Hakim Ziyech scored his first Chelsea goal as Frank Lampard’s side picked up three points in an emphatic Champions League win in Russia.
Ziyech, 27, swept in on his first start for the club to add to goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic as Chelsea returned to goalscoring ways in style.
Back-to-back goalless draws had signalled that Lampard had made strides in sorting out his side’s defence, and while they will face tougher opposition than Russian new boys Krasnodar, the manager will be delighted that his attacking riches also kicked into gear after midfielder Jorginho had missed an early penalty.
Four points from two games is a solid start to their Champions League campaign and despite their run of draws Chelsea have now lost just once in 10 games this term.
Blues back on target
Lampard has undertaken a rebuild of his side and could field around £160m of new attacking talent as Ziyech joined Werner and Kai Havertz in the starting XI.
But, initially at least, the visitors were still guilty of moving the ball too slowly against some spirited and organised opponents.
Werner was lively if underused, and won the early penalty when he was tripped by Kaio. Jorginho stuck with his usual skipping technique, sent goalkeeper Matvey Safonov the wrong way, but hit the base of the post.
Chelsea needed a helping hand to end their 248-minute goal drought and duly got one from Safonov when the 21-year-old goalkeeper made a total hash of dealing with Hudson-Odoi’s scuffed shot, the ball bobbling in.
Lampard’s side were always comfortable but had to endure a sticky spell when Yuri Gazinsky hit the crossbar from a corner. A second penalty, harshly given for handball, was then thrashed home by Werner to shut down any signs of a fightback.
Ziyech, who showed encouraging signs throughout and who should have scored earlier after a great turn, found the bottom corner after good approach play from substitute Pulisic, and the American made it four in the last minute when he drove past Safonov.
Tammy Abraham’s assist for the fourth, and the fact Olivier Giroud remained on the bench, only served to underline the fact that goals should not be an issue for this Chelsea team.
More to follow.
Follow reaction and the latest from Wednesday’s late games
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FK Krasnodar
Squad number39Player nameSafonov
Squad number28Player nameSmolnikov
Squad number4Player nameMartynovich
Squad number31Player nameKaio
Squad number18Player nameChernov
Squad number8Player nameGazinskiy
Squad number52Player nameVilhena
Squad number14Player nameOlsson
Squad number47Player nameUtkin
Squad number6Player nameRamírez
Squad number33Player nameBerg
Squad number74Player nameSpertsyan
Squad number81Player nameSabua
Squad number93Player nameShapi Suleymanov
Chelsea
Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number15Player nameZouma
Squad number2Player nameRüdiger
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Squad number17Player nameKovacic
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number22Player nameZiyech
Squad number11Player nameWerner
Squad number20Player nameHudson-Odoi
Squad number7Player nameKanté
Squad number9Player nameAbraham
Squad number10Player namePulisic
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number33Player nameEmerson
Line-ups
FK Krasnodar
- 39Safonov
- 28Smolnikov
- 4MartynovichBooked at 75mins
- 31da Silva Pantaleão
- 18Chernov
- 8Gazinskiy
- 52Vilhena
- 14OlssonBooked at 22minsSubstituted forSpertsyanat 82′minutes
- 47UtkinSubstituted forSuleymanovat 74′minutes
- 6Ramírez
- 33BergSubstituted forSabuaat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Gorodov
- 67Kutovoi
- 74Spertsyan
- 81Sabua
- 84Litvinov
- 88Sinitsyn
- 93Suleymanov
Chelsea
- 16Mendy
- 28Azpilicueta
- 15Zouma
- 2Rüdiger
- 21ChilwellSubstituted forEmersonat 81′minutes
- 17KovacicSubstituted forPulisicat 71′minutes
- 5JorginhoSubstituted forKantéat 71′minutes
- 29Havertz
- 22ZiyechSubstituted forAbrahamat 80′minutes
- 11Werner
- 20Hudson-OdoiSubstituted forMountat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Christensen
- 7Kanté
- 9Abraham
- 10Pulisic
- 13Caballero
- 14Tomori
- 18Giroud
- 19Mount
- 24James
- 33Emerson
- 40Ziger
Live Text
Match ends, FK Krasnodar 0, Chelsea 4.
Second Half ends, FK Krasnodar 0, Chelsea 4.
Attempt missed. Shapi Suleymanov (FK Krasnodar) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Foul by Mason Mount (Chelsea).
Shapi Suleymanov (FK Krasnodar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Igor Smolnikov.
Goal! FK Krasnodar 0, Chelsea 4. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tammy Abraham.
Substitution, FK Krasnodar. Leon Sabua replaces Marcus Berg.
Foul by Emerson (Chelsea).
Shapi Suleymanov (FK Krasnodar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Cristian Ramírez (FK Krasnodar) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Yuri Gazinskiy.
Foul by Mason Mount (Chelsea).
Shapi Suleymanov (FK Krasnodar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kai Havertz.
Foul by Kai Havertz (Chelsea).
Tonny Vilhena (FK Krasnodar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, FK Krasnodar. Eduard Spertsyan replaces Kristoffer Olsson.
Substitution, Chelsea. Emerson replaces Ben Chilwell.
Substitution, Chelsea. Tammy Abraham replaces Hakim Ziyech.
Goal! FK Krasnodar 0, Chelsea 3. Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Timo Werner.
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