Armando Broja continued his incredible run of form in pre-season for Chelsea with another goal against Bournemouth last night.
After a couple of training ground matches – a 6-1 win against Peterborough, and a 1-1 intra-squad encounter – Chelsea officially kicked off their pre-season campaign with a friendly at the Vitality Stadium.
Despite going behind to a Cherries goal just past the hour mark – the Blues struck back soon courtesy of their young Albanian forward.
Second-half substitute Baba Rahman would take the creative credit for the goal, as it was his brilliant cross from the left flank that carved out the chance for Chelsea.
Rahman whipped a cross in that found Broja waiting right on the edge of the six-yard box.
The 19-year-old made no mistake despite being under pressure as he bravely controlled the ball with his chest in a crowded area and then slotted it calmly past Mark Travers in Cherries goal.
Chelsea followed it up by taking the lead soon after an Ike Ugbo strike and went on to win the match 2-1.
It was Broja’s third goal in as many games as the Albanian continues to impress after signing a new 5-year contract with the club.
It would be hard for Tuchel to not consider keeping Broja in his plans – at least as a third-choice option in the squad, considering the departure of Olivier Giroud and the potential exit of Tammy Abraham.
Apart from the goal, Broja also impressed with his hold-up play and composure up top. Chelsea’s young Albanian excelled with his back to the goal as well as his movement to get into threatening spaces behind the Bournemouth defence.
Broja will be keen to keep up his form when Chelsea compete against rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the upcoming Mind Series, and a couple of goals there will all but confirm his place in the Chelsea 21/22 squad.
