Chelsea produced a scintillating display to thrash Ajax 5-1 at Stamford Bridge, with a youthful side led by the impressive Estevao and Enzo Fernandez securing their second consecutive win in the Champions League.
The match got off to a dramatic start when Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor was shown a straight red card in the 17th minute for a reckless lunge on Facundo Buonanotte. The extra-man advantage was swiftly capitalized on by Chelsea, as Marc Guiu tapped in from close range to open the scoring.
Moises Caicedo soon added to the tally, firing a deflected strike from 25 yards past 41-year-old goalkeeper Remko Pasveer. Although Ajax were given a lifeline when Wout Weghorst converted a penalty, Chelsea restored their two-goal lead when Enzo Fernandez scored from the spot after being fouled by Weghorst.
The first half was capped off in style when Estevao, who had been fouled by James McConnell, was handed the ball by Fernandez and dispatched the penalty into the top left corner. The Brazilian teenager's impressive display drew praise from Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, who likened him to Cole Palmer.
The second half began with substitute Tyrique George adding a fifth for Chelsea with a deflected strike. Despite attempts to pile on the misery, the hosts had done enough in the opening half to put the game out of sight.
The win marked a significant milestone for Chelsea, as they became the first team in the Champions League to have three teenagers score in one game. With an average age of 22 years and 163 days, their starting XI was the second youngest in the competition's history.
Maresca expressed his delight with the performance, highlighting the importance of Estevao's humility and eagerness to learn. As Chelsea continues to build momentum with four consecutive wins, their future looks bright, even without their star player Cole Palmer.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment
Be the first to comment on this article!