Pedro got the party started in the 17th minute, and Chelsea never looked back as they grabbed a 3-0 first leg lead over Dynamo Kiev in Europa League play on Thursday.
After Arsenal fell to Stade Rennais earlier in the day, the Premier League needed a Europa League champion and the Blues were just that. They beat Dynamo into submission, finishing with 60% of possession and topping the Ukranian side 8-0 in shots on target.
Pedro’s opener came on an absolutely stunning feed from Olivier Giroud as the Frenchman back-heeled the ball through the legs of Artem Shabanov. With Chelsea in front, they proved relentless as the match went on.
The second came on a free-kick from Willian in the 65th minute, finding the top-left corner with a delivery over the top of the wall, as Dynamo goalkeeper Denys Boyko was rooted to the spot. The goal for Willian mirrored the Brazilian’s free-kick he deposited in 2015 against Dynamo in Champions League play.
To finish things off, Callum Hudson-Odoi completed the scoreline in the 90th minute, an important goal that will give Maurizio Sarri the ability to take his foot off the gas pedal a bit in the second leg. It began on a long-ball by Pedro from near the halfway line on the right flank, finding a streaking Ruben Loftus-Cheek down the middle. He tapped beautifully to Hudson-Odoi crossing behind, and his finish tucked inside the far post.
The second leg takes place next Thursday in Kiev, and while the Blues already enjoy a healthy lead, even one away goal would almost surely finish it off barring an absolute defensive nightmare on the road.