FRANK LAMPARD has his men firing going forward – but without N’Golo Kante they are someway off in defence.
An inspired but fortunate Chelsea can count themselves lucky at Ajax’s lack of discipline having squandered a 4-1 lead as both their centre-halfs were sent off.
Going forward, at times, the Blues looked electric, with Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham all menacing.
But their positive attacks were overshadowed by some unorganised defending at set-pieces and on counter attacks.
Chelsea were down after just two minutes at Stamford Bridge when free-scoring striker Abraham diverted a Quincy Promes free-kick into his own net.
But the boys in blue were level by the fourth minute after Pulisic won a penalty and Jorginho converted.
Lampard’s men showed promise going forward but their good work was not reciprocated at the back when Promes ghosted past full-back Cesar Azpilicueta to nod home from a whipped Hakim Ziyech.
Before the Blues could mount enough pressure to level Marcos Alonso needlessly dived and Ziyech’s resulting free-kick rebounded off Kepa Arrizabalaga to crawl home.
It’s not Alonso’s first offence either, having conceded a penalty against Manchester United last week fouling Dan James – and the lack of discipline can’t go unnoticed.
Lampard’s men came out for the second half firing and an inspired Kurt Zouma run raised the spirits at the Bridge – despite smashing his effort well over the bar.
Just as Chelsea began getting the ball out wide, and hitting Ajax with powerful runs from midfield, the away side stung on the counter.
Azpilicueta – out on the left after replacing Alonso – left his flank exposed leaving Fikayo Tomori to cover – but when the centre-back wasn’t successful in winning the ball back, Donny van de Beek was unmarked in the box.
The Ajax skipper pivoted on the ball and hammered home – with Lampard’s unorganised backline again punished.
But when the Blues looked down and out, they continued to push forward with a fighting spirit not existent under Maurizio Sarri last season.
After Pulisic put a ball across the box, Abraham’s finish was touched in by Azpilicueta – with the unimaginable fightback well and truly on.
Just five minutes later, following a late foul on Abraham, Daley Blind was shown a second yellow, and in the same passage, sub Callum Hudson-Odoi saw his effort handled by Joel Veltman – who was also sent-off.
Jorginho made no mistake from the spot and as the Blues look sure to complete the turnaround.
And on 74 minutes, after a pile up in the box Reece James hammered home and equalised.
Chelsea News
Chelsea thought they had won it through skipper Azpilicueta, until Abraham was adjudged to have handled in the build up.
Lampard’s men not for the first time this campaign showed bouncebackability, but a tighter defence mixed with that attacking force would see the Blues wrap up results with a lot more ease.
At the Bridge an exciting comeback was paper over the cracks for Chelsea’s leaky defence, in a game of fireworks on November 5.
