Chelsea ended its preseason tour of Asia with a 3-3 draw against Johor Darul Ta'zim, in a match that once again showed both sides of Xabi Alonso's team.

The Blues started with a lineup full of players looking to earn a place in the rotation and, although they managed to control possession for long stretches, they once again ran into one of the problems that has followed the team throughout preseason: the difficulty of turning that dominance into clear goalscoring opportunities.

Johor took advantage of one of those lapses. A counterattack ended with Guilherme providing the assist for Arif, who opened the scoring in the 14th minute and forced the English side to respond.

Delap delivers when Chelsea needs him most

After a move involving Gittens inside the box, Liam Delap won a penalty and then stepped up to convert it, making it 1-1 before halftime.

The English striker would go on to become one of the main protagonists of the match.

After the break, Xabi Alonso once again adjusted his setup and opted for a system similar to one used earlier in preseason. Delap scored again from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute, completing his brace and putting Chelsea ahead for the first time in the match.

An immediate response changes the game

Just a few minutes later, Spaniard Óscar Arribas produced one of the best moments of the match with a free kick that restored parity.

The former Alcorcón player had been one of the biggest threats to the London side's defense throughout the match, particularly because of his ability to create danger out wide.

Bergson struck in the 86th minute to put Johor ahead, completing a comeback that appeared set to end Chelsea's tour with a defeat.

One final twist prevents defeat

A cross from Geovany Quenda ended with Glauder turning the ball into his own net in the 89th minute, sealing the final 3-3 scoreline and preventing the Blues from ending their trip to Asia with a defeat.

The result once again provided positive signs in attack, especially through Delap's brace, but it also exposed defensive issues that Xabi Alonso will still need to address before competitive matches begin.

The time for experiments is running out

The team will now return to England, where it still has a demanding friendly against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge before the start of the Premier League.

After several weeks of experiments, tactical changes and opportunities for different players, the room for further testing is beginning to shrink.

Xabi Alonso will now be tasked with finding the right balance in a squad that has shown attacking talent, but also significant moments of vulnerability.