Angry Thomas Tuchel lashed out at his players, accusing them of lacking effort, courage and cutting edge after Chelsea were beaten on penalties by Charlotte FC.
Christian Pulisic netted in the first half for the Blues in his homeland in front of a partisan crowd as his side dominated.
But Chelsea couldn’t find a second goal - raising concerns that once again that they lack the firepower of Liverpool and Manchester City having missed out on Robert Lewandowski. Charlotte equalised from the spot through forward Daniel Rios before Conor Gallagher missed in the shootout.
Tuchel said afterwards: “If we keep on struggling to not feel these things and to not finish these things off when they are, like, to finish, we will not be the first -- it will not be the first time that we get punished.
“This is what happens if you keep opponents alive, if you keep belief alive, if you keep the stadium alive. Anything can happen in football. That's why we love the game. This is on us.
“I had a feeling they played with more courage. They played man-on-man in almost man-on-man, man marking in the second half.
“We struggled to escape because we didn't move enough, and ball possession was not precise enough. Our movement with the ball was not balanced enough to escape the pressure. So it was a pretty even game in the second half, and it's not what we wanted, of course.”
Raheem Sterling came on to make his Chelsea debut as part of ten changes made by Tuchel at half time.
The ex-Manchester City forward had a quiet game with his best chance saved at the near post by substitute keeper Pablo Sisniega late on.
But Tuchel said afterwards: “I saw four accelerations in the second half and they all came from Raheem. This is what he delivers and there is no need for major doubts or huge criticism.
“But it is never important what the manager has in his head before pre-season, it’s the reality that counts. Every day in training and matches like this count and from there we go.”
Pulisic scored with a classy finish from close range, lobbing keeper Krisija Kahlina. Rios equalised after rookie defender Trevoh Chalobah had handled.
Sterling scored in the penalty shootout along with Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell.
But Conor Gallagher, auditioning for a place in Tuchel’s first-team Chelsea plans this season, blew an attempted panenka.
Former Derby winger Kamil Joswiak, 24, netted the winner to spark jubilant scenes for the home crowd at the Bank of America Stadium.
