Soccer-Havertz curler sends Chelsea into Champions League knockout stages
Chelsea put on a dazzling display in the first half, taking the lead in the 23rd minute through Mateo Kovacic's instinctive left-foot finish from 20 metres, but they wasted several chances to double their advantage before the interval.
"It's not easy to create chances against this team but we did, we created good chances from good play," Chelsea coach Graham Potter said. However, Kovacic's fine finish from the edge of the penalty area, after Havertz was dispossessed, settled the away team's nerves. The 2021 Champions League winners remained undeterred, with Jorginho's header cleared off the line before Havertz picked up Christian Pulisic's pass to settle the contest in style. It was his first goal from outside the penalty area for Chelsea.