A
Dominic Solanke strike gave Chelsea a 1-0 friendly win over a Thailand
All-Stars team at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday.
The youngster scored in the first half to give the Premier League champions
a deserved lead as Jose Mourinho used the game to give several academy and
youth players game time.
Chelsea should have won by more but Eden Hazard and Charly Musonda both sent
chances wide.
Petr Cech started in goal and as captain in what could be his last game for
Chelsea, with the veteran shot-stopper tipped to leave the club this summer.
Chelsea's up-and-coming youngsters got a chance to shine in hot and humid
conditions as the Blues survived a brief second-half scare to triumph 1-0.
The English Premier League champions were visiting the Thai capital for the
first stop on a post-season tour that also includes Australia.
Youngsters Izzy Brown, Ola Aina, Nathan Ake and Solanke all began the match,
with the latter showing why he was named Chelsea's academy player of the
year last week. There was also good work from Brown and Ake as they combined
on the left wing.
Solanke, 17, hammered home a perfectly-executed volley in the 12th minute
after a low cross from 18-year-old Aina received a light touch from Loic
Remy before finding the scorer's right foot.
Kiatisuk Senamuang's All-Stars team, made up of Thai Premier League players,
provided little resistance for the visitors.
But they nearly caused some embarrassment in the 67th minute when an
on-target shot was cleared by a brilliant header from Chelsea defender
Andreas Christensen.
Conditions for the visitors inside Thailand's national Rajamangala Stadium
were testing and both teams took regular water breaks.
The second half saw some of Chelsea's more experienced players introduced,
including captain John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta and injury-prone Diego
Costa, who was pulled off again after less than 20 minutes.
Hazard got a cheer from the crowd almost every time he went near the ball in
the second half and the Belgium international had a couple of close shots.
The only yellow card of the evening went to the All-Stars' Bangkok United
defender Mika Chunuonsee after a fairly blatant handball halted what could
have been a dangerous attacking run from Jeremy Boga.
Chelsea fly straight to Australia from Thailand as they face Sydney FC in
another friendly on Tuesday.
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