The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Reds road show
European football latest.
Frank Lampard felt his Chelsea “babies” came of age in the Champions League after their stunning 1-0 win at Ajax.
Michy Batshuayi climbed off the bench to fire the Blues to a memorable victory in Amsterdam.
The Belgian striker made amends for a shocking earlier miss four minutes from time to hand last season’s semi-finalists their first defeat of this campaign.
The Blues rode their luck at times, not least when an Ajax goal was ruled out by VAR for the tightest of offside calls, and when the hosts hit the frame of the goal.
But Lampard’s young side grew in stature as a frantic, tetchy encounter wore on and ran out deserved
winners when Batshuayi rifled in off the underside of the crossbar.
“I’m delighted with every element of the performance,” said
the Blues boss. “It feels huge – it’s just six points in the group and we play Burnley on Saturday. But I think we’re allowed to be excited just now.”
In Belgium, Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain announced his return to the competition after an 18-month absence with two
goals in a 4-1 win over Genk. The England international missed all but 20 minutes of last season with a serious knee injury sustained in the semi-final win
over Roma in this competition in April 2018.
He made up for lost time by producing a sensational performance, scoring
twice before Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah added goals of their own. Stephen Odey grabbed a late consolation for the hosts.