Chelsea's Danny Welbeck (left) and Jorrel Hato applaud the fans after during the Carabao Cup match at Stamford Bridge, London (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
Chelsea's Danny Welbeck (left) and Jorrel Hato applaud the fans after during the Carabao Cup match at Stamford Bridge, London (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
Chelsea eventually overcame Luton Town on Thursday night (August 27) at the Bridge to set up a mouthwatering clash in the 3rd round of the League Cup against their old foe Leeds United… but at times it was heavy going.
The match was still goalless at the break, but Danny Welbeck’s debut header – teed up by Malo Gusto – broke the deadlock on 50 minutes, and an own-goal forced by fans’ favourite Estevao’s penetrating attacking play clinched the 2-0 win. The visit to SW6 by Leeds promises to be a cracker.
Between the posts for the Blues on Thursday was Mike Penders, currently wearing 39 but surely destined to gain the No1 shirt in the fullness of time. A clean sheet will have given him a fillip, especially with the £7.5million signing this week of Emi Martinez from Villa.
Also making his debut, the small but impressive figure of 22-year-old Argentinian midfielder Valentin Barco, who at 5ft 7in is only marginally taller than Dennis Wise at his height!
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Meanwhile, Chelsea Women will have the luxury of a three-goal cushion in Spain for the second leg of their Champions League qualifier against Real Sociedad next Wednesday.
Thanks to a brace from summer signing Melvine Malard, who looks a good buy, and one apiece from captain-on-the-night Naomi Girma, fellow defender Veerle Buurman and striker Lauren James, the Blues notched up a 5-2 win on their first game at their new home for women’s domestic cup games and group-stage European cup matches, AFC Wimbledon's Plough Lane.
It was a topsy-turvy game for the most part; 2-2 with two-thirds of the game played. But then, as the floodlights got slightly brighter in the poorly lit Cherry Red Records Stadium, gritty Lucy Bronze entered the fray.
The Blues went up a gear, put the pedal to the metal and scored two more before finally pulling away with speedy right back Ellie Carpenter providing the icing on the cake (or cherry in the stadium) by squaring the ball for former Lyon team-mate Malard to get her second.
Assistant coach Camille Abily, deputising for the suspended Sonia Bompastor, said: “‘It was a tough game, especially in the first half because Real Sociedad are a really great team. But I think we had a good reaction. We were so much better in the second half. There was also more space for us. So a tough win, but a good win.”
Abily said it was a good experience on the touchline saying: "It was fun, but it's OK. Sonia can take the spot again!”
After next week’s Spanish adventure, Chelsea Women face their first WSL game against Aston Villa on Saturday, 5 September – this time at Stamford Bridge where they will be play all home league games.