visitors’ dug-out. The mood music is not quite as positive.

José Mourinho’s post-match demeanour suggested as much. The chants bellowed by the 640 away fans just before the interval ‚ “José, give us a song” and “Sing up Mourinho” harked back to the manager’s criticisms of the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge during the derby against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday and, even if the chorus was tongue in cheek, the point had been made. The issue was apparently not up for discussion afterwards. “Forget it,” said Mourinho dismissively. More troubling for him was the complacency he had sensed in his players throughout the first period, an attitude he could not eradicate at source.

He suggested this was a managerial failing, though his squad will surely have been left feeling culpable. “We played very slowly, no intensity, no creativity, in the first half,” said Mourinho. “It was easy for Maribor to control the game and reach what they wanted to reach, a 0-0. In the second we played very well but they scored. Players are players. Many, many times surprises happen when people are not … I would not say ‘committed’ but not ‘fully focused’. When they believe the game can’t be a difficult one. Only when Maribor scored did the players realise the game was in danger. After that there was a fantastic reaction. We deserved to win, clearly. But football is football. People who give everything, like Maribor, deserve a bit of luck. They fought. They had a fantastic goalkeeper. And the referee’s team … didn’t have a good night.”

That was a reference to the Italian officials’ decision to rule out a Diego Costa goal for offside in the frenetic period after Nemanja Matic had restored parity, lumbering into the six-yard box to convert John Terry’s header from a corner from virtually on the goalline. Mourinho had been banned for a game and fined £13,500 back in 2009 for protesting a decision made by Daniele Orsato when he was manager of Internazionale, the second of two occasions when he had been sent to the stands by this official. Regardless, the offside flag was an oversight amid the visitors’ late pressure, with Costa having been flung on at the interval along with Oscar, to be joined by another Brazilian-born player in Ramires before the hour. The changes reflected desperation. Chelsea may still top the group but, given the nature of that 6-0 win over these opponents last month, this was an opportunity missed.

Not that the home side deserved anything less than the point they celebrated with gusto at the final whistle. Where they had initially felt vulnerable, scarred by those experiences in south-west London two weeks ago, they grew into the contest with Chelsea increasingly flummoxed by an inability to score early. From blanket possession the visitors’ concentration wavered.

Sintayehu Sallalich’s bursts offered the home side hope and Kurt Zouma had to clear a first-half shot from the goalline. Pepped by their increasingly impressive display, Maribor eventually chiselled out a lead when Mitja Viler’s deep cross found Agim Ibraimi unmarked in the corner of the penalty area. He curled a delightful shot over Petr Cech and into the corner and Chelsea were behind for the first time since 13 September.

Aleksander Rajcevic and, more critically, Luka Zahovic should even have extended that lead but the teenage striker skied over the bar from inside the six-yard box and the visitors were spared their humiliation. Matic prodded them level, Jasmin Handanovic did wonderfully well to deny Hazard and Costa before the Belgian was tripped by Viler’s planted leg. The penalty offered an opportunity to claim the tie, though Hazard’s attempt was weak and easily blocked by the goalkeeper.

Given the accusations of complacency, Chelsea probably did not merit morethan a stalemate. “I was conscious of it a bit before the game, but I was not successful in passing over that message,” added Mourinho. “If I cannot convincethe players that the game is difficult and you have to play from minute one, obviously it’s my responsibility.” That is a concern before a trip to an underperforming Liverpool side on Saturday lunchtime. As for the Champions League, qualification for the knockout stages will have to wait.


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Telegraph:

Maribor 1 Chelsea 1

Eden Hazard spot-kick miss costs Jose Mourinho's side in Slovenia

By Matt Law

Jose Mourinho did not feel much like singing after Chelsea narrowly avoided losing their unbeaten record to Champions League minnows Maribor.
The 600-odd Chelsea fans who travelled to Slovenia poked fun at manager Mourinho’s complaints that Stamford Bridge is too quiet with chants of 'Jose, Jose, give us a song'.
But this was not a night for laughing and joking, as Mourinho watched in anger and horror as his near full-strength Chelsea team failed to follow up their 6-0 home thrashing of Maribor with an away win that would have moved them to the brink of qualification to the knock-out stages.
Ibraimi stunned Chelsea with a superb opener for Maribor, before Nemanja Matic looked to have spared some of the embarrassment for Mourinho’s off-form team – until Eden Hazard failed to score a late penalty that would have won the game.
Asked about the reaction of the Chelsea fans, Mourinho tutted and replied: “Forget it.” He was more forthcoming on the fact the Chelsea players did not heed his warning of complacency ahead of the game.

“I was conscious of it a bit before the game, but I was not successful in passing over that message,” said Mourinho. “If I cannot convince the players that the game is difficult and you have to play from minute one, obviously it’s my responsibility.”
Mourinho had questioned the decision of Brendan Rodgers to make eight changes to his team against Real Madrid on Tuesday night ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Chelsea and made only four of his own in Maribor.
But the Blues only just fared better than Rodgers’ team, despite the fact captain John Terry, Cesc Fabregas, Hazard, Matic and Willian all started, and were joined at half-time by Diego Costa and Oscar.
Substitute Costa was flagged offside after putting the ball in the net with the scores at 1-1 and Mourinho claimed referee Daniele Orsato and his assistants got it wrong.
“We scored two goals, two very good goals,” said Mourinho. “The second goal, the referee decided to disallow, but it’s a clear goal.
“Normally, we should win because we scored two goals. But we have to accept it and to praise a fantastic stadium with lots of enthusiasm, for the people a fantastic night, and Maribor gave everything. And the referee’s team didn’t have a good night.” Mourinho has previous with Orsato, having been banned from the touchline for one game and fined £13,500 while in charge of Inter Milan in 2009 after being accused of insulting the official.
To simply blame the referee for Chelsea’s failure to win would be harsh on Maribor, who could and should have had a two-goal lead before Mourinho’s men responded.
Following a terrible first-half performance in which only Kurt Zouma and Didier Drogba went close, Mourinho made a double change but saw Ibraimi give the home side a shock lead five minutes after the restart.
The winger curled a wonderful shot from the right corner of the penalty area past Chelsea’s helpless goalkeeper Petr Cech, who Mourinho had started ahead of Thibaut Courtois.
Mourinho responded by sending on Ramires in place of Filipe Luis and reverted to three at the back. Costa was presented with a chance to level the scores, but uncharacteristically fired over the bar from eight yards.

If Costa’s miss was bad, then Luka Zahovic’s was abysmal as the Maribor forward squandered a wonderful opportunity to give his side a two-goal cushion.
Mitja Viler produced a superb cross from the left that found Zahovic just three yards out, but somehow he contrived to loft his close-range effort over the bar and could only hold his head in his hands.
Zahovic is the 18-year-old son of Maribor’s director of football and Slovenia’s most famous player Zlatko, and had scored four of the club’s previous five goals ahead of meeting Chelsea.

Zahovic was taken off in the 73rd minute after Oscar had won a corner with a deflected shot and the badly-timed substitution corresponded with Chelsea’s equaliser.
Fabregas took the corner, Terry headed the ball down and Matic stabbed the ball into the net from the goal-line.
Oscar then teed up Costa for a volley that goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic had to palm over his crossbar, as Chelsea pushed for a second, and the Spain international put the ball in the net, but was flagged for offside.
Chelsea’s night was summed up in the dying minutes, when Hazard won what looked to be a match-winning penalty but produced a terrible spot-kick that was saved by Handanovic.
Mourinho embraced Maribor coach Ante Simundza at the final whistle and the Chelsea players applauded the travelling supporters who had been given little to shout about.


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Times:

José Mourinho’s men hit wrong note

Rory Smith Maribor

Complacency appears to be contagious. José Mourinho decreed last night that it is time to “forget” his assertion that Chelsea’s fans are too sated by success, too accustomed to victory to make much of an impression.
That should be no surprise: he does, after all, seem to have a rather more immediate issue. To judge from their display in being held to a draw by unheralded, unfancied Maribor, the condition seems to have spread from the stands to the squad.
As half-time approached in Slovenia, the 640-strong travelling support offered Mourinho the chance to give them a ditty of his own, to show them how it is done. “José, give us a song,” they chorused. He declined. A good thing, too. By the end, the Portuguese would not have much to sing about.

The Barclays Premier League’s runaway leaders had been held by the champions of Slovenia; they had, in fact, been forced to come from behind to rescue even that. They still top their group, and they will still be confident of progress to the Champions League knockout rounds. In more ways than one, though, all of a sudden things are more complicated than they might be.
Mourinho did his best to lavish praise on his team for how “creative, fast, dynamic” they had been after Agim Ibraimi gave the home team, beaten 6-0 at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, the lead at the raucous Ljudski Vrt.
Privately, by contrast, he must have been deeply troubled by what preceded the 40-minute frenzy in which Nemanja Matic grabbed an equaliser and Diego Costa and Eden Hazard might both have secured a winner. The first hour, after all, must comfortably have been Chelsea’s worst performance of the season.

Cesc Fàbregas, usually so composed, so clever in possession, struggled to find anyone wearing a high-visibility yellow shirt all night. André Schürrle and Willian contributed rather more in the second half than the first, having been substituted at the interval.
There was no precision to their play, no thrust and no guile. For the second time in four days, Mourinho felt moved to suggest that some of those connected to Chelsea had turned up expecting to win. “Many, many times, surprises happen when people are not fully — committed is not the right word — but when they are not fully focused,” he said. “When they believe the game cannot be a difficult one.
“I was conscious [of the risk of complacency] before the game, but I was not successful in passing over that message [to the players]. If I cannot convince, the game is difficult, and you have to play from minute one. Obviously that is my responsibility. Only when Maribor scored did the players realise the game was in danger. After that, we had a fantastic reaction and we deserved to win, clearly.”
Mourinho’s logic for that was simple. In those frantic final minutes, Chelsea had one effort from Costa ruled out for a narrow offside and a penalty appeal from Oscar turned down by Daniele Orsato, the Italian referee.

That Hazard, twisting past Mitja Viler, won and missed a spot-kick of his own did nothing to dim Mourinho’s displeasure with the officials, no doubt partly fanned by the fact that he was banned and fined, while coach of Inter Milan, for furiously confronting Orsato after a game with Cagliari. “The referee’s team did not have a good night,” he said. “We should have won, because we scored two goals.
”
To criticise the officials, though, is a mere smokescreen for what, in the past ten days, has become a pattern to alarm the Chelsea manager.
His side could be forgiven a below-par display at Old Trafford, but they were sluggish in victory away to Shrewsbury Town, too, and if the fans were subdued against Queens Park Rangers, they were only reflecting what they saw on the pitch. For a team who seemed to have settled into a groove in the season’s early exchanges, Chelsea suddenly seem very jumpy.
Maribor made the most of that. They rode the visiting team’s early storm, when both Kurt Zouma and Didier Drogba went close, then set about imposing themselves on the game; Mourinho had warned that they were better than their defeat at Stamford Bridge a fortnight past made them look. It will be scant solace that he was entirely correct.

Ante Simundza’s side had the best chance of the first half, Luka Zahovic teeing up the impressive Sintayehu Sallalich, whose shot was bundled away by the backtracking Zouma.
They deserved their lead, earned when Ibraimi artfully curled a shot beyond Petr Cech from the right-hand corner of the area, and they should have settled the game, too, Zahovic somehow missing from no more than three yards after Viler’s cross flicked off Zouma and into his path.
That would prove Chelsea’s reprieve. Matic equalised, tucking home John Terry’s goalbound header from Fàbregas’s corner. The goal transformed the visiting team.
Hazard missed a one-on-one; Jasmin Handanovic saved brilliantly from Costa. Then came the flurry of spurned opportunities. Costa’s effort ruled out, Oscar’s claims to have been tripped ignored, Hazard’s weak spot-kick saved by the goalkeeper. No, Mourinho would not have much to sing about at all.

Maribor (4-4-2): J Handanovic — P Stojanovic, A Rajcevic, Arghus, M Viler — A Ibraimi (sub: D Bohar, 90min), A Mertelj, Z Filipovic, S Sallalich (sub: W N’Diaye, 90) — L Zahovic (sub: J-P Mendy, 73), Tavares. Substitutes not used: A Cotman, M Suler, D Vrsic, D Trajkovski. Booked: Stojavonic, Filipovic, Viler.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, K Zouma, J Terry, F Luís (sub: Ramires, 56) — C Fàbregas, N Matic — A Schürrle (sub: D Costa, 46), Willian (sub: Oscar, 46), E Hazard — D Drogba. Substitutes not used: T Courtois, M Salah, G Cahill, C Azpilicueta. Booked: F Luís.

Referee: D Orsato (Italy).


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Mail:

Maribor 1-1 Chelsea: Eden Hazard has late penalty saved for the Blues as Nemanja Matic's goal cancels out Agim Ibraimi's opener

By MATT BARLOW

Well, the atmosphere was certainly better, although the performance took a while to warm-up. And this time Jose Mourinho took out his frustration on his players rather than the Chelsea supporters as he fumed on the touchline.
Mourinho criticised his players after hauling off Andre Schurrle and Willian at half-time and Filipe Luis once Maribor, a team thumped 6-0 at Stamford Bridge last month, had taken the lead with a brilliant goal.
Diego Costa, Oscar and Ramires - who he had hoped to keep fresh for Saturday's game at Liverpool - were scrambled as was an unusual three-at-the-back system in a bid to rescue pride.

They emerged with a point after an equaliser by Nemanja Matic and they would have taken all three had Eden Hazard not missed a penalty, five minutes from time.
Mourinho praised Maribor and grumbled about the Italian officials who ruled a late goal by Costa to be offside and only added two minutes of stoppage time at the end, when he clearly thought he should have been be more.
Generally, the he cut a disgruntled figure and his mood was not enhanced when the travelling fans, offended by his remarks that the Bridge had been like an 'empty stadium' during last Saturday's win against QPR, started to tease him.
'Cheer up Mourinho,' they sang, in the first half, and then: 'Jose Give us a Song'. They left him alone once it was clear the manager was not amused. When asked to comment on the songs, he shook his head and said: 'Forget it'.
At the end of the game, he congratulated Maribor boss Ante Sumundza and then stalked straight down the tunnel as John Terry led the players to salute the 600 Chelsea supporters who made the trip.

At half-time, Mourinho had made the same purposeful march across the pitch and into the dressing rooms, staring at the floor with clipboard tucked under his arm like a man about to deliver a few home truths.
One of his backroom staff emerged moments later, sent to retrieve the electronic board used by the fourth officials to indicate substitutions.
'In the first half we were not good,' said Mourinho. 'Very slow; no intensity, no creativity. It was easy for Maribor to control the game and reach what they wanted to reach, a 0-0.
'I tried to improve my team. When you try to improve your team, sometimes it's for tactical reasons. Other times it's for individual performances. I think I was successful with the changes I did.
'In the second half the team were much better than in the first half. I thought we played magnificently: creative, fast, good dynamic, a lot of chances to score. Only when Maribor scored did the players realise the game was in danger. After that, a fantastic reaction.
'We deserved to win, clearly.We didn't reach the number of goals that we should have in the second half, but the team played well. And we scored a great second goal.'

No English side won a single group match this week, the first time that happened since November 5, 2008.
The 'second goal' was a reference to the disallowed goal prodded in by Costa moments before Hazard's 85th-minute penalty miss. It looked very tight, perhaps marginally onside, and he did not miss the chance to take a swipe at referee Daniele Orsato. They have history stretching back to Mourinho's time with Inter Milan.
'We scored two goals, two very good goals,' said the Chelsea boss. 'The second goal, the referee decided to disallow but it's a clear goal. Normally we should win because we scored two goals. But we have to accept it and to praise a fantastic stadium with lots of enthusiasm.
'For the people, it was a fantastic night, and Maribor gave everything. They fought. They had a fantastic goalkeeper. And the referee's team didn't have a good night.'

Perhaps it had all felt a little too comfortable because, after scoring six against the Slovenians in London. The Barclays Premier League leaders started well, creating chances and missing them until Kurt Zouma was forced to clear off the goal-line from Sintayehu Sallalich.
Confidence washed through the home team and they passed the ball with more assurance. Sallalich caused problems with his pace and trickery and Agim Ibraimi's goal was a delicious piece of skill, curled into the top corner with his left foot from wide on the Maribor right past Petr Cech.
It was the first time Chelsea had been behind since September 13 against Swansea. Mourinho made his third substitution and switched to a three-man defence, with Hazard at wing-back.
Maribor ought to have doubled the lead when Mitja Viler's cross from the left found Luka Zahovic at the far post. The teenager only had to tap it in, but somehow lifted it over the goal.
Here was an escape for Chelsea, and they took advantage by summoning a strong finish. The leveller came from Matic with 17 minutes left after Terry had headed a corner from Cesc Fabregas towards goal.
Hazard came to life but could not find a finish and Costa was denied, and that goal that never was. Oscar thought he might have won a penalty and yet Maribor could have won it when Tavares fired wide after a break by Sallalich.

Amid the chaotic closing spell, Hazard was tripped by Viler, climbed to his feet and saw his spot-kick saved by Jasmin Handanovic. It summed the night up. Maribor clung on and the home crowd could barely contain their joy, chanting, jumping, burning flares and waving their giant flags. At the end they did not want to leave. They have never seen anything like it.
For Chelsea, as the dust settled, it did not seem quite so bad. They remain top of Group G, in a good position to qualify and remain unbeaten in 16 games this season in all competitions.
Next in Europe, they meet Roberto di Matteo's Schalke, but first to Anfield where the atmosphere will surely be right up Mourinho's street.

Maribor (4-4-2): Handanovic 7; Stojanovic 5, Rajcevic 6, Arghus 6, Viler 7; Ibraimi 7 (Bohar 90), Mertelj 6.5, Filipovic 6, Sallalich 7.5 (Ndiaye 90+2); Zahovic 6 (Mendy 73), Tavares 6.
Subs not used: Cotman, Suler, Vrsic, Trajkovski.
Booked: Filipovic, Stojanovic, Viler
Goal: Ibraimi 50
Manager: Ante Simundza 7

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Zouma 6.5, Terry 7, Luis 6 (Ramires 56, 6); Fabregas 6, Matic 7; Schurrle 5 (Oscar HT), Willian 5 (Costa HT), Hazard 7; Drogba 5.5.
Subs not used: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Salah.
Booked: Luis
Goal: Matic 73
Manager: Jose Mourinho 6.5

MOM: Sintayehu Sallalich
Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA) 5


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Mirror:

Maribor 1-1 Chelsea

Eden Hazard misses late penalty as Blues drop points

By Martin Lipton

The Belgian had a spot kick saved towards the end of the game as Jose Mourinho's men missed the chance to all but qualify for the next round

It took the fear of humiliation to get Chelsea going tonight.

In the end, even that was not enough, Eden Hazard’s late penalty miss ensuring two points squandered against a team they hit for six two weeks ago.

And as the home fans mocked in sheer joy, Jose Mourinho will have been preparing the mother and father of dressing room inquests.

A side that has serious pretensions about conquering the highest peak in Berlin in June should not be stumbling in the Slovenian mountains.

Nemanja Matic’s close-range strike, to cancel out Agim Ibraimi’s superb effort, rescued the draw that was surely not on Mourinho’s pre-match agenda, even if his side remain top of Group G.

And with the Chelsea fans having their say about Mourinho, making clear he should think about who he insults, this was one to forget.

This was The Blues at their worst, the bright start as Hazard tormenting rookie right-back Petar Stojanovic long lost amid the incessant noise from the home fans.

While Kurt Zouma’s header drifted wide and keeper Jasmin Handanovic saved Didier Drogba’s low shot,Mourinho’s men developed a sloppy streak.

Twice in a few seconds, Zouma was forced into desperate interventions, first after Brazilian striker Tavares skipped in behind John Terry and then from Sintayehu Sallalich’s goalbound shot.

With Andre Schurrle awful – his half-time replacement was inevitable – Chelsea’s swagger disappeared.

When, just before the break, the 600 or so travelling fans gave Mourinho an earful of their own – payback for those ‘’empty stadium’’ remarks – the Portuguese refused to acknowledge he had heard anything.

But his interval changes, Oscar and Costa on for Schurrle and Willian, were an unambiguous sign of his displeasure at everything that had gone before.

Instead of improving things, though, Mourinho watched in horror as his side went behind.

A deep cross from full-back Mitja Viler was allowed to travel all the way to Ibraimi and when Luis failed to reacted anything like quickly enough, the winger curled a beauty beyond Cech.

And, with the Blues fans now in silent disbelief, it should have been done and dusted soon afterwards.

Another Viler cross by-passed all the yellow shirts but, somehow, from no distance, teenage striker Luka Zahovic spooned over.

Just before that, Costa had failed to hit the target from 10 yards but Chelsea, finally, found their feet.

Oscar, tripped from behind, should have had a penalty and then saw his angled shot deflected wide.

But the resulting Cesc Fabregas corner was flicked goalwards by Terry and Matic, a foot or so out, made sure.

Surely, now, Chelsea would go on and win it?

Somehow, now. Hazard shot at the keeper when played in by Costa, whose own effort was brilliantly tipped over.

And then, when Viler downed Hazard, the Belgian got up and missed from the spot for the first time in a Chelsea shirt, a weak effort saved by Handanovic.

Mourinho, complaining at the limited injury time, stalked across the pitch at the final whistle. His fury was clear. Liverpool, at Anfield, await with more reason to be cheerful now.


Chelsea: Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Zouma 6, Terry 7, Filipe Luis 6; Matic 5, Fabregas 6; Schurrle 4, Willian 6, Hazard 6; Drogba 5.

Subs: Ramires 6, Oscar 6, Diego Costa 6.

Maribor: Handanovic 7, Rajcevic 6, Viler 7, Arghus 6, Filipovic 6, Sallalich 8, Ibraimi 7, Stojanovic 5, Mertelj 7, Tavares 7, Zahovic 6.

Subs: Mendy


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Express:

Maribor 1 - Chelsea 1: Hazard penalty horror a jolt for Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO'S mood remained sullen as Chelsea refused to walk through the open door marked 'early Champions League group stage qualification'.

By: Tony Banks


The fans sang for Mourinho to "sing up" after his jibes at them for being too quiet on Saturday, but his side produced by some margin their worst performance of the season so far and were lucky to come away from Slovenia with a draw.

Mourinho's men had hammered Maribor 6–0 at home two weeks earlier, but last night they had to scramble to avoid a defeat. They then managed to blow the chance of winning when Eden Hazard's tame penalty was saved five minutes from the end.

Qualification for the knockout stages is still likely and will be achieved if they draw at Schalke in three weeks time. But the worry is that the November jitters are setting in for Mourinho's team after unimpressive performances against Manchester United, Shrewsbury and QPR.

One thing is for certain, if they are to win this competition, Chelsea are going to have to improve big time. They had started well, but fell behind when Agim Ibraimi scored and only grabbed a leveller when Nemanja Matic forced the ball home.

So, still unbeaten in 16 games, but this will not have improved Mourinho's mood by any means.

The Chelsea manager had actually named a strong team, with Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Branislav Ivanovic all included despite that Saturday lunchtime date with Liverpool.

Kurt Zouma nodded wide and Didier Drogba's shot took a deflection for goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic to save, as things started brightly. But then Maribor began to conquer their nerves and it was as if Chelsea suddenly forgot how to control games. The assurance, the dominating efficiency which has been so evident this season so far, seemed to drain visibly away.

The moment that changed the game came when Marcos Tavares broke away and Chelsea only half cleared. Sintayehu Sallalich fired in a shot that Zouma had to dash back to clear off the line.

"Sing up Mourinho," and "Jose, Jose give us a song," sang the Chelsea fans in ironic reference to his criticism of them as being too quiet in the win over QPR last Saturday. The first hint of disquiet amongst the "Sing up Mourinho," and "Jose, Jose give us a song," sang the Chelsea fans in ironic reference to his criticism of them as being too quiet in the win over QPR last Saturday. The first hint of disquiet amongst the faithful?

Drogba – at 36 twice the age of Maribor whizzkid Luka Zahovic at the other end of the pitch – tested Handanovic with a fierce free–kick, Andre Schurrle shot wide and Hazard had an effort saved.

Handanovic with a fierce free–kick, Andre Schurrle shot wide and Hazard had an effort saved.

But Chelsea were far from convincing, their passing sloppy and careless. They were But Chelsea were far from convincing, their passing sloppy and careless. They were being given acres of space but made little use of it. As ever, Mourinho reacted, and on at half–time went Diego Costa and Oscar, with Willian and Schurrle feeling the full force of his wrath.

But Maribor had scented that their opponents might be vulnerable and they struck with venom. Another cross was only half cleared, and the ball dropped to Ibraimi, who curled a lovely shot past Petr Cech.

Mourinho changed it again, sending on Ramires to form a three at the back.

But then there was an even more astonishing escape, as Mitja Viler's cross was missed by everyone – and incredibly Zahovic shot over from eight yards with the goal gaping.

Drogba glanced a header wide as Maribor began to run out of legs. And then from another corner skipper John Terry, as ever, came to the rescue, powering in a header that Matic forced over the line.

A legitimate–looking penalty appeal was waved away as Oscar went down and Handanovic saved brilliantly from Costa's volley. Costa then had what looked like a good effort disallowed. Hazard made yet another wriggling run, only to be tripped by Viler. But the Belgian's tame penalty went straight at Handanovic.It summed up the night.



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Star:

Maribor 1 - Chelsea 1: Eden Hazard misses late penalty as Blues are held to a draw

JOSE MOURINHO had said he wanted his side to go for the jugular last night - but this time Maribor were a real pain in the neck.

By George Scott

Chelsea hammered the Slovenians 6-0 at Stamford Bridge just two weeks ago and Mourinho urged his side to do the same again to help secure top spot in the group.

But the Blues turned in a below-par performance, and looked set for their first defeat of the season until Nemanja Matic's 73rd minute goal.

Boss Mourinho was clearly far from happy with his team's display and was left fuming even more when Eden Hazard's woeful penalty six minutes from time prevented them from grabbing an undeserved win.

Chelsea went into the game looking to equal their best ever start to a season, of 16 games without defeat, set under Mourinho in 2005-06.

Mourinho's team hammered the Slovenians 6-0 at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago, and though this was their second ever Champions League campaign, Maribor had never won at home in the competition at the Ljudski vrt Stadium.

Chelsea though knew that a Bonfire Night victory in Slovenia couple with a failure of Schalke to beat Sporting Lisbon would mean qualification for the knockout stages.

But a fourth game in 11 days appeared to have taken its toll on Mourinho's side -

or perhaps they had one eye on the crunch Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime.

The Blues boss cannot be accused of the same thing, going with a strong starting line-up including Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Branislav Ivanovic.

Fabregas almost set up an early goal when he got to the byline and chipped into the box where young defender Kurt Zouma connected with a header but angled it just wide of the post.

Then Didier Drogba's shot took a deflection but goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic saved.

Maribor came back strongly and gave Chelsea a mighty scare as the Blues were caught napping at the back.

Marcos Tavares broke away and when the ball fell to Sintayehu Sallalich it needed a last-gasp saving clearance from Zouma to prevent the opening goal.

Maribor had been annihilated in the first half at Stamford Bridge, going in 3-0 down at the interval, but the Slovenians looked far more resilient on their own turf.

Chelsea may have thought it was going to be another stroll in the park, but they struggled to find any rhythm - causing Mourinho to come out of his dug-out with a dark look on his face.

His mood wasn't improved much when Andre Schurrle missed an open goal from just six yards - with the German midfielder's blushes not really saved by the fact the linesman's flag went up.

Drogba tried his luck from long-range with a free-kick that stung the hands of Handanovic, but Chelsea's sloppy passing prevented them from crafting any decent chances from open play before the break.

It got worse for the Blues right at the start of the second-half as Agim Ibraimi produced a moment of individual brilliance.

He controlled the ball on the edge of the box, composed himself and then curled a stunning shot into the corner of the net.

Petr Cech had absolutely no chance as he was left grasping for air - while Mourinho's expression got even more severe.

He may have exploded with rage on the hour mark had Luka Zahovic converted with the goal at his mercy to make it 2-0.

The Chelsea defence was non-existent as the striker was left all alone just six yards out at the far post to tap in Mitja Viler's cross.

But he shanked his shot horribly to give the Premier League leaders a massive let-off.

Matic made him pay by grabbing an equaliser with 18 minutes remaining, ghosting in from Terry's downward header from a corner to score from a matter of inches.

It was a goal that Chelsea barely deserved, but they were then handed a golden chance to steal the win.

Hazard won a penalty with a mazy run that drew a foul by Viler, but then sidefooted his spot-kick straight down the middle to give Handanovic an easy save.

The only saving grace, perhaps, was that Schalke's defeat against Sporting Lisbon in the other group game means Chelsea remain firm favourites to secure top spot.