Chelsea’s first junior foray into Stamford Bridge this season was a memorable one as a superb second half display saw them run out 5-0 winners over Wolves.
Lucas Piazon’s early opener put the Blues in the ascendancy and whilst Wolves had their moments, they didn’t take them and were made to pay by further strikes from Jeremie Boga, Aziz Deen-Conteh and Lewis Baker in a 10 minute spell of wonderful football. Piazon rounded things off himself in the closing stages from the penalty spot.
Loan deals for Nathaniel Chalobah, Thorgan Hazard, Amin Affane and Archange Nkumu in the closing days of the transfer window altered Dermot Drummy’s squad slightly, but he made just one change from the opening game against Manchester City, drafting in Ruben Loftus-Cheek for the departed Chalobah.
Otherwise it was the same team which has developed well over the summer and the signs of fluency and familiarity were visible from the off. Billy Clifford had a sighter from range and Alex Davey glanced over from Baker’s corner.
The opening goal arrived with just over ten minutes on the clock. Good approach play by Clifford and Piazon saw the latter slip Patrick Bamford in, and when Aaron McCarey denied him, the Brazilian was on hand to lash the rebound home.
Further opportunities came and went, with some openings being closed off because of a reluctance to make the final pass or shot, whilst Baker slammed a free kick inches over the bar from a fair way out.
Wolves struggled to assert themselves until half an hour had been played but enjoyed a strong spell before the break.
Sam Winnall, who had earlier gone close with a well-struck left footed try, was key to their chances, whilst strike partner Liam McAlinden was firmly involved in their better play.
Both asked questions of Jamal Blackman in the closing moments of the first 45 minutes, and a skidding effort from Sam Whittall had the big stopper scrambling across his goal as those wearing old gold and black looked to get back on terms.
There were no immediate half-time changes but the introduction of Boga early in the second half, for Loftus-Cheek, would have a major impact on proceedings.
The French schoolboy took less than ten minutes to make his mark and did so in sensational style. Latching onto Baker’s through ball, he impudently scooped the ball over McCarey and into the back of the net.
If that was good, what followed moments later was sensational. Deen-Conteh picked up the ball on the halfway line and turned the jets on, slaloming through tackles on his way into the box before firing into the far corner.
The fourth goal belonged to Baker but owed much to that man Boga, who showed awareness and a deftness of touch to bounce a quick pass back to the midfielder, who strolled in and beat McCarey with ease.
The quick flurry of goals whipped the crowd into a frenzy but they had all come not long after a key save from Blackman had kept Chelsea on terms. He had to be at his very best to turn Zele Ismail’s effort away, and from there, his teammates took over.
The action slowly tapered off after Baker’s strike, with Chelsea having secured the points and then some. There were first Stamford Bridge outings for substitute defenders Tika Musonda and Fankaty Dabo, whilst Nathan Aké took the captaincy when Todd Kane was replaced.
The fifth and final goal came deep into stoppage time when Piazon won a penalty having been nudged in the back. He coolly dispatched it to complete the rout and send Blues fans home purring at the performance.
Blackman, Kane (c) (Dabo), Davey, Aké, Deen-Conteh, Saville, Loftus-Cheek (Boga), B.Clifford, Baker, Piazon, Bamford (T.Musonda)
Subs not Used: Beeney, Nditi
Goals: Piazon 2 (1 pen), Boga, Deen-Conteh, Baker
You can view Dan Davies’ photo gallery of the match HERE.