Chelsea's pre-season friendly against Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim concluded in an unusual manner on Sunday, as the opposing team's players left the field, preventing a planned penalty shootout.
The match, held at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, ended in a 3-3 draw after an at times contentious game. Liam Delap scored twice for Chelsea, and an own goal in the 89th minute secured the draw for the second-string side managed by Xabi Alonso.
Following the regulation 90 minutes, spectators anticipated a penalty shootout, a common occurrence in some pre-season fixtures. However, Johor Darul Ta’zim players departed the pitch instead of participating. Chelsea's head of first-team operations, Kevin Campello, was reportedly heard stating that the shootout was "written in the contract," yet it ultimately did not take place without an official explanation.
Pre-season games have seen shootouts occur even when a team wins within 90 minutes. For instance, Arsenal recently defeated Borussia Dortmund on penalties despite losing the match 3-2.
Many of Chelsea's senior players did not feature in this match. Notable exceptions included Estevao and Liam Delap. The midfield was captained by Dario Essugo. The previous day, a different Chelsea squad, featuring players like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, beat AC Milan 3-0, with Joao Pedro scoring two goals.
Chelsea is scheduled to play their final pre-season game against Real Sociedad next Saturday. Their new season begins the following week with an away match against Fulham.