Sports

Chelsea Open Conference League Campaign With 4-2 Win Against Gent

A much-changed Chelsea side cruised to victory over Gent in their opening Conference League match, fielding 11 different players from their previous game.

Defender Renato Veiga opened the scoring with a 12th-minute header, connecting with a well-placed cross from Mykhailo Mudryk.

Just 49 seconds into the second half, Pedro Neto doubled the lead, rifling a near-post shot after latching onto a long ball from Axel Disasi.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Gent briefly sparked hope when defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s 50th-minute header was allowed to stand after a VAR check for offside. However, their joy was short-lived as Chelsea regained control.

Thirteen minutes later, Christopher Nkunku capitalized on a loose ball to score his seventh goal of the season with a low strike that passed through goalkeeper Davy Roef.

Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall then added to Chelsea’s tally, turning in a finish after Watanabe failed to clear the danger.

Gent grabbed a late consolation goal through Omri Gandelman, who took advantage of some poor defending on Chelsea’s left flank, but it wasn’t enough to trouble the hosts.

The match showcased Chelsea’s incredible squad depth, with the team fielding a completely different lineup from their 4-2 Premier League win over Brighton.

FURTHER READING

It also highlighted the disparity in resources between some of the teams competing in the Conference League.

With a new 36-team league phase in the competition this season, Chelsea will be aiming to secure a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the knockout stages.

Their goal is to become the first club to win the Conference League, Europa League, and Champions League titles.

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Dennis

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Dennis

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