Chelsea won the Premier League Summer Series in the United States with a 2-0 victory over Fulham.
Thiago Silva and Christopher Nkunku scored first-half goals to help Mauricio Pochettino’s new-look Tottenham Hotspur beat a fellow Premier League side.
Chelsea lift the pre-season trophy ahead of a clash with Borussia Dortmund next week, having already secured four points against Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United.
Pochettino opted to hand surprise opportunities to several of the club’s younger crop, including goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina and forward Mason Burstow.
A towering header from Thiago Silva has put @ChelseaFC in front! 👏
🇺🇸 #PLSummerSeries
📺 https://t.co/8VoNPCC9ho pic.twitter.com/RhNh7aYk8K— Premier League (@premierleague) July 30, 2023
Both prospects contributed to their hopes of a future senior role with strong performances at opposing ends of the field, but it was the team’s oldest player who put Chelsea ahead.
Ben Chilwell’s inswinging corner from the left found Silva’s head, who climbed above his opponent to slam a header into the far corner of the net.
Chelsea should have extended their lead when Enzo Fernandez was handed a chance to score from 10 yards, but the World Cup champion scuffed a shot straight at Bernd Leno before hitting the rebound wide.
Carney Chukwuemeka showed a fast turn of foot to glide into the penalty area and see an effort stopped by Leno, the ball being redirected into the path of Nkunku, who converted the rebound into an empty net four minutes before the break.
How impressive was this footwork from Lewis Hall? ✨
🇺🇸 #PLSummerSeries
📺 https://t.co/8VoNPCC9ho pic.twitter.com/nTAG2eXd7I— Premier League (@premierleague) July 30, 2023
Pochettino made a flurry of substitutions at halftime and quickly after the resumption, but his team’s rhythm was not disrupted as they continued to outclass opponents that finished above them in the standings in 2022-23.
As has been the case all summer, Ian Maatsen and Nicolas Jackson shone in the final third, as did Lewis Hall, who needed a stunning performance to stay in Pochettino’s thoughts at a time when Maatsen had surpassed him in the pecking order.
Substitute keeper Lucas Bergstrom saved Bobby Decordova-Reid’s late strike to keep Chelsea’s clean sheet, and there is a real sense that momentum is building for Pochettino and his players ahead of their league opener against Liverpool on August 13.
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