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.
Enzo Fernandez scored from the spot before handing responsibilities over to Estevao for Chelsea’s second penalty
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.
More to follow…
