Ugochukwu Strikes Late To Salvage Draw For Chelsea Against Inter In Pre-Season Clash

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Lesley Ugochukwu scored a late equaliser for Chelsea, securing a 1-1 draw against Inter in their final pre-season match. Marcus Thuram had given the Serie A champions the lead with a first-half goal, but Ugochukwu levelled the score in the 90th minute.

Despite Chelsea's early dominance, it was Inter who struck first. In the 26th minute, Joaquin Correa found Marcus Thuram, who controlled the ball and fired a left-footed shot into the net. This gave Inter an unexpected lead against the run of play.

Chelsea created several chances in the first half but failed to test Inter's goalkeeper, Yann Sommer. They registered nine shots but couldn't find the back of the net before halftime.

Manager Maresca made several changes at halftime, including bringing back Cole Palmer after his Euro 2024 campaign with England. Levi Colwill hit the post early in the second half, and Christopher Nkunku's bicycle kick forced a smart save from Sommer.

The Blues continued to press for an equaliser. Their efforts were finally rewarded when Palmer's free-kick found Ugochukwu, who scored to make it 1-1.

Pre-Season Performance

Chelsea concluded their pre-season with only one win out of six matches (two draws, three defeats). Despite this, there were positives to take from their performance. The return of Palmer is a significant boost ahead of their upcoming fixture against Manchester City.

Maresca will be looking for improvements in front of goal. Chelsea had an expected goals (xG) total of 2.27 but managed to score only once, underperforming by 1.27. Out of their 21 shots, only seven were on target.

The late equaliser by Ugochukwu provided a morale boost for Chelsea as they prepare for the new Premier League season. The team showed resilience and determination to secure a draw against strong opposition.