Pedro bags three as Alonso starts Chelsea reign with 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers

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Chelsea’s Jamie Gittens (C) celebrates scoring a goal with teammates during the Sydney Super Cup game between Chelsea FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers at Stadium Australia in Sydney on July 28, 2026. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / –IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE–

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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso got his reign off to winning start on Tuesday in a dramatic 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers with Brazilian striker Joao Pedro scoring a nine-minute hat-trick late in the game to ensure victory.

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The former Real Madrid coach, who took over on July 1, is without many of his big guns for their pre-season tour and played 60 minutes with a side full of youth at Stadium Australia.

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It was a seesawing affair, with Chelsea coming from behind three times.

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Kazakh 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev lashed home on his debut in the sixth minute, but Chelsea then conceded twice with their defence run ragged before Portugal youth international Dario Essugo made it 2-2.

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The Sydney side again then went 3-2 and 4-3 ahead in the second half before Pedro’s heroics.

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It was a confidence-boost for Alonso, who faces a huge task to get Chelsea back in the running for major honours after their 10th place finish last season and failure to make Europe.

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An even tougher test will come on Saturday when they meet London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the same venue before further friendlies in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia.

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Chelsea have made four key summer signings so far as they rebuild — attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, winger Geovany Quenda, defender Marco Palestra and striker Emmanuel Emegha

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Only Italy’s Palestra, who arrived from Serie A side Atalanta, is on the tour with their World Cup players also absent, including England’s Reece James and Argentina’s Enzo Fernandes.

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Alonso deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation with Josh Acheampong, Liam Delap, and Tosin — who began as captain — providing experience to a team featuring several youngsters who came through the Chelsea academy.

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They got off to a flyer when Satpaev raced clear after a lovely through ball by Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and powerfully finished at the near post.

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But it was a fleeting lead with the Wanderers’ Anthony Pantazopoulos nodding home from a corner eight minutes later with Chelsea guilty of poor defending.

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It sparked the home team into life and Aydan Hammond made it 2-1 with a cool side-footed finish after Chelsea were sliced open again at the back.

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Essugo’s goal was quality, finishing off a flowing move with a one-two off Reggie Walsh before stroking into the far corner to send them to the break all square.

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Once again Chelsea went to sleep, and a lovely turn and finish from Dylan Scicluna put the Sydney side 3-2 ahead in the 62nd minute with Alonso making nine changes immediately after.

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On came Cole Palmer and Pedro and the intensity lifted to set up a sensational finale that witnessed five more goals.

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