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Chelsea
ran riot at Stamford Bridge by hammering 10-man Ajax 5-1 in the Champions League
after a wild first half that featured five goals and three penalties.
A straight red card to Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor in the 17th minute for his
reckless lunge on Facundo Buonanotte sparked a bonkers opening period in which a
much-changed Chelsea side secured their second victory of the league phase.
Chelsea became the first team in the Champions League to have three teenagers
score in one game when Marc Guiu, Estevao and Tyrique George all netted, with
their starting XI having an average age of 22 years and 163 days - the second
youngest in the competition's history.
The Blues instantly made the extra-man advantage count as Guiu tapped in from
close range and soon Moises Caicedo fired past 41-year-old goalkeeper Remko
Pasveer with a deflected strike from 25 yards.
Ajax were given a lifeline when Wout Weghorst tucked a penalty underneath Filip
Jorgensen after Tosin had clumsily fouled Raul Moro.
However, the former Manchester United loanee and Burnley striker ridiculously
slid in on Enzo Fernandez in the box minutes later and the Chelsea captain
restored the hosts' two-goal lead from 12 yards.
An eventful first half was capped when the ever-impressive Estevao was fouled by
James McConnell and Fernandez handed the Brazilian teenager the ball to dispatch
the penalty into the top left corner.
The entertainment immediately continued at the start of the second half as
substitute George found the net with a deflected strike.
Chelsea attempted to pile on the misery as Jamie Gittens went close and then
Estevao's overhead kick dropped wide, but the hosts had done more than enough in
the opening half to put the game well out of sight.
Maresca compares Estevao to Palmer
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports:
"For me, he is very similar to Cole Palmer, who I had at a very similar age at
Man City.
"Cole started to play wide because he needed to build his physicality and now he
is playing inside.
"With Estevao, they are quite similar. Now he is playing wide but in the future
I think he is more of an inside player."
Teams
Chelsea Jorgensen, Caicedo (Acheampong 50), Fofana, Tosin
(Chalobah 46), Hato, Lavia (Walsh 66), Enzo (Santos 46), Estevao, Buonanotte,
Gittens, Guiu (George 46)
Subs Not Used Sanchez, Merrick, James, Cucurella, Neto,
Garnacho, Kavuma-McQueen
Booked Tosin, Estevao
Goals Guiu 18, Caicedo 27, Fernandez 45 (pen), Estevao 45+6
(pen), George 48
Ajax Pasveer, Baas, Sutalo, Itakura, Lucas Rosa, Taylor (c),
Gloukh (Mokio 23), McConnell (Regeer 79). Godts (Fitz-Jim 85), Weghorst (Klassen
46), Moro
Subs Not Used Jaros, Heerkens, Gaaei, Edvardsen, Alders,
Bounida
Booked Weghorst
Sent Off Taylor 15
Goals Weghorst 33 (pen)
Attendance 38,947
Referee Felix Zwayer (Germany)
VAR Soren Starks (Germany)