Chelsea appeared very impressive when playing the first leg of the 2020-2021 Champions League quarter-final, Wednesday (7/4/2021). Playing at the Estadio R Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain, which is the headquarters of FC Porto, Chelsea won 2-0.
Two young players from England, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell, determine the success of the team. Mason Mount put Chelsea 1-0 up in the 32nd minute, before Ben Chiwell doubled it in the 85th minute.
As a result, Chelsea are on the threshold of the semi-finals of this European club’s most elite competition. They only need to play a draw or simply lose by one goal difference when playing the second leg on April 14. However, Chelsea must remain vigilant. Because, Porto still has a chance to qualify because if they win 3-1 (or a difference of two goals and can score a goal) in the second leg.
Well, this first leg match presents a number of interesting facts:
First Mount’s Goal in Champions League
Mason Mount not only won the first goal on the Champions League stage. He also made history as the youngest Chelsea player to score in the Champions League knockout phase.
Mason Mount is a Chelsea U-23 dropout. He entered Chelsea’s senior squad in July 2019 and had the opportunity to make his Champions League debut on 20 October 2020 when Chelsea played Sevilla. Until now, Mason Mount has appeared seven times on the most prestigious stage of the European club. As it turned out, he only needed seven appearances to score a goal.
Mason Mount makes history
This goal against FC Porto marks a new history carved by Mason Mount, the winner of the 2016 UEFA Youth League title. Now, he is the youngest Chelsea player to score a goal in the Champions League knockout phase. While playing this match, Mason Mount was 22 years 87 days old. Even more interestingly, Mason Mount’s goal came when Chelsea took the first shot on target of the match which took place in Seville, Spain.
Thomas Tuchel equals Roberto Di Matteo’s achievements
This victory over FC Porto presents a sweet note for Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel. The reason is he became the second Chelsea manager to win the first three matches in the knockout phase on the Champions League. Previously, a similar note had been carved by Roberto Di Matteo. This Italian figure made this achievement in the Champions League 2011-2012 season where they finally won the event.
Edouard Mendy’s neat clean sheet notes
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy successfully guarded the net so that he did not concede during the 90 minutes of the match against FC Porto. This is an important capital for them to face the second leg on April 14. Apart from the benefits that will be obtained, Edouard Mendy has made a neat record regarding clean sheets, aka not conceding. So far, he has kept 10 clean sheets since Thomas Tuchel made his first match with Chelsea on January 27, 2021.
