- Chelsea booked their place in the Champions League last-16 following a late 2-1 victory in Rennes
- Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal in the first half looked like being enough to secure three points in the group game
- But Serhou Guirassy’s late equaliser looked set to rescue a crucial point for the French side
- However, Olivier Giroud came off the bench and pounced in stoppage time with a header to book last-16 place
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19
Olivier Giroud comes off the bench to score a late vital goal to send Chelsea into the last-16 of the Champions League.
Chelsea started this win over Rennes like a team possessed. They should have taken a fourth minute lead, but Timo Werner somehow blazed Callum Hudson-Odoi’s inch-perfect low cross over the bar from six yards.
The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute. Hudson-Odoi ruthlessly dispatching Mason Mount’s raking pass past Alfred Gomis to fire Chelsea ahead.
Having dominated the first clash between these two sides earlier this month, this tie appeared to be heading in an identical direction.
Rennes were pinning their hopes on Eduardo Camavinga, who missed first leg, but – at least for the first 35 minutes – the France international’s influence was minimal.
Much of that was down to Chelsea’s dominance, Mount squandering another golden opportunity after being set-up Ben Chilwell.
But the threat to Chelsea’s goal continued and Rennes grabbed the equaliser their display probably deserved when Guirassy lost Silva’s attentions to powerfully head Benjamin Bourigeaud’s corner past Mendy as the Blues conceded their first Champions League goal of the season in the 85th minute.
However, the host’s joy was short lived as Giroud stole the show after Werner was denied by Gomis in the dying moments.
