Chelsea 2-0 Luton: Danny Welbeck and Hakeem Odoffin’s own goal earns Xabi Alonso a first competitive home win to reach Carabao Cup third round
Danny Welbeck scored on his Chelsea debut as Xabi Alonso’s first competitive game at Stamford Bridge as Blues manager ended in a 2-0 win over League One Luton in the Carabao Cup second round.
With transfer news about Enzo Fernandez and Emiliano Martinez swirling through the air at Stamford Bridge before kick-off, Welbeck’s 50th-minute header to open his Chelsea account showed that not all signings have to be high profile...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Alonso actually named a strong Chelsea squad for this one, with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Reece James all starting in a bid to take the game seriously. They dominated the first half but Palmer and Estevao missed good chances, before Rogers hit the bar with the last kick of the half.
But Welbeck broke Luton’s resistance with a bullet header from Malo Gusto to open his Chelsea account in his 19th season playing in England’s top league. Danny Welbeck scores against Luton on his Chelsea debut in the Carabao Cup to give the Blues the lead.
His achievements are so impressive that it is worth remembering that he and Luton head coach Jack Wilshere were once Arsenal team-mates.
But it was someone 16 years Welbeck’s junior who sealed the result as Estevao’s silky run and finish ended the contest with 10 minutes to go – though it would go down as a Hakeem Odoffin own goal.
Hakeem Odoffin scores an own goal for Luton as they go 2-0 down against Chelsea
The result sees Chelsea book a Carabao Cup third-round tie against Leeds United in early September, while Wilshere’s Luton lost for the first time in 16 matches in all competitions – which was the longest run out of England’s top four leagues.
