Chelsea 1-1 Borussia Dortmund: Mason Burstow seals unbeaten pre-season amid Nkunku injury scare

Chelsea’s 2023 pre-season tour of America ended in a draw after Mason Burstow’s late equaliser against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago.

Marius Wolf scored the opening goal of the game in the 80th minute with a tap-in from close range. Substitute Mason Burstow’s looping header nine minutes later was enough to seal a draw, giving the Blues a pre-season record of W3, D1, L1 as they head back to England ahead of their 2023/24 season beginning next Sunday.

Chelsea thought they should’ve had a penalty inside nine minutes. Excellent link-up play between Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku saw the France international tripped in the box by Mats Hummels, but nothing was given and Jackson was denied from close range.

Levi Colwill was the next to have a chance three minutes later. Ben Chilwell’s corner was flicked to the back post by Thiago Silva, though the defender, who signed a new six-year contract prior to the friendly, could only put over the bar from yards out.

Chelsea were forced into a change in the 22nd minute. Nkunku was forced off with a knee injury and replaced by Mykhailo Mudryk, with Mauricio Pochettino not wanting to take any risks ahead of next Sunday’s Premier League opener.

Jackson had a chance three minutes before half-time to put Chelsea ahead. Silva picked him out with an aerial ball over the top of the Dortmund defence, however his strike sailed over the crossbar.

Reece James was fortunate to still be on the pitch at half-time. A late, poor challenge on Ramy Bensebaini only received a yellow card.

Somehow Chelsea didn’t score through Carney Chukwuemeka in the 54th minute. Raheem Sterling played it across to Jackson, who played it back to Chukwuemeka, but his glorious chance was well blocked by Bensebaini to ensure it remained goalless.

With 17 minutes to play, Pochettino made his first four changes of the evening. Bashir Humphreys, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto and Ian Maatsen replaced Silva, Chilwell, James and Chukwuemeka.

The game had its first goal in the 80th minute. A deflected strike from the edge of the box fell into the path of Marius Wolf from close range and he coolly slotted past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

But substitute Mason Burstow clinched a late draw for the Blues at Soldier Field as his looping header found the far corner.