Chelsea’s clash with Qarabag started on a troubling note, as Romeo Lavia suffered another early injury within the first five minutes, forcing Moises Caicedo to come on unexpectedly and cut short his day off.
The Blues looked to steady themselves when Estevao gave them the lead just 15 minutes into the match, offering a glimmer of hope that the game might turn in their favor.
That optimism was quickly dashed, however, as Qarabag struck twice in quick succession. The first goal came from a lapse in defensive concentration, while the second followed a somewhat unlucky handball call against Jorrel Hato in the box. Qarabag’s speed on the wings exposed Chelsea’s makeshift defense, causing repeated problems throughout the first half.
A triple substitution at halftime failed to have an immediate impact, with the home side still threatening. But Alejandro Garnacho soon fired in a well-taken equalizer, giving Chelsea a foothold in the game. From that point, the Blues began to control possession, while Qarabag focused on quick counterattacks.
Despite several close opportunities from Delap, Estevao, Enzo, and Bounanotte, Chelsea could not find a winning goal. Both sides had chances in stoppage time, but neither was able to convert, leaving the match tied at 2-2.
