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Maribor
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 5, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-1

Ibraimi (50')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Matic (73')

Jasmin Handanovic heroics deny Chelsea

Eden Hazard misses a penalty as Chelsea slump to a 1-1 draw away at Maribor in the Champions League.

Chelsea have been held to a 1-1 draw in Maribor after Jasmin Handanovic saved a late penalty from Eden Hazard to earn the Slovenians a point.

NK Maribor's Arghus reacts after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League Group G football match between NK Maribor and Chelsea in Maribor, Slovenia on November 5, 2014© Getty Images

Nemanja Matic cancelled out a strike from Agim Ibraimi but Hazard's error from the spot has left the Blues with work to do to make the last 16.

Chelsea started the game strongly, with Kurt Zouma having a header narrowly miss the top corner and Didier Drogba seeing a deflected effort well saved by Handanovic.

Maribor improved to at least make Chelsea think twice about throwing men forward, but it was the Premier League outfit who continued to look the more likely to break the deadlock.

Drogba could only find the hands of Handanovic from a 25-yard free kick while Schurrle drove the ball wide from distance as Maribor survived until the break.

However, Maribor stunned the visitors by taking the lead five minutes into the second half. The ball found its way over to the right where Agim Ibraimi was waiting to find the top corner with precision from 16 yards out.

Chelsea were shell-shocked, and after Diego Costa had fired over from eight yards Maribor should have doubled their lead, but Luka Zahovic remarkably missed the target from three yards out and Petr Cech already beaten.

The Blues kept knocking on the door, though, and with 17 minutes remaining they had their equaliser when Oscar's corner was flicked on by John Terry for Matic to tap in from a yard out.

Jose Mourinho's side deserved their equaliser, but Hazard should have given his team the lead after getting in behind the Maribor defence but Handanovic stuck out a leg to prevent the ball going into the bottom corner.

The Belgian turned provider for Costa shortly afterwards, but again, Handanovic produced a save to stop the forward's volley finding the top corner.

It appeared only a matter of time before Chelsea found the winner and after Hazard was tripped in the penalty area with five minutes remaining, it seemed as though they would register a third victory in four group fixtures.

However, Hazard, normally so composed from the spot, scuffed his effort straight down the centre of the goal to allow Handanovic to make the intervention to secure a point for the Slovenian champions.

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Diego Costa of Chelsea during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on August 12, 2014
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