Chelsea are one win away from Conference League glory after dismantling Djurgarden 5-1 on aggregate, sealing the deal with a slick 1-0 victory in the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s tidy finish was the cherry on top of a 4-1 first-leg rout in Sweden, where Nicolas Jackson’s brace, plus strikes from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke, had already broken Djurgarden’s spirit.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues are now dreaming of a May to remember, with the final against Real Betis their chance to become the first club to bag every major European trophy.
The second leg was a stroll, with Djurgarden barely landing a punch as Maresca’s rotated squad flexed their depth. Tyrique George and Reggie Walsh lit up the night, while **Marc Cucurella**’s midfield strut showed Chelsea have flair to spare. The final’s calling, and the Blues are ready to answer with a bang.
Filip Jorgensen - 6
Stood firm with a routine save to keep Djurgarden at bay, barely breaking a sweat in a quiet night. Showed poise despite whispers of a summer loan to Strasbourg.
A steady hand in goal, even if rarely tested. Jorgensen faces an uncertain future but held his own tonight.
Malo Gusto - 5
The Frenchman failed to recapture his attacking zip, spraying crosses wide and coughing up cheap possession. Throughout the entirety, Gusto struggled to trouble Djurgarden’s backline like he so often did last season.
Defended well enough but lacked his usual spark. Another for the dynamic full-back.
Tosin Adarabioyo - 6
Enjoyed a breezy evening, with Djurgarden’s tame attack offering little to worry about. The 27-year-old moved the ball crisply, keeping Chelsea in control.
A calm, composed shift for the centre-back.
Benoit Badiashile - 6
The Frenchman had a quiet night, barely stretched by Djurgarden’s toothless forays forward.
Distributed confidently, though tougher tests loom. Matched Adarabioyo’s steady rhythm in defense. Overall, a quiet outing that didn’t require the need to break out of first gear.
Josh Acheampong - 7
Muscled his way forward with powerful runs, catching the eye of Stamford Bridge with his Cobham-bred grit.
Shut down Djurgarden’s wingers with ease, rarely troubled. Showed why fans are buzzing about his potential - a commanding display from the young star.
Reece James - 7
Used his physicality to shield the ball but let himself down with sloppy passes in midfield.
Has the tools for the role but didn’t exactly show it tonight. Looked more at home in fleeting attacking bursts. Not a performance to cement a permanent midfield switch.
Marc Cucurella - 7
Strutted his stuff in midfield, popping up in clever pockets and receiving the ball with swagger. Handled Djurgarden’s modest press with ease.
A solid, energetic outing.
Reggie Walsh - 8
Exploded onto the scene at 16 with a fearless first start, charging at Djurgarden with raw aggression.
His relentless energy and ball retention screamed hunger to impress, leaving fans buzzing with his senior debut. A thrilling teaser of Chelsea’s next big thing.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 8
The Englishman roamed free and wreaked havoc, slotting his goal with finesse and nearly grabbing another. Exploited dangerous spaces with sharp movement. Perhaps underused by Maresca this season, he demanded more minutes. A standout in Chelsea’s engine room.
Jadon Sancho - 6
Sancho threatened Djurgarden’s backline with his quick feet but fizzled out near the box. Found his groove after the break, probing with intent, yet lacked a killer moment. His dribbling sparked panic but needed more end product.
A frustrating night for the winger.
Tyrique George - 8.5
Morphed from tricky winger to dominant focal point, bullying Djurgarden’s defense and laying on Dewsbury-Hall’s goal with a pinpoint assist. Held up play like a veteran, then dazzled on the left.
The Cobham gem’s versatility was electric. A star-making turn.
Substitutes
Shim Mheuka - 5
Slipped on in the second half but couldn’t match the spark of fellow youngsters George and Walsh. Ultimately struggled to carve out chances or trouble Djurgarden’s backline.
Faded into the background with little impact. A quiet cameo that fell short.
Genesis Antwi - 6
Antwi glided down the right with slick dribbling, showing off his potential as a future star. Couldn’t find a decisive moment to cap his cameo.
A promising glimpse of another academy talent.
Trevoh Chalobah - N/A