Chelsea capitalised on an early red card for Ajax captain Kenneth Taylor to cruise to a 5–1 victory in their UEFA Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Gatekeepers News reports that Manager Enzo Maresca’s bold decision to make ten changes to his starting lineup paid off handsomely as Marc Guiu and Moises Caicedo found the net before Enzo Fernández and Estevão scored from the penalty spot to give the Blues a commanding first-half lead.
Tyrique George completed the rout after the break, sealing back-to-back Champions League wins for Chelsea following their opening defeat away to Bayern Munich. The result lifts the London side to third in Group C, while Ajax remain bottom, still without a point or a goal in this season’s competition.
The visitors’ evening began to unravel after just 15 minutes when VAR upgraded Taylor’s yellow card for a high challenge on Facundo Buonanotte to a straight red. Chelsea immediately made the numerical advantage count as Guiu turned in Wesley Fofana’s header from the ensuing free-kick.
Caicedo soon doubled the lead with a deflected strike off Josip Šutalo, before Ajax briefly threatened a comeback. Wout Weghorst converted from the spot after Tosin Adarabioyo fouled Raúl Moro, reducing the deficit to 2–1.
But Chelsea quickly restored control, winning two penalties in quick succession. Weghorst tripped Fernández, who calmly slotted home, before 18-year-old Estevão — making his Champions League debut — converted another spot-kick he had won himself with a confident finish high past Remko Pasveer.
Maresca introduced further changes in the second half, withdrawing Fernández and Caicedo, but the momentum continued as substitute Tyrique George struck three minutes after coming on, finishing smartly from Andrey Santos’s backheel.
The victory capped a dominant display for a youthful Chelsea side battling through an injury crisis, and eased pressure on Maresca after recent questions about his team’s discipline.
