Pedro grabs vital away goal as battling Blues earn draw in Germany

Pedro’s crucial strike scrambled Chelsea a frenetic 1-1 Europa League semi-final first leg draw at Eintracht Frankfurt. The Spain forward’s 12th strike of the season brought Blues parity in the tie – and a valuable away goal – after Luka Jovic headed the hosts into the lead.

Chelsea had to battle a hostile and raucous home crowd at the Commerzbank Arena, on a night when Ruben Loftus-cheek shone. He laid on the goal for Pedro, pictured, and bossed midfield every time chelsea dominated.

The Blues’ biggest problem, however, was maintaining that kind of control. Head coach Maurizio Sarri will probably be relatively satisfied with this result, but Chelsea will hope not to rue missed chances in next Thursday’s return leg. Andreas Christensen was lucky to avoid a red card on tense night for the Blues defence. Olivier Giroud also survived a furious frankfurt appeal for a penalty, the ball hitting the France forward’s body inside the area.

But despite all the setbacks and a sluggish start, Chelsea still merited the draw. Sarri left Eden Hazard on the bench, insisting the Belgium talisman was too tired to be involved from the off, and that led to a timid start, with Chelsea leaking a poor goal in the 23rd minute.

Filip Kostic cantered down the left after Giroud ceded possession cheaply, before whipping in a neat cross. A stooping Jovic flicked the ball to the far corner, but failed to add power to his effort. So when the ball bounced past Kepa Arrizabalaga and into the net, Chelsea looked stunned.

Finally Chelsea settled though, Loftus-cheek drilling just wide and Willian cutting back when space had opened up for a shot. And just when the Blues feared being thwarted in the first half, Loftuscheek teed up Pedro and the Spaniard blasted home.