Chelsea secured their place in the UEFA Conference League final with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate victory over Djurgarden, as the Blues close in on yet another European trophy.
The home side started the match on top and came close to opening the score when a Reece James corner was headed over by Benoit Badiashile. Not long later, a strike from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was kept out by goalkeeper Jacob Rinne before youngster Tyrique George was denied from close range.
However, with 38 minutes played, Maresca's side broke the deadlock following a well-worked team move. Tosin Adarabioyo played through George, who then set away Dewsbury-Hall as the midfielder weaved his way through two Djurgarden defender's before applying a calm and composed finish.
Dewsbury-Hall almost added a second for the home side after the restart but could only head straight at the goalkeeper following an excellent cross from Malo Gusto. However, Djurgarden were the much better side early in the second half, with**Filip Jorgensen** called into action on multiple occasions.
Firstly, midfielder Tobias Gulliksen saw his shot deflect wide before a header from Daniel Stensson was saved by Jorgensen. Stensson almost scored in the latter stages of the second half but the Dane was on hand to make a superb stop.
Chelsea, meanwhile, had chances to extend their advantage as Tyrique George missed the target on two separate occasions whilst a shot on the edge of the box from Dewsbury-Hall was put wide of the target. However, in the end, it proved to be a relatively stress-free night for the home side.
The West Londoners will face either Real Betis or Fiorentina in the showpiece final in Wroclaw at the end of May.
Story of the Match
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca rotated heavily following Sunday's 3-1 victory over Liverpool by making a total of ten changes, with Spanish international Marc Cucurella being the only player to keep his place.
There was a first-ever start for 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, who came off the bench in last week's first leg and began on the right side of attack, whilst fellow youth academy graduates Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George also featured.
Meanwhile, for the visitors, manager Jani Honkavaara made just two changes from the first leg which both came in defence. Following some poor defensive errors against the Blues, centre-back Marcus Danielsson was dropped in place of Miro Tenho whilst Viktor Bergh came in for Adam Stahl at full-back.
With both sides creating a brilliant atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge, it was the home side dominated on the possession front in the opening exchanges and created the first real chance of the game. Captain Reece James delivered a threatening corner towards the six-yard area which Benoit Badiashile could only head over.
Chelsea continued to look to better side in the first half but had done very little to trouble Djurgarden goalkeeper Jacob Rinne. But with 28 minutes gone, the hosts had a chance to take the lead when a blocked shot from George fell kindly to midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, whose shot was kept out by Rinne.
The Blues were finally starting to hit top gear as youngster Walsh forayed into the penalty area before playing through George, but the forward was denied by the goalkeeper from a tight angle. However, seven minutes before the break, Chelsea made the breakthrough.
Tosin Adarabioyo played the ball through the middle towards George, who then played through Dewsbury-Hall, where the midfielder drifted past two defenders before finding the bottom left corner with a well-taken finish.
Meanwhile, up the other end, a deflected effort from defender Keita Kosugi almost caught out Filip Jorgensen, though the Danish shot-stopper was alert to the danger. Dewsbury-Hall then almost added a second for the home side, but could only strike over the bar.
The first effort after the restart fell to the away side as forward Santeri Haarala found space on the edge of the penalty area before firing straight at Jorgensen. Moments later, Chelsea then threatened as Malo Gusto crossed towards Dewsbury-Hall inside the box, but his header was comfortable for Rinne.
However, the visitors looked the more dominant at the start of the second half as a Tobias Gulliksen effort deflected wide before goalkeeper Jorgensen was then called into action to keep out a header from Daniel Stensson.
Meanwhile, Chelsea continued to provide a threat going forward as some excellent footwork from George saw him weave his way into the Djurgarden penalty area before firing his shot over the bar.
George then came close once more as Dewsbury-Hall played an excellent ball out wide to Sancho, whose cross was then headed wide by the 19-year-old. The visitors then came close as powerful drive from Gulliksen was put just wide of the target.
Chelsea then had a great chance to double their advantage as a long ball towards the left channel from James was taken down nicely by George, who then set up Dewsbury-Hall on the edge of box but his attempt was put wide.
However, Djurgarden continued to provide a threat in front of goal and almost found themselves level when Stensson's first-time strike stung the palms of Jorgensen. With 13 minutes to go, Chelsea substitute Genesis Antwi pushed forward down the right-hand side before pulling the ball back to Acheampong, who could only strike off-target.
In the closing stages of the game, the Blues came close again, this time through Gusto, who pushed forward on the break before seeing his shot tipped over by Rinne.
Player of the Match: Reggie Walsh
Having been handed his first start for the club, 16-year-old Reggie Walsh certainly made quite the impression in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful by dominating in the middle of the park with his workrate being second to none.
A bright future ahead for Walsh.