Chelsea and Johor Darul Ta'zim played 3:3 in a preseason match

The training tournament planned by Chelsea ahead of the new season included two friendly matches in Asia. The first of these was against Italian AC Milan, where the English team won three to nil, showcasing their attacking potential. The next day, the team traveled to Kuala Lumpur, where they faced local leaders Johor Darul Ta'zim at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.

Match Progress

The first goal of the match was scored in the 15th minute by Johor Darul Ta'zim midfielder Arif Aiman, who opened the scoring for the home team. In the 43rd minute, Chelsea equalized by converting a penalty taken by forward Liam Delap. Nineteen minutes later, in the 62nd minute, Delap took advantage of another penalty opportunity and sent the ball into the net, putting the Londoners ahead.

Only three minutes later, in the 65th minute, the equalizing goal for 'Johor Darul Ta'zim' came from forward Oscar Arribas, who restored parity. After a short pause, in the 87th minute, Brazilian forward Bergson completed a series of attacks from the hosts, putting them ahead again. Two minutes later, in the 89th, 'Chelsea' avoided defeat thanks to an own goal from defender Antonio Glauder, who accidentally deflected the ball into his own net.

Match significance

The final score of 3:3 reflects the open nature of preseason matches, where the coaching staff of 'Chelsea' tests new combinations and gives playing time to young talents, particularly Liam Delap, who has already converted two penalties. For 'Johor Darul Ta'zim', the leader of the Malaysian Premier League, the match was an opportunity to assess the level of a European club and strengthen their position in international friendly tournaments.

With the victory over 'Milan', 'Chelsea' completed the Asian part of their preparation with two positive results, despite not being able to maintain their lead in the match against the Malaysians. The coaching staff noted that such matches help adapt players to different climatic conditions and playing styles, which will be beneficial in the upcoming championship.

For 'Johor Darul Ta'zim', the match was a demonstration of the growing level of football in Southeast Asia. The club regularly participates in Asian tournaments and seeks more active interaction with European teams, which increases interest in the local championship.

In the coming weeks, Chelsea plans to complete its preparations in Europe, where it will play several matches against clubs from Spain, Germany, and France, before heading into official Premier League matches. The current score of 3:3 will be taken into account as part of the analytical work aimed at strengthening the defense and improving the effectiveness of set pieces.

Source: Championat