Chelsea's players celebrate their side's second goal, scored by Kai Havertz during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press
SALZBURG, Austria (AP) - Kai Havertz's second-half goal put Chelsea into the knockout stage of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 2-1 win at Salzburg.
Havertz curled in the winning goal from outside the area in the 64th minute for Chelsea to consolidate first place in Group E ahead of Milan's game at Dinamo Zagreb later. Chelsea moved four points clear of second-placed Salzburg, while Milan and Zagreb were both two points further back before the late match. One round remains after Tuesday's games.
Salzburg did well to stop the visitors' attacking forays until Mateo KovaÄić broke the deadlock with Chelsea's first chance in the 23rd. The home team's captain Maximilian Wöber blocked Christian PuliÅ¡ić's effort but only as far as KovaÄić, who guided the ball with the inside of his left boot inside the top left corner.
Pulišić was making just his third start for Chelsea this season and also teed up Havertz for the second goal.
Graham Potter's team seized control after the opener.
Salzburg goalkeeper Philipp Köhn did well to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shortly afterward, and the Gabon forward had another chance to make it 2-0 in the 32nd when he failed to beat Köhn in a one-on-one.
It seemed only a matter of time before the dominant visitors got a second goal but Köhn made a one-handed save to thwart Aubameyang again just before the break.
Matthias Jaissle's halftime talk evidently had an effect as Salzburg appeared transformed after the break.
Wöber produced a brilliant cross for Junior Adamu to equalize with one touch in the 49th.
But Pulišić cut around Wöber and Maurits Kjaergaard before setting up Havertz to reply with a strike that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Substitute Benjamin Šeško drew a smart save from Kepa Arrizabalaga in response and the Spanish keeper was alert again to stop Amar Dedić and Dijon Kameri late on.
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Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press
Chelsea's Jorginho, left, challenges for the ball with Salzburg's Benjamin Sesko during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press
Chelsea's Raheem Sterling controls the ball followed by Marc Cucurella during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
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Salzburg's Andreas Ulmer sees the yellow card during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press
Chelsea's Armando Broja challenges for the ball with Salzburg's Bernardo during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press
Salzburg's Strahinja Pavlovic jumps for a header with Chelsea's Armando Broja during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press
Chelsea's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga hits the ball during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press
Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press
Chelsea's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, left, challenges for the ball with Salzburg's Bernardo during the Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Chelsea at the Salzburg stadium in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
The Associated Press