Hong Kong: Mykhailo Mudryk returns in Chelsea defeat as Milan pay tribute to Baresi
Mykhailo Mudryk made his return to action for Chelsea following a doping ban, featuring as a substitute in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Juventus in Hong Kong. The match, held on Wednesday, marked Mudryk’s first appearance for the club in nearly two years.
Mudryk entered the game in the 82nd minute, replacing Nicolas Jackson, and was met with applause from his teammates and cheers from the Chelsea fans among the 43,575 attendees at Kai Tak Sports Park. The Ukraine international had been provisionally suspended since November 2024 after an “adverse finding” for meldonium, a banned substance. He was subsequently cleared to return to play after resolving the case with the Football Association.
Despite Mudryk’s lively cameo on the left side of the field, Chelsea were unable to prevent Juventus from securing a victory. The decisive goal came from Kosovo international Edon Zhegrova, who scored with a second-half strike.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso expressed his satisfaction with Mudryk’s return, describing it as an “emotional” moment for everyone at the club. Alonso noted that Mudryk was thrilled to be back on the pitch after such a prolonged absence.
Match Details Against Juventus
The friendly match saw both teams field experimental lineups, leading to a goalless first half with few clear-cut chances. Danny Welbeck, making his first appearance for Chelsea, had an opportunity to score but failed to direct a flicked header on target. Early in the second half, a long pass from Moisés Caicedo set up new signing Marco Palestra, whose shot was saved by Mattia Perin.
Juventus broke the deadlock in the 68th minute. Kenan Yildiz provided the assist, squaring the ball for Zhegrova, who curled a strike into the top corner from outside the penalty area. Chelsea made numerous substitutions throughout the game, which Alonso acknowledged affected the team’s control and stability.
Alonso reflected on the game, stating that Chelsea started well, controlling the play and creating chances in the first 30 to 35 minutes. However, he noted that the many substitutions in the second half led to a less controlled game. Despite the loss, Alonso viewed the match as part of the team’s process and an opportunity for players to get minutes.
The Chelsea lineup included several new faces and players returning to action. Mike Penders, Geovany Quenda, and Danny Welbeck all made their first appearances for the club. Robert Sanchez returned from injury in goal, protected by a back four of Marco Palestra, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabiyo, and Jorrel Hato. Moises Caicedo captained the side and played in midfield alongside 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli. The attack featured Quenda, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and Welbeck.
In the opening 20 minutes, chances were limited. An early shot from Andrea Cambiaso was blocked by Tosin, and Manuel Locatelli drove an effort wide. Quenda was a notable presence on the right, creating Chelsea’s first sight of goal with a cross that Joao Pedro glanced wide, and later drilling an effort over the bar. Juventus’s threat often came from counter-attacks, with Fabio Miretti causing a moment of concern for Chelsea’s defense.
As the first half concluded, Sanchez was tested by a shot from Jeremie Boga, which he saved. Arkadiusz Milik also fired wide for Juventus. At halftime, Alonso made four changes: Penders replaced Sanchez, Mamdou Sarr came on for Tosin, Estevao Willian was introduced for Quenda, and Nicolas Jackson replaced Welbeck.
Jackson was immediately involved, making a run and passing to Palestra, whose attempt was blocked. Palestra later forced a save from Perin after receiving a pass from Caicedo. After the hour mark, more substitutions followed, with Josh Acheampong, Tayo Subuloye, Aaron Anselmino, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia, Dastan Satpayev, and Liam Delap entering the game.
Following Zhegrova’s goal, Chelsea pushed for an equalizer. Estevao Willian sent a free-kick into Perin’s arms, and Anselmino also forced a save from the goalkeeper. The final action of the game saw Lavia curl a shot over the crossbar, confirming Chelsea’s defeat.
Milan’s Derby and Tribute to Franco Baresi
In another preseason fixture on Wednesday, Milan played Inter in a derby match in Perth, which ended in a draw. Christopher Nkunku converted a late penalty to salvage the draw for Milan. The match was significant as it was Milan’s first game since the death of Franco Baresi, who captained the club during the 1980s and 1990s.
A minute of silence was observed before the match, with players from both teams linking arms in tribute to Baresi. In front of 52,310 fans in Australia, Serie A champions Inter initially took the lead with Federico Dimarco’s strike in the 52nd minute. However, Nkunku equalized from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute after being fouled by Carlos Augusto.
Chelsea’s next fixture on their summer tour will be against Milan in Jakarta on Saturday. Following this, they are scheduled to conclude their preseason with games against Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim and Spain’s Real Sociedad.
Source: theguardian.com
