Dinamo Zagreb holds on to beat Chelsea 1-0, thanks to Orsic’s early goal.
Just 13 minutes in, against the run of play, Orsic surged forward on the counter and dinked an effort over Kepa to put his side ahead.
Despite being out of possession for most of the game, Dinamo looked in control until Chelsea’s late push for an equaliser – Havertz saw a header blocked, James smashed a shot off the bar, and Livakovic made two big saves to deny Mount and Ziyech late on.
Starting lineup:
DINAMO ZAGREB STARTING XI (4-1-4-1): Dominik Livakovic;
Stefan Ristovski, Josip Sutalo, Dino Peric, Sadegh Moharrami;
Josip Misic; Robert Ljubicic, Luka Ivanusec, Arijan Ademi, Mislav Orsic;
Bruno Petkovic.
DINAMO ZAGREB SUBS: Daniel Stefulj, Petar Bockaj, Antonio Marin, Marko Bulat, Rasmus Lauritsen, Dario Spikic, Mahi Emreli, Ivan Nevistic, Daniel Zagorac, Martin Baturina, Josip Drmic, Kevin Theophile-Catherine.
CHELSEA STARTING XI (3-4-2-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga;
Cesar Azpilicueta, Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly;
Reece James, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Ben Chilwell;
Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
CHELSEA SUBS: Christian Pulisic, Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Denis Zakaria, Jorginho, Edouard Mendy, Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcus Bettinelli, Hakim Ziyech, Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Goal:
ORSIC SCORES! Ultimately against the run of play, Dinamo led 1-0! Chelsea had everyone in Dinamo’s half, and Ljubicic goes long to Petkovic, who flicks it on. Orsic bursts forward out of his half and try to dink it over Kepa, who rushed off his line. The keeper gets a hand to it but can’t stop it from bobbling over the line.
So, what’s next?
Dinamo is top of Group E ahead of Milan and Salzburg’s meeting later on, with the Italian side next up for them in the competition.
Before that, they face HNK Gorica in the league. Chelsea’s stuttered start to the season continues as they travel to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday before their match against Salzburg next Wednesday.
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