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One might question why Chelsea journeyed more than 3,000 miles from their home ground – yet the greater irony is their presence in the Conference League altogether.
The trek to the distant reaches of Kazakhstan, where temperatures plummeted to -14C upon Enzo Maresca’s team’s arrival, was always of greater urgency than the Astana squad they were set to face.
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This recent Conference League encounter produced three goals, five debuts, and a sixth straight win for the Blues – pushing them into the last 16 after Christmas.
All appears well, all seems bright – yet the situation feels somewhat superfluous at this stage of the tournament.
Maresca insists he will concentrate solely on immediate goals, but should they not reach Wroclaw for the final in May, something will have gone drastically wrong.
Chelsea sits comfortably at the top of their group, having triumphed in all five matches, scoring 21 goals while allowing just four.
After the tiring eight-hour journey, which passed by two zones of conflict, Chelsea’s youthful squad showed commendable poise in Almaty.
Maresca advised his players to adapt to English time during their travels.
For the most part, they navigated this challenge effortlessly, resembling a casual outing on a well-maintained, snowy pitch.
Pedro Neto, serving a suspension for the upcoming match against Brentford, was the only starter from the Tottenham fixture to make the trip, and he made a noticeable impact.
After an initial opportunity was thwarted by Astana’s headgear-clad goalkeeper, Neto assisted the first two goals for Guiu.
The opening goal was a dazzling solo display, as the former Barcelona player collected the ball wide, maneuvered past the Astana defense with ease, and finished at the near post.
His second goal was nothing short of instinctive, as Guiu could hardly have anticipated the outcome.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall found Neto wide, whose cross fortuitously deflected off Guiu’s hip for a goal.
Having established a two-goal lead, Chelsea eased back until, 20 minutes later, Renato Veiga headed in a third goal.
The Portuguese player found himself unmarked in the Astana box, rising to meet a corner from Dewsbury-Hall.
Despite the comfortable lead, Chelsea was jolted when captain Marin Tomasov cut in past Veiga to slot the ball into the far corner just before halftime, injecting some life for the home side in the second half.
Filip Jorgensen had to deflect another attempt from the Croatian after the break as Maresca began to substitute players.
Harvey Vale almost made a mark with his very first touch, and both Tyrique George and Dewsbury-Hall had opportunities as well.
However, the second half was characterized by control and finesse from the youthful squad.
Chelsea is on the rise, with all key players comfortably at home, ready for the Brentford fixture on Sunday.
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