Tosin Adarabioyo was on target for Chelsea as they thrashed Noah FC 8-0 in a match that saw the English powerhouse break the record for the biggest win in a UEFA Conference League match. The victory also propelled Chelsea to the top of the table after Gameweek 3.
Enzo Maresca set the team up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Adarabioyo and Benoît Badiashile in central defense, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga as fullbacks, and Enzo Fernández as the lone defensive midfielder. Mykhaylo Mudryk and Tyrique George played on the flanks, while Christopher Nkunku and João Félix operated in attacking midfield roles. Spanish youngster Marc Guiu led the line as the center forward.
Adarabioyo opened the scoring 12 minutes in, heading a pinpoint cross from Fernández into the bottom-right corner. Shortly after, Guiu capitalized on a sloppy pass to double Chelsea’s lead.
Disasi made it 3-0, nodding in another Fernández corner, much to the dismay of Noah’s fans. Three minutes later, Félix pounced on a mistake by his compatriot Gonçalo Silva, adding a fourth.
The goals kept coming as Mudryk cut inside from the left and curled a shot into the top-right corner to make it 5-0. Disasi then initiated a counterattack, threading a pass to Félix, who fired past Noah’s beleaguered goalkeeper Igor Cancarević, with Silva again at fault.
In the second half, Nkunku latched onto a through ball from Félix to net his fifth goal of the competition and ninth of the season. Five minutes later, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was brought down by Yan Brice Eteki, leading to a penalty, which Nkunku coolly converted for Chelsea’s eighth.
After the game, Adarabioyo spoke to TNT Sports, expressing his satisfaction with the team’s performance.
“Amazing game from the boys, and we topped it off with a clean sheet,” he said. “Concentration is key to make sure we have the clean sheet at the end of the game, and we managed to do so.”
On scoring his goal, Adarabioyo added: “I’ve been thinking I needed a goal soon, so [I’m] very happy to get one today.” Highlighting the team’s relentless spirit, he said, “Never take your foot off the gas. We just kept going.”
When asked about the fans chanting for more goals, he admitted he wasn’t aware: “I didn’t [know fans were chanting ‘we want 10’]. Didn’t manage 10 but a great result.”
The Nigerian-born player also reflected on the defensive effort which saw them keep a clean sheet, their first in the competition with him also playing the entire 90 minutes.
“Set out for the clean sheet, and we managed to get that. We haven’t had one for a while.”
The win leaves Chelsea with a perfect 9 points from three games. Next, they travel to the Voith Arena to face FC Heidenheim, aiming to secure early qualification for the Round of 16.
They return to Premier League action this weekend as they host London rivals Arsenal at the Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
