Night to remember: Marc Guiu scored a first-half hat-trick for Chelsea against Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League
Chelsea sealed top spot in the Conference League league phase and finished with a perfect record after brushing aside error-strewn Shamrock Rovers 5-1.
Teenage striker Marc Guiu helped himself to a first-half hat-trick as Enzo Maresca’s much-changed side ran riot at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Cucurella also on target in another romp in Europe’s tertiary club competition that made it six wins from six heading into the last 16 in March.
Shamrock Rovers withstood plenty of early pressure as their 3,000 travelling fans made plenty of noise and forced a delay to the game when streams of white ribbon were hurled towards Christopher Nkunku at a corner, but it was a defensive blunder that saw them fall behind after 22 minutes when MK Dons loanee Darragh Burns attempted to head Renato Veiga’s long pass back to his goalkeeper, but got it all wrong as Guiu nipped in to head home from close range.
The visitors quickly rallied themselves as Filip Jorgensen made a sprawling save to deny Celtic loanee Johnny Kenny, with the equaliser netted within four minutes as Markus Poom - son of former Premier League goalkeeping stalwart Mart Poom - saw a low drive deflected in by the unfortunate Cesare Casadei.
But they weren’t back on level terms for long as Guiu accepted another absolute gift from Shamrock Rovers, with Daniel Cleary under no pressure as he tried to pass back to Leon Pohls, with the ball easily read and intercepted by the Chelsea striker, who then rounded the goalkeeper and slotted in from a tough angle.
The Blues - who had already sealed automatic qualification for the first knockout round - quickly added a third courtesy of Dewsbury-Hall, who was on hand to stroke in the rebound after Nkunku had been tackled inside the box.
The icing on the cake for Guiu came right on the stroke of half-time, when he netted his third with a deft header into the bottom corner from Noni Madueke’s cross.
Chelsea picked up where they left off in the second half, continuing to pile up the chances before Cucurella - making a rare Conference League appearance given he is suspended for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Everton - took a great touch and finished off a flowing passing move off the post.
More to follow