Chelsea’s unbeaten EPL streak under Guus Hiddink continues after draw with Stoke

A LATE goal from Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf denied Chelsea a win in a tense draw at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday.

Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, left, and Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf battle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge, London, Saturday, March 5, 2016. (Steve Paston/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES

A LATE goal from Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf denied Chelsea a win in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday.

Chelsea took the lead in the 39th minute when Bertrand Traore’s shot from the edge of the area nestled in the bottom corner. Stoke persisted and drew level in the 85th as Diouf headed the ball past an out-of-position Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea, which plays French champion PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday, remains 10th with 40 points.

Stoke is in contention for European football next season, sitting 7th on 43 points.

The first half was a highly competitive affair with both teams creating early chances. It was Chelsea which made the initial breakthrough as Traore, who was standing in for the injured Diego Costa, struck home with a fine finish from the edge of the box. The second half continued in a similar fashion, with chances for each team. Stoke’s goal came after Courtois punched the ball straight to Diouf, who had the easy task of heading into an empty goal.

Against PSG, Chelsea needs to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg to progress to the quarterfinals of Europe’s biggest competition.

“We have rested one or two players but it’s good to see the players who came in, especially the young ones, like Traore and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, do well,” said Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink.

Originally published as Chelsea’s unbeaten EPL streak under Guus Hiddink continues after draw with Stoke