Last couple of years have been tough for Chelsea, as the fans saw their beloved owner Roman Abramovich, who made the Blues a big club packing his bags after the Russia – Ukraine war started and when Todd Boehli came in, the club started to fall down. The American totally shook the team, brought in more players that he could fit into the locker room (physically) and wasted a couple of coaches. And because of those actions, the Blues found themselves in the third-tier European competition, playing in Kazakhstan in the -9 degree Celsius after an eight hour trip. But Chelsea passed the test with ease and secured their fifth consecutive win in the UEFA Conference League, this time against Astana 4-0. And due to Boehli‘s extensive transfer windows, coach Enzo Maresca had the luxury to make no less than 10 changes from the Tottenham game last Sunday, and still win comfortably with Chelsea Academy players, backed up with some more experienced players.MARC GUIU WHAT A GOAL pic.twitter.com/xbAsmXmM3P— CfcSheikh (@CfcSheikh) December 12, 2024 The reasoning was simple – The Blues already had four wins and their players had to endure an eight hour trip, then play 90 minutes in a freezing weather, fly back eight hours and then play against Brentford on Sunday. So, Maresca decided to involve only Pablo Neto, knowing that he won‘t be able to play in England due to suspensions, and everybody else were left in London. Youngsters like Josh Acheampong, midfielder Samuel Rak-Sakyi, wide man Tyrique George and striker Marc Guiu got the chance and they used it and finished the game way before the final whistle.Guiu has given double lead!⚽️ GOAL 🇪🇺 | Astana 0-2 Chelsea | Marc Guiupic.twitter.com/fkceJHenpz— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) December 12, 2024 Everything was finished after 40 minutes, when the score was 3-0. The visitors missed their first chance (Seyson saved Neto‘s shot in the eight minute), but scored from the next two. In the 14th minute, Spain winger Guiu picked up the ball wide on the right touchline, before powering towards the box and after one on one one with Seysen easily scored. The same players scored his second goals four minutes later, even thou the replay shows that may it was the home defender Marochkin who scored an own goals. Neto came from the right byline, before passing the ball to Guiu, who managed to bundle the ball over the line from close range under pressure from Marochkin.🚨🇪🇺 GOAL | Astana 0-3 Chelsea | Renato VeigaRENATO VEIGA MAKES IT THREE FOR CHELSEA!pic.twitter.com/XYRHbv082d— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 12, 2024 Chelsea continued with their attacks and Seysen saved another shot from Neto, but in the 39th minute he conceded the third goal, when Veiga headed the ball into the net after Dewsbury-Hall‘s cross. A moment of insecurity from Chelsea‘s youngsters in defense allowed Tomasov to score the only goal for Astana in injury time. The second half again showed that Chelsea was two classes better than their Kazakhstan’s opponents, but the Blues didn‘t use this force to score more goals, but rather to control the match and get it done without anybody getting injured.UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE – ROUND 5Thursday Vikingur – Djurgarden 1-2 (0-0)/Sigurpalsson 72 – Kosugi 62, Wikheim 65/Astana – Chelsea 1-3 (1-3)/Guiu 14, 19, Veiga 39 – Tomasov 45/20.45: (2.60) Basaksehir (3.25) Heidenheim (2.80)20.45: (1.40) Copenhagen (4.60) Hearts (8.00)20.45: (1.48) Dinamo Minsk (4.10) Larne (7.50)20.45: (1.38) Fiorentina (4.80) LASK (8.50)20.45: (4.90) Helsinki (3.60) Molde (1.75)20.45: (2.00) Legia (3.50) Lugano (3.70)20.45: (3.05) Noah (3.15) Apoel Nicosia (2.45)20.45: (2.15) Olimpija (3.30) Cercle Brugge (3.50)20.45: (12.0) Petrocub (6.50) Betis (1.22)23.00: (1.33) Gent (5.50) TSC Backa Topola (8.50)23.00: (2.15) M.Boleslav (3.45) Jagiellonia (3.35)23.00: (2.95) Omonia (3.40) Rapid (2.40)23.00: (1.55) Paphos (4.10) Celje (6.00)23.00: (2.35) Shamrock (3.25) Borac Banja Luka (3.15)23.00: (2.95) St.Galen (3.40) Guimaraes (2.40)23.00: (10.0) TNS (5.10) Panathinaikos (1.32)***odds are subject to change***
