Chelsea continued their strong form in the Conference League with an impressive 4-2 victory over KAA Gent. The game, held at Stamford Bridge, saw Chelsea dominate possession, creating several key chances and controlling the pace of the match from start to finish.
First Half: Chelsea Dictate the Play
Chelsea began on the front foot, applying pressure right from the whistle. Playing a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation without the ball, they shifted to a back three in possession, allowing left-back Gabri Veiga to drift into the midfield and join the attack. Mykhailo Mudryk was instrumental on the right flank, consistently beating his marker and setting up dangerous crosses.
In the 8th minute, Mudryk delivered a perfect pass to João Félix, whose shot was blocked by Gent’s defense. However, the breakthrough came just three minutes later when Mudryk whipped in a cross, and Veiga rose highest to nod the ball into the net, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead.
Chelsea maintained control for much of the first half, pinning Gent deep into their own half. Gent struggled to string together more than two passes before losing possession. In the 32nd minute, Jorgensen, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, made a crucial save to deny Brown, Gent’s best chance for an equalizer. Despite a brief resurgence by Gent towards the end of the first half, Chelsea went into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.
Second Half: Chelsea Flex Their Muscle
Chelsea came out firing in the second half, and within a minute of the restart, Neto doubled their lead with a well-timed volley, courtesy of a brilliant pass from Axel Disasi, the captain for the night. However, Gent struck back quickly in the 49th minute. A corner caused confusion in Chelsea’s defense, and Shion Watanabe capitalized to bring the score to 2-1.
Chelsea responded by regaining control, with Mudryk, Félix, Veiga, and Neto all threatening to extend their lead. In the 62nd minute, Chelsea won three consecutive corners. After some chaos in the box, Christopher Nkunku fired in a shot from close range to make it 3-1.
Seven minutes later, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who had been impressive throughout, added a fourth after seizing on a loose ball following a missed tackle. Chelsea looked set to run riot, but Gent had the final say when substitute Omri Gandelman converted Max Dean’s cross in the 73rd minute, making it 4-2.
Key Stats and Insights
- Chelsea registered 20 shots, with 5 on target, while Gent managed 9 shots, with 3 on target.
- Chelsea dominated possession, holding the ball for 70% of the match, leaving Gent with just 30%.
Chelsea’s solid performance not only demonstrated their attacking prowess but also showed their resilience, even after Gent’s attempts to claw their way back into the game. With back-to-back 4-2 wins, the Blues look set to be strong contenders in the Conference League campaign this season.