A late goal from Jeremie Boga earned Chelsea a 1-1 draw with Austrian side RZ Pellets WAC.
Mohamed Salah and Isaiah Brown went close for Chelsea as they dominated the opening 45 minutes, but they were made to pay during the early stages of the second half when Silvio de Oliviera forced the ball over the line from close range.
It appeared as though Chelsea were going to lose their first pre-season fixture of the summer but with seven minutes remaining, Boga out-muscled two Pellets defenders before clipping the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in Austria.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the friendly match between RZ Pellets WAC and Chelsea.
With the start of the new campaign being just three-and-a-half weeks away, the majority of the Premier League big-hitters are beginning to make their way around the globe with the view of sharpening their match fitness ahead of what is sure to be another gruelling campaign. While the likes of the two Manchester clubs and Liverpool are over in the United States, Chelsea have opted for Europe, and that has taken Chelsea to Austria to play little-known RZ Pellets.
The Chelsea team news was released around 10 minutes ago, so how about I bring you all the details. There appears to be a new name at left-back...
CHELSEA XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Zouma, JT, Filipe Luis, Van Ginkel, Matic, Salah, Baker, Brown, Bamford.
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Beeney, Delac, Ake, Romeu, Chalobah, Christensen, Swift, Boga, Solanke
Of course, the left-back I was talking about is Filipe Luis, who was recently signed from Atletico Madrid. He will form part of what looks to be an extremely strong backline, but the rest of the lineup as a youthful look to it, with the likes of Lewis Baker, Isaiah Brown and Patrick Bamford operating further forward.
There had been a suggestion that some of Chelsea's Spanish contingent could be involved tonight, but it's not to be. Cesar Azpilicueta, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa are all present in Austria but none of the trio have been included in the squad.
We are yet to receive word on how RZ Pellets will line up, but we will try to bring you that before the start of the match in 10 minutes time.
A couple of quick notes on the hosts. For those of you that are unfamiliar with RZ Pellets, they ended last season in seventh position in Austria's top flight. It's also worth noting that their season got underway at the weekend, so they will be a few weeks ahead of Chelsea in terms of fitness.
The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch in Austria. We will be underway shortly.
We are underway.
The stadium is virtually packed out for the visit of Chelsea. You don't get this for every pre-season friendly! The hosts have won an early corner.
The ball into the penalty was a good one, but despite a bit of indecision from the Chelsea defence, they manage to clear the ball towards the halfway line.
It's been a fast start from RZ Pellets. After a cross into the penalty area was only half-cleared to the edge of the box, Roland Putsche lashed a long-range drive several yards over the crossbar.
SHOT! Chelsea make their first inroads into the Pellets half, and they manage to win a free kick some 30 yards from goal. Lewis Baker takes responsibility for the strike, but his shot is too close to the goalkeeper.
Chelsea are beginning to find their groove now. Patrick Bamford, who has been linked with a loan move away from the club, did superbly to play in Mohamed Salah but the winger was denied a passage into the box by a fantastic sliding tackle from a defender.
The Premier League side are frequently probing for openings, but so far, the Pellets defence are doing well to get bodies behind the ball. I'd expect them to continue to drop deeper because Salah and Baker are looking a threat in behind.
CHANCE! Patrick Bamford comes close to opening the scoring for the Blues. The young forward capitalised on a misplaced back-pass but despite the angle being against him, he managed to get a shot away that just missed the inside of the near post.
We haven't seen too much of Filipe Luis in the final third, but when he does manage to get forward, he looks to have an assured touch of the ball and plenty of quality on his left side.
RZ Pellets win a free kick in a threatening position on the right-hand side, but the ball manages to find its way to Petr Cech via the head of Patrick Bamford.
CHANCE! Mohamed Salah is the next man to go close for the Premier League side. Filipe Luis's cross was flicked on by Patrick Bamford into the path of the Egyptian international, but his left-foot half-volley was directed straight at the goalkeeper from 12 yards. Best opportunity of the half so far.
The home team are having their moments when they get the ball into the penalty area, but you get the feeling that they are only going to get on the score sheet if Chelsea contribute to their own downfall.
Chelsea win a corner after a cross from the left is deflected behind, but Kurt Zouma's header is diverted behind for a second set piece, which comes to nothing.
Talking of Zouma, he has been handed the number five shirt at Stamford Bridge, which would seem to suggest that he will be acting as David Luiz's replacement in the centre of defence.
CHANCE! What an opportunity for Isaiah Brown. The ball fell kindly for the youngster after Patrick Bamford had caused confusion in the Pellets defence, but Brown's shot from 12 yards was excellently blocked by the goalkeeper.
Lewis Baker tries the most audacious of chips from 45 yards but he gets his shot all wrong and the ball drops rather embarrassingly into the hands of the goalkeeper. At least he had the confidence to try such an effort.
The tempo is starting to slow down a touch as we near half time. Although the match hasn't been played as a high pace, I think both teams will be happy for the break. It looks pretty hot out there.
HALF TIME: RZ Pellets 0-0 Chelsea
The referee, quite rightly, decides against adding any time onto the end of the first and we are goalless at the break. Chelsea have had the majority of play and efforts on goal, but the home side have held their own and probably deserve to be level.
While we are at the break, let me attempt to bring you the Pellets starting lineup that I promised earlier!
RZ PELLETS XI: Kofler, Seebacher, Weber, Baldauf, Zulj, Yncian, Trdina, Putsche, Standfest, Sollbauer, Drescher
Both teams are making their way back out. It looks like Chelsea are going to make a change. Jeremy Boga looks stripped and ready, but I'm not sure who has been withdrawn.
RZ Pellets get us back underway.
There's a few tackles being made at the start of the second half, but there have been no chances of note. With the World Cup representatives due back at the weekend, it could be an important 45 minutes for Chelsea's youngsters to impress Jose Mourinho.
Following up from earlier, Lewis Baker was the player substituted at half time.
GOAL! RZ Pellets 1-0 Chelsea (De Oliviera)
I was just about to write that a goal was coming, but before I could do so, it came! The Austrian outfit take the lead through Silvio de Oliviera, who forced the ball over the line from six yards despite the best efforts of Petr Cech. It looked a close call, but the ball was definitely over the line.
Now then, what have Chelsea got in response? Jose Mourinho's first act is to make three alterations, with Nathan Ake, Oriol Romeu and Dominic Solanke all being introduced to the action.
It might take a set piece to get Chelsea back into this game. Some of their youngsters are blessed with pace and power in attack, but they are lacking experience and that could count against them.
One man who could potentially unlock the Pellets defence is Jeremy Boga. He is operating just behind the main striker and the home side looked petrified of his pace.
SAVE! Petr Cech has produced a stunning save to keep Chelsea in this match. The ball was swung in from the left for Silvio de Oliviera to head the ball towards goal but Cech somehow clawed his effort over the crossbar. That would have acted as a reminder to Jose Mourinho that the experienced stopper is keen to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge,
The Austrian team have dominated the last few minutes. They are really capitalising on Chelsea's lack of experience down the left flank. Can Chelsea find something from somewhere to maintain their unbeaten run in pre-season? It's looking doubtful at the moment.
It's been tough going for Dominic Solanke in attack since his arrival. He has been feeding on scraps and his frustration gets the better of him when he concedes a foul in the corner.
John Terry decides to take matters into his own hands by surging forward from his own half, and he is able to win a corner for his troubles. However, despite doing well to get his head on the ball, Branislav Ivanovic's header is straight at Alexander Kohler.
SUBSTITUTION! Nathaniel Chalobah is coming on for the final 10 minutes to replace Nemanja Matic, who has picked up a knock to his foot. Hopefully it it's not too serious for the midfielder.
GOAL! RZ Pellets 1-1 Chelsea (Boga)
For once, I get a prediction correct! I suggested earlier that Jeremie Boga could be the man to get Chelsea back on level terms and he has done exactly that. It's a terrific finish too. The Frenchman collected the ball from 25 yards before advancing past the defender and flicking the ball into the net from 12 yards.
Moments after his goal, Boga was given the opportunity to double his tally from a set piece on the edge of the area, but he could only curl his attempt over the crossbar.
There will be three minutes of added-on time. Both teams look like they want a winner.
Chelsea throw Branislav Ivanovic up front but he is unable to provide a decisive touch when trying to set up a teammate on the edge of the penalty area.
FULL TIME: RZ Pellets 1-1 Chelsea
The final whistle has been blown in Austria and Chelsea have been held to a 1-1 draw by RZ Pellets. The Blues had the better of the first half, but they can have no complaints in the second after the home side showed plenty of fight to ensure that they earned a share of the spoils.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will be encouraged by the performances of some of his younger crop, but an experienced defence showed a few frailties after the break.
That will be all from Sports Mole's coverage of this match. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you return when Chelsea return to action at the weekend. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
