Chelsea closed out their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia with a heart-stopping 3-3 draw against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, a match that swung back and forth right up until the final whistle. Xabi Alonso’s side twice took the lead, only to be pegged back each time, before a fortunate late own goal spared their blushes at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
Home Side Strike First
Johor Darul Ta’zim, who cruised to the Malaysia Super League title last season dropping just two points along the way, made the perfect start in front of their own fans. Arif Aiman finished from close range in the 14th minute to send the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium into raptures and give the hosts a deserved early lead against Premier League opposition.
Chelsea, playing their entirely new starting eleven just 24 hours after beating AC Milan 3-0, needed a response, and they found one before the break. Liam Delap won and converted a penalty to level things up, the first of what would become a memorable brace for the young striker.
Delap Doubles Up, But JDT Refuse to Fold
The drama only intensified after halftime. Delap struck again from the penalty spot after Jamie Gittens was fouled in the box, coolly slotting into the bottom corner to put Chelsea 2-1 ahead. It looked like the visitors might be pulling clear, but Johor Darul Ta’zim had other ideas.
Just three minutes later, Oscar Arribas, the very player who had conceded the second penalty, made amends in dramatic fashion. His deflected free-kick took a wicked touch off Delap and wrong-footed Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina to level the score at 2-2. The Sultan Ibrahim crowd erupted again, sensing something special.
With four minutes left on the clock, Johor thought they had done enough to complete the great escape. Brazilian forward Bergson, who topped the club’s scoring charts with 27 goals last season, was given far too much space and drilled a superb 20-yard strike into the bottom corner to make it 3-2.
A Chaotic Finish
Chelsea were not done. Alonso had already turned to his bench, bringing on Mykhailo Mudryk and Dastan Satpayev in search of a response, and the substitution paid off almost immediately. Mudryk found space to whip in a dangerous cross toward Delap, who could not quite connect, but the ball cannoned off Johor defender Cristian Glauder and into his own net, leveling the score at 3-3 in the 89th minute and denying the hosts a famous victory.
What It Means for Chelsea
The result means little in the standings, but it offered Alonso a valuable look at his fringe players and academy talent on a demanding tour that saw Chelsea play four matches in quick succession. Liam Delap’s brace continues an encouraging pre-season for the striker, who will be expected to lead the line as Chelsea’s first-choice number nine this season.
For Johor Darul Ta’zim, a draw against a Premier League club represents an outstanding result and a huge confidence boost heading into their own domestic campaign, with Bergson and Arribas both underlining their quality against top-tier opposition.
Chelsea’s preparations for the new season continue at Stamford Bridge on August 15, when they host Real Sociedad in their final pre-season fixture before Premier League football returns.
