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Eintracht Frankfurt logo
Europa League | Semi-Finals
May 2, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-1

Jovic (23')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Pedro (45')

Live Commentary: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Chelsea fight back to register a 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
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Chelsea have registered a 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final at the Commerzbank-Arena.

Frankfurt dominated the opening stages and deservedly took the lead through a header from Luka Jovic, but Pedro equalised for the Blues shortly before the break.

Chelsea dominated for much of the second half, but Maurizio Sarri's side could not find a second away goal which may have proved decisive at the end of the tie.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in Germany courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Europa League between Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea. The Blues are attempting to achieve a spot in next season's Champions League by winning this competition, but Bundesliga outfit Frankfurt will provide Chelsea with their toughest European test of the campaign. The two teams are making their way out onto the pitch, so let's see who features in each starting lineup...

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT XI: Trapp; Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger; Da Costa, Rode, Fernandes, Falette; Gacinovic; Jovic, Kostic

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT SUBSTITUTES: Ronnow, Ndicka, De Guzman, Willems, Torro, Chandler, Paciencia


CHELSEA XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Palmieri; Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek; Willian, Giroud, Pedro

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Zappacosta, Alonso, Kovacic, Barkley, Hazard, Higuain


KICKOFF:  Chelsea get us underway!

The visitors have started strongly in an intimidating atmosphere. Chelsea have already had an early corner, but a speculative shot from Kante has been scuffed horribly wide of the post.

Chelsea are doing their best to keep Frankfurt's wing-backs in their own defensive third. Willian and Pedro are both ready to exploit the space in behind if they don't find the right balance.

Frankfurt put together their first attack and it sees Falette whip in a cross from the left. However, his delivery is over-hit and Chelsea win a throw-in on the far side.

The home side have started to sit deep as soon as Chelsea have possession. The Premier League side will have to work hard in order to create some space.

Chelsea are adopting a similar strategy when Frankfurt have the ball, but the German side are spraying passes about with a little bit more urgency than the visitors.

This is a bit of a let-off for Chelsea. Kostic is found at the back post and has the chance to get a volley on goal from 15 yards, but the Serbian scuffs his effort.

LATEST! There has been a goal in the other semi-final, with Valencia taking the lead against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Click here to follow updates from that match.

Frankfurt are having the better of the game now. Chelsea are still having their moments on the break, but they are seeing little of the ball.

YELLOW CARD!  The first yellow card of the game goes to Christensen, who completely mistimes a challenge on Rode on the touchline. It is the easiest of decisions for the referee.

CHANCE!  The resulting free kick is flicked onto the back post where Abraham is waiting. However, the defender can only send his volley from 12 yards high over the crossbar.

LATEST! Arsenal have found an equaliser against Valencia! Alexandre Lacazette has got himself on the scoresheet.

GOAL!  EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 1-0 CHELSEA (LUKA JOVIC)

Eintracht Frankfurt's Luka Jovic scores against Chelsea in the Europa League on May 2, 2019.© Reuters


GOAL!  Frankfurt take a deserved lead! A cross from Kostic finds Jovic by the penalty spot, and the Serbian does brilliantly to direct a header into the far corner via the inside of the post.

Chelsea are very much second-best here. The Blues started brilliantly, but they have not got to grips with this game. Frankfurt goalkeeper Trapp has barely touched the ball.

SHOT!  Chelsea come so close to an equaliser. Pedro's touch in the final third is arguably too heavy, but it gives the Spaniard a chance to get a volley on goal. His 25-yard strike looks to be heading in, but it goes inches wide of the post.

Chelsea have finally got hold of possession again but as mentioned earlier, Frankfurt are sitting extremely deep without the ball. It's leaving Chelsea to have to attempt difficult passes in the final third.

LATEST! It's some game at the Emirates Stadium! Arsenal now lead Valencia by a 2-1 scoreline thanks to a double from Lacazette. Click here to keep up-to-date.

Loftus-Cheek finally gets the chance to stretch his legs in the centre of the pitch, but Chelsea can only win a corner. It's a bit of a waste, and nothing comes from the resulting set piece.

Willian is becoming predictable on the left. The Brazilian is always looking to cut inside onto his right foot. On this occasion, an inswinging cross goes out for a goal kick.

Frankfurt win a couple of set pieces in a threatening position, and only a deflection from Giroud prevents a chance from being created at the back post.

Chelsea have improved since going behind, but you still feel like they will struggle to get a positive result from this contest. They need an away goal to take back to Stamford Bridge.

Christensen is very lucky to avoid a red card. The Dane mistimes his jump and it leads to him attempting to pull the shirt of Gacinovic, who would be clear on goal. The referee waved played on, much to the relief of the Chelsea defender.

CHANCE!  Chelsea go close from distance for a second time. Loftus-Cheek comes alive on the edge of the area before getting a low shot on goal, but the ball goes inches wide of Trapp's right-hand post.

GOAL!  EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 1-1 CHELSEA (PEDRO)

Pedro celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on May 2, 2019.© Reuters


GOAL!  Chelsea equalise in Germany! Loftus-Cheek keeps the ball alive at a corner before teeing up Pedro, who takes a touch before finding the bottom corner with a low shot from 15 yards.

HALF TIME:  EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 1-1 CHELSEA

The half-time whistle goes in Germany and Chelsea are back on level terms against Eintracht Frankfurt. The home side bossed the opening 35 minutes, but Chelsea came on strong during the closing period before the break. Frankfurt will feel hard done by, but they tired towards the end of the half.

Arsenal have reached half time against Valencia holding a 2-1 advantage having initially conceded an early goal. Click here to take a look through the first half in North London.

A quick reminder of the two benches...

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT SUBSTITUTES: Ronnow, Ndicka, De Guzman, Willems, Torro, Chandler, Paciencia

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Zappacosta, Alonso, Kovacic, Barkley, Hazard, Higuain


KICKOFF:  Frankfurt get us back underway.

Like in the first half, Chelsea are having the better of the opening exchanges. Frankfurt are happy to gift possession to the visitors.

A clash of heads between Rode and Jorginho has resulted in a lengthy stoppage in play. Jorginho has come off the worst, but the Italian appears fine to continue.

The break in play has given Frankfurt a chance to reassess, and the home side are beginning to play more positively.

CHANCE!  Big chance for Chelsea. Loftus-Cheek launches a counter which sees Chelsea have four on three. The midfielder plays a one-two with Pedro before being provided with the chance to get a shot away from 12 yards, but the Englishman hooks an effort over the crossbar.

The pattern of this game has changed dramatically over the past 20 minutes of play. Frankfurt were in total control, but it has now reached a point where you would be surprised if Chelsea do not net a second away goal.

CHANCE!  Another chance for Chelsea, this time for Willian. The playmaker - again - cuts inside onto his right foot, but his low strike is weak and too close to Trapp.

YELLOW CARD!  Hasebe goes into the book for a cynical foul on Willian around 30 yards from goal.

OFF THE BAR!  Luiz hits the crossbar with a 30-yard free kick! Trapp has got the faintest of touches to tip it onto the woodwork. What an effort. What a save.

YELLOW CARD!  A second Frankfurt player goes into the book as Fernandes halts the run of Loftus-Cheek.

SUBSTITUTION! Chelsea make their first alteration as Hazard replaces Willian.

I don't know why but some of this Frankfurt side look exhausted. Chelsea are playing the ball about too quickly for them at the moment.

It's more of the same from Chelsea who continue to pass the ball about with a certain level of freedom. Frankfurt look resigned to playing the remainder of this contest on the counter.

Palmieri gets in behind the Frankfurt backline down the left and has time to pick out a teammate. However, the full-back cannot do anything with his cutback.

Frankfurt have finally managed to move 10 yards up the pitch to relieve a bit of the pressure, but Chelsea are still seeing all of the ball. A second away goal would be massive.

Loftus-Cheek looks a level above this Frankfurt side when he gets into his stride, but his end product in this game has been mixed. In all fairness, the same can be said of a few players.

SUBSTITUTION! Frankfurt make their first switch with Paciencia coming on for Fernandes.

SHOT!  Another opening for Chelsea as Loftus-Cheek sends a half-volley too close to Trapp. The rebound fell to Hazard, but his effort was deflected wide for a corner.

CHANCE!  Chelsea will be so frustrated if they don't score another goal in this match. A free kick from Hazard is perfect for Luiz, but the centre-back can only direct his header into the arms of Trapp.

Chelsea's David Luiz fails to convert a header against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on May 2, 2019.© Reuters


You have to credit Frankfurt for leaving players in attack, but they are being over-run here. Chelsea are still penning them back into their own final third.

The home side finally have some joy going forward with a low cross nearly being converted at the back post, but the assistant's flag went up.

SUBSTITUTION! Chelsea make a second substitution with Kovacic being introduced for Loftus-Cheek.

CHANCE!  What a chance for Frankfurt! The corner is perfect for defender Abraham to head home from eight yards out, but he somehow sends his effort over the crossbar!

Just the three minutes to go now. It has reached a point where Chelsea would probably take a score draw back to West London. Frankfurt have improved over the past 10 minutes.

Jovic gets the better of Pedro on the left flank and it leads to the Spaniard committing a foul on the byline.

There will be five minutes of added-on time.

SUBSTITUTION! Frankfurt make a second change with Willems being introduced for Gacinovic.

This match is finally starting to peter out now. You'd have to say that both clubs will be relatively content with this scoreline, although each of them have had opportunities to find a second.

FULL TIME:  Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea

The full-time whistle goes in Germany and we have ended on level terms. You'd have to say that both sides deserve a share of the spoils, although Chelsea did waste several opportunities during the second half.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.


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