Chelsea equal club record after mighty Maribor scare

Maribor: Chelsea stretched their unbeaten start to the season to a club record-equalling 16 games with a 1-1 Champions League draw against Maribor on Wednesday but the 2012 winners were given a mighty scare.

The Slovenian upstarts, destroyed 6-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, took the lead in the 50th minute when Macedonia winger Agim Ibraimi curled in a spectacular left-foot shot from the corner of the box.

Maribor had a great chance to make it 2-0 on the hour when the unmarked Luka Zahovic blazed the ball over the bar from six metres with an open goal at his mercy.

Chelsea suddenly upped the tempo and it came as no surprise when Nemanja Matic equalised with a tap-in at the far post after captain John Terry had headed on a right-wing corner from Cesc Fabregas.

The Londoners spurned an excellent opportunity to grab all three points when man of the match Eden Hazard was tripped in the box with five minutes to go.

The Belgian picked himself up off the turf to take the penalty kick but his effort was saved by Jasmin Handanovic.

Chelsea still look well placed to qualify for the knockout stages with eight points from four games in Group G.

Maribor can also consider themselves in with an outside chance of reaching the last 16 on three points.