16-year-old Kazakh striker Dastan Satpaev scores 6 minutes into Chelsea debut

Xabi Alonso has encountered more difficulties than expected in the early stages of preseason. Chelsea, making their debut against Australian side WS Wanderers at the start of their tour in Sydney, overturned a 3–4 deficit to secure a 6–4 victory, thanks to a nine-minute hat-trick from Joao Pedro.

Promising Debut for Teenage Striker Dastan Satpaev

The positive note of the match came from one of the latest arrivals at the Chelsea squad: the very young Kazakh striker Dastan Satpaev. Signed from Kairat Almaty in a deal closed last season for €4 million, the attacker has already shown what he is capable of in his first start under Alonso's orders.

Still a minor, Satpaev will come of age in mid-August. He managed to score his first goal for Chelsea just six minutes into the match, firing a powerful right-footed shot into the back of the net after a solo run into space.

In the just over 60 minutes he played in this first preseason friendly, he also left another quality detail by starting the play that led to Chelsea's second goal. He picked up the ball on the wing and skillfully set up Essugo, who, after a one-two with Walsh and a good first-time finish, beat the opposing goalkeeper.

'Surpassed' Ansu Fati and Lamine Yamal

Satpaev has left good feelings after once managing to 'shatter'—though not officially—the records of Ansu Fati and Lamine Yamal in the Champions League while playing for Kairat Almaty.

At just 16 years and 331 days old, he scored his first goal in the top European competition. The only drawback is that he did so in the qualifying rounds, which excludes him from UEFA's official records, as only goals from the group stage onward are counted. Ansu Fati achieved the feat at 17 years and 40 days, and Lamine Yamal at 17 years and 68 days. Both remain the two youngest in history.

Natural-Born Scorer

Beyond his feat at just 16 years old, Satpaev has spent a couple of seasons demonstrating his ease at finding the net. This same season, in addition to starting in the first five matches of the Champions League group stage—which allowed him to face Real Madrid in his team's 0–5 defeat—he also added to his tally, now officially, with his goal against Copenhagen.

In the Kazakh league, before heading to the Premier League, he managed to surpass twenty goals (21) and provide 9 assists in the 41 matches he played, according to Transfermarkt data. He has also debuted for the national team. All this while still a minor.

What a gem Xabi Alonso has to polish. Will he give Satpaev a chance at his new Chelsea? We'll find out soon.