CHELSEA 5-1 AJAX: Enzo Maresca’s side ran riot at Stamford Bridge to mark their 200th Champions League game in style on a night where the club’s young stars impressed
This was Chelsea’s 200th Champions League game – and it must go down as one of their most madcap European nights.
Three penalties in the first half, a red card (for once not against Chelsea) and a record-breaking victory for Enzo Maresca’s men who made it four straight wins in all competitions.
Teenager Marc Guiu, 19, became Chelsea’s youngest Champions League scorer – but he held the record for just 33 minutes before being surpassed by Estevao Willian, aged just 18 years and 181 days. Remarkably, Chelsea became the first team in Champions League history to have three teenagers score in a match through Guiu, Estevao and substitute Tyrique George.
It was all too easy for Chelsea and humiliating for ten man Ajax who have fallen a long way from their days as one of European football’s great clubs. The travelling fans gave Ajax boss John Heitinga plenty of stick in Dutch as the goals flew in and, at one point, the Chelsea supporters did a quick translation and chanted: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”
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It was not even as if Chelsea had to field their big guns because they made ten changes and still made light work of Ajax. Chelsea finished the game with five teenagers on the pitch.
Ajax were reduced to ten men when Kenneth Taylor, the Holland international with an English sounding name, was sent off for an X-rated challenge on Chelsea midfielder Facundo Buonanotte after just 17 minutes when it was still goalless. Within 77 seconds, Chelsea were ahead through Guiu and it was effectively game over at Stamford Bridge.
Wout Weghorst, the former Manchester United flop who failed to score during his time at Old Trafford, gave them brief hope from the penalty spot. But Weghorst then undid all his good work with the most ridiculous challenge you will ever see to gift Chelsea a penalty – and then had the audacity to complain about it.
Needless to say, Enzo Fernandez did not need asking twice and converted the spot kick and Weghorst was duly hooked at half time.
What a bizarre game. The first goal came after 18 minutes when Buonanotte’s cross was flicked on by Wesley Fofana and then Guiu was on hand to score.
Moises Caicedo made it 2-0 after 27 minutes when his shot was deflected in off Josip Sutalo. Tosin Adarabioyo conceded a penalty for a clumsy challenge on Raul Moro and Weghorst converted.
Fernandez made it 3-1 from the spot before Youri Baas tripped Estevao. The Brazil wonderkid showed incredible confidence to take a stuttering run-up, gave veteran keeper Remko Pasveer – 23 years his senior – the eyes and then slammed it into the corner.
Chelsea rang the changes and half time substitute George scored three minutes after the restart.
They brought on Reggie Walsh to make it five teenagers on the pitch – Jorrel Hato and Josh Acheampong making up the quintet – and, incredibly, Walsh only turned 17 two days ago.
Estevao went so close with a last-gasp spectacular overhead kick but it would have been plain greedy to see that go in.
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