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90+4, FULL-TIME: Chelsea keep it late as they record a vital win away to Ajax! The second half might not have been as intense as the first, but a resilient and well-drilled performance by the Blues sees us take all three points back home to London. The group’s opened up once more, game on!
90+3 min: Chelsea trying to run down the clock here as they try to keep it in the corner of Ajax’s half. The Blues are finishing very strongly and Ajax are in shambles here.
90+1 min: 4 minutes of stoppage time as Batshuayi does fantastically well to hold up the play far up the pitch and Chelsea get a corner. Good show!
90 min: Final change of the night for Chelsea as Reece James comes on for Hudson-Odoi, who has had a mixed night. This is definitely a defensive change as the Blues may be playing the remainder of the game with 5 at the back.
89 min: A double change here for Ajax as Huntelaar and Siem de Jong come on instead of Veltman and Alvarez, respectively.
86 min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!! Michy Batshuayi opens the scoring for Chelsea after an absolutely superb run by Pulisic sees the winger cut the ball back to the Belgian striker, who is just about able to bury the ball under the bar. 1-0!
85 min: Zouma is booked here after coming out from defense and slopply giving the ball away in Ajax’s half. Hectically trying to repair the damage, he resort to a clumsy foul an Ajax player. Right call by the referee.
83 min: A horrible clearance by Alonso falls to an Ajax player inside the box, but luckily nothing comes of it.
81 min: Great chance for Pulisic who takes a shot just outside the penalty area. The American’s shot is dragged just wide, unfortunately.
80 min: Another corner sees Tomori head the ball wide. The defender is complaining to the referee about something hear, possibly due to a handball, but nothing is given.
78 min: A corner for the Blues sees Zouma foul Alvarez and the Chelsea defender is rightfully penalized.
74 min: First change for Ajax as Ziyech makes way for rumoured Chelsea target David Neres.
73 min: Oh dear. Pulisic does well to make some room for himself and get the shot off, which takes a lucky deflection into the feet of Batshuayi. The Belgian, however, rockets the ball over the bar under no pressure right in front of goal. He simply has to do better there.
72 min: We just saw the combination of Batshuayi and Pulisic for the first time in this game as the winger finds the striker in the box, who scuffs the ball into the arms of the Ajax keeper.
71 min: Second substitution for Chelsea here as Frank Lampard decides to freshen things up with Tammy Abraham making way for Michy Batshuayi.
69 min: Chelsea finding it hard to penetrate Ajax here as a loss of possession sees an out-of-position Tomori make a tactical foul in the opponent’s box.
66 min: Christian Pulisic is coming on for Willian here as Hudson-Odoi and the American international seem to swap sides on the wings. A disappointing night for Willian, who wasn’t able to replicate recent performances.
65 min: Things are getting a little tense here as two strong challenges see Chelsea get a free-kick and Ajax’s Martinez receive a deserved yellow card.
64 min: A cynical challenge by Hudson-Odoi on Alvarez sees Chelsea concede the free-kick. Needless to say, the Ajax fans aren’t particularly happy that the Chelsea youngster escaped without a booking there.
62 min: The possession stats are reasonably balanced here as Ajax just about edge out Chelsea with 52%. However, the hosts haven’t been able to do much with their slight advantage to the relief of Chelsea.
59 min: Ajax showing their pace and threat as Kovacic does well to block a shot in the penalty box at the expense of a corner. That consequent corner sees a flick-on come to Alvarez who puts the ball just wide of the post. Chelsea very lucky there.
58 min: Chelsea are trying to put their stamp on the game and assert dominance as Lampard makes some slight adjustments to the system. Mount now playing behind Abraham, it seems.
56 min: Zouma driving out with the ball, overrunning it, but fortunately gets fouled by an Ajax player. Chelsea unable to create much in these opening minutes of the second half. However, so is Ajax.
53 min: Some last-ditch defending by Azpilicueta sees the ball get fired forward as Abraham is able to get onto the ball. Unfortunately, the Blues aren’t able to do anything with their possession, Hudson-Odoi getting dispossessed.
52 min: Two corners for Chelsea in short succession see the guests not make the most of their opportunities as Ajax once again do well to clear the danger.
51 min: A shot by Mount is blocked by Ajax’s defense after some good play gives the midfielder some room to shoot.
48 min: The first yellow card for a player after a reckless challenge by Tadic on Willian. Could have actually even been more than just the booking. Lucky.
47 min: Chelsea concede an early corner as Alonso takes Ziyech to the byline. The corner is cleared and a second follows. A short corner is taken, but well defended.
SECOND-HALF: We’re underway again at the Johann Cruyff Arena as Chelsea kick-off the second half!
HALF-TIME: A balanced and end-to-end half concludes as both teams were able to threaten the opponent on several occasions. Ajax slightly unlucky not to open the scoring, but VAR said no.
45+1 min: We’re into stoppage time here as Mason Mount receives a final warning before being booked.
43 min: A wonderful cross-field ball by Mount finds an onrushing Azpilicueta, who has acres of space to run in. However, instead of attempting to cross the ball into the box, the fullback takes a shot which isn’t able to trouble Onana.
42 min: Kurt Zouma is having a brilliant game here as Ajax are gradually finding their grove here. Corner to Ajax. Thankfully, Chelsea are able to clear and Mount does well to bring the ball up the field all by himself.
40 min: A last ditch tackle by Azpilicueta hinders Ajax from opening the scoring once more! Chelsea need to find some composure here.
39 min: Things are getting quite a bit more spicy here as the tackles are heating up and getting tougher.
36 min: What a few minutes of agony! By the narrowest of margins, Quincy Promes’ opener is ruled out for offside by our beloved VAR. Chelsea just got away with murder there, should be a wake-up call.
34 min: Alonso showing his strength against an onrushing Dest. Despite the latter’s blistering pace, the Spaniard wins the duel.
33 min: Ludicrous how much room Hudson-Odoi is getting here as he drills in a cross towards Abraham, which is met by Onana.
31 min: Chelsea is continuing to put a lot of pressure on Ajax as the Blues wait to pounce on any mistakes made by the hosts. A big shout out to Tammy Abraham, who hasn’t had any chances yet, but is working exceptionally hard off the ball. We’re getting better!
29 min: Chances-wise, it’s been all Chelsea for the last 10 minutes and we’ve gotten in some great positions. Until now, they’ve been met with some fantastic defending by the hosts.
27 min: WHAT A CHANCE! Alonso’s cross is good and the Ajax defenders can only clear it as far as Hudson-Odoi, whose shot is dragged just wide of the left post!
25 min: Hudson-Odoi is getting more and more space here as he ends a driving run into Ajax’s box with a shot which goes well-wide. Still, promising signs for the former academy player!
23 min: The first yellow card of the game has been given by the Romanian referee and the recipient is.. Jody Morris? Alrighty then.
22 min: A comical shot from Ziyech ends some nice play by Ajax as his shot should have just about landed in the parking lot by now.
20 min: A vital interception from Tomori as he clears the ball after two brilliant cross-field passes from Ajax create a dangerous situation for Chelsea.
18 min: Some real end-to-end stuff here as both teams aren’t able to keep the ball all too long at the moment. Chelsea is defending deep and doing well in doing so, but sloppy passing and half-baked clearances aren’t letting the Blues create any fluidity.
15 min: Brilliant shot by Mount and Onana does well to go down quickly and save it! That was our best chance of the game as of yet.
14 min: After a sloppy start, Chelsea finally show some of their class with some slick short passes which lead to Hudson-Odoi nearly getting on the end of Alonso’s pass in the box.
11 min: Horrible mistake by Kepa who passes the ball right to an Ajax player. Tomori to the rescue, though, as the Chelsea defender shows his speed by not letting him by.
10 min: Corner for Ajax after Chelsea isn’t able to clear the danger initially. Tagliafico is able to get a volley off at the far post which thankfully hits a Chelsea defender.
9 min: A dangerous shot by Ajax’s Veltman is dragged just wide of Kepa’s goal. Chelsea should wake up fast here.
7 min: A clumsy challenge by Tammy Abraham sees the referee give him a first few words of warning.
5 min: Ajax is pressing Chelsea well here as the visitors are having a tough time to keep the ball among their ranks as of yet.
2 min: A frantic start to the game here as Ajax have some intricate play lead to van der Beek getting a shot off which hits the arm of a Chelsea player. Thankfully, offside is given by the assistant referee.
1 min: First corner to Chelsea taken by Hudson-Odoi is punched away by Ajax’s goalkeeper Onana.
KICK-OFF: Jimmy here, let’s get this party started. We’re underway in Amsterdam as . get the ball rolling. COME ON, CHELSEA!
Champions League night! We’re in for an exciting clash today between two young, exciting sides.
Chelsea line-up (4-3-3): Kepa | Azpilicueta (c), Zouma, Tomori, Alonso | Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount | Willian, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi
Substitutes from: Caballero, James, Gilmour, Giroud, Batshuayi, Pulisic, Emerson
Ajax line-up (4-3-3): Onana | Dest, Veltman, Blind (c), Tagliafico | Martinez, van de Beek, Alvarez | Ziyech, Tadic, Promes
Substitutes from: Varela, Schuurs, Neres, Huntelaar, Mazraoui, De Jong, Marin
Date / Time: Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 17:55 BST; 12:55pm EDT; 10:25pm IST
Venue: Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Referee: Ovidiu Hategan
Forecast: Sunny intervals and gentle breeze, followed by a cloudy sky
On TV: BT Sport 3 (UK); TNT, UniMás, TUDN (USA); SONY TEN 2 (India); Canal+ Sport 2, SuperSport 5 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: B/R Live, Univision NOW, Watch TNT (USA); BT Sport Live (UK); SONY LIV (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Let’s do this! As always, be excellent to each other and party on, people.