Delap scores twice as Chelsea end tour with a draw

Liam Delap scored two penalties – his first goals since January – as Chelsea finished their pre-season tour of Asia with a disjointed and unconvincing 3-3 draw in a feisty game against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim.

New manager Xabi Alonso picked an entirely new starting line-up from Saturday’s stylish 3-0 victory over AC Milan and the much-changed side never looked comfortable – albeit they were not helped by a couple injuries in defence.

Mamadou Sarr had to be replaced before kick-off because of a knock, and Aaron Anselmino limped off just before the half-hour with a hamstring injury,

Nicolas Jackson, Estevao, Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo and Jamie Gittens all started, but there was a distinct lack of fluency and leadership – mainly stemming from an inexperienced defence but further affected by a niggly and – at times – nasty opposition.

Estevao wasted a glorious close-range opportunity early on but the Blues trailed to Arif Aiman’s far-post finish after a fine counter-attack and were fortunate not to be further behind.

But Delap won and scored a spot-kick just before the interval and he then missed an absolute sitter of a one-on-one chance in first-half stoppage-time, shooting wide with a horribly mis-kicked effort from Jackson’s sweet pass.

Delap made amends with another confidently struck penalty, following a foul on Gittens, only for the dangerous Oscar Arribas to net with a deflected free-kick.

And although Bergson’s late low strike made it 3-2 to the home side, sub Mykhailo Mudryk’s excellent inswinging cross from the left caused panic in the defence and was headed into his own net by Cristian Glauder.

In confusing scenes at the end, a scheduled penalty shootout to decide the winner was cancelled.

Chelsea: Sharman-Lowe [Slonina 46] Subuloye, Tosin, Anselmino [Watson 29]; Quenda, Nicoll-Jazuli, Essugo (c), Gittens [Mudryk 87], Estevao; Jackson [Satpaev 87], Delap.
Subs not used: Curd, Diakite, Walsh, Kavuma-McQueen.