By FRANCO PANIZO
NEW YORK — Yankee Stadium looked more like Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but even that could not help lift Chelsea to victory.
The Champions League winners settled for a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in their 2012 World Football Challenge match on Sunday, and they needed a late goal from Lucas Piazon to make that happen. Piazon scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute to cancel out Nene's first-half finish, sending the pro-Chelsea crowd of 38,202 into a frenzy.
Chelsea fielded a mixture of their first team and reserves at the beginning of the match and that allowed for PSG to look the more dangerous side in a back-and-forth first half. Nene eventually scored for the French club, knocking in a rebound at the half-hour mark after Javier Pastore got a shot off despite having three defenders in his vicinity.
With the insertion of the likes of Ramires and John Terry in the second half, the Blues got an injection of life while PSG could not keep up the same tempo after making a plethora of substitutions of their own. Chelsea began to create more chances as a result, and they were rewarded when Ramries slipped in a low cross from the right that substitute Piazon buried into the back of the net.
Both teams then exchanged a number of chances in the closing minutes of the match and Chelsea appeared to have one last chance at the death. But match official Edvin Jurisevic ended the game before they could take their corner and the entertaining match ended in a stalemate.
Chelsea will next play the MLS All-Stars at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. on Wednesday night.
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What do you think of Chelsea's 1-1 draw with PSG? Who impressed you? Think the MLS All-Stars can beat Chelsea?
Share your thoughts below.
The COSMOS are back, for now in NASL and 2016 MLS- but last night the new York atmosphere was there- nothing big but you could feel what the Cosmos will receive from new york cultures from all over the world- as an example i see seattle, portland, vancouver,montreal,tfc, los angeles galaxy, red bull, dc with new stadium,re volution with new stadium and rebranding, kc as teams that will spend for top DPs because of the Cosmos move to the MLS- the Cosmos will have a great impact on those teams
I made it out to the game last night, and a big thanks for Fox Soccer for the tickets. PSG looked great in the first half and really kept Chelsea on their heals. In the second half, Chelsea put on a lot of talented guys and it really made a different, where as PSG had pulled off some of their top guys. Great atmosphere, and the place went nuts when Chelsea got their goal. As a fan of neither team, definitely an enjoyable game as both teams played pretty hard for most of the match.
Why is this a “when?” It’s most likely never going to happen. Sorry.
Imagine when the Cosmos come back, you could feel the new York atmosphere. the Cosmos will make a top sss and attract top talent. Only ifl Red bull could use their 3 dps with top talent
Thought PSG looked very solid going forward, both teams were more lax in the 2nd half (not lacrosse) cause of substitutions and the fact that it was a friendly. Thought Pastore was terrific. Should be a stud in 2014 world cup for Argentina