Callum Hudson-Odoi created the goal for Pedro with one of his forays down the left.
Photo: Chris Wilson /Prost Amerika
Maurizio Sarri makes winning start as Chelsea coach in Perth
Perth Glory 0 : 1 Chelsea
New Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri made a winning start as his side began their pre-season with a narrow win over Perth Glory. The Blues beat their Australian hosts courtesy of a 4th minute goal from Spanish forward Pedro. Callum Hudson-Odoi provided the cross from the left to set Chelsea off on the right foot in front of a crowd largely composed of their own fans.
Optus Stadium was a sea of blue flags just prior to kick off. It may have been a wet and windy winter night in Perth, but a Western Australian record crowd of 55,522 turned out to watch Perth Glory host the illustrious Londoners. The attendance smashed the previous record of 43,242 set on November 6, 2000 when Glory hosted Wollongong Wolves. A moving “Welcome to Country” service was delivered by an Aboriginal elder prior to the start.
An early Glory corner led to the first chance but the header missed the target. Soon the hosts would find themselves trailing though, when Pedro scored what turned out to be the game’s only goal. Thereafter Chelsea dominated possession and sprayed the passes around with Glory finding it difficult to get a foot on the ball.
Some great work by Fabio Ferreira impressed the crowd after he beat three defenders but the resultant corner once more proved a disappointment. Nonetheless Glory were beginning to find their feet and although massively outnumbered, the Glory fans were making their voices heard.
Hudson-Odoi caused more trouble from his berth on the left as Chelsea waltzed through the Glory defence in a beautiful move but his final pass from the left wing went awry after he had done everything else so well.
Glory stopper Liam Reddy showed his worth, and not for the last time, stopping Ross Barkley in 24 minutes. Three minutes later, he defied Barkley and Chelsea again after the young striker burst through the middle and this time found Alvaro Morata eight yards out.
Despite having trouble emerging with possession out of their own third, Glory refused to resort to the long ball game, earning them some respect around those watching.
On the half hour mark, Cesc Fabregas had a great chance from ten yards out to increase the lead but Scott Neville provided the blocking tackle. The Spaniard nearly turned villain shortly after though when a backheel found Perth captain Andy Keogh but he failed to capitalise at the other end. Luiz denied the skipper again with a sliding tackle after Perth’s best spell of the game at that point. Marcus Alonso hit the wall from a free kick before Reddy was the hero again in 40 minutes, this time defying Zappacosta’s low shot.
Glory 2nd half sub Juande approaches Lucas Piazon as Cesc Fabregas looks on during Chelsea’s win over Perth Glory
Photo: Chris Wilson / Prost Amerika
The battle between Neville and Hudson-Odoi continued at both ends with Neville beginning to find the measure of the Wandsworth born youngster. Hudson-Odoi passed by the Devon-born acquisition from Western Sydney Wanderers once more three minutes before half time but Reddy was alert and snuffed out the danger.
Just before the interval, Perth had their best chance of the match when Ferreira crossed a dangerous ball in from the right only to see the Blues defence mop it up.
Half time – Perth 0 : 1 Chelsea
Barkley came close to doubling the Chelsea lead on 51, when he burst though but his shot hit the post. They were not to come as close again. Substitutions at half time disrupted the flow of the match. One of the newer names was Chelsea’s Polish goalkeeper Marcin Bulka who easily gathered a Ferreira effort after he had beaten two defenders.
Both sides missed chances thereafter. Fabregas picked up a loose ball and fired wide from 25 yards before new Glory signing Ivan Franjic blasted well over having won the ball following a corner by another Socceroo Neil Kilkenny.
An out of form Barkley continued to struggle with his finishing. Reddy defied him from inside the six yard box before he missed the target from eight yards.
Another replacement Tammy Abraham was the next to be stopped by the ever-ready Reddy before he produced the save of the night when he produced a splendid one handed save from Chelsea’s Croatian midfielder Mario Pašalić on 63. Three minutes later, he produced a double save from Pedro and it was fast turning into the Liam Reddy show.
On 72, great work from Fabregas put Barkley through who again sliced wide from six yards. Popular local hero Diego Castro entered the game to huge cheers but it was two other Glory newcomers Brendon Santalab and Jason Davidson who combined well next, but Santalab headed the resulting chance wide.
Ten minutes from time, Reddy again saved Glory, this time from Pedro at close range. Santalab looked dangerous again but the man newly signed from Western Sydney Wanderers headed narrowly wide. His enthusiasm got the better of him shortly thereafter picking up a yellow card for a bad foul. He so nearly equalised for Glory on the stroke of full time but his strike was just wide and Chelsea won Sarri’s first game by the lone goal.
Final Score: Peth Glory 0 : 1 Chelsea
Glory were unlucky to concede a goal after four minutes before they had a chance to settle their nerves. Chelsea however always looked like they had a few gears in reserve.
In the second half, despite overwhelming Chelsea possession and wave after wave of elegant orchestrated attacks, the Glory defence held commendably firm. Time and time again goalkeeper Reddy came to Glory’s rescue saving with hands, legs, or both. His positioning was perfect. On several occasions when the Chelsea attackers waited on him to commit himself, he resolutely stood firm forcing them to blink first and shoot wide.
Overall this was a very creditable performance by Perth Glory who contained Chelsea as they made real attempts to increase their lead in the final half hour. New Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri now has plenty to think about, new Glory coach Tony Popovic has much to look forward to in the forthcoming A-League season. Chelsea’s global popularity is one thing though Bruce Buck does not have to worry about with the turnout of Chelsea fans being highly impressive.
The best players for Chelsea on the night were Luiz, Fabregas, Hudson-Odoi, Pedro, Ampada and Musonda while Glory coach Popovic will be best pleased with Reddy, Ferreira, Neville, Harold, Davidson and Santalab.
However there is only one candidate for man of the match: Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy.
Chelsea next take on Italian side Internazionale in Nice on Saturday.
Official attendance: 55,522
Perth Glory: Reddy, Grant, Lowry, Franjic, Djulbic, Kilkenny, Keogh (Capt), Wilson, Italiano, Ferreira, Neville.
Subs: Velaphi (GK), Davidson, Chianese, Santalab, Harold, Castro, Stynes, Brimmer, Scott, Mustafa, Prados Lopez, Lee (GK).
Chelsea: Bulka, Alonso, Fabregas (Capt), Jorginho, Barkley, Morata, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi, Zappacosta, Luiz, Ampadu.
Subs: Collins (GK), Aina, Drinkwater, Palmer, Abraham, Bakayoko, Tomori, Hector, Musonda, Kalas, Pasalic, Piazon, Emerson, Thompson.
