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2 months ago
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For all the ridicule of Chelsea’s lavish recruitment strategy, they love a steal as much as the next club, and there was smug satisfaction inside Stamford Bridge at seeing £12million Renato Veiga boss this Conference League victory from left back.
One of 11 changes made by Enzo Maresca, who yet again leaned on his squad depth, Veiga opened the scoring against Gent in what was the club’s 300th European outing in their history.
The 21-year-old summer buy from Basel was the evening’s best performer, later assisting Christopher Nkunku so he could mark his France call-up yesterday with a goal. Other strikes from Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made sure Maresca’s Blues B team outscored their Belgian opponents.
‘Every game is complicated,’ Maresca said, unhappy with how they conceded twice. ‘We have many things we can do better – attack better, defend better.’
Chelsea fans noticed a familiar surname up front for Gent in Andri Gudjohnsen, son of Eidur. The 22-year-old was born in London on January 29, 2002 and it was at Stamford Bridge the following day that his famous father scored within two minutes of a 2-0 Premier League win over Leeds.
There was smug satisfaction inside of Stamford Bridge last night at seeing £12million Renato Veiga boss this Conference League victory from left back
Neto collected it, avoiding challenges from Brown and Tsuyoshi Watanabe before beating Davy Roef
One of 11 changes made by Enzo Maresca , who yet again leaned on his squad depth, Veiga opened the scoring in what was the club's 300th European outing in their history
MATCH FACTS
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen 6.5; Disasi 7, Badiashile 6.5, Adarabioyo 5.5, Veiga 8; Casadei 7, Dewsbury-Hall 7; Neto 7 (George 80), Felix 7, Mudryk 6.5; Nkunku 7 (Guiu 80)
Subs: Sanchez, Bergstrom, Cucurella, Colwill, Fernandez, Madueke, Caicedo, Dyer
Goals: Veiga 12', Neto 46', Nkunku 63', Dewsbury-Hall 70'
Booked: Disasi
Manager: Enzo Maresca 7
GENT (3-4-3): Roef; Mitrovic, Watanabe, Torunarigha; Gambor (Samoise 89), Ito, Delorge (Gandelman 78), Brown; Fadiga (Tiago Araújo 64), Gudjohnsen (Dean 64), Surdez (Kums 78)
Subs: De Vlieger, Núrio Fortuna, Gerkens, Hélio Varela, Sonko, Vancsa, Schmidt
Goals: Watanabe 50', Gandelman 90'
Booked: Brown
Manager: Wouter Vrancken
Referee: Daniel Schlager
Yet the young forward was a spectator as Chelsea took the lead after 12 minutes. That opener was nicely worked, starting with Axel Disasi winning possession high up the pitch.
Dewsbury-Hall then played a pass in behind for Mykhailo Mudryk, whose cross to the back post was perfect for Veiga to head into the opposite corner.
Other chances for Joao Felix and Nkunku were beaten away by the visitors, who then decided to try attacking themselves. Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen made his first save in the 33rd minute to deny Birmingham-born Archie Brown. In the 34th, Gudjohnsen narrowly fired over.
Suddenly, Gent’s tactical approach was not looking as questionable as their 45-year-old manager Wouter Vrancken’s decision to wear skinny jeans on the sidelines. But within 50 seconds of the second half, they trailed 2-0 after Neto made use of Disasi’s long ball.
Gent did not give up, however, with Tsuyoshi Watanabe staying onside to head home for 2-1 in the 50th minute after lackadaisical defending from Tosin Adarabioyo.
Chelsea responded by scoring twice more, both Nkunku and Dewsbury-Hall blasting the ball underneath Davy Roef in the 63rd and 70th minutes respectively.
Gent secured a consolation in the 90th minute with Omri Gandelman, but just as he managed in the Carabao Cup, Maresca won after making 11 changes.
Gent did not give up, however, with Watanabe staying onside to head home for 2-1 in the 50th minute
n the 62nd minute, Veiga used his strength in the box before teeing up Nkunku to blast a shot beneath Roef
In the 70th, it became 4-1 with Dewsbury-Hall pouncing on a loose ball
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