Chelsea’s European encounter felt almost comical, as they dismantled their opponents from Noah FC, a team so out of their depth that one could only wonder if the Blues had set up their goals to arrive two by two, just for the fun of it.
The game, which was embarrassingly mismatched, left fans at Stamford Bridge both laughing and cringing at the spectacle unfolding before them.
A Rapid Start for Chelsea
From the very first whistle, it was clear this would be no contest.
Chelsea took control in the 12th minute, with a header from Adarabioyo off a Fernandez corner.
Then, just moments later, Noah FC’s poor pass allowed Guiu to score easily against their goalkeeper, Chancharevich.
By the 18th minute, Chelsea were 3-0 up, thanks to a header from Disasi off another set-piece.
Felix added to the scoreline soon after, with a clever dink finish following a mistake from Noah.
The floodgates were wide open.
By the 39th minute, Mudryk added a stunning curler to make it 5-0, and just before the break, Felix grabbed a sixth goal to match Chelsea’s biggest-ever win under Pochettino—a 6-0 victory over Everton.
Noah FC’s Struggles
Noah FC, sitting fourth in the Armenian Premier League, seemed overwhelmed by the occasion.
Arriving early to take selfies on the pitch like tourists, they were clearly outclassed by the Premier League side.
The team, only seven years old and named after the biblical tale, had made it this far through the Conference League via an exhaustive qualification process.
But facing Chelsea, the favorites for the competition, proved to be a step too far.
Professionalism Amid the Lopsided Score
Despite the overwhelming odds, Chelsea kept their focus.
Manager Enzo Maresca praised his team’s professionalism, saying they needed to be serious, as surprises can happen in football if you’re not mentally prepared.
Making 11 changes to his starting lineup, Maresca knew that a routine win was expected, particularly against opponents whose players reportedly earn less than £5,000 a week.
However, Noah nearly shocked Chelsea in the second minute when Gregorio’s shot was saved by Jorgensen.
More Goals for Chelsea
The second half saw Chelsea continue to add to their tally.
In the 69th minute, Nkunku finally put away a rebound after his initial attempt was blocked.
Then, in the 75th minute, a penalty was awarded after Dewsbury-Hall was fouled.
Nkunku stepped up and converted it with ease, securing Chelsea’s eighth goal.
With the match effectively over by halftime, the Blues didn’t get their record European win, but they still showed their dominance, dispatching the visitors without much effort.
What’s Next?
As Chelsea march on in their quest for the Conference League title, the next challenge will come from stronger competition.
Meanwhile, the focus shifts to their upcoming Premier League clash with Arsenal, where they’ll hope for a more competitive test than what they faced on this European evening.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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