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Chelsea emphasised the depth of expertise obtainable to go coach Enzo Maresca as their second-string XI eased to a classy 4-2 win over Gent at Stamford Bridge to kick-off their Convention League marketing campaign.
The Italian modified his complete beginning staff from Saturday’s win over Brighton and there was a palpable sense of gamers determined to stake their declare to an everyday beginning berth.
Defender Renato Veiga began the get together with an early headed objective, his first for the membership, earlier than Pedro Neto rifled in a second moments after half-time.
Japan worldwide Tsuyoshi Watanabe uncovered Chelsea’s backline to briefly restore Gent’s curiosity within the match, giving Maresca one thing to consider the convenience with which the defender had evaded his staff’s backline.
However defensive lapses have been the one bitter observe on an in any other case spectacular evening, Christopher Nkunku persevering with his superb goalscoring kind to make it 3-1 while Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor additionally netted for the primary time in blue, earlier than a late Omri Gandelman comfort for Gent.
Chelsea’s three hundredth European fixture didn’t convey essentially the most illustrious opponents, the staff that completed seventh in final season’s Belgian Professional League a far cry from the newest guests to this floor in the principle rounds of a UEFA competitors, Actual Madrid.
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Chelsea accomplished a 4-0 mixture loss that evening in April 2023, however Gent have been a problem of a lesser order and after weathering early strain fell behind after 12 minutes, Dewsbury-Corridor threading a beautiful ball via the channel into Mykhailo Mudryk’s path, the winger’s back-post cross gratefully nodded dwelling by the arrival Veiga.
Maresca had challenged his gamers to make use of these European nights to show their value and lots in blue had heeded their head coach’s phrases, Neto on the fitting wing a rampaging risk with fleetness of foot to match, while Nkunku and Joao Felix hummed with artistic power.
But it was Gent that nearly levelled by way of a well-recognized identify. Atsuki Ito knocked the ball to the toes of Andri Gudjohnsen, son of former Blues striker Eidur, who took a contact to come back contained in the penalty space and hammered a shot that cleared the crossbar by inches.
It took much less a minute of the second half for Chelsea to double their lead and it was the spectacular Neto, bursting in off the touchline to gather Axel Disasi’s ball excessive, that scored it, evading the attentions of defender Watanabe, whose problem was weak, and lashing it in on the close to put up.
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If Chelsea’s attacking gamers had impressed, then there was much less for Maresca to really feel buoyant about from his defence.
No sooner had the sport restarted than Watanabe had made amends for his half within the second objective, wandering into area contained in the field, ignored by his closest defender Tosin Adarabioyo, earlier than heading previous Filip Jorgensen. In reality, any certainly one of three unmarked Gent gamers might have utilized the end.
The 2-goal lead was restored simply previous the hour mark although the hosts might rely themselves fortunate. Veiga appeared to lose management of the ball as he formed to shoot, and it broke fortuitously to Nkunku who rocketed onto it to attain his fourth objective in two begins with a shot that squirmed via the physique of goalkeeper Davy Roef.
Dewsbury-Corridor added the fourth after Stefan Mitrovic’s deal with on Nkunku dropped at his toes, clipping it dwelling along with his instep for his first Chelsea objective.
Substitute Gandelman knocked in a Ninetieth-minute comfort nevertheless it couldn’t take the sheen off Maresca’s evening.
