New manager Graham Potter got his Chelsea tenure off to a nervy start as Raheem Sterling's opener was cancelled out by Noah Okafor to hold the Blues to a 1-1 draw against RB Salzburg at Stamford Bridge.
New manager Graham Potter got his Chelsea tenure off to a nervy start as Raheem Sterling's opener was cancelled out by Noah Okafor to hold the Blues to a 1-1 draw against RB Salzburg at Stamford Bridge.
2022/2023 UEFA Champions League
Match Report
The result will do little to ease pressure on their Champions League Group E campaign, as they remain rooted to the foot of the four-team standings after two games played.
Chelsea opened their European campaign with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb last week, prompting the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, as he paid the ultimate price for failing to share the new ownership's long-term vision for Chelsea's future.
Potter, enjoying his first taste of top-level European club competition, admitted to having never before attended a Champions League match during his official unveiling on Tuesday, let alone occupied top seat in the dugout during one.
Sterling, claiming the first goal of the Potter era, put Chelsea ahead in the 48th minute, collecting Mason Mount's low cross from the right, which was poorly defended by Salzburg.
The unmarked England forward was afforded ample time and space to measure a shot, before cooly bending an effort into the bottom right corner from just inside the 18-yard box.
Salzburg equalised with 15 minutes remaining through top scorer Okafor, with Thiago Silva guilty of diving in to a tackle, allowing substitute Junior Adamu to deliver a low cross. Okafor then applied a first-time finish with the aid of a slight deflection off Cesar Azpilicueta.
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