Youngsters shine as Chelsea thrash 10-man Ajax
Chelsea 5Guiu (18′)
Caicedo (27′)
Fernandez (pen, 45’+1)
Estevao (pen, 45’+6)
George (48)
Ajax 1Weghorst (pen, 33′)
Teenagers Marc Guiu, Estevao and Tyrique George scored as Chelsea thrashed 10-man Ajax in a one-sided Champions League game at Stamford Bridge.
The hosts were 4-1 up at the interval after a first half in which there were five goals, three penalties and a sending-off.
After Kenneth Taylor was dismissed, Guiu and Moses Caicedo scored before the Dutch side pulled a goal back through Wout Weghorst’s penalty.
Enzo Fernandez and Estevao both netted penalties for Chelsea in response, and George added a fifth early in the second half.
Taylor was dismissed on 17 minutes for a crude challenge on Facundo Buonanotte. A yellow card was initially branded but it was changed to a red following a VAR check.
Chelsea scored almost immediately, when Buonanotte swung in a left-footed cross from the right flank and Wesley Fofana headed the ball back across to Guiu, who applied the finish.
The Blues seemed in total control after Caicedo’s deflected strike – his fourth goal of the season – made it 2-0.
But Tosin Adarabioyo gave away a penalty by fouling Raul Moro and the resulting spot-kick by Weghorst was poorly-hit but squirmed under keeper Filip Jorgensen.
However, two Chelsea penalties in first-half stoppage time crushed any real prospect of an unlikely Ajax comeback.
Fernandez converted after being taken out by Weghorst, as did Estevao after being fouled by Youri Baas.
George, on as a half-time substitute, scored three minutes after the restart with a heavily deflected shot.
Estevao and Jamie Gittens went close to adding a sixth.
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Caicedo (Acheampong 49), Fofana, Adarabioyo (Chalobah 46), Hato; Lavia (Walsh 66), Fernandez (Santos 46); Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; Guiu (George 46).
Subs not used: Sanchez, Merrick, James, Cucurella, Neto, Garnacho, Kavuma-McQueen.
