Photo: The White House / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4 at Accor Stadium on Monday in Xabi Alonso's first match as head coach. Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick in nine minutes, with further goals from Dastan Satpayev, Dario Essugo and Jamie Gittens.
Satpayev opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Wanderers equalised and took the lead. Essugo levelled for Chelsea in the 38th minute to make it 2-2 at half-time.
Western Sydney went ahead again early in the second half through Dylan Scicluna in the 62nd minute. Alonso responded by introducing nine first-team players around the hour mark, a move that transformed the game.
Gittens restored parity at 3-3 in the 66th minute after Joao Pedro cut the ball back across the box. The Brazilian then scored three times in nine minutes — in the 80th, 85th and 89th minute — to seal the win after Awan Lual had briefly put Wanderers 4-3 ahead in the 78th minute.
Alonso fielded a mixed XI, with 16-year-old Reggie Watson starting in midfield alongside Essugo, and Liam Delap leading the attack. Senior players including Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Estevao were introduced after the hour mark.
Chelsea's next pre-season fixture is against Tottenham Hotspur at the same venue on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 10:45am UK time.