As school trips go, this was a highly educational one for Chelsea’s academy graduates, as a European outing like no other morphed into an evening of firsts in Kazakhstan.
First starts for Josh Acheampong, 18, and Samuel Rak-Sakyi, 19, with Tyrique George also in the line-up.
First appearances for Ato Ampah, 18, Shumaira Mheuka, 17, and Kiano Dyer, 18, as Enzo Maresca named a substitutes’ bench made entirely out of Cobham products.
First time in the club’s history that they named four teenage starters in a major European match, with 18-year-old Marc Guiu amongst the scorers as Chelsea made it five wins from five in the Conference League.
It reached as low as minus 15 in Almaty – so cold that even Astana goalkeeper Mukhammedzhan Seysen was sporting a beanie hat – but for those youngsters, the toe-numbing weather was worth it. The same went for the 500 Chelsea fans who, in return for their Planes, Trains and Automobiles remakes amid a winding 7,000-mile round trip from London, can say they were there, huddled like penguins in the away end while a selection of their own kickstarted their senior careers.
The young players did themselves proud, winning to make sure Chelsea will make it into the Conference League’s round of 16 with a game to spare against Shamrock Rovers. That Stamford Bridge tie is bound to be used to showcase these starlets further, including the unused substitutes who were unfortunate not to make their debuts, such as Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kaiden Wilson and Richard Olise, the 20-year-old brother of Bayern Munich star Michael Olise.
Marc Guiu helped Chelsea spark their win in Almaty with two goals in quick succession
Renato Veiga helped cap Chelsea’s unassailable lead with the side’s third before half-time
The Blues youngsters were tested in freezing temperatures but rose to the occasion to help their side through to the knockout stages (Josh Acheampong pictured)
Pedro Neto was the only regular Premier League starter lining up here, and the reason was largely down to the 85th-minute yellow card he received at Tottenham. That fifth caution leaves him suspended for Brentford on Sunday so here he was, playing while Noni Madueke and Chelsea’s other wingers rested in London.
Rather than sulk, Neto got to work on the right wing. It was his pass which found Guiu making a run down the same side as the striker skinned his man before scoring neatly in the 14th minute. Neto then produced the cross after 18 minutes which Guiu bundled in, UEFA gifting him the goal over Astana’s Aleksandr Marochkin.
Chances for Acheampong and Carney Chukwuemeka followed but it became 3-0 when Renato Veiga headed in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s corner. Veiga kissed the ice on the turf in celebration.
In the 45th minute, Astana scored out of nowhere, their captain Marin Tomasov with a super strike from 18 yards. Ampah replaced Neto at half-time, with fellow substitute Harvey Vale coming close to scoring a tap-in with his first touch. Aged 21, this was Vale’s first senior appearance since Thomas Tuchel took a shine to the academy graduate in the 2021-22 season.
Mheuka, who only turned 17 in October, was brought on to become Chelsea’s second-youngest player to ever appear in Europe after Dominic Solanke and then followed Dyer. The Under 18s have a big FA Youth Cup tie against Leicester on Friday night and, with the team flying home immediately after this victory, Mheuka and Dyer could yet participate.
There was no blaming Chelsea’s players for telling their Astana counterparts they would only swap shirts once back in the warmth of the dressing room. ‘Cold’ Palmer was not needed to bring the ice on this occasion as Cobham’s own stood up when called upon.