Brave Vidi performance not enough against much-changed Chelsea

A 2-2 draw, combined with BATE's victory over PAOK means that it is the Belarusian side that advance to the Round of 32, with Vidi bowing out of the competition at the Group Stage.

The Hungarian outfit were always going to require something of a miracle to advance, needing to better BATE's result against a Chelsea side that contained the likes of Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Alvaro Morata, Cesc Fabregas and Willian.

Chelsea dominated the ball in the early exchanges, but the hosts were the first side to go close when Loic Nego took aim on the turn to force a save from Willy Caballero.

On the half hour mark the deadlock was broken, with a piece of genuine quality finally finding a way through the stubborn Vidi backline.

Vinicius brought a marauding Willian down on the edge of the box and the Brazilian dusted himself down to curl a superb free-kick over the wall and beyond Adam Kovacsik, who arguably could have done slightly better in the home goal.

That lead proved to be a short-lived one, though as MOL levelled within two minutes, Ethan Ampadu heading into his own net from Anel Hadzic's inviting corner from the right.

Chelsea suffered a blow just before the break as Alvaro Morata limped off after appearing to twist his knee, but there was still time for Nego to once again call Caballero into action as Vidi searched for a second.

The break seemed to lull Chelsea into a false sense of security as they came out for the second half in something of a daze, only to be handed a repreive as Stopira headed a glorious chance over as the far post from another Hadzic corner.

However, just before the hour mark the seemingly imprssible happened as Nego found the net at the third time of asking, powering a glorious first-time volley beyond Caballero after being found by Milanov.

That goal only seemed to anger the visitors as they took control of the game once again, with Giroud lashing over a van Basten-esque volley from Cesc Fabregas' deep free-kick before Callum Hudson-Odoi fired tamely straight at Kovacsik after beating his man down the left.

With 15 minutes to go Chelsea eventually drew level, with Giroud taking his turn on set-piece duties to curl a stunning effort around the wall and over the defender on the line to find the top corner via the crossbar.

There were no real chances for either side to win the game in the remaining minutes as Vidi's European campaign came to an end on a positive note, whilst Chelsea maintained their unbeaten record in the competition.

 

December 13, 2018