A Chelsea side showing 11 changes earned a comfortable win over Gent in their opening Conference League match at Stamford Bridge in England on Thursday.
Defender Renato Veiga headed in a 12th-minute opener from Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross. Winger Pedro Neto smashed in a near post finish just 49 seconds after half-time after latching on to a long ball down the middle by Axel Disasi.
For a moment, Gent may have felt they were back in the game after a 50th minute header by defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe survived a video assistant referee check for offside to stand.