Blues blow Noah apart with 8-0 thrashing at the Bridge
By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 8 v Noah 0
38, 305
Chelsea thrashed Noah 8-0 at the Bridge tonight in a UEFA Conference League match that keeps the Blues top of the pile, it could have been more, but why punish the Armenia side further.
The visitors were architects of the own downfall for many of the goals.
Perhaps they were overawed by the task they had to face, perhaps.
Chelsea's second string, had a team full of internationals and occasional debutant with high wages and price tags
They put on a positive attacking display that they can be satisfied with.
They knew they would not be in the starting 11 against Arsenal on Sunday in the Premier League, but their professional attitude shone through.
Chelsea were almost undone on two minutes when Noah broke free and Concalo Gregorio let fly from the edge of the Chelsea penalty. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen simply let the ball smack his shoulder and the threat was over, but it was a marker that the Blues needed to shore up their defence.
Chelsea made 11 changes from the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday, and one of them, Joao Felix conspired to miss an open goal on six minutes, shanking a right byline cross away from the empty net.
But from Chelsea's first corner they scored, and it was simplicity itself.
There was a lot of tussling going on but when Enzo's cross came over and Tosin headed smartly home.
Within seconds, the Blues went 2-0 up on 13 minutes.
Marc Guiu, took full advantage as Noah restarted the game, took two touches, before Goncalo Silva passed to Guiu who raced into the area and slotted home past Ognjen Chancharevich.
The third goal on 18 minutes was a replica of the first with the difference that it was Axel Disasi who headed home.
It was a nightmare night for Noah's defender Silva who was easily dispossessed by Guiu and the ball given to Felix who slotted home number four on 22 minutes.
The pick of the first half goals came on 40 minutes, and Chelsea's fifth when Disasi slid the ball left to in-running Mykhailo Mudryk, who took on touch to his right before arrowing home a blistering right footer.
There was still time for a sixth two minutes later when a quick break ended with Felix taking the ball just inside the Noah area and tucking home.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Cesare Casadei came on for the second half, off went Enzo and Guiu.
Chelsea's biggest European win was a 13–0, which came against Luxembourg outfit Jeunesse Hautcharage in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1971. Their 21–0 aggregate win over the same opposition is a joint-record in European football.
But there was little appetite to even try and match that score.
Christopher Nkunku had a great chance on 58 minutes but his powerful left-footer glanced off the Noah crossbar.
Carney Chukwuemeka came on for Tyrique George on 68 minutes.
And within seconds, the Blues hit number seven, Nkunku had a double attempt, the first save by Chancharevich but the ball fell invitingly to Nkunku and he coolly volleyed home from close range.
VAR intervened when the ref waved away a challenge in the penalty area on Dewsbury-Hall by Yan Eteki on 73 minutes. Referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca looked at the monitor and awarded a penalty.
Up stepped Nkunku who smashed the ball down the centre and it was number eight for the Blues.
Chelsea brought on Samuel Rak-Sakyi, 19 for Nkunku on 79 minutes for his debut.
While the away side can take away some crumbs of comfort, they had some excellent chances to snatch a goal. They will know that the gulf in class was evident as soon as the first whistle was blown.
Teams: Chelsea: Jorgensen, Disasi, Badiashile, Tosin, George, Veiga, Enzo, Mudryk, Felix, Guiu, Nkunku
Subs: Casadei, Chukwuemeka, Cucurella, Dewsbury-Hall, Gusto, Sanchez, Noni, Merrick, Rak-Sakyi
Noah: Cancarevic, Miljovic, Silva, Muradyan, Hambardzumyan, Eteki, Sangare, Ferreira, Manvelyan, Cinari, Gregorio
Subs: Avanesyan, Aias, Dashyan, Mendoza, Omar, Petrsoyan, Pinson, Ploshchadny, Santos, Thrarinsson
Referee: Christian-Petru Ciochirca
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