Chelsea gave Ajax a Champions League lesson on Wednesday night, running out 5-1 winners in an action-packed affair at Stamford Bridge.
A chaotic first half saw Ajax captain Kenneth Taylor sent off after just 18 minutes, sparking a frantic spell in which Chelsea raced into a 2-0 lead through Marc Guiu and Moises Caicedo's strikes, only for Wout Weghorst to give the visitors hope as he pulled one back from the spot.
However, any chances of an Ajax comeback were crushed on the stroke of half-time as the visitors conceded two penalties in quick succession, with Enzo Fernandez first restoring Chelsea's two-goal cushion before Estevao emphatically added a fourth from the spot.
Chelsea's goalscoring antics were not done there, with the Blues bursting out of the blocks from the restart as Tyrique George added a fifth just three minutes after kick-off, marking the final goal in a resounding 5-1 victory for the hosts.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Following Ajax's miserable 4-0 defeat to Marseille on matchday two of the league phase, John Heitinga responded to questions stating that his side are still a team under construction, but any work done in the weeks since was comprehensively demolished by Chelsea tonight.
Enzo Maresca would have been delighted with the fashion in which his side started the match, and while there will certainly be frustration at how they briefly allowed Ajax back into the match after taking their foot off the gas, the manager will be pleased with his side's response following Weghorst's strike.
The impact of Chelsea's wingers will also be particularly pleasing for Maresca, especially on the left wing from Jamie Gittens, as several players have struggled to make an impact from that role so far this season, but the former Borussia Dortmund forward was superb today.
The ball was consistently forced to Gittens and Estevao on the wings, and both wingers terrorized the Ajax defence, completing multiple dribbles and creating a mass of chances, each playing a key role in Chelsea's major victory tonight.
The manner of the win meant the likes of Reggie Walsh, Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah could all feature, giving key players such as Caicedo and Fernandez a potentially pivotal rest, especially with the busy winter schedule rapidly approaching.
CHELSEA VS. AJAX HIGHLIGHTS
17th min: Kenneth Taylor (Ajax) red card
Kenneth Taylor becomes the first Ajax player to be sent off this season ?@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/XgG030Uiun
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
Ajax are down to 10! Captain Taylor is given his marching orders!
Taylor looks to turn away from Estevao but loses control of the ball, and the Ajax captain dives into a reckless sliding challenge on Facundo Buonanotte, making contact high on the ankle of the Chelsea attacker.
VAR eventually intervenes, and the referee takes a brief look at the screen before swiftly brandishing the red card in Taylor's direction.
Marc Guiu goal vs. Ajax (18th min, Chelsea 1-0 Ajax)
Marc Guiu scores his first goal of the season for Chelsea in the Champions League ⚽@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MIcUTzwdEB
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
And seconds later, Chelsea take the lead!
Chelsea play a short free-kick to Fernandez and then to Buonanotte, who cuts onto his left foot and delivers a cross deep into the Ajax box.
The cross finds Wesley Fofana, who cushions a header across the box to Guiu, and the striker guides it past Remko Pasveer to give Chelsea the lead.
Moises Caicedo goal vs. Ajax (27th min, Chelsea 2-0 Ajax)
Moisés Caicedo makes it two for Chelsea against Ajax! @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/l6WI2SzlnM
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
Caicedo doubles Chelsea's lead!
The ball is played across to Caicedo on the edge of the area, the midfielder scans for options and opts to shoot, striking low and hard towards the bottom left corner.
Caicedo's effort takes a huge deflection off the leg of Josip Sutalo, diverting the ball across goal and into the bottom right corner, giving Pasveer no chance.
Wout Weghorst goal vs. Chelsea (33rd min, Chelsea 2-1 Ajax)
Wout Weghorst scores Ajax's first Champions League goal of the season ⚽️@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/LfUy1XKkhq
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
Weghorst converts from the spot - game on!
Tosin Adarabioyo steps on Raul Moro's foot inside the box, and the referee quickly gives Ajax a penalty, with Weghorst stepping up in the absence of the dismissed Taylor.
Weghorst strikes a side-footed effort to the right of the goalkeeper, and the ball squirms underneath Filip Jorgensen and into the back of the net - the goalkeeper will not want to watch that one back.
Enzo Fernandez goal vs. Ajax (45th min, Chelsea 3-1 Ajax)
Enzo Fernandez restores Chelsea's two goal cushion from the penalty spot@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Vy8rPo7lfw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
Fernandez restores Chelsea's two-goal cushion from the spot!
Weghorst brings down Fernandez inside the penalty area, and the referee awards Chelsea the penalty, with the Argentinian stepping up to take.
Fernandez calmly strolls up to the spot and plants his effort past Pasveer and into the right side of the net, restoring Chelsea's two-goal advantage.
Estevao goal vs. Ajax (51st min, Chelsea 4-1 Ajax)
Another penalty for Chelsea and it's calmly converted by Estevão ?@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ArvgUsZGxR
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
Chelsea score yet again from the penalty spot - Estevao nets his first Champions League goal!
Youri Baas takes multiple bites at Estevao inside the penalty area, and the referee awards the penalty as the Brazilian is eventually taken down by the defender.
Fernandez gives responsibility to Estevao, and the winger makes no mistakes from the spot as he brilliantly dispatches into the top left corner.
Tyrique George goal vs. Ajax (48th min, Chelsea 5-1 Ajax)
Tyrique George adds a fifth for Chelsea with his first #UCL goal ?@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/CQrst5CVgg
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
Chelsea make it five, substitute George adds to the scoring!
Romeo Lavia feeds a pass through to Andrey Santos, but the Ajax defence quickly close the midfielder down, with the ball popping out of the pack just inside the area.
George is fastest to the loose ball, and the forward's left-footed shot takes a major deflection as it flies into the middle of the Ajax goal, wrongfooting Pasveer.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JAMIE GITTENS
Jamie Gittens of Chelsea on October 22, 2025
A whole host of Chelsea players could have been given this award after an exceptional team performance tonight, but Gittens is our pick of the bunch.
The winger has struggled to demonstrate his qualities in the first matches since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, but Gittens was certainly at his best today, creating the most chances (five) and completing the most dribbles (three) of any player on the pitch.
Gittens may have walked away with just the one assist, but the winger really should have had more after several superb deliveries and passes, while a first goal for the club would have added the cherry on top of a wonderful performance.
CHELSEA VS. AJAX MATCH STATS
Possession: Chelsea 66%-34% Ajax
Shots: Chelsea 22-2 Ajax
Shots on target: Chelsea 10-1 Ajax
Corners: Chelsea 11-0 Ajax
Fouls: Chelsea 15-6 Ajax
BEST STATS
18-year-old Estêvão this season:
? Youngest player in Premier League history to assist a goal for Chelsea
?? Youngest Brazilian to score the winning goal in a Premier League game
⭐ Youngest goalscorer in Chelsea’s Champions League history pic.twitter.com/Y2B5302mfK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
Chelsea are the first team in Champions League history to have three teenagers score for them in a single match:
Estêvão - 18 years old
Marc Guiu - 19 years old
Tyrique George - 19 years old pic.twitter.com/d4ARI4irtJ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Chelsea return to Premier League action on the weekend as they take on Sunderland on Saturday, when the Blues will be aiming to make it five straight wins across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Ajax's focus will shift to snapping their four-game winless run across all competitions when they face FC Twente in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
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