/Chelsea vs Al Hilal LIVE: Club World Cup semi-final latest score and goal updates from fixture tonight

Chelsea vs Al Hilal LIVE: Club World Cup semi-final latest score and goal updates from fixture tonight

(EPA)

Chelsea begin their Club World Cup campaign in the semi-finals against Saudi side Al Hilal.

Thomas Tuchel will not be present due to contracting Covid and the Blues are searching for form after struggling to a 2-1 win over Plymouth in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The Londoners are looking to become world champions for the first time after securing their second Champions League last year by beating Manchester City in Porto.

For some at Chelsea, this is the last remaining major club honour left to win after defeat to Corinthians 10 years ago, having beaten Bayern Munich to land their first Champions League crown.

Al Hilal thrashed Al Jazira 6-1 to reach this stage, with former Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim eyeing an upset to face Palmeiras in the final, after the Brazilians beat Al Ahly 2-0 on Tuesday.

“It’s very difficult to be in this tournament, after 10 years you realise how difficult,” Cesar Azpilicueta said. “We lost the final at that time. Maybe I had a different feeling, it was my first season, it looked easier than it does but with time you realise how difficult it is to go all the way. We have to make the most of it. It’ll be difficult but hopefully the experience will help us in this tournament. I’m really motivated.”

Follow live goal and score updates below, plus build-up, team news, line-ups, analysis and reaction:

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

79 mins: Chance! Lukaku times a run in behind to perfection and carries the ball into the box. It’s good defending from Jang to sprint back and cut off the angle to goal. Lukaku is forced to play the ball back to Mount who shoots from range but has the effort blocked behind for a Chelsea corner.

Michael Jones9 February 2022 18:08

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

76 mins: Chelsea kick back into gear and work the ball forward on the left. It’s sent up to Lukaku who feeds Mount into the right side of the box. He takes a touch and shoots but can’t beat Al-Mayouf at the near post.

Better from Chelsea but mistakes haven started to creep into their play. Al-Hilal look confident in possession.

Michael Jones9 February 2022 18:03

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

73 mins: Hakim Ziyech is taken off and replaced with Mason Mount for Chelsea. The Blues are losing control of the game and need some energy and possession in midfield.

Al-Hilal win a corner and Pereira swings it into the box. Jang Hyun-soo wins the header but puts the effort wide of the near post!

Michael Jones9 February 2022 18:00

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

70 mins: Save! Another break from Al-Hilal sees Marega drives the ball down the right wing and cut into the box. He pulls it back to Ighalo who shoots but sees his effort blocked by Thiago Silva. Ighalo recovers the ball and lays it off to Kanno. Kanno sprints onto a first time shot and guides it towards the left hand post wher Kepa Arrizabalaga leaps across and palms the ball wide of goal.

Michael Jones9 February 2022 17:56

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

67 mins: Al-Hilal win a free kick after Havertz makes a foul in Chelsea’s half. The set piece is just under 30-yards out from goal and Matheus Pereira is waiting over it. He goes for goal but doesn’t beat the Chelsea wall.

The Blues try to break when the ball comes up to Havertz. He brings it into the midfield and is taken out by Cuellar who also picks up a yellow card.

Michael Jones9 February 2022 17:54

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

65 mins: Save! Kepa Arrizabalaga is called into action as Matheus Pereira threads the ball into the Chelsea box. Moussa Marega gets to the loose ball first and pokes it towards the near post but Arrizabalaga makes himself big and bundles it wide of goal.

That’s a warning sign for Chelsea. This game isn’t over yet.

Michael Jones9 February 2022 17:51

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

62 mins: Chance! N’Golo Kante chips the ball into the box and picks out Romelu Lukaku. He’s got his back to goal so nods the ball down to Hakim Ziyceh. Ziyech catches his first time shot as the ball bounces up and forces Al-Mayouf into diving save to his right.

Michael Jones9 February 2022 17:49

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

59 mins: Nearly! Al-Hilal break on the counterattack after catching Kovacic in possession. Cuellar drives the ball towards the Chelsea box and feeds it to Ighalo on the inside left. Ighalo rolls it onto his right foot and hits one from just outside the penalty area but Thiago Silva is well positioned to block the effort.

Michael Jones9 February 2022 17:46

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

56 mins: Marcos Alonso is played into the left side of the box and wins a corner as his attempted cross is blocked behind. Hakim Ziyech swings the ball into the middle and Cesar Azpilicutea wins the initial header. He glances over to the back post but Kai Havertz can’t keep it in play.

Andreas Christensen went down in the box under pressure from Gustavo Cuellar and there’s a VAR check for a potential penalty but nothing comes of it.

Michael Jones9 February 2022 17:43

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Al-Hilal 0 – 1 Chelsea

53 mins: Chance! Nice work from Al-Hilal who string together a few one-touch passes to work the ball down the right wing. It’s played inside to Odion Ighalo who lays it off to Mohamed Kanno for a shot from range. He strikes it well but the ball continues to rise and narrowly goes over the crossbar!

Michael Jones9 February 2022 17:39