Chelsea needed a hero and Nigerian-born star Lesley Ugochukwu stepped up with the equalizer against Inter Milan in pre-season.
Marcus Thuram's opening goal in the first half of Chelsea's pre-season campaign was canceled out by a late Lesley Ugochukwu goal as the Blues played Serie A champion Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
![Nigerian-born Lesley Ugochukwu saves Chelsea against Wrexham](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/25072024/0d87dce7-6a19-4af0-978f-80746b23b771.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
07:00 - 25.07.2024
Nigerian-born Lesley Ugochukwu saves Chelsea against Wrexham
A Nigerian savior in Lesley Ugochukwu rescues Chelsea from defeat to Wrexham in pre-season.
The Swiss defender Yann Sommer denied a close chance to teenage striker Marc Guiu early in the game, giving the Blues the upper hand.
![Tosin and Madueke model Chelsea's new away jersey](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/29072024/d2760e61-a65a-4ca9-b770-f6ce03558e80.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
10:20 - 29.07.2024
Tosin and Madueke model Chelsea's new away jersey
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Chelsea 1-1 Inter Milan
But even though they had a strong start, Inter scored the first goal on the 25th minute.
![Chelsea needed a hero and Nigerian-born star Lesley Ugochukwu stepped up with the equalizer against Inter Milan in pre-season.](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/11082024/6339b24f-e72e-493e-96c6-42022d5c70f2.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
Joaquin Correa's through-ball found French attacker Thuram, who scored past the helpless Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal.
In the first half, Guiu had another chance when the Spaniard latch onto a cross from Marc Cucurella, but Sommer was there at the right moment to maintain his team ahead 1-0.
Following the resumption, Chelsea dominated play and had multiple opportunities to tie the score.
Malo Gusto's cross was cleared and landed nicely in front of substitute Christopher Nkunku, Sommer stymieing his effort at an acrobatic move.
Although Maresca's team kept trying to score, the Inter Milan defense was proving to be a formidable foe.
The next player to try to challenge the goalkeeper was Cole Palmer, but his close-range shot went wide.
![Chelsea needed a hero and Nigerian-born star Lesley Ugochukwu stepped up with the equalizer against Inter Milan in pre-season.](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/11082024/05ef34a9-7d2f-4b12-bbf1-f6f6887b180a.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
But with one minute remaining, Chelsea leveled the score due to a debut goal from Ugochukwu.
That turned out to be the final play of the match, as the home team managed to rescue a tie.
Ugochuwku, a Nigerian-born player, has previously helped the Blues win in preseason play.
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