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LONDON. — Two-time winners Chelsea began their Champions League campaign with a shock 0-1 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb. 

The Croatian champions have a woeful record in this competition — winning just five of 43 games before this meeting — but they stubbornly held on after taking a first-half lead. 

The dangerous Mislav Orsic netted the 13th-minute winner, running through from the halfway line and beautifully dinking a finish past the advancing Kepa Arrizabalaga. 

Dinamo came agonisingly close to a second but Stefan Ristovski’s thunderous, long-range effort was superbly tipped onto the bar by Arrizabalaga.

Deadline-day signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was handed his Chelsea debut and, although the ex-Arsenal skipper had a goal ruled out for offside, he largely looked off the pace. 

Armando Broja replaced Aubameyang just before the hour mark, but the Albanian had little impact in an overall disjointed performance from Thomas Tuchel’s men.

Chelsea launched a late onslaught on Dinamo’s goal and the hosts were relieved to see Reece James’ low shot rattle the foot of the post with five minutes remaining. 

Cole and Crouch, working as pundits on BT Sport, questioned the duo, with Crouch saying he would be “angry” if he was Thomas Tuchel. “It’s a lovely header from Petvokic for the goal but Koulibaly has got to do better,’ said Cole, who made 282 appearances as a player for Chelsea. 

“Fofana gets in the wrong position and Orsic — who has been a thorn in the side of English sides — it’s a lovely finish.’ Crouch added: “If I’m the manager, I’d be angry. Chelsea had it in the palm of their hand, they were cutting Zagreb open, I just thought they took liberties. 

“They weren’t clinical, the extra pass, and then Zagreb get something to hold onto. They’re no mugs either, they’ve got dangers up front, too.” Keown, who was on commentary for the game, said: “Incredible! I really thought Fofana, with the pace he has, should’ve caught him. I think Tuchel is looking at it and wondering how on earth he’s scored from there!”

Chelsea were opened up by a simple long ball before Kouliably’s error, which led to criticisms of the Blues’ midfield.

Tuchel’s side are struggling for numbers in that area with Ngolo Kante injured and Mateo Kovacic only just returning from injury, and the German has been forced to play the likes of Conor Gallagher out of position, with Mason Mount selected to play deeper in Croatia. Cole said: ‘We talked about the midfield pairing of Kovacic and Mount being balanced, but on this occasion it just wasn’t. 

“Watch Koulibaly, he’s got to recognise (the danger). It’s two versus one and it’s all ok, but as the ball gets played he has to get over and take him (Petkovic) out, but he doesn’t. Fofana also has to drop there — he goes in, he nibbles and then bang.” — BBCSport