toptop
Chelsea
sailed into the Conference League final as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's strike added
to their first-leg lead over Djurgarden to give them a 5-1 aggregate win.
With the tie already all-but over after last week's thumping 4-1 win in Sweden,
Enzo Maresca made 10 changes to his side with both eyes looking ahead to
Sunday's midday game at Chelsea, which could have major ramifications in their
hopes of Champions League qualification.
They included a debut for 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, making the midfielder
Chelsea's youngest starter in European competition. He succeeded Shumaira
Mheuka, who himself had only taken the record against Copenhagen in March.
Walsh was one of three homegrown teenagers in the Blues line-up and had been the
pick of the bunch until another, Tyrique George, produced a deft backheel flick
which was soon used to release Dewsbury-Hall for the winning goal.
He sidestepped a couple of challenges, and after spotting Jacob Rinne off his
line, slotted inside the near post with a touch of class.
The Swedish visitors barely offered a threat and instead Dewsbury-Hall and
George should have linked up for a second, but this time the midfielder's finish
evaded him as they scrambled the ball away.
Without little jeopardy riding on the match as a whole, Enzo Maresca introduced
more of his young players - including Mheuka and an impressive cameo from
Genesis Antwi, allowing them to soak in the applause at the full-time whistle
with Chelsea's place in Wroclaw assured.
Teams
Chelsea Jorgensen, Gusto, Tosin, Badiashile, Cucurella (Mhueka
46), Acheampong, James (c) (Chalobah 70), Walsh, Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho (Antwi
70), George
Subs Not Used Bergstrom, Sanchez, Colwill, Caicedo, Fernandez,
Madueke, Neto, Palmer, Jackson
Booked Tosin
Goals Dewsbury-Hall 38
Djurgarden Rinne, Bergh, Larsson (c) (Danielson 63), Tenho,
Kosugi, Gulliksen (Manneh 86), Stensson (Persson 81), Finndell (Selfven 86),
Nguen, Haarala (Mulugeta 63), Priske
Subs Not Used Croon
Booked Stensson
Goals
Attendance 32,464
Referee Joao Pinheiro (Portugal)
VAR Tiago Martins (Portugal)