It was a game that was supposed to be about Chelsea’s new arrival, but ended up mostly about someone who is likely on his way, as the club continued on their way through the FA Cup.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored this FA Cup fourth-round tie’s clinching second goal in between Willian’s brace to put away Sheffield Wednesday, just a day after the teenager reportedly put in a transfer request, with Bayern Munich so keen on signing him.
Gonzalo Higuain was much quieter on his Chelsea debut, only getting two chances, and having one deflected before snatching at another.
His most meaningful contribution was perhaps handing a penalty to Willian for the first goal, and that also provided the most meaningful discussion of the match, beyond Hudson-Odoi, given how it came.
The aim of VAR is obviously to eliminate as much error as possible, but that is always going to be so much more difficult when the system is still only used in certain venues.
For the first, Ethan Ampadu had attempted to challenge Joey Pelupessy in the box, only for the Wednesday player to appear to make contact with him.
A penalty was initially given by Andre Marriner. Even as Stamford Bridge were already chanting for “VAR!”, as if this was some kind of wrestling event, though, the referee was getting the footage checked. The decision was rightfully overturned.
Willian eventually stood up after trying to give the ball to Higuain, and finished well past Keiren Westwood.
Even at that early point, it was difficult not to feel the game was finished, that the Championship side had their big moment at doing something. Once that had gone, it seemed like any chance of an upset was too. Chelsea were now in too much control.
So, rather than a match where it looked like Wednesday had any chance of making it to the fifth round, it became an occasion where some of the home players were trying to make cases for themselves.
Ampadu had been good in the Jorginho role, with the Brazilian rested, but not as good there as Mateo Kovacic.
The Croatian stepped in there after half-time, and even stepped up after what had been a good first-half, where he set up Higuain’s best chance with a sublime through-ball.
It was, of course, the Argentine that had been centre of attention, but someone else began to change that, and from out wide. Hudson-Odoi increasingly got on the ball, and increasingly looked like scoring.
That it came was little surprise, and neither was the supplier. Putting in a sparkling display, Kovacic lifted the ball over the Wednesday defence for Hudson-Odoi to collect, cut inside and finish.