Chelsea continued their 100% start to their Europa Conference League campaign with a 3-1 win away at Astana. Enzo Maresca, as expected, shuffled his pack for the game in Kazakhstan after leaving the vast majority of his first-team players behind in the capital.
The match against Astana saw talented youngsters Josh Acheampong, Samuel Rak-Sakyi and Tyrique George all start as part of the changes for the European fixture. Chelsea made the best possible start to proceedings as Marc Guiu opened the scoring with a solo goal.
Receiving the ball down their right flank, he drove into the area, breezed past his marker and finished at the near post. It was to get even better for the Blues four minutes later as the Spaniard doubled his tally from point-blank range following Pedro Neto's cross from the right.
Chelsea would then add a third not long before the break as Renato Veiga headed home Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's inswinging corner for his second goal of the term. There was to be a further goal in what remained of the first half as Marin Tomasov pulled one back for the hosts in style as his effort from the edge of the box went in off the post.
Astana did threaten early in the second half but there was to be no further goals in the final 45 minutes despite the visitors once again creating some good openings. Here are five things we spotted in the game in Kazakhstan:
Dewsbury-Hall and Veiga's classy touch
It was very much a new experience for Maresca's Chelsea squad as they had to try and cope with the freezing temperatures in Kazakhstan. The temperature was even dipping below -10 degrees Celsius just prior to kick-off and it was only going to get even colder with the time in Kazakhstan five hours ahead of that in the UK.
It was even that cold that Astana goalkeeper Mukhammedzhan Seysen played the game with a woolly hat on. The mascots for the Europa Conference League tie certainly felt the cold as they walked out with the teams ahead of kick-off and then lined up in front of them as the Europa Conference League anthem was played.
Chelsea duo Dewsbury-Hall and Veiga showed their class by taking off their pre-match jackets and letting the mascot they had walked out hand-in-hand with wear them. It was a really nice touch from the duo on a baltic night in Kazakhstan.
Chukwuemeka's time to shine
Thursday's game against Astana saw Carney Chukwuemeka handed a rare start in the Chelsea team. Initially making his mark in the opening weeks of the 2023/24 season under Mauricio Pochettino before injury sidelined him, things just haven't gone to plan for the midfielder since his time out injured.
Chukwuemeka's appearance away at Astana was only his fifth of the season for the Blues, and his first start under Maresca. It was a huge opportunity for the player and one he had to take with both hands after not even making a Premier League squad all season due to the sheer number of players ahead of him in the pecking order.
The 21-year-old was involved early on after going down in the penalty box but a penalty was not awarded despite a VAR check. Going on a number of good runs towards the box from midfield, the ex-Aston Villa man had a hand in Veiga's goal after winning the corner the Blues scored from after his shot was tipped wide at the near post.
Chukwuemeka did go close to a goal of his own on the hour mark after seeing a shot saved following a lovely run into the box and a one-two with Guiu. The midfielder's night came to an end on 66 minutes but his pitch time will have done him the world of good after limited action under Maresca this season.
Acheampong wows
Chelsea fans were looking forward to seeing Acheampong feature for the Blues in the Europa Conference League after coming back into Maresca's plans recently. The defender had been frozen out due to a contract dispute but he recently returned to training ahead of their European away tie against Heidenheim.
Although the 18-year-old didn't feature in Germany, he was named as part of the squad for the game in Kazakhstan and was handed a starting berth at right-back. The teenager demonstrated that he is more than just a promising defender not long before the break with an incredible run into the opposition box.
Receiving the ball from Neto midway inside the Astana half, Acheampong used his strength to hold off Geoffrey Chinedu before moving beyond him and another two players. He then carried on his run into the area as he saw a gap, duly nipping between two players before seeing a shot blocked by Kipras Kazukolovas.
It was sensational play from the defender and it would have been a sublime goal had he managed to find the back of the net. Chelsea have some excellent young players on their hands, with Acheampong certainly one of them.
Forgotten man returns
Harvey Vale has had to be incredibly patient to feature in the Chelsea first team again. Coming through the club's academy system and going on to make five appearances under Thomas Tuchel during the 2021/22 season, the 21-year-old was finally back on the pitch for the Blues on Thursday evening.
Vale was introduced midway inside the second half of the contest as he took the place of Chukwuemeka. The versatile player was incredibly close to marking his return with a goal seconds after entering the fray as he made a run across the box to get on the end of George's cross but a deflection saw the ball go out for a corner.
Not far off three years since his last senior Chelsea appearance that came against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup in March 2022, the youngster has since spent time with Hull City and Bristol Rovers on loan. After appearing in the Astana win, Vale will be hoping he doesn't have to wait as long for his next Chelsea outing.
Goal threat remains
After scoring three against Aston Villa, five at Southampton and another four at Tottenham already this month, the goals continued to flow for Chelsea in Kazakhstan. The Blues added another three goals to their tally for the season in the freezing temperatures but they could have maybe netted a couple more across the 90 minutes.
Despite making wholesale changes for the game, Chelsea still retained their goal threat and looked incredibly dangerous when they were pushing forward as they made it 21 goals in the league phase so far this season. The fact that Maresca rotated so much for their fifth fixture means that Cole Palmer and Co. should be nice and fresh for Sunday's home encounter against Brentford.
Their latest win also means that Chelsea are already through to the next stage of the competition with one game to spare. Shamrock Rovers are the Blues' next European opponents a week today and Maresca will have the chance to once again give his young guns another run out.