Chelsea all-but confirmed passage to the final 16 of the Convention League with a 3-1 win in opposition to Astana in Kazakhstan as Enzo Maresca handed full debuts to 2 academy graduates.

Defender Josh Acheampong, 18, and 19-year-old midfielder Samuel Rak-Sakyi every performed for the membership at under-eight stage and loved comfy first begins within the senior crew, because the guests triumphed in temperatures of round minus 10 within the Kazakh capital Almaty.

Fellow teenager Marc Guiu, a relative veteran with six earlier Chelsea begins, scored twice contained in the opening 18 minutes earlier than Renato Veiga headed in his second for the membership earlier than half-time.

Astana have been themselves taking part in 600 miles from dwelling as their common stadium underwent renovations, they usually gave those that had made the arduous journey purpose for cheer when Croatian striker Marin Tomasov pinged one in off the submit in a second of uncommon high quality from the hosts.

Maresca handed a second senior begin to 18-year-old Tyrique George and left at dwelling nearly all of the XI that began Sunday’s 4-3 win over Tottenham, with Pedro Neto – who’s suspended for the weekend’s assembly with Brentford – the one participant to make the 7,000-mile round-trip.

Neto had Chelsea’s first probability in freezing situations in Kazakhstan, skating in off the fitting and placing low in direction of the close to submit, goalkeeper Mukhammedzhan Seysen dropping low to his left to avoid wasting.

Guiu’s opener was a high-quality solo effort. Accumulating the ball nearly on the touchline broad on the fitting, he stood up the full-back Aleksandr Marochkin earlier than powering past him into the field and prodding the ball contained in the submit for his second Chelsea objective.

Astana have been already wanting hopelessly stretched. Neto was subsequent to take benefit, rocketing across the exterior of his defender and crossing low in direction of Guiu. Seysen dived to get fingers on the ball however might solely flip it again into hazard the place it ricocheted between Guiu and Marochkin and over the road.

Carney Chukwuemeka had a shot deflected broad after being given house however Astana didn’t heed the warning. From the ensuing nook, Veiga was given the liberty of Almaty to rise and plant his header previous the goalkeeper.

A torrid night time for Astana was made extra palatable when Tomasov slipped the attentions of Veiga and rifled within the objective of night time, his strike crusing up and broad of Filip Jorgensen’s attain and in off the submit.

Ato Ampah changed Neto within the second half for his first senior Chelsea look, whereas Harvey Vale was despatched on for a primary look since 2022.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor fizzed an effort inches broad as he sought his second objective since becoming a member of in the summertime, as Chelsea eased off their hosts within the second half.

Ahead Shim Mheuka was additionally handed a Chelsea debut aged 17 to change into the membership’s second youngest participant in Europe behind Dominic Solanke, then 18-year-old midfielder Kiano Dyer accomplished the roster of these making their bow in blue.