Chelsea’s teenage stars make history in a 5–1 demolition of ten-man Ajax at Stamford Bridge
At Stamford Bridge, a new generation of Chelsea stars announced themselves in spectacular fashion. Enzo Maresca’s youthful side dismantled ten-man Ajax 5–1, a victory that was not only emphatic but historic, as three teenage players found the net in one Champions League game for the first time ever.
For Ajax, it was another grim night that underscored just how far they have fallen from their glorious past. Once Europe’s great innovators, the Dutch giants looked a shadow of the club that once redefined modern football. Their rich history counted for little as Maresca’s fearless youngsters ripped them apart in a first half of relentless energy and clinical finishing.
The evening began badly for Ajax and rapidly got worse. Kenneth Taylor’s reckless lunge on Facundo Buonanotte in the 17th minute earned him a straight red card, leaving his team exposed against Chelsea’s exuberant front line. Within moments of the dismissal, Ajax pressed the self-destruct button.
Buonanotte, one of ten changes in Chelsea’s starting lineup, swung in a teasing cross from the right. Wesley Fofana rose unchallenged and nodded it across goal for 19-year-old Marc Guiu to slot home from close range. The Spaniard, aged 19 years and 291 days, briefly became Chelsea’s youngest-ever scorer in the competition — though his record would not last the night.
Ajax were in complete disarray. The away supporters turned on their beleaguered manager, John Heitinga, when he responded to the goal by withdrawing Oscar Gloukh for Jorthy Mokio. Their frustration deepened as two chaotic penalties followed. Enzo Fernández converted the first, conceded in farcical fashion by former Burnley and Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst, before handing the second to Estêvão Willian.
The 18-year-old Brazilian coolly slotted home to overtake Guiu as Chelsea’s youngest scorer in the tournament — a mark of how rapidly the record books were being rewritten. By the time Moisés Caicedo’s deflected drive made it 4–1 before half-time, Ajax had not only conceded four goals in a European first half for the first time since 1958 but also appeared utterly broken.
Even Chelsea’s lone blemish came with irony. Tosin Adarabioyo’s foul handed Ajax their only consolation, converted by Weghorst from the spot. It did little to lift the mood in the away end, where Heitinga faced jeers and chants calling for his resignation.
Chelsea’s dominance continued after the break. Tyrique George, aged 19 years and 260 days, curled home from 20 yards to become the third teenage scorer of the night, eclipsing both Guiu and Estêvão. It was a record-breaking performance for Maresca’s team — one that combined flair with composure beyond their years.
The manager, while visibly proud, remained grounded. “It’s a special night for the club, for the young players,” Maresca said. “I work with them every day. I know what they can do. We’ll have moments when we struggle, but the good thing is they want to improve.”
He was careful not to fan talk of a title challenge. Chelsea remain just outside the top eight on goal difference, yet the mood around the club has shifted. The owners’ bold youth-focused strategy, once questioned for its lack of experience, suddenly seems vindicated.
As the match wound down, Maresca handed a debut to Reggie Walsh, who turned 17 only two days earlier — making him Chelsea’s youngest-ever player in the Champions League. It was the perfect symbol of a night that belonged to the next generation.
For Ajax, the contrast could hardly have been starker. Their history still commands respect, but their football, stripped of its identity, has become a relic of what once was.