Chelsea 3-3 Johor Darul Ta'zim: Delap Scores Twice in Thrilling Draw

Chelsea Survive Late Johor Darul Ta'zim Scare as Delap Double Seals Thrilling 3-3 Draw

Chelsea ended their 2026 pre-season tour with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta'zim at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Sunday.

The six-goal contest saw the lead change hands several times, with Liam Delap scoring twice from the penalty spot before a late own goal denied the hosts a famous victory.

Arif Aiman and Bergson were among the scorers for Johor Darul Ta'zim, while Oscar Arribas also found the net for the Malaysian side.

Chelsea Fall Behind Early

Despite making wholesale changes to the starting lineup following their previous fixture against AC Milan, Chelsea began positively.

Nicolas Jackson and Estevao Willian both tested the Johor defence during the opening stages, but the hosts delivered the first major blow in the 14th minute.

Marcos Guilherme created the opening from the left before finding Arif Aiman inside the box. The forward made no mistake from close range to give Johor Darul Ta'zim a 1-0 lead.

Chelsea responded with pressure as the first half progressed, eventually finding an equaliser shortly before the break.

Delap Delivers From the Spot

Delap earned Chelsea a penalty after being brought down inside the area, and the summer forward stepped up confidently to level the contest.

His composed finish into the bottom corner made it 1-1 and gave Chelsea renewed momentum heading into half-time.

The Blues nearly completed the comeback before the interval, but Delap was unable to convert another promising opportunity created by Jackson.

Chelsea Take Control

Chelsea continued to push forward after the restart, while goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina was forced into action at the other end.

The visitors regained the lead shortly after the hour mark when Jamie Gittens was brought down inside the penalty area.

Once again, Delap took responsibility.

The striker calmly dispatched his second penalty of the evening, putting Chelsea 2-1 ahead.

It was an impressive individual contribution from Delap, who showed composure on both occasions.

Johor Fight Back

Chelsea's advantage lasted only a few minutes.

Arribas stepped up for a free-kick and saw his effort take a crucial deflection off Delap. The change of direction left Slonina unable to recover as the ball found the net.

At 2-2, the match became increasingly open, with both sides looking capable of producing a decisive moment.

Bergson Puts Hosts Ahead

That moment appeared to belong to Johor Darul Ta'zim.

With four minutes of normal time remaining, Bergson was given space outside the Chelsea penalty area. The Brazilian forward took advantage, producing a well-placed effort into the corner to put the hosts 3-2 in front.

Chelsea suddenly faced the possibility of ending their Asian tour with a defeat.

Late Drama Saves Chelsea

The Blues responded immediately.

Mykhailo Mudryk helped create the equalising opportunity when he found space to deliver a cross into the danger area.

Delap could not quite connect with the ball, but his presence still caused problems for the Johor defence. The delivery struck Cristian Glauder and deflected into the net.

The own goal restored parity and ensured Chelsea avoided defeat in a dramatic finale.

A Six-Goal Finale for Chelsea

The 3-3 result provided an entertaining conclusion to Chelsea's summer tour.

Delap's two penalties were a major positive, while the late equaliser demonstrated Chelsea's willingness to continue attacking until the final whistle.

Chelsea will now return to England to complete their preparations for the new season.

Their final pre-season test comes on Saturday, August 15, when they welcome Real Sociedad to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea 3-3 Johor Darul Ta'zim: Goals

Chelsea: Liam Delap 40' (pen), 62' (pen); Cristian Glauder 89' (own goal)

Johor Darul Ta'zim: Arif Aiman 14'; Oscar Arribas 65'; Bergson 86'

Final Verdict

Chelsea will have mixed feelings about the result. The Blues showed character by twice coming from behind and rescuing the match late, but conceding three goals will give the coaching staff plenty to assess before the competitive season begins.

For Delap, however, the night offered another encouraging moment as he continued to make his mark during Chelsea's pre-season preparations.