When the idea for the Conference League first came to UEFA, it is unlikely that anyone in Nyon envisioned a day when a club of Chelsea’s stature would be scoring six unanswered first-half goals against an Armenian side founded just seven years ago. The purpose of this competition was to benefit Europe’s smaller clubs. There is little for Chelsea to gain, despite the appeal of adding another European trophy to their collection. The truth is, this 8-0 victory over Noah was more of a shooting practice for João Félix. It was noteworthy that Enzo Maresca could make 11 changes without disrupting his team’s rhythm. Chelsea maintained their perfect record and topped the league phase, while Maresca saw his expensively assembled reserves build confidence and momentum. Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo scored their first goals for the club, Enzo Fernández picked up a hat-trick of assists, and Mykhailo Mudryk received acclaim for a beautiful curling strike. The match was entertaining from the start, with Noah’s early efforts quickly overshadowed by Chelsea’s dominance. Tyrique George nearly assisted a goal, but Félix missed an open net. Despite this, Félix’s confidence remained unshaken. For Noah, this was an opportunity to witness why Félix was once considered one of Europe’s brightest talents. With Chelsea already leading 3-0, Félix scored a cute finish in the 21st minute. By the hour mark, Chelsea led 4-0, with Adarabioyo and Guiu scoring. Fernández and Mudryk added to the tally, boosting home morale. Rui Mota, Noah’s manager, had joked about not parking the ark, but his humor faded as shots rained on his team’s goal. Disasi and Félix made it 6-0 before halftime. The only question was whether Chelsea would ease up in the second half. Maresca made substitutions, and there was light relief near the bench. Félix chased a hat-trick, and Nkunku threatened to score. Noah refused to give up, despite the absurdity of competing with a team of Chelsea’s depth. Nkunku scored, and Cancarevic appeared to seek treatment excessively. Chelsea’s performance was even more impressive given Cole Palmer’s absence. They even benefited from a VAR call, allowing Nkunku to seal the scoring from the spot, highlighting the Premier League’s financial might.
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