In a preseason match that was played in the wee hours of Thursday, Charlotte FC defeated Chelsea 5-3 on penalties, leaving Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel furious.
Up until the final second, the Blues had a 1-0 lead before the Major League Soccer team was given a penalty.
Daniel Rios, a Mexican, stepped up to score, forcing a penalty shootout to decide the friendly.
As Chelsea lost shockingly, Conor Callagher was the only player to miss his kick.
Tuchel responded, “I didn’t see it today,” when asked if the front three of Sterling, Kai Havertz, and Mason Mount would be the one he starts the Premier League campaign with.
“So, it doesn’t matter what I have in my mind. All that matters is what we see on the pitch. And I saw four accelerations in the second half, and they all came from Raheem. This is what he delivers.
“If we keep on struggling to not feel these things and to not finish these things off it will not be the first time that we get punished.”
Chelsea will now head back to their training facility in Orlando, where they will play Saturday night’s exhibition game against Premier League rivals Arsenal.