Maribor vs. Chelsea: Score, Grades and Reaction from Champions League Game

Chelsea will have to wait to book their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Maribor.

The Blues came into the game top of Group G and widely tipped to claim a win, having put six past the same opponents a fortnight ago.

Maribor had not read the script, as Agim Ibraimi fired the Slovenians ahead on 50 minutes.

Chelsea upped the tempo after falling behind and Nemanja Matic drew them level. Eden Hazard had a chance to win the game from the penalty spot, but saw his effort saved.

Chelsea got some early joy down the left, with Filipe Luis keen to get forward at every opportunity, with the flanks an area they were keen to make use of.

On eight minutes, the Blues—playing in their changed strip of yellow—should have moved ahead. Brilliant play between Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard took the Spaniard to the byline, where he dug out a cross for Kurt Zouma. The goal was gaping, but the defender planted his header a foot wide.

Nikola Solic/Associated Press

On his 100th appearance in European competition, Didier Drogba went close to opening the scoring on 11 minutes. The Ivorian, leading the line in the absence of Diego Costa, exchanged passes with Hazard and hit a deflected shot that was parried wide by Jasmin Handanovic.

The first sign of Maribor as an attacking force came on 14 minutes, with Marcos Tavares driving into the box and teeing up Luka Zahovic, but his shot was cleared off the line by Zouma.

An official’s offside flag spared the blushes of Andre Schurrle on 23 minutes, as he shinned a Willian cross wide from all of three yards.

Chelsea’s midfielders were a step quicker than their opponents, which was highlighted by a brilliant piece of harrying from the consistently impressive Matic.

The Serbian shrugged off Zeljko Filipovic like a rag doll and powered forward, with only a crude challenge from the player he disposed halting his march.

With his side level at the interval, Blues boss Jose Mourinho turned to Oscar and Costa—which seemed to suggest the latter had no injury problems. But for all the attacking talent at Chelsea’s disposal, it was Maribor who drew first blood on 50 minutes.

A loose ball from a corner fell to Ibraimi on the edge of the box, and he measured his options before curling a stunning effort across Petr Cech and into the top corner.

A big chance fell to Costa on 57 minutes, but the usually clinical Spain international fired over the bar.

Chelsea went three at the back, with Ramires replacing Luis, and that provided space for Maribor.

The home side should have doubled their lead on the hour. Mitja Viler delivered a great cross for Zahovic, but the top scorer in their domestic league fired over from three yards. Unlike Schurrle in the first half, a flag did not spare his blushes.

It was an evening of frustration in front of goal for Drogba, and his game was summed up 20 minutes from time when he rose to meet a corner, but mistimed his header so badly that it bounced off his shoulder and went wide.

Nikola Solic/Associated Press

The Blues had a massive claim for a penalty on 71 minutes as Oscar danced away from his marker in the box and appeared to be brought down by Arghus, but the penalty appeals were waved away.

Chelsea kept banging on the door, and on 73 minutes, they drew level. John Terry rose high to nod on target. His header was goal-bound but Matic was at the back post and applied the finishing touch.

Maribor were forced further and further back in the final 15 minutes. Handanovic made superb saves to frustrate Hazard and Costa, while a dubious offside call denied Oscar.

But Chelsea only had themselves to blame for not securing the win. Hazard had been brilliant all evening and a glorious run drew a foul from Viler which earned a penalty.

Hazard took responsibility from 12 yards, but Handanovic did not fall for the mind games and remained rooted to his line to make a save.

Chelsea will have to wait to book their place in the knockout stages, but the top spot remains theirs, and Mourinho’s men have two games—away at Schalke and home to Sporting—in which to secure it.

Key Grades

Filipe Luis: B

The Brazilian once again impressed with another polished display. Calm and composed in defence, Luis also looks dangerous going forward and was a consistent outlet for the Blues down the left flank. He was sacrificed as Chelsea chased the game, but he did enough while on the pitch to lay down a claim for a regular start.

Kurt Zouma: B+

The future of Chelsea’s central defence? Possibly so. The youngster was excellent alongside John Terry, with the only blot being his failure to plant a header into the net following a cross from Cesc Fabregas.

Nemanja Matic: A

At 6'4", Matic resembles a giant. And his stature is ever growing as well. Once again he looked like a man against boys as he broke up plenty of Maribor attacks. Got his side back on level terms.

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