Youthful Chelsea seal Conference League final place
Chelsea's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (right) celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side's winner.
CHELSEA 1 DJURGARDEN 0 (agg 5-1)
CHELSEA have successfully challenged for bigger European honours than the Conference League but the way they negotiated the second leg of this semi-final gave Enzo Maresca plenty of reasons to be satisfied with his side’s progress to the final in Wroclaw.
While Maresca had talked up the significance of winning this trophy, his side’s commanding 4-1 victory in the first leg meant the Chelsea head coach was able to cast his eye towards Sunday’s visit to Newcastle for a game that will carries huge significance in the battle for a top five finish.
The Italian’s response was to field a young, inexperienced side including a first start for Reggie Walsh, 16, who became Chelsea’s third youngest player when he appeared as a substitute in the first leg. The reshaped side completed the job with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring the first half goal that ensured they will head to the final on the back of another victory.
Walsh’s performance was certainly a high spot as the youngster formed one half of a forward partnership with fellow teenager Tyrique George and showed no sign of nerves as he settled comfortably into a game in which, the opening period apart, Chelsea remained largely untroubled.
Maresca’s side dominated possession against a Djurgarden who defended deep and in numbers as they attempted to prevent Chelsea added to their three-goal advantage. They succeeded in that task for almost half an hour, keeping their opponents at bay and doing enough on the occasional counter-attack to ensure the Blues defenders didn’t switch off.
The cracks began to appear, however, when a powerful run by George created the first clear shooting opportunity for Dewsbury-Hall who drew a save from Jacob Rinne. George also brought the keeper into action before combining with Dewsbury-Hall for the 38th minute opening goal.
George, 19, took up a position in the middle of the pitch to collect a bal out of defence by centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo. A clever shift of balance created the space for George to pick out Dewsbury-Hall’s forward run and the midfielder finished the move by moving inside two defenders and beating Rinne with a well-placed shot.
Chelsea might have extended their lead before the break had Dewsbury-Hall taken more care with his shot after an incisive attack but the four-aggregate lead meant Maresca could allow Cucurella to join a number of his colleagues on the sidelines at the break.
For the players remaining on the pitch, the second half presented another chance to impress with George in particular catching the eye with a number of strong forward runs and eye-catching moments of skill. Dewsbury-Hall might have added to his first half goal with a header and then when he scuffed his shot after being set up by and excellent ball from George.
By that stage though, Chelsea’s place in a sixth European final since 2008 was assured.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen 6; Gusto 6, Adarabioyo 7, Badiashile 6, Acheampong 6; James 7 (Chalobah 70,6) Cucurella 6 (Mheuka 46,6); Dewsbury-Hall 8, Walsh 7, Sancho 6 (Antwi 70,6); George 8.
Subs not used: Sanchez, Bergstrom, Colwill, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Madueke, Neto, Jackson.
Djurgarden (4-3-3): Rinne 6; Kosugi 7, Tenho 6, Une 5 (Danielson 63,6), Bergh 6; Finndell 6 (Selfven 85,6), Stensson 7 (Persson 81,6), Gulliksen 6 (Manneh 87,6); Priske 6, Haarala 6 (Alemayehu 63,6), Nguen 6.
Subs not used: Croon, Persson.
Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal) 6
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