Chelsea thwarted by Valencia in Champions League thriller

November 27, 2019 Valencia's Rodrigo Moreno in action with Chelsea's Kurt Zouma Action Images via Reuters

A freak goal from Valencia's Daniel Wass earned them a 2-2 draw in an epic encounter against Chelsea on Wednesday that left both sides waiting to book their place in the Champions League's knockout stage.

Valencia, who missed a glut of chances, had taken the lead through Carlos Soler but goals from Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic flipped the match on its head.

The Spaniards missed a penalty through Dani Parejo, but drew level late on when Wass netted a remarkable goal, shaping to centre before finding the net with an effort across goal.

The draw means both sides are on eight points after five games but Valencia have a better head-to-head record and they lead Group H. Ajax Amsterdam are third on seven points but with a chance to go top when they visit Lille later on Wednesday.

Valencia visit Ajax in their final group game and will likely have to win there to ensure they qualify, while Chelsea will book their place in the last-16 if they beat Lille at home.

Victory for either side at Mestalla would have sent them through and Valencia went ahead when Soler scored in the 40th minute after team mate Maxi Gomez had missed two gilt-edged opportunities.

Yet Kovacic levelled for Chelsea two minutes later, netting for the first time in 122 club games.

Chelsea's top scorer Tammy Abraham was carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking injury before halftime, although coach Frank Lampard said after the game the striker had only suffered a knock to the hip.

Valencia defender Jose Gaya was also taken off on a stretcher after fulltime having collapsed on the pitch.

United States international Pulisic put Lampard's side ahead in the 50th minute after a lengthy VAR review ruled him onside.

Valencia forward Rodrigo Moreno missed an open goal later in the half and then the home side were awarded a penalty.

But captain Parejo was denied from the spot by Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, spurning a second penalty in the competition after also missing in the defeat to Ajax Amsterdam.

The Spaniards eventually levelled in the 82nd minute with a remarkable goal from Danish midfielder Wass, who looked set to cross from the right wing but instead flummoxed Arrizabalaga by firing a shot across goal which bounced off the far post and into the net.

Valencia should have won the game in added time when Rodrigo failed to connect properly with a cross from close range, while Chelsea had a shot cleared off the line before then and Valencia keeper Jasper Cillessen denied Michy Batshuayi.

"We nearly won it, nearly lost it. It was end to end, not that we wanted it to be," Chelsea boss Lampard said.

"Parts of our performance I'm not mad on. We gave away too many chances. We missed a lot as well. That's something we're doing a lot of at the minute - not putting our chances away.