Chelsea goal frenzy sees ruthless Blues hit shell-shocked Noah for eight
Chelsea ran riot with a completely changed team to put eight goals past FC Noah to remain top of the UEFA Conference League.
Enzo Maresca’s second string side were 4-0 up inside 21 minutes and were rarely troubled by their Armenian visitors.
Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku each scored a brace in opposite halves as Chelsea tore their opponents apart at will. Further goals came courtesy of Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi and Mykhailo Mudryk.
Maresca rested his complete starting XI from their draw against Manchester United, with Cole Palmer not even registered for the UEFA Conference League group stages.
Chelsea are top of the Conference League table with three wins from as many matches, and 16 goals in the process.
The Blues head to Heidenheim next in the competition, on November 28, but not before Premier League matches against Arsenal and Leicester City.
Talking point – Chelsea look fresh despite European competition
Manchester City and Arsenal are both suffering with injuries due to the amount of matches they are playing.
However, with a big squad and a lighter UEFA Conference League competition, Chelsea are thriving and giving their youngsters and fringe players valuable competitive action.
Both Felix and Nkunku continued their scoring form while Guiu netted his first goal for Chelsea. The Conference League is also allowing Mudryk to gain confidence as he gets closer to Maresca’s first-choice plans.
Player of the match – Mykhailo Mudryk
The Ukrainian forward has struggled to make his mark at Chelsea since making a reported £89 million move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.
However, the 23-year-old is starting to show the skills that earned him that price tag and looked full of confidence, albeit playing against a lacklustre opponent.
In three Conference League matches, Mudryk has made five goal contributions. After Chelsea struggled to find a spark at times against Manchester United at the weekend, Mudryk could find more Premier League action in the forthcoming weeks.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Jorgensen 8; Disasi 7; Badiashile 6; Adarabioyo 6; Veiga 7; Fernandez 8; George 8; Nkunku 8; Joao Felix 8; Mudryk 8; Guiu 7. Subs: Casadei 6; Chukwuemeka 7; Dewsbury-Hall 6; Rak-Sakyi 6.
FC Noah: Cancarevic 7; Miljkovic 6; Silva 4; Muradyan 4; Hambardzumyan 6; Eteki 6; Manvelyan 6; Sangare 6; Cinari 5; Gregorio 6; Ferreira 6. Subs: Avanesyan 6; Matheus Aias 6; Mendoza 6; Oulad Omar 6; Pinson 6.
Match highlights
12’ -GOAL! CHELSEA 1 (ADARABIOYO) FC NOAH 0: It took just 12 minutes for Chelsea to take the lead as Adarabioyo leaves his marker on the floor and then heads across goal and into the bottom corner.
13’ -GOAL! CHELSEA 2 (GUIU) FC NOAH 0: Straight from kick-off the visitors play the ball across their back four. However, 19-year-old Guiu is sharper and nips in to score.
18’ – GOAL! CHELSEA 3 (DISASI) FC NOAH 0: A second goal from a set piece again the corner is whipped into the box by Fernandez and Disasi stoops before sending a powerful header into the net.
21’ -GOAL! CHELSEA 4 (JOAO FELIX) FC NOAH 0: Nkunku makes a crunching challenge which results in Chelsea playing Joao Felix through on goal and he calmly beats the goalkeeper to make it four.
39’ -GOAL! CHELSEA 5 (MUDRYK) FC NOAH 0: Picking the ball up outside the box, Mudryk takes a touch to open up space and then fires his effort into the top corner.
41’ -GOAL! CHELSEA 6 (JOAO FELIX) FC NOAH 0: A lovely attacking run from Disasi takes the ball from his own box to the other before sliding the ball in for Joao Felix to score his second of the night.
69’ -GOAL! CHELSEA 7 (NKUNKU) FC NOAH 0: The ninth goal of the season for Nkunku, who is played through on goal by Felix. Despite seeing his initial effort closed at close range by goalkeeper Cancarevic, the forward heads home the rebound
76’ – GOAL! CHELSEA 8 (NKUNKU) FC NOAH 0: It’s eight as Nkunku scores his fourth penalty in Europe this season. He makes his look easy as the ball is slotted home down the middle.
Key stats
