Chelsea 5-1 Ajax
by Layth Yousif 
at Stamford Bridge

CHELSEA rained goals on abject Ajax on a miserable evening in west London for the fallen giants from The Netherlands.

In front of 38,947 fans at a wet Stamford Bridge, the rampant Blues became the first team in Champions League history to have three teenagers score in a match, through Marc Guiu, Estevao and Tyrique George.

The humiliation ensured Ajax have now lost their last six European matches, while the Blues stretched their unbeaten run to 13 Champions League group games at Stamford Bridge, dating back to September 2019.

“I’m very proud. It’s a special night for the club, for the young players,” Maresca said after the rout, adding: “I think overall it was a great night, especially for these young players and for the club.”

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca opted to move Moises Caicedo to right-back after resting club captain Reece James. While defender Malo Gusto missed out through illness, Enzo Fernandez and Wesley Fofana returned from injury to start, as Mareseca made 10 changes from the team that won at Nottingham Forest.

Romeo Lavia was the only Blues player to keep his place from the 3-0 win that was to precipitate Ange Postecolgu’s City Ground exit at the weekend.

Under-pressure Ajax coach John Hetinga included Liverpool loanee James McConnell in his starting XI, while goalkeeper Remko Pasveer at the age of 41 was the third-oldest Champions League player ever.

After a spell of dominance on a rainy evening in SW6, Chelsea went ahead in the 18th minute through former Barcelona striker Guiu.

The opener came moments after VAR sent referee Felix Zwayer to the monitor to think again over the original yellow card he handed to Kenneth Taylor for a bad foul on Facundo Buonanotte, with the caution eventually upgraded to red — much to the delight of the home support, who had more to cheer shortly afterwards when Wesley Fofana fed the 18-year-old Spain U21 international Guiu to make it 1-0.

Worse was to follow for the storied, but now beleaguered, club from Amsterdam, when the world-class Caicedo doubled the lead on 27 minutes. The second goal of the night coming through a drive on the edge of the area that deflected off Josip Sutalo, to leave veteran keeper Pasveer wrong-footed.

As the heavy rain continued to fall, Wout Weghorst slotted home the visitors’ spot-kick on 33 minutes, awarded after Tosin Adarabioyo was booked after clumsily fouling Raul Moro in the box.

However, any thoughts of a comeback soon faded when referee Zwayer had no choice but to point to the spot twice in a matter of moments.

The first coming after former Manchester United and Burnley striker Weghorst felled Fernandez with an appallingly poor challenge in the box, giving the ref no option but to award a penalty — leaving the £106m signing from Benfica to cooly slot home to make it 3-1 on 45 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, Youri Baas twice tripped up Chelsea’s impressive 18-year-old Brazil attacker Estevao in the box.

Fernandez was set to take his second penalty, but after discussions with the Blues’ precocious teenage talent, Estevao, the former Palmeiras forward, was allowed to emphatically score with his spot kick to make it 4-1.

Substitute Tyrique George made it 5-1 three minutes after the restart, with boss Maresca wisely opting to replace Caicedo with Josh Acheampong moments later, giving the world-class midfielder the rest of the evening off.

The switch also prevented rampant Chelsea from attempting to hit double figures against such a desperately poor side, on a night that saddened football romantics, shocked at just how far the once mighty Ajax — with their four stirring victories in this tournament — have fallen.

As the intensity dropped with the victory long achieved against such a desperately limited side, there was still time for Maresca to bring on 17-year-old Reggie Walsh for his Champions League debut. 

The switch capped a memorable night for The Blues, after ensuring 10 players aged 21 or younger featured for Chelsea.

As for woeful Ajax, sitting rock bottom of the 36 teams in this tournament, it’s hard to see where they go from here — apart, that is, from a complete and utter rebuild from such saddening disarray that embarrassed their previously proud identity, and philosophy. 

Their poor performance shamed their rich and evocative history, heritage and badge. Their fans deserve better, as does everyone who had once savoured a club that took pride in thrilling the world.