GUANGZHOU – Nineteen-year-old Franco Di Santo scored on his debut as Chelsea kicked off the Luiz Felipe Scolari era with a 4-0 romp against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical yesterday.
Di Santo slid in on 78 minutes after Salomon Kalou’s first-half opener and Frank Lampard’s sublime lob had left the Chinese Super League side on the ropes. Shaun Wright-Phillips wrapped up the scoring in the dying minutes.It was the perfect start for World Cup-winning coach Scolari, tasked with re-stocking the Chelsea trophy cabinet.The London side went close early on through Lampard, Michael Essien and the lively Nicolas Anelka, whose effort was saved from close range after a one-two with debutant Deco.As another new signing, Jose Bosingwa, trudged off with a thigh strain after just 20 minutes, Kalou latched onto a diagonal ball to plant the opener past Guangzhou ‘keeper Li Shuai.Lampard, the subject of fevered transfer speculation, was clearly enjoying himself and he fired a 50-yard ball to Shaun Wright-Phillips, who turned and shot just wide.Young Argentine Di Santo met Malouda’s cross at the far post as he marked his debut with a goal on 78 minutes.Nampa-AFPShaun Wright-Phillips wrapped up the scoring in the dying minutes.It was the perfect start for World Cup-winning coach Scolari, tasked with re-stocking the Chelsea trophy cabinet.The London side went close early on through Lampard, Michael Essien and the lively Nicolas Anelka, whose effort was saved from close range after a one-two with debutant Deco.As another new signing, Jose Bosingwa, trudged off with a thigh strain after just 20 minutes, Kalou latched onto a diagonal ball to plant the opener past Guangzhou ‘keeper Li Shuai.Lampard, the subject of fevered transfer speculation, was clearly enjoying himself and he fired a 50-yard ball to Shaun Wright-Phillips, who turned and shot just wide.Young Argentine Di Santo met Malouda’s cross at the far post as he marked his debut with a goal on 78 minutes.Nampa-AFP
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