Chelsea continued their flawless start to the Conference League with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Heidenheim on Thursday evening, with goals from Christopher Nkunku and Mykhaylo Mudryk giving Enzo Maresca's side the win.
Kevin Muller and Filip Jorgensen were the stars of the show in the action-packed opening 25 minutes, both repeatedly tested as the two teams sliced through each other's defences, while Marc Guiu was notably wasteful in the final moment, failing to convert five great opportunities from inside the box.
Chelsea maintained control of the possession for the rest of the half, holding 69% of the ball after 45 minutes, but Heidenheim stood strong and remained dangerous on the counter, though neither team were ultimately able to find the breakthrough, leaving the scores level at half time.
After failing to find their clinical edge in the first half, the Blues needed just minutes in the second to break the deadlock, as Jadon Sancho's cross was brilliantly controlled by Nkunku, who fired into the far corner to give Chelsea the lead and net his seventh goal in Europe this season.
Heidenheim pushed for an equaliser as the game progressed, and the hosts briefly thought they had found it when Maximilian Breunig found the net with a stunning diving header, but their celebrations were swiftly cut short as the offside flag was raised, leaving the score at 1-0 as the clock ticked towards the final whistle.
Chelsea doubled their lead just minutes later when Mudryk was found inside the box from Sancho's pull-back, and the Ukrainian fired a stunning first-time shot, curling it into the top right corner.
Heidenheim continued to search for a way back into the game, and deja vu struck just moments after Chelsea's second when Breunig thought he had scored, only for the offside flag to be raised immediately, dashing the hosts' hopes once again as the game finished 2-0 to the visitors.
The evening was slightly marred for Chelsea in the final moments when Cesare Casadei was shown a second yellow card, a harsh dismissal for the midfielder, but Maresca will ultimately be satisfied with the result as his side stay top of the Conference League table.
HEIDENHEIM VS. CHELSEA HIGHLIGHTS
Christopher Nkunku goal vs. Heidenheim (51st min, Heidenheim 0-1 Chelsea)
Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku combine to give Chelsea an early lead in the second half 🤝
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/N9Vk8ejEZq
Nkunku again for Chelsea, he just can not stop scoring in Europe!
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall picks up the ball and plays it out wide to Sancho, who faces up his defender and chips a pass towards the penalty spot, where Nkunku is lurking.
The forward takes a superb first touch to bring the ball into his control, letting it bounce before side-footing his strike into the far corner, giving Chelsea the lead.
Mykhaylo Mudryk goal vs. Heidenheim (86th min, Heidenheim 0-2 Chelsea)
What a finish that is from Mykhailo Mudryk 😮💨
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024
Chelsea look set to continue their fine form in Europe 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/glsbdVCaUY
Wow, what a finish from Mudryk to surely give Chelsea the win!
Sancho and Dewsbury-Hall combine again on the right, with the winger receiving the ball back just inside the penalty area and taking a moment to pick out a teammate in the box.
His cross is pulled back once more, this time into the path of Mudryk, who curls a sublime first-time strike into the top right corner, surely securing the victory for Chelsea.
Cesare Casadei red card vs. Heidenheim (96th min, Heidenheim 0-2 Chelsea)
The night is slightly soured for Chelsea as Casadei receives his marching orders, with the midfielder shown a second yellow card.
The Italian pulls down Leo Scienza as Heidenheim look to advance up the pitch, and the referee shows him his second yellow card of the evening, meaning the midfielder will miss Chelsea's next match against FC Astana.
MAN OF THE MATCH - CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU
© Imago
Nkunku scored the crucial opening goal for Chelsea, capitalising on a well-taken opportunity shortly after the break, slotting the ball into the far corner to give his team the lead.
The forward's performance deserves far more recognition than just his goal, with Nkunku a constant threat throughout his 76 minutes on the pitch, registering four shots and also creating a chance for his team.
Both goalkeepers also deserve mention for their stellar performances, each making a series of brilliant saves to keep their teams in the contest and ensure the game remained tight throughout the full 90 minutes.
HEIDENHEIM VS. CHELSEA MATCH STATS
Possession: Heidenheim 33%-67% Chelsea
Shots: Heidenheim 16-17 Chelsea
Shots on target: Heidenheim 11-8 Chelsea
Corners: Heidenheim 3-6 Chelsea
Fouls: Heidenheim 14-10 Chelsea
BEST STATS
4 - Christopher Nkunku is the first Chelsea player to score in each of his first four major European appearances for the club, and first to score in four in a row overall since Olivier Giroud in 2018-19. Notable. pic.twitter.com/8wl3SFyjH1
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2024
Jadon Sancho has 5 assists in just 6 starts for Chelsea this season 😳 pic.twitter.com/2krCikg8Rv
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
The defeat for Heidenheim is their first of the league phase, but it does become their third successive loss across all competitions, and they now face two difficult encounters with Eintracht Frankfurt (home) and Bayern Munich (away) in the Bundesliga.
Victory for Chelsea means they maintain their perfect record in the Conference League with four wins, while they remain unbeaten in their last five outings across all competitions, and they will look to extend that run when they face struggling Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
Ellis Stevens
