Balotelli in sue threat
apart and Chelsea staged a remarkable fightback.
They pulled one back on 63 minutes as Willian found Pulisic, his ball flashed across the goal and Azpilicueta – despite looking offside but then being cleared by VAR – slotted home at the back post.
On 69 minutes, Ajax had two players sent off, reducing them to nine men. First, Daley Blind got his second yellow card for a foul on Abraham, then all hell broke loose when Veltman got his marching orders too.
Referee Gianluca Rocchi gave a penalty after Veltman handled Callum Hudson-Odoi’s shot and, amid the protests, sent off the Ajax defender.
Up stepped Jorginho to convert his second spot-kick of the night.
Then, 16 minutes from time, Chelsea grabbed an equaliser. Kurt Zouma headed against the crossbar, substitute Reece James then smashed an unstoppable shot through a crowd of players.
The roof came off the place. But still they weren’t finished. Azpilicueta thought he had won it after 78 minutes only for VAR to rule it out for a handball. FROM BACK PAGE with an own goal. Then Joel Veltman saw red for handball.
Jorginho pulled it back to 4-3 from the spot before substitute Reece James rammed the ball home through a crowded penalty box for a dramatic equaliser two minutes later.
Azpilicueta believed he had won the game for his side with an angled drive with just 12 minutes left. But VAR ruled his effort out THEY CAME for the Chelsea juggernaut, but stayed to be tormented by a player recommended to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
Hakim Ziyech (above) was the subject of a recent text from former Rafael van der Vaart. The former Tottenham midfielder is on a mission to get the Ajax magician to White Hart Lane next season.
“I really hope he goes to Tottenham,” said Van der Vaart. “I sent a message to Levy. I said: ‘Get Ziyech after this season’. I am convinced he becomes a sensation in London.”
Well, he was right about that. Ziyech mesmerized Chelsea with his skill, creativity and delivery from wide.
It was his sumptuous 20th-minute ball that allowed Quincy Promes to ghost inside Cesar Azpilicueta like Ethan Hunt to head home.
Ziyech then left keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga wondering, quite literally, what had hit him to put Ajax 3-1 up.
The Morocco star powered in a corner which cruised over every head waiting in the box, smacked the back post, rebounded into Kepa’s face and nestled in the back of the net. for handball. With nine men Ajax still attacked and full-back Noussair Mazraoui forced a fine save from Arrizabalaga. Substitutes Callum Hudson-Odoi (left) and Michy Batshuayi also blew chances to grab a winner for the home side.
The epic draw leaves Chelsea second in Group H on seven points with Ajax top. Chelsea next travel to Valencia – 4-1 winners over Lille – on November 27. MARIO BALOTELLI could be sued by Verona council after walking off the pitch in protest at racist abuse.
The former Manchester City striker, now at Brescia, kicked the ball into the stands and walked off during Sunday’s game at Hellas Verona.
Balotelli (above) eventually returned to score his side’s consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat.
But Hellas Verona are refusing to accept the video evidence of the abuse, while the local council is considering suing Balotelli for defamation.
The threat has been issued despite Hellas Verona being ordered to close part of their stadium for one game by Serie A’s disciplinary commission as punishment for the racism.
After the match, Luca Castellini, the head of the Verona ultras, was banned by the club for 11 years for saying Balotelli never could be “completely Italian”.