Substitute Michy Batshuayi hit an 86th-minute winner as Chelsea beat Ajax 1-0 in Amsterdam to come alive in Group H in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Batshuayi struck from 10 yards after a centre from fellow sub Christian Pulisic to give Chelsea a vital win, and their sixth on the trot in all competitions under Frank Lampard.

In a goalless first half, Ajax had a goal disallowed by VAR for a tight offside on Quincy Promes (35), before hitting the post through a Edson Alvarez header after the break.

Player ratings

Ajax: Onana (6), Dest (6), Veltman (6), Blind (6), Tagliafico (6), Alvarez (6), Van de Beek (7), Martinez (6), Ziyech (6), Tadic (5), Promes (6).

Subs: Neres (5), De Jong (NA), Huntelaar (NA)

Chelsea: Kepa (7), Azpilicueta (8), Zouma (7), Tomori (7), Alonso (7), Kovacic (7), Jorginho (8), Mount (7), Hudson-Odoi (7), Abraham (6), Willian (6).

Subs: Pulisic (8), Bathshuayi (8), James (NA)

Man of the match: Jorginho

Chelsea's best chance had fallen to substitute Batshuayi, who lashed over in space just moments after being introduced, but he more than made amends with four minutes remaining.

The result puts Chelsea top of Group H, level on points with Ajax and three ahead of Valencia, but that could change with the Spaniards taking on Lille in the 8pm kick-off on Wednesday.

How Lampard earned his finest victory

After a false start to their campaign, Chelsea were looking to take control of Group H against last season's semi-finalists.

In a frenetic first half, Ajax did have the ball in the net through Promes' back-post tap in, but he was found to be inches offside by VAR from Hakim Ziyech's deflected cross from the right flank.

Team news

Mateo Kovacic was the one Chelsea change from the weekend win over Newcastle, replacing Ross Barkley who was ruled out with injury.

Billy Gilmour made the bench in his absence, while N'Golo Kante was also still missing. Emerson was also fit enough to make the squad for the first time in a month.

Chelsea held their own in the first half with Kepa not making a single save, and Callum Hudson-Odoi was a constant livewire while running at the Ajax defence, but Lampard's side lacked the a clinical edge in the final third.

Ajax hit the outside of the post through Alvarez's header as Mateo Kovacic allowed him across his body, but a double sub changed things for Chelsea, just as it did on Saturday in the 1-0 win over Newcastle.

Sub Pulisic, who had impressed on Saturday, saw a shot deflected and loop into the path of fellow sub Batshuayi, but the Belgian lashed over on the half-volley in a fine position.

That looked to be a costly miss, and though a draw would not have been sniffed at, Lampard's side finally found their way in the Ajax box.

Getting to the left byline, Pulisic's centre was dummied by Alonso, and Batshuayi slammed the ball high, off the underside of the bar and over the line.

This was a clever, coming-of-age performance from Lampard's side, who are now flying, and will fancy themselves to qualify for the knockout stages with Ajax next up at Stamford Bridge in Group H.

Analysis: The future's bright, the future's Oranje and Blue

Sky Sports' Peter Smith…

There may be different forces driving Chelsea and Ajax's reliance on youth this season but the visitors' transfer ban and their hosts' financial constraints and philosophy allowed us to see some of football's most exciting young players go head to head on Wednesday night.

UEFA Match Press Kit 

Teams

Ajax Onan, Dest, Veltman (Huntelaar 89), Blind, Tagliafico, Alvarez de Jong 89), Martinez, Ziyech, Van de Beek, Promes (Neres 74), Tadic (c)
Subs Not Used Varela, Schuurs, Mazraoui, Marin
Booked Tadic, Martinez
Goals

Chelsea Kepa, Azpilicueta (c), Tomori, Zouma, Alonso, Kovacic, Jorginho, Willian (Pulisic 66), Mount, Abraham (Batshuayi 71), Hudson-Odoi (James 90)
Subs Not Used Caballero, Emerson, Gilmour, Giroud
Booked Zouma
Goals Batshuayi 86

Attendance 52,482

Referee Ovidiu Hategan (Romania)