Chelsea thrashed KAA Gent at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening, maintaining their 100% record in the UEFA Conference League. Despite considering two goals at home, Chelsea were in control of the tie and dominating proceedings.
Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all got on the scoresheet. Chelsea have now scored four goals in consecutive games and remain virtually flawless in Europe. The Blues look good value to go all the way.
Tighter affair in the first half
Chelsea opened the scoring in the 12th minute though Veiga who got on the end of a deep cross from Mykhailo Mudryk and headed into the far corner.
Axel Disasi turned over possession in Gent’s half and found Dewsbury-Hall in space. He played a through ball to Mudryk who lofted a ball over the backline and straight onto the head of Veiga.
Andri Gudjohnsen had a great chance to level the game after peeling off Tosin Adarabioyo in the area, but he couldn’t keep his shot down. Chelsea went into the break with a narrow lead but found a second gear after the break.
Chelsea turned it on after the restart
Chelsea doubled their lead in the 46th minute through Pedro Neto. Disasi lofted a ball into Gent’s penalty area from deep and it caused problems for the defence. Gent didn’t properly deal with the long ball and Neto latched onto it, firing home with his first touch.
Gent pulled a goal back minutes later through Tsuyoshi Watanabe, heading home a cross from the right flank. Chelsea failed to properly clear their lines from a corner and Atsuki Ito found Gudjohnsen in space on the right. He whipped a cross for Watanabe after Adarabioyo lost his man.
After the hour mark, Nkunku made it 3-1 to Chelsea. The Frenchman rifled an effort home after the ball bounced to him in the area. Gent didn’t deal with a cross from the left flank and Chelsea kept the move alive.
Minutes later, the hosts put the game beyond doubt, with Dewsbury-Hall getting in on the act. Joao Felix tried to put Christopher Nkunku through on goal, but the pass was cut out and Dewsbury-Hall got to the rebound first. He slotted an effort under the goalkeeper to make it 4-1.
Gent pulled a late goal back through Omri Gandelman after some poor Chelsea defending, but the game was already over.
Post on October 4
