Chelsea 1 Inter Milan 2: Kondogbia scores spectacular own goal as Blues end off Far East tour with defeat

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Vaishali Bhardwaj29 July 2017

Chelsea suffered a controversial defeat in their final pre-season game in the Far East after losing 2-1 to Inter Milan in Singapore on Saturday.

Stevan Jovetic opened the scoring in added time of the first half when Inter were handed a penalty for Cesar Azpilicueta's foul on the 27-year-old despite the Spaniard appearing to touch the ball in the area.

Thibaut Courtois saved Jovetic's initial effort but the latter slot in the rebound before Ivan Perisic then fired in from a tight angle moments into the second half.

Chelsea were brought back into the game in bizarre fashion when Geoffrey Kondogbia netted a spectacular own goal, but they couldn't go on to find the equaliser to at least secure a draw - which will be a huge let-down for a side who next take on Arsenal in the Community Shield next week.

Inter Milan head coach Luciano Spalleti had spoken out ahead of the game about reports that Conte had been the Italian side's first-choice for manager, insisting he didn't care and was more focused on making sure his team put in a performance against Chelsea.

That they did on Saturday and, indeed, the Serie A giants nearly caught the Blues sleeping in just the second minute when a lofty ball over the Chelsea defence allowed Antonio Candreva to take a shot at goal. David Luiz managed to get back in time to deflect the ball into Courtois' path but it was certainly a warning sign for Conte's men.

Despite that scare, Chelsea quickly improved and Michy Batshuayi - who has been superb all pre-season - raced clear of the Inter defence to tee up Willian, but the Brazilian was crowded out before he could take a shot at goal.

With the score still goalless with six minutes of the first half to play, Inter goalkeeper Daniele Padelli was let off the hook when he failed to control a backpass but saw the ball roll just wide.

But it was the next incident in the game that would prove to be the talking point when the referee awarded Inter a penalty for Azpilicueta's apparant foul on Jovetic in the area - with the former insisting he had gotten the ball.

The decision stood and despite Courtois keeping out Jovetic's initial attempt, the Inter man reacted quickly to slot home the rebound.

Chelsea showed, certainly in this game, they are guilty of being slow out of the blocks after Jovetic scored seconds into the second half but was flagged as offside, which replays suggested he wasn't.

Inter didn't take long to double their advantage, however, and when Jovetic found Perisic on the left of the box, the latter drove a low shot from a tight angle that flew past Courtois and into the net.

Inter should have then gotten their third on the hour mark but Perisic, who had received Joao Mario's fine through-ball, decided to pass back to the Portugal international - with his subsequent effort being blocked by Courtois.

(Getty Images for ICC)
Getty Images for ICC

Conte reacted by bringing on defender Antonio Rudiger for his debut but Chelsea's goal, when it finally arrived, wasn't exactly how the Blues boss would have imagined his side getting it.

Kondogbia received the ball 45 yards out and, being under pressure from Batshuayi, he attempted to send it back to Padelli but struck the ball with such power and precision it flew over the Inter goalkeeper and into the net.

Chelsea thought they had levelled when Batshuayi netted a close-range shot but the flag went up, with replays showing once again the Blues striker was onside when he had latched onto Cesc Fabregas' pass.