Joao Pedro hat-trick rescues win for Chelsea over WSW
Joao Pedro came off the bench to score a hat-trick as Xabi Alonso's first game in charge of Chelsea saw it come from behind three times to beat A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4 in a chaotic pre-season friendly.
Alonso named an inexperienced starting XI for the first game of Chelsea's tour of Australia and Asia, but it was one of his big names that saved the day in the second half.
There were goals at both ends within the first 14 minutes, in a sign of things to come. Kazakhstan forward Dastan Satpayev lashed home to put Chelsea in front, but Western Sydney drew level when Brandon Borrello flicked Angus Thurgate's corner towards the far post, where Anthony Pantazopoulos nodded over the line.
Chelsea continued to look vulnerable at the back and fell behind for the first time in the 32nd minute, as Aydan Hammond beat Josh Acheampong with a lovely touch before driving into the near corner.
The Blues were only behind for six minutes as Dario Essugo stroked across goal after a one-two with Reggie Walsh, but the A-League side restored its lead just after the hour mark, with a sensational turn freeing up Dylan Scicluna to find the bottom-left corner.
That goal sparked a swathe of changes from Alonso, with Cole Palmer among the big names to enter the fray, and two Chelsea substitutes linked up for a quick-fire equaliser as Joao Pedro's cutback was side-footed home by Jamie Gittens.
A mix-up between Estevao and Reggie Watson near the edge of the Blues' area allowed Awan Lual to put Western Sydney in front for a third time, but Joao Pedro single-handedly ensured Alonso's reign started with a victory.
The Brazilian picked out the bottom-right corner when Gittens's cross was only half-cleared in the 80th minute, then capped a clinical counter-attack with a composed finish five minutes later.
The forward ensured he went home with the match ball when he flicked into the net at the end of a goalmouth scramble with stoppage time looming, capping a 10-goal thriller.
