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Blues for Malaysia

Chelsea players celebrate after beating Malaysia during a friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium on Sunday. — FAIHAN GHANI / The Star
Chelsea players celebrate after beating Malaysia during a friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium on Sunday. — FAIHAN GHANI / The Star

SHAH ALAM: A first half blitz was enough for Chelsea to thump Malaysia 4-1 in a friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium today.

Goals by Bertrand Traore (sixth min), Kevin De Bruyne (28th) and Romelu Lukaku on the stroke of half-time was enough for the Blues to record a comfortable lead.

Nigerian winger Victor Moses then made it 4-0 in the 88th minute.

The national team under the guidance of Datuk K. Rajagopal then scored a consolation goal thanks to Mohd Fadhli Shas.

But Jose Mourinho’s first working trip here would end on a high as the Blues were just too strong.

Malaysia started well  looking to record their first win over an English team since 1975.

But they were pegged back early on as a defensive lapse allowed 18-year old Bertrand Traore, on trial at Chelsea, to score an easy goal.

Chelsea then struck again with De Bruyne powering a shot from the edge of the box before Lukaku made it three after being put through by the impressive Traore.

The second half was a more relaxed affair but Moses who came on at half-time scored an easy tap in to extend the lead.

But the 50,000-strong crowd had the final cheer as Fadhli scored a header from a goal-mouth scramble a minute later.

Chelsea will head to Indonesia for the third stage of their Here To Play Here To Stay Asia Tour on Tuesday.
 
By ERIC SAMUEL, K. RAJAN and KNG ZHENG GUAN - NST

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