Chelsea end season with draw against Leicester

Chelsea 1 Leicester 1

Chelsea were denied victory in Guus Hiddink’s final game in charge as Danny Drinkwater’s spectacular equaliser earned the newly-crowned Premier League champions a point.

Cesc Fabregas had put the Blues ahead on 64 minutes from the penalty spot after Nemanja Matic had been fouled.

There were glimpses of the future as chances were given to youngsters Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori, while suspended skipper John Terry – who may yet be part of Chelsea’s past – looked on.

But it was the present that still dogged the Blues, as Leicester ended their incredible campaign with a draw when Drinkwater arrowed in a shot from 30 yards.

Chelsea had been kept at bay during an open first half by Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel, who made three excellent saves shortly before the break to deny Willian, Fabregas and Baba Rahman.

On 26 minutes, fans rose to applaud Terry, who is still considering a contract extension offered earlier this week.

Chelsea broke through just after the hour mark. Abraham had a shot blocked and Matic picked up the loose ball before he was sent sprawling by a sliding Jeffrey Schlupp.

Fabregas converted the spot-kick but Leicester, who have only lost three league games all season, were not prepared to surrender.

Riyad Mahrez fired straight at Thibaut Courtois and N’Golo Kante curled over – but Drinkwater found the target with a superb long-range effort.

Abraham almost wrote his name into the headlines but curled an effort wide, as Chelsea’s forgettable campaign ended with them finishing 10th – 31 points behind the new champions.