Lukaku seals Chelsea win over Zenit to start CL defense
London, Sep 15 (AP): Four games. Four goals. Just what was expected of Romelu Lukaku. Just what Chelsea missed so often last season. And just what he couldn’t produce in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.
The striker who couldn’t even get on the field in the Champions League a decade ago for Chelsea is back as the leading targetman. On his European debut for the club, the 28-year-old Belgian ensured Chelsea made a successful start to its Champions League title defense by clinching a 1-0 victory over Zenit St. Petersburg on Tuesday. The goal showed why Chelsea invested a club-record 115 million euros ( 135 million in August) in signing from Inter Milan the player it offloaded in 2014 as a peripheral figure. Lukaku darted into space in the penalty area, evading the defense, to meet a cross from Cesar Azpilicueta and head it into the net in the 69th minute against the Russian champions. That is why he is here,” Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said. It is another step ahead, because winning and another clean sheet is super important for the belief and for our process. We are not finished, but are in a good place to improve. It added to the three goals including two in Saturday’s win over Aston Villa Lukaku has already scored in the Premier League this season.