SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 19 hrs 6 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
CL
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 5, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
A

4-4

Jorginho (5' pen., 71' pen.), Azpilicueta (63'), James (74')
FT(HT: 1-3)
Abraham (2' og.), Promes (20'), Arrizabalaga (35' og.), van de Beek (55')

Frank Lampard reflects on "mad" night at Stamford Bridge

:Headline: Frank Lampard reflects on 'mad' night at Stamford Bridge: ID:377576: from db_amp
Chelsea came from 4-1 to draw 4-4 with nine-man Ajax.

Frank Lampard had many memorable nights during his 13 years as a Chelsea player, but not even he could remember one as dramatic as the 4-4 draw with Ajax.

The Blues came from three goals down to snatch a point from a spellbinding Champions League encounter against last season's semi-finalists.

They scored two own-goals and two penalties while Ajax had two players sent off on a chaotic night at Stamford Bridge.

Having trailed 4-1, the Blues battled back to level and then Cesar Azpilicueta thought he had scored a winner, only for VAR to step in.

Nevertheless, a point from a breathless match keeps Chelsea firmly in the race to qualify from Group H.

"I'm relieved from the position we were in at half-time, I told the players we could still draw 3-3 or win it," said the Chelsea boss.

"I felt we were still in the game, we just needed a bit more in the final third and to lift the stadium.

Cesar Azpilicueta saw what would have been a winning goal ruled out by VAR (John Walton/PA).

"But then I'm probably a bit disappointed, in the last 10 minutes, not to win it.

"Today was just a mad one, there are not too many I can compare it to from my day, with the VAR which is a new animal, and the red cards. I can't dissect any of that because I need to watch it back.

"But take all that out of it, and the spirit and the character was something I love. We need to tighten up for sure, but with that spirit we can go places.

"You need characters, you need personalities. It would be easy to turn it in at 3-1, or 4-1, but we didn't.

“We had some mad nights and great nights here over the years, but this is certainly up there”
- Frank Lampard

"We had some mad nights and great nights here over the years, but this is certainly up there."

Ajax took a shock lead inside the opening two minutes when Tammy Abraham inadvertently diverted a Quincy Promes free-kick into his own net.

But moments later Jorginho equalised from the penalty spot after a foul on Christian Pulisic.

However, Promes headed the second before Hakim Ziyech's free-kick beat Kepa Arrizabalaga, came back off the post and hit the keeper full in the face before bouncing in.

Chelsea celebrate Reece James' equaliser (John Walton/PA).

It was four 10 minutes after half-time thanks to Donny Van De Beek's low drive, but the comeback began when Azpilicueta tapped in at the far post.

Then, in another crazy 60 seconds, Daley Blind was shown a second yellow card for fouling Abraham and Joel Veltman followed him down the tunnel for handling Callum Hudson-Odoi's shot.

Stamford Bridge was rocking as Jorginho rolled in his second penalty of the night, and it was pandemonium moments later when substitute Reece James lashed home from a corner to equalise.

VAR ruled out Azpilicueta's dramatic late 'winner', spotting an Abraham handball among the pinball in the Ajax box leaving the Dutch champions suddenly grateful for a point.

Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag said: "I'm very disappointed. I think we could have had four points from our two games against Chelsea but we only have one.

"Some decisions went against us, but we played magnificently. One moment everything changed.

"First Daley Blind, then Veltman, and a penalty, I felt we got punished many times."

amp_article__377576 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-11-06 06:25:58:
html db last update - 2021-02-23 01:30:40 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Frank Lampard

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .