Chelsea's prodigy makes Champions League history

Chelsea managed only a 2-2 draw against Qarabag in the Champions League match held early on November 6 (Vietnam time), but there was a bright spot as young star Estevao continued to make his mark with a memorable record.

In the 14th minute, Chelsea's Brazilian trio produced a moment of brilliance. João Pedro combined smoothly with Andrey Santos before passing to Estevao. The 18-year-old skillfully controlled the ball and finished delicately to open the scoring for the visitors. According to OptaJoe, with this goal, Estevao officially became the first South American player aged 18 or younger to score in two consecutive Champions League matches. Previously, Estevao scored from the penalty spot in the 5-1 victory over Ajax.

However, Chelsea’s early advantage quickly vanished. Young center-back Jorrel Hato made a serious error, allowing Leandro Andrade to equalize for Qarabag. Shortly after, the Azerbaijani team capitalized again when Marko Jankovic successfully converted a penalty, putting the hosts ahead 2-1 before halftime.

In the second half, coach Enzo Maresca was forced to adjust tactics. He brought on Alejandro Garnacho to boost the attack’s pace and creativity. This decision paid off immediately. The Argentine star took just a few minutes to make an impact with a neat finish, leveling the score at 2-2 and rescuing Chelsea from a disappointing defeat. For his crucial goal and lively performance, Estevao was named UEFA’s Man of the Match.

Statistics show Chelsea fielded a squad with an average age of just 23 years and 97 days, the second youngest English club lineup ever to play away in the Champions League. Despite dropping points, the young players' performance demonstrated promising potential for the future.

The 2-2 draw gives Chelsea 7 points, temporarily placing them 10th on the Champions League standings, level on points with Qarabag (ranked 12th). Both teams still have a chance to secure a play-off spot, promising an exciting race in the upcoming matches.

Looking ahead, Qarabag will return to the Azerbaijan Premier League to face Neftçi, while Chelsea prepares to host Wolverhampton at Stamford Bridge this weekend. Coach Maresca and his squad must quickly fix their defense if they want to avoid losing more crucial points in their quest to establish themselves in Europe.

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