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Chelsea wrapped up their preseason tour of Asia on a frustrating note, settling for a 3–3 stalemate against Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim on Sunday.
Just under a day after a dominant win over AC Milan, a Chelsea lineup composed largely of youth players and peripheral squad members took on JDT, only to find themselves stunned by a 1–0 deficit within the opening 14 minutes.
The first half was far from impressive, but Liam Delap leveled things up before the interval, converting a penalty he earned after being dragged to the ground with a powerful finish.
Jamie Gittens drew a second spot kick around the hour mark, and Delap stepped up confidently once more, though JDT restored parity almost instantly via a deflected free kick that cannoned off Delap's back and crept past Gabriel Slonina.
JDT appeared to have snatched a late winner they arguably merited through Bérgson's low strike, but an own goal resulting from Mykhailo Mudryk's cross rescued Chelsea from a defeat.
Tosin's Troubles
Xabi Alonso fielded a notably youthful side but still found room for Tosin Adarabioyo at the heart of his three-man backline. The 28-year-old was the most experienced figure in the team, yet failed to justify that status.
Tosin appeared ill at ease in a high defensive line and was caught out for JDT's opening goal, and it wasn't long before he lost his cool and became embroiled in a confrontation with Kevin Medina, who had impressed for Qarabağ against Chelsea late in 2025.
It was hardly a display of leadership, and it spoke volumes that Tosin wasn't even handed the captaincy. The armband instead went to 21-year-old Dário Essugo, who stepped up to take on the role in his stead.
Mixed Auditions for Delap, Jackson
With João Pedro impressing this summer and Danny Welbeck brought in as reinforcement, it appears only one place remains in the squad for Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, or Emmanuel Emegha. With Emegha sidelined through injury, it was Delap and Jackson who were handed the opportunity to make their case here.
Many anticipated JDT would pose little threat to the two players fighting for their futures, but that proved far from the case as Chelsea's attacking pair were made to toil hard throughout the match in Malaysia.
Delap scored two well-taken penalties, having won the first through strong physical play, yet it still felt like a chance not fully taken. Jackson showed a bit more spark in possession and appeared more settled within Alonso's system, but he too fell below the required standard.
Emegha had been putting in solid performances against lower-level opposition before picking up his injury and may have already done enough to persuade Alonso of his value, even without featuring on this preseason tour.
Disciplinary Problems Reign Once Again
Significant attention was paid to disciplinary issues within the Chelsea dressing room last season under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, and steps were taken to remedy that this summer through the signings of experienced heads Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, neither of whom featured in this match.
The necessity of such steadying influences was put on full display as Chelsea appeared edgy and wound up throughout, admittedly in response to a series of robust challenges from the Malaysian hosts. Flashpoints erupted on several occasions when Alonso would have much preferred composure.
Even newly appointed set-piece coach Austin MacPhee was audibly heard telling someone on the JDT bench to "shut the f--- up" as players clashed on the pitch midway through the second half.
Playing with intensity is not inherently a problem — that extra edge can be a genuine asset when channeled properly. The issue for Chelsea is that several members of this group have yet to learn how to harness it effectively, which underscores precisely why Henderson and Welbeck were recruited in the first place.