Chelsea’s young guns stole the show in a record-breaking 5-1 victory over a disjointed Ajax side that completely self-destructed under the lights at Stamford Bridge. The night belonged to the teenagers as Marc Guiu, Estêvão Willian, and Tyrique George all found the net, marking the first time in Champions League history that three players under 20 scored for the same team in a single match.
Ajax’s collapse began early when midfielder Kenneth Taylor was shown a straight red card in the 15th minute for a reckless challenge on Facundo Buonanotte. His dismissal left the Dutch side facing an uphill battle, and Chelsea wasted no time in capitalizing on their advantage. From the ensuing free-kick, Buonanotte’s precise delivery found Wesley Fofana, who nodded the ball across goal for Guiu to tap home, opening the floodgates.
Chelsea doubled their lead soon after through Moisés Caicedo, whose speculative 25-yard strike deflected past the helpless Remko Pasveer. Ajax briefly offered resistance when Wout Weghorst converted a penalty following a foul by Tosin Adarabioyo, but their hope was short-lived. Moments later, Weghorst turned villain, conceding a penalty at the other end with a clumsy challenge on Enzo Fernández, who confidently restored Chelsea’s two-goal cushion.
Ajax’s defensive discipline completely unraveled as Josip Sutalo conceded another penalty before halftime. Estêvão Willian stepped up and smashed his spot-kick into the roof of the net to make it 4-1, becoming Chelsea’s youngest ever scorer in the competition at just 18.
The dominance continued after the break, with Tyrique George capping off the rout with a composed finish from 20 yards to seal a 5-1 win. Chelsea’s coach Enzo Maresca then used the opportunity to introduce more academy talent, including Reggie Walsh, who made history as the club’s youngest player to feature in the Champions League at 17 years old.
Ajax, meanwhile, looked completely devoid of confidence and direction, their supporters turning on manager John Heitinga amid the growing crisis. Chelsea’s second youngest European lineup in history delivered a performance full of energy, precision, and promise—one that hinted at a bright future built on youth and fearless attacking football.
