Chelsea Ends Pre-Season Tour with Draw Against Johor Darul Ta’zim
Club Friendlies
Johor Darul Ta’zim 3 – 3 Chelsea FT
Delap joined Chelsea from Ipswich in 2025 for £30m [Getty Images]
Liam Delap scored his first Chelsea goals since January as Xabi Alonso’s squad ended their pre-season tour with a 3-3 draw against Johor Darul Ta’zim.
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Facing two matches in consecutive days, Alonso fielded a completely different lineup from the team that defeated AC Milan 3-0 in Jakarta the previous day.
Delap, who transferred to Stamford Bridge from Ipswich in 2025, had scored only two goals in 41 appearances last season. He matched that number against the Malaysian team, netting both penalties.
His goals put Chelsea briefly ahead after Arif Aiman had opened the scoring for the hosts. However, the lead was short-lived, as Robert Sanchez conceded a deflected free-kick from Oscar Arribas in the 65th minute.
The Malaysian champions believed they had clinched victory when Bergson struck four minutes before the final whistle. Nonetheless, the Blues equalized in the 89th minute with an own goal from Antonio Glauder, who headed in a cross from Mikhailo Mudryk.
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Although the match seemed likely to be decided by a penalty shootout, the players did not return to the field at Stadium Sultan Ibrahim Larkin.
Chelsea will head back to London and prepare for their final pre-season fixture against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, August 15.
Club Friendlies
Johor Darul Ta’zim 3 – 3 Chelsea FT
Delap joined Chelsea from Ipswich in 2025 for £30m [Getty Images]
Liam Delap scored his first Chelsea goals since January as Xabi Alonso’s side drew with Johor Darul Ta’zim in the final match of their pre-season tour.
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With two games in successive days, Alonso named an entirely different XI to the one that beat AC Milan 3-0 in Jakarta on Saturday.
Delap, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Ipswich in 2025, scored just two goals in 41 appearances across all competitions last season.
The 23-year-old matched that tally against Malaysian side – with both goals coming from the penalty spot.
The spot-kicks put Chelsea in front after Arif Aiman’s early opener for the hosts. But the lead lasted just three minutes when Robert Sanchez was beaten by Oscar Arribas’ deflected 65th-minute free-kick.
The Malaysian champions thought they had won it when Bergson found the bottom corner four minutes from time, only for the Blues to find an 89th-minute leveller through Antonio Glauder’s own goal when he headed in a Mikhailo Mudryk cross.
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The match was expected to be settled by a penalty shootout, but players never re-emerged at Stadium Sultan Ibrahim Larkin.
Chelsea will return to London before playing Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 15 August in their final pre-season match.
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