[ad_1]
Chelsea did light work with Krasnodar in front of a crowd of 10,000 in southwestern Russia in their Champions League Group E match on Wednesday night, winning 4-0.
With a 1-0 lead thanks to a serendipitous goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Frank Lampard’s 3-point substitution with 20 minutes to go seemed to end any chance of the well-supported home side scoring a rare late point. Timo Werner scored from the penalty spot before Hakim Ziyech scored a goal in his full debut, while Christian Pulisic’s late effort secured the points.
Positive
Passing was certainly not a problem for Chelsea tonight. They popped the ball excellently and denied Krasnador possession for much of the game. Engagement was also not a problem with Kurt Zouma and Edouard Mendy putting their bodies on the line on the rare occasion that Krasnodar threatened. Three late goals speak for themselves, as Chelsea’s clinical advantage provided a much-needed confidence boost after a three-game winless streak.
Negative
Chelsea’s defensive movement in the first half especially prevented Lampard’s team from playing their best football. Zouma and fellow central defender Antonio Rudiger were passive in their game and struggled to deal with the hosts’ first line of defense. However, Jorginho will be the key topic of conversation, after he missed a second penalty of the season before being substituted.
– Stream ESPN FC daily on ESPN + (US only)
– ESPN + Spectator Guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more
Manager rating out of 10
9 – Three thousand miles away from home, between Premier League games against Manchester United and Burnley, Wednesday’s game had the potential to be a banana peel for Lampard & Co., but the five changes it made since the weekend’s game at Old Trafford evidently worked. . A triple change at the end helped ease the anxiety of losing points in the final stages of the game.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players submitted after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Edouard Mendy, 7 years old – He parried the ball when he had to, but it was largely a quiet game for Mendy as the hosts rarely threatened the Blues goal. When they did it was often from an ambitious strike that was aimed at the stands.
DF Cesar Azpilicueta, 8 – Azpilicueta’s excellent energy down the flanks certainly opened up options for Chelsea’s midfielders when play was at times staggered in the first half. Brilliant ball control and his crosses were strong and precise, putting a vulnerable goalkeeper to the test.
DF Kurt Zouma, 7 years old – A mediocre performance to begin with, Zouma rarely seemed to be playing his best game and that consequently hurt Chelsea’s attempts to move the game forward quickly. That being said, he showed exceptional commitment at times.
DF Antonio Rudiger, 7 – With five international appearances to his name this season before Wednesday, but this was his first outing for Chelsea of the campaign. It was shown early on when his association with Zouma seemed rusty. That said, he managed to keep a clean sheet.
DF Ben Chilwell, 6 years old Not Chilwell’s best game, he looked tired at times and perhaps could have benefited from a bit of rest in the second half. The Hudson-Odoi combined play is an area of concern as the pair never seemed to bounce off each other’s play going forward.
MF Jorginho, 5 – He was about to pay for a cheap gift of possession early on, giving Krasnodar his first sight of goal. A missed penalty moments later did little to help their cause. One night to spend.
MF Mateo Kovacic, 6 years old – Quiet first half, but he pounced on a ball that bounced well for him on the edge of the box to start the second, and he was unlucky to see that effort drift off the post. Otherwise, poor and emotionless performance.
MF Hakim Ziyech, 8 – He made his full debut at Chelsea and fans got a taste of what he can offer in midfield. Ziyech’s game and movement were crucial at times and he also possessed great vision. Rewarded with a clever late goal.
MF Kai Havertz, 7 years old – It’s not the busiest game for Havertz, but his first touch was a real weapon in the visitors’ locker. Excellent close control allowed Havertz to quickly maneuver the ball around dangerous areas and consequently received a well deserved assist.
MF Callum Hudson-Odoi, 7 years old – He boasted little possession in the first half, but benefited from a woeful goalkeeper piece to score his first Champions League goal by skimming a shot on the edge of the penalty area.
DEL Timo Werner, 8 – He took a positive penalty to end the match with just over 15 minutes to go, a stark contrast to Jorginho’s previous penalty shot. It had foci of strong positional play where the first touch and rhythm stood out.
Substitutes
MF N’Golo Kante, N / A – He replaced Jorginho at the base of the midfield, and admirably patrolled large swaths of the field with no other recognized deep midfielder on the field for Chelsea.
MF Mason Assembly, N / R – His characteristic energetic pressure provided a boost to what had previously been a somewhat stale midfield after coming in for Kovacic.
MF Christian Pulisic, N / R – He took the place of Hudson-Odoi and added the push that had been lacking in wide areas, and was rewarded for his efforts with a goal and a penalty won.
FW Tammy Abraham, N / R – He replaced Ziyech with just under 10 minutes remaining, spearheading the Blues’ attack in the final stages.
DF Emerson Palmieri, N / A – He relieved Chilwell to the left of the back four, and was routinely involved in Chelsea’s warm-up game in the final 10 minutes.
