- In one of the 11 changes made by Enzo Maresca, Veiga opened the scoring for the Bleus
- The 21-year-old Portuguese was the best player of this Chelsea B
- AZ FOOTBALL: listen now wherever you get your podcasts or watch them on YouTube. New episodes every Wednesday.
For all the ridicule of Chelsea’s lavish recruitment strategy, they love to steal as much as any other club, and there was smug satisfaction inside Stamford Bridge to see £12m-rated Renato Veiga mastermind this victory in the Conference League as left back.
One of 11 changes made by Enzo Maresca, who once again relied on his team’s depth, Veiga opened the scoring against Gent in what was the club’s 300th European match in its history.
The 21-year-old from Basel was the best player of the night and later helped Christopher Nkunku mark his France call-up with a goal yesterday. Further goals from Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ensured Maresca’s Blues B team edged past their Belgian opponents.
“Every game is complicated,” said Maresca, unhappy with how they conceded twice. “We have a lot of things we can do better: attack better, defend better.”
Chelsea fans noticed a familiar surname in Gent’s forward: Andri Gudjohnsen, son of Eidur. The 22-year-old was born in London on January 29, 2002 and it was at Stamford Bridge the following day where his famous father scored within two minutes of a 2-0 Premier League victory over Leeds.
There was smug satisfaction inside Stamford Bridge last night as £12million-rated Renato Veiga led this Conference League victory from left-back.
Neto picked him up, fending off challenges from Brown and Tsuyoshi Watanabe before defeating Davy Roef.
One of 11 changes made by Enzo Maresca, who once again relied on the depth of his squad, Veiga opened the scoring in what was the club’s 300th European match in its history.
However, the young striker was a spectator when Chelsea took the lead in the 12th minute. That first game was very well worked, starting with Axel Disasi winning possession high up the pitch.
Dewsbury-Hall then played a back pass to Mykhailo Mudryk, whose cross to the far post was perfect for Veiga to head into the opposite corner.
Other opportunities from Joao Félix and Nkunku were wasted by the visitors, who decided to try to attack themselves. Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen made his first save in the 33rd minute to deny Birmingham-born Archie Brown’s shot. In the 34th minute, Gudjohnsen shot just wide.
Suddenly, Gent’s tactical approach didn’t seem as questionable as their coach Wouter Vrancken’s, 45, decision to wear skinny jeans on the bench. But 50 seconds into the second half, they trailed 2-0 after Neto took advantage of a long ball from Disasi.
Gent did not give up, however, and Tsuyoshi Watanabe stayed in the game to make it 2-1 in the 50th minute after some indifferent defending from Tosin Adarabioyo.
Chelsea responded by scoring twice more, both Nkunku and Dewsbury-Hall firing the ball under Davy Roef in the 63rd and 70th minutes respectively.
Gent got a consolation in the 90th minute through Omri Gandelman, but just as they did in the Carabao Cup, Maresca won after making 11 substitutions.
Gent did not give up, however, Watanabe stayed in the game and scored to make it 2-1 in the 50th minute.
In the 62nd minute, Veiga used his strength in the box before giving Nkunku a shot under Roef.
In the 70th minute the score became 4-1 with Dewsbury-Hall taking advantage of a loose ball.