Chelsea 3 - Roma 3: Eden Hazard comes to Antonio Conte's rescue in thrilling encounter

ANTONIO CONTE had endured a dark night of the soul after Chelsea’s defeat at Crystal Palace. Last night it was his nerves which would have been shredded.

Eden HazardGETTY

Eden Hazard scored twice in Chelsea's 3-3 draw with Roma

Chelsea’s Champions League campaign had a spanner thrown into the works as the ghosts of Manchester City came back to haunt them – former Etihad star Edin Dzeko scoring twice and Aleksandar Kolarov netting another, as Roma came back from two goals down to lead 3-2.

Eden Hazard saved a point for Chelsea with a late header – but they had been staring at a third defeat in a row for the first time under Conte up until then. 

First-half goals from David Luiz and Hazard had given them a lead they barely justified, with Roma always dangerous in as un-Italian a game as you could imagine.

In the end the Chelsea manager will have been grateful for the point – but it is clear that all is not well with Conte’s team right now.

Chelsea had won their opening two Champions League games, a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid three weeks earlier being Conte’s stand-out result of the season so far, and a win last night would put them in firm control of Group C – especially with Atletico only drawing with outsiders Qarabag earlier in the evening.

But two straight defeats in the league had exposed the weaknesses in the squad that Conte had long been warning about, and although last night the Chelsea manager was able to welcome back top scorer Alvaro Morata, he was still without N’Golo Kante and Victor Moses.

As expected, Conte drafted defender Luiz into his midfield to strengthen that department.

Roma came into the game lying fifth in Serie A but some nine points behind leaders Napoli, having won seven of their opening nine games this term. 

Conte said his soul had been “bad” after the dismal defeat 2-1 at Palace at the weekend, and demanded an improvement.

With Roma pressing high early on, Diego Perotti raced through the middle and shot just over.

But after 11 minutes came the breakthrough Chelsea needed – thanks to Luiz. 

The flamboyant Brazilian picked up a loose ball 25 yards out. His first shot came back off a defender, but the Chelsea player reacted much quicker than Roma’s dozing midfield, and his curling right-foot sped into the corner past goalkeeper Alisson Becker. 

The Italians, though, were having plenty of possession, and looking dangerous. Again Perotti tried his luck from the edge of the area but Thibaut Courtois saved. And then Radja Nainggollen burst through on the right and the Belgian saved superbly with his legs.

On the break the Italians were rapid – and Perotti should have done better then shoot straight at Courtois.

But then, out of nowhere, Chelsea struck again. Hazard picked up a loose ball, fed Morata, and when the Spaniard’s shot span up off a defender, there was the Belgian to slot home unmarked from 10 yards for his first club goal of the season.

DzekoREUTERS

Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko netted twice for Roma

Roma were not quiet for long. The determined Kolarov ran past Cesar Azpilicueta and his shot took a deflection off Andreas Christensen to leave Courtois helpless.

Just after Luiz made a length of the field run to set up Morata for a shot the Spaniard fluffed, Conte took the Brazilian off, much to his disgust. 

On went Pedro as, with his team being overrun, the Chelsea manager switched formation.

Gerson shot over as Roma kept plugging away for the equaliser, and then the same player nodded just over. Chelsea were struggling to hang on.

The fact was they could not. A long straight ball upfield by Federico Fazio found Dzeko drifting away from Christensen – and the Bosnian struck a superb first-time volley over Courtois.

It was no more than the Italians deserved. And they piled on the pain six minutes later. 

Tiemoue Bakayoko gave away an unnecessary free kick, Kolarov took the free kick and there was Dzeko again, this time glancing in a lovely header. The old City one-two. 

But incredibly, Chelsea fought back as Pedro crossed and Hazard nodded them level.

Dull, these group games.

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