Chelsea defender ace Antonio Rudiger handed first team handlers cheering news as he played the whole 90 minutes for the London club’s U23s in their 3-0 win over Liverpool U23s at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.
The Germany international had surgery on his left knee four months ago after suffering a meniscus injury that ended his season.
Goals either side of the break by Michy Batshuayi preceded Faustino Anjorin’s strike 16 minutes from time as the young Reds endured a difficult evening in the capital.
Liverpool managed to withstand significant early pressure, with Morgan Boyes and Ki-Jana Hoever making last-ditch blocks to thwart Anjorin and Juan Castillo respectively inside the opening 15 minutes.
Blues goalkeeper Jamie Cumming remained untroubled, though, and Liverpool were again indebted to Kelleher for their parity midway through the half.
Chelsea’s dominance did finally tell five minutes prior to the break, however.
Batshuayi beat Sepp van den Berg to Rudiger’s lofted pass, then got back to his feet quickly after colliding with Kelleher on the edge of the box and coolly chipped into an empty net.
And, just two minutes into the second half, Batshuayi had his second of the evening.
Castillo found Anjorin with a low ball into the box from the left and, in turn, Chelsea’s No.10 fed the Belgian, who finished by side-footing first time into the roof of the net.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Jamie Cumming; Tariq Lamptey, Antonio Rudiger, Marc Guehi (c), Ian Maatsen; Clinton Mola (George McEachran 77), Billy Gilmour; Tariq Uwakwe (Thierno Ballo 75), Tino Anjorin (Marcel Lavinier 84), Juan Castillo; Michy Batshuayi
Unused subs Karlo Ziger, Charlie Brown
Scorers Batshuayi 40, 47; Anjorin 74
Liverpool Caoimhin Kelleher, Ki-Jana Hoever (Neco Williams 64), Yasser Larouci (Tony Gallacher 64), Seep van den Berg, Morgan Boyes, Herbie Kane, Harvey Elliott, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Rhian Brewster (Bobby Duncan 64) Adam Lewis, Curtis Jones (c)
Unused subs Dan Atherton, Tom Clayton
Booked Kane
Referee Gary Parsons
Photo Credit: Twitter/chelseafc.com