Brighton 1-1 Chelsea: Timo Werner scores on debut in pre-season friendly
Timo Werner wasted no time in getting off the mark for Chelsea as he found the net in the club’s friendly against Brighton – but Frank Lampard’s men were held to a 1-1 draw at the AMEX.
The German looks to have gelled in quickly to life at Stamford Bridge as he broke the deadlock just four minutes into his debut against the Seagulls.
The Blues looked to be heading home with a narrow win before Brighton hit back in the dying minutes through Pascal Gross, who hammered an effort home from the penalty spot in the 90th minute.
Timo Werner scored just four minutes into his first appearance for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea
Pascal Gross hammered home a penalty to bring the scores level in the 90th minute
The pre-season friendly saw 2,500 fans allowed in as the game was used in a pilot test event
The game saw football fans enter a top flight stadium for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic brought the sport to a halt in March.
Around 2,500 spectators were in attendance as both clubs took part in the Government’s pilot test event.
Chelsea offered a sign of their intentions for the new season by taking control of the game in the opening minutes.
Werner, who made the £50m switch to Stamford Bridge side from RB Leipzig in June, got his name on the scoresheet after getting on the end of Callum Hudson-Odoi’s skewed header across goal.
Werner looks to have settled in well to life at Chelsea after signing for the club in a £50m deal
Hakim Ziyech was substituted in the second half after injuring himself during a free kick
Shortly after the start of the second half, another new signing in Hakim Ziyech mis-hit a free kick and injured himself in the process – leaving Lampard sweating ahead of the new season and he was forced out of the action early.
Having been replaced by Conor Gallagher, Lampard’s side cruised into the later stages of the game. But Brighton found time for a late equaliser to deny Chelsea a win at the Amex.
Willy Caballero saved a threatening shot from Neal Maupay just moments before but could not keep out Gross’ 90th minute strike from the penalty spot.
