Zagreb had conceded in every home game in the league this season but kept a clean sheet against the Premier League side, who have now lost three of their last five matches in all competitions. Zagreb opened the scoring against the run of play when Orsic was sent through on goal on a solo counter-attack, outrunning Chelsea’s new recruit Wesley Fofana and beating goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with a delicate touch.
Chelsea had created scoring opportunities in the opening stages but were deflated by the goal and Thomas Tuchel’s side looked short of ideas in front of a resolute Zagreb defence. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made his debut alongside Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz in the front line but they failed to click while Arrizabalaga was called into action twice to deny Zagreb, the second an acrobatic save to parry a shot from distance. Chelsea did not threaten in the box until Tuchel made all five substitutions but Zagreb held firm. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic also made a crucial reflex save from a stinging Mason Mount shot late in the game.
Dortmund ease past Copenhagen
Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 3-0 victory over FC Copenhagen in their Group G opener yesterday with the Germans playing in front of a rare capacity 81,000 crowd for a European match. Captain Marco Reus rifled in for the lead in the 35th minute before Raphael Guerreiro added another just before the break and Jude Bellingham made it 3-0 in the 83rd with the hosts powered on by the famed ‘Yellow Wall’ with 25,000 standing fans.
Governing body UEFA has allowed standings fans in some matches in Europe this season, boosting capacity for some teams. Dortmund, missing several players through injury including goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, Mo Dahoud and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, were almost caught by surprise after 20 seconds with Copenhagen captain Zeca’s shot hitting the post.
They gradually took control and forward Anthony Modeste, who at 34 became the oldest Dortmund player to make his Champions League debut, fired over the bar after good work from Julian Brandt in the ninth minute. Portugal international Guerreiro did it much better after a one-two with Giovanni Reyna three minutes before the break to make it 2-0 after Reus had scored the opener.
Dortmund keeper Alexander Meyer, stepping in for Kobel and making his debut for the club, stopped a good effort from Lukas Lerager at the start of the second half to protect their two-goal advantage. The Danes quickly fell back again and Dortmund should have scored another well before Bellingham completed a quick transition in the 83rd. Dortmund next week play Manchester City, in action late last night against Sevilla in the other group match.
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