Lille 1-2 Chelsea: Willian scores winner as Callum Hudson-Odoi comes on to inspire Blues in France
TONY MOGAN 
Wednesday 2 October 2019 21:53 

Chelsea have got their Champions League campaign up and running with Willian scoring the winner at Lille on his 300th appearance for the club.

Tammy Abraham’s 22nd minute opener was wiped out by Victor Osimhen’s equaliser. Callum Hudson-Odoi emerged from the bench in the second-half however and immediately lifted his side, providing the telling cross for Willian’s winner in France.

Frank Lampard again placed his faith in his young charges with Reece James coming into a side that also included Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham making their Champions League debuts.

Tomori and Abraham combined brilliantly for the game’s opener with the defender superbly finding his teammate in the box. Abraham’s first touch was sublime, plucking the ball out of the air before finding the bottom corner.

Chelsea’s problems from set pieces were exposed yet again however with Nigerian sensation Osimhen on the end of a corner kick to slam a header home unchallenged after 33 minutes.

While Jorginho rattled the post with an effort from range just before the break, Lille almost took the lead early in the second-half.

Again, a Lille corner caused havoc with Andre this time on the end of it with Chelsea’s defence caught unprepared. This time, Kepa Arrizabalaga came to the rescue.

Summoned from the bench with less than a half hour remaining, Hudson-Odoi lifted his side almost immediately, providing the breakthrough moment for Willian. On his 300th appearance for the club, the Brazilian latched onto his superb cross from the left, hammering his volley into the ground and past Maignan in the Lille goal.

Chelsea's defence endured some more nervy moments late on but held on to get their first points in Europe this season.