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Callum Hudson-Odoi toasted his full Premier League debut by sparking Chelsea\u2019s 3-0 Stamford Bridge rout of Brighton.<\/p>\nCallum Hudson-Odoi toasted his full Premier League debut by sparking Chelsea\u2019s 3-0 Stamford Bridge rout of Brighton.<\/p>\n
The 18-year-old celebrated his full league bow by serving the opening goal on a plate for Olivier Giroud, before Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek dispatched eye-catching second-half strikes.<\/p>\n
Hazard\u2019s 14th league goal of the campaign and Loftus-Cheek\u2019s eighth in all competitions pushed Chelsea above Manchester United into fifth place, but one point off Tottenham in third.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s hefty win might now convince boss Maurizio Sarri to let homegrown talents Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Cheek loose in the bid for both a top-four league finish and Europa League glory.<\/p>\n
Sarri has defended Hudson-Odoi making his full England debut before his first Premier League start, with the forward impressing on international duty last month.<\/p>\n
But even the Italian knew that elusive league start had to come soon for a talent so highly-rated that the Chelsea hierarchy are itching to build their future around.<\/p>\n
Hudson-Odoi wasted precious little time proving his class on the night in an industrious showing that yielded an assist and plenty of glimpses of his huge potential.<\/p>\n
While Chelsea were lucky to snatch that 2-1 win at Cardiff at the weekend, there was simply no fortune in this clinical victory.<\/p>\n
Chelsea needed time to break down Brighton\u2019s double-banked defensive set-up and, while at times flailing at fluency, the Blues still bossed the first-half.<\/p>\n
Hudson-Odoi quickly set about justifying his start, not that he needed to.<\/p>\n
The teenager\u2019s early strike would have definitely troubled Seagulls keeper Mat Ryan but for a deflection over the bar about which Shane Duffy knew precious little.<\/p>\n
N\u2019Golo Kante saw a penalty shout rightly rejected after going to ground under little pressure from Gaetan Bong, but then Hudson-Odoi grabbed the game by the throat.<\/p>\n
Hazard\u2019s cute backheel carved the space, and the England starlet whipped an inviting low cross, only for Giroud to see his effort rebuffed.<\/p>\n
Then the 18-year-old stood up another right-wing ball, this time with captain Cesar Azpilicueta unable to hit the target.<\/p>\n
Florin Andone fluffed Brighton\u2019s sole chance of the half in a stark reminder to the hosts not to switch off, the Romania forward scuffing wide after Yves Bissouma had skinned Azpilicueta all ends up.<\/p>\n
Hazard blasted over after Giroud forced Duffy into a poor clearing header, in another big chance wasted.<\/p>\n
But then Hudson-Odoi surfaced again on the right, turning Anthony Knockaert inside out before drilling a low near-post cross that begged to be converted.<\/p>\n
Giroud duly bundled in, cementing the home side\u2019s dominance.<\/p>\n
Hudson-Odoi might even have bagged a goal before the break too, only for his excitement to get the better of him.<\/p>\n
Hazard\u2019s lofted ball into the box evaded Kante and dropped teasingly on the inside right, with Hudson-Odoi racing in at pace \u2013 only to end up crumpled in a heap after flashing a boot at fresh air.<\/p>\n
Chelsea only extended their control after the break, Hazard leaving Lewis Dunk sliding into the distance before whipping home from 18 yards.<\/p>\n
And then Loftus-Cheek chipped in from the same distance, steadying himself before delivering a sumptuous finish.<\/p>\n