Timo Werner writes name in Chelsea history books with biggest goal of his career
Timo Werner wrote his name in the Chelsea history books with the biggest goal of his career last night.
And what a time he picked to score his first Champions League goal from open play in almost two years.
Mocked for his wasteful finishing all season and called out by his coach after a big miss in the first leg, Werner put the Blues in front against Real Madrid.
He won’t get many easier chances, but still, not bad for a player cruelly branded a “blind horse” by former Real star Rafael van der Vaart earlier this season.
And it seemed to lift his spirits too because he was everywhere after that in one of his best performances for Chelsea.
Yes, it took an Edouard Mendy masterclass to keep Real Madrid at bay in the first half.
But at times Thomas Tuchel’s youngsters made the ageing maestros look their age, with Thibaut Courtois forced into a series of big saves.
Real arrived with the tie firmly in the balance despite Christian Pulisic’s away goal in the first leg.
Chelsea could have put it to bed they were so dominant to start that game – but Karim Benzema’s equaliser gave the Spanish giants a sniff.
And you couldn’t question their pedigree. Real have won this trophy 13 times, and had key man and wily old defender Sergio Ramos back in action last night.
Zinedine Zidane, who doesn’t always get the credit he deserves as a coach, also started Eden Hazard against his old club.
And in the absence of fans, there was something sad about the silence that greeted his name being read out before kick-off.
Amazingly, Hazard’s 110 goals for Chelsea remain more than their entire starting XI have ever scored between them.
But the one-time superstar wasn’t a factor early on, despite him getting Jorginho booked for a tactical foul.
Werner was though. The German had missed a sitter in the first leg and thought he had scored here only for the linesman to rule him offside.
He could have been made to regret it if Mendy hadn’t pulled off a magnificent fingertip diving save to deny Benzema at the other end.
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But Werner then found his range, heading into an open goal from three yards after a Kai Havertz chip had beaten Courtois and come back off the crossbar.
Mendy was inspired again to deny Benzema before the first half was over, tipping over the Frenchman’s header from a Luka Modric cross.
Real had actually dominated possession, and at times Chelsea just couldn’t get near them. But the home side came out firing after the break.
Havertz hit the bar AGAIN at the start of the half, this time with a towering header from a Cesar Azpilicueta cross.
After a lovely flick from Werner, Mason Mount went storming through only to smash a shot over, and Courtois then denied Havertz with his boot.
The former Chelsea keeper then stopped N’Golo Kante too after a lightning-quick fast break from Werner.
The more they missed, the more you wondered if the Blues would live to regret it.
But Real just couldn’t find a way through, and their frustration showed in a series of rash challenges before it was over.
Eventually, Christian Pulisic’s patience was rewarded as he squared the ball to Mason Mount to make it a dream finish for the Blues.
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