Chelsea beat Ajax 5-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday day night to earn their second consecutive win in the Champions League and rise up the table into the qualification spots.
The final results makes it look easy – but things could have been very different. Just as against Nottingham Forest last weekend, the Blues started really slowly and could have been behind. But a red card for Ajax’s Kenneth Taylor after 17 minutes for a nasty tackle totally changed the game.
Ajax tried to go more defensive, but their plan backfired right away when Marc Guiu found himself in space in the second phase of a set piece just a minute after the red. He scuffed the ball in to open the floodgates.
He became Chelsea’s youngest Champions League goalscorer, but it didn’t last long. Moises Caicedo added the Blues’ second goal with a deflected long range strike, then came two penalties. Enzo Fernandez scored the first, then handed the ball to Estevao Willian for the second.
The Brazilian had won the spot kick and he then stepped up to put it away, taking Guiu’s record in the process. Half time sub Tyrique George added a second after the break, and from that moment it was all very casual. Chelsea played out the remaining minutes and were able to make further changes to keep important players fresh for a huge home game against Sunderland on Saturday.
MOTM – Estevao
Analysis
Tyrique George's celebration against Ajax.
Tyrique George’s celebration against Ajax. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
It was hard to draw too many conclusions from a game which was so conditioned by the opposition going down to ten men. Ajax weren’t a good team to start with, and after the red they offered even less threat.
It was nice to see Marc Guiu back and playing – the idea is that having him as a number 9 will help get the best out of Joao Pedro, who can play in the hole. Estevao starting was glorious as always, and to see 17 year old Reggie Walsh become our youngest ever Champions League player was nice too.
Teams
Chelsea
Filip Jorgensen
Moises Caicedo
Wesley Fofana
Tosin Adarabioyo
Jorrel Hato
Facundo Buonanotte
Romeo Lavia
Enzo Fernandez
Estevao
Marc Guiu
Jamie Gittens
Substitutes
Robert Sanchez
Max Merrick
Marc Cucurella
Pedro Neto
Andrey Santos (s 46′)
Trevoh Chalobah (s 46′)
Reece James
Tyrique George (s 46′)
Josh Acheampong (s 49′)
Reggie Walsh (s 66′)
Alejandro Garnacho
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen
Ajax
Remko Pasveer
Lucas Rosa
Ko Itakura
Josip Sutalo
Youri Baas
James McConnell
Kenneth Taylor
Raul Moro
Oscar Gloukh
Mika Godts
Wout Weghorst
Substitutes
Vitezslav Jaros
Joeri Heerkens
Anton Gaaei (s 84′)
Youri Regeer (s 79′)
Oliver Valaker Edvardsen
Davy Klaassen (s 46′)
Don-Angelo Konadu
Jorthy Mokio (s 23′)
Kian Fitz-Jim (s 84′)
Gerald Alders
Rayane Bounida
Stats
Possession
Chelsea 66%
Ajax 34%
Expected goals (xG)
3.65
1.05
Total shots
22
2
Shots on target
10
1
Big chances
5
1
Big chances missed
2
0
Accurate passes
557 (93%)
241 (77%)
Fouls committed
15
6
Corners
11
0
Quote of the game
“Everyone is so fun to play with” – Jamie Gittens on this fun loving young Chelsea team.