Liam Delap finally found the back of the net for Chelsea yesterday, scoring his first goals since January as Xabi Alonso’s side drew 3-3 with Johor Darul Ta’zim in their final pre-season tour match. For a player who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Ipswich in 2025 for a reported £30m, seeing him put up a brace in a single game after a tough run is definitely going to get fans talking.
Delap’s Double Sparks Questions After Quiet Season
This match was a wild one, but the real story has to be Liam Delap. The 23-year-old forward matched his entire goal tally from last season in just one game against the Malaysian champions. Seriously, he only managed two goals in 41 appearances across all competitions last season. So, to hit that number again, even if both came from the penalty spot, is a huge moment for him. His spot-kicks put Chelsea ahead after Arif Aiman snagged an early opener for the hosts, giving the Blues a much-needed lead. Is this the breakout he needs? It’s the question everyone’s asking after such a quiet year.
A Wild Ride Ends in a Draw
Alonso went with an entirely different XI for this match, which makes sense given they played two games in successive days, including a 3-0 win over AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday. The lead Delap gave them didn’t last long, though, as Robert Sanchez was beaten by Oscar Arribas’ deflected 65th-minute free-kick just three minutes later. Then, things got really tense when Bergson found the bottom corner four minutes from time, making everyone think Johor Darul Ta’zim had won it. But hold up, the Blues pulled off an 89th-minute equalizer thanks to an Antonio Glauder own goal, who headed in a Mikhailo Mudryk cross. The game was supposed to go to a penalty shootout, but players never re-emerged, leaving us all scratching our heads.
So, what’s next for Chelsea? They’re heading back to London to face Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, August 15. That’s their final pre-season match before the real action starts. For Delap, these two goals are a start, but the question of “what next?” is still hanging in the air. We’ll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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