Chelsea has become the first Champions League club in history to have three teenage scorers, defeating a struggling Ajax side 5-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Marc Guiu, 19, was the first adolescent to score, briefly becoming Chelsea’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in a disastrous minute and 17 seconds for Ajax after captain Kenneth Taylor was dismissed.
However, Guiu’s record was broken 33 minutes later when Estevao Willian, 18, scored the third of three penalties in a tumultuous first half, following spot kicks from Enzo Fernandez and Wout Weghorst, as well as a long-range effort by Moises Caicedo.
However, Guiu’s record was broken 33 minutes later when Estevao Willian, 18, scored the third of three penalties in a tumultuous first half, following spot kicks from Enzo Fernandez and Wout Weghorst, as well as a long-range effort by Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea made three substitutions at halftime, including forward Tyrique George, who scored from just inside the box three minutes after coming on to become the third youngster on the scoreboard.
Substitute midfielder Reggie Walsh, 17, became the club’s youngest player in the Champions League and the second youngest Englishman after Jack Wilshere for Arsenal.
Ajax, who had won this competition four times before, delivered a terrible effort, with Taylor’s high and late lunge setting the tone.
Weghorst’s bad tackle on Fernandez allowed the midfielder to recover and seal victory with 45 minutes remaining, despite the former Manchester United striker drawing one back following a botched tackle by Tosin Adarabioyo.
Surprisingly, Ajax conceded another penalty after Youri Baas tripped Estevao, who recovered to score in the sixth minute of first-half extra time.
Following George’s fifth goal, both teams’ intensity levels fell.
Chelsea’s domination prompted manager Enzo Maresca to rest players such as Caicedo, Fernandez, and Adarabioyo, making all five substitutions by the 65th minute.
Ajax were once European football powers, but they have already lost all three Champions League matches and are at the bottom of the 36-team standings. They are also winless in four matches across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has won back-to-back European matches after losing their first game to Bayern Munich, and they will go to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag next.
