Delap finally got his name on the scoresheet, scoring twice in Chelsea 3-3 pre-season draw against Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Liam Delap scored twice as Chelsea ended their pre-season tour with a 3-3 draw against Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim, giving the striker a timely confidence boost ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Xabi Alonso made wholesale changes to his starting XI after Chelsea’s impressive 3-0 victory over AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday. With the Blues playing on consecutive days, the Spanish manager opted to rotate his squad heavily for the final game of their tour.
For Delap, the match provided an important opportunity to make an impact after a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old managed only two goals in 41 appearances across all competitions last season, but he matched that entire tally against Johor in Malaysia.
Both of Delap’s goals came from the penalty spot, with the striker showing composure to convert the chances and twice put Chelsea ahead. The first came after Arif Aiman had given the hosts an early lead, before Delap levelled from 12 yards.
Our final pre-season tour fixture ends level. 🇲🇾⏹️ pic.twitter.com/PBDe3kY3BI
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 9, 2026
Chelsea then regained the advantage through another Delap penalty, but their lead was short-lived. Robert Sanchez was beaten by a deflected free-kick from Oscar Arribas in the 65th minute as Johor continued to threaten the much-changed Blues side.
The Malaysian club refused to settle for a share of the points and eventually found another equaliser to complete an entertaining 3-3 draw. Although the result was not what Chelsea would have wanted, Alonso will have gained useful minutes for several players who did not feature heavily in the win over Milan.
For Delap, however, the biggest takeaway will be his two goals. After struggling to find the net consistently during his first campaign at Chelsea, the striker will hope his double in Malaysia can provide the momentum needed to start the new season strongly.
Chelsea will now return to London to complete their preparations for the new campaign. Their final pre-season test comes next Saturday against Real Sociedad, giving Alonso one final opportunity to assess his squad before competitive football begins.
