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)
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