A quick fire double from Oscar and a goal from Bertrand Traore gave the blues a win over a strong A.C. Milan side in Minnesota on Wednesday night.

The Burkina-Faso starlet Traore headed Chelsea into the lead in the 24th minute, getting onto a rebounded shot from Victor Moses. The build up play from the goal started with a long throw in from academy product Ola Aina to Nemanja Matić, Matić then threaded the ball to Moses to have a shot on target for Traore to finish. Traore with his trademark dance celebration that we all love to see. 1-0.

Diego Costa, returning from injury, started and looked lively in the first half. While new boy N’Golo Kanté was joined by Eden Hazard on the bench. Costa had his first attempt on goal when a Willan cross came from the right, The spaniard headering just over Gianluigi Donnarumma’s bar.

At the other end, Thibaut Courtois making his first appearance of the season for the blues, was kept busy when Luiz Adriano played in M’baye Niang through Gary Cahill and Ola Aina, The Belgian although, was not beaten.

The equaliser for Milan came just before half time, with Giacomo Bonaventura converting a sublime, Pirlo-esque free kick, tucking it just over the wall and beating Courtois at his near post.

There were no changes at the break, meaning the back four of Aina, Terry, Cahill and Azpilicueta started their sixth consecutive half together as a defensive unit.

Five minutes into the second half, Antonio Conte made his first changes of the game, with new boy N’Golo Kanté replacing Victor Moses for his Chelsea debut and two-time scorer at the weekend Eden Hazard replacing Traore. The formation shifted from a 4-2-4 we have seen in recent games, to a 4-3-3 with Kanté sitting infront of the defensive four and Hazard in his natural left wing role.

Hazard was quick to make an impact, giving the ball to Willian onto the right, who’s shot was punched away by Donnarumma at the second attempt.

More changes for Chelsea with Michy Batshuayi, Oscar and Branislav Ivanović replacing Costa, Cesc Fàbregas and Aina respectively. Ivanovic returning from a shoulder injury to play the last half an hour.

With both teams making substitutions the game slowed up, but it was 10 minutes later Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Andrea Poli handled the ball in the box. Oscar, with a beautiful stuttered run up, side footing the ball into the net, restoring Chelsea’s lead.

Two final substitutions came from the blues, Nathaniel Chalobah and Juan Cuadrado for Cahill and Willian, with the Colombian making an impact 8 minutes later, assisting Oscar for his second goal of the game and sealing victories for the blues in their final game of the US tour.

The manager will take many good points from this game, with a lot of chances on the Milan goal and a strong defensive display. There is still work remaining for the squad however, for when we start our campaign against West Ham on the 15th of August.

The squad flies home from the USA today, to then onto Germany for the final game of pre-season against Werder Bremen. Kick off in the Weserstadion is at 2pm GMT and is broadcast live on Chelsea TV.

Chelsea (4-2-4): Courtois; Aina (Ivanović 59), Terry (c), Cahill (Chalobah 79), Azpilicueta; Matić , Fàbregas (Oscar 59); Willian (Cuadrado 79), Traore (Hazard 52), Costa (Batshuayi 59), Moses (Kanté 52).

Scorer Traore 24, Oscar (pen) 70, 87

Booked

AC Milan (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Abate (Montolivo 60), Paletta, Romagnoli (Vergara 67), Calabria (Vido 81); Kucka, Poli, Bonaventura; Suso (Zanellato 81), Luiz Adriano (Honda 67), Niang (Matri 81).

Scorer Bonaventura 38

Booked Romagnoli 5, Calabria 64

Referee Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance 64,101