Chelsea made it to the final of the UEFA Conference League after beating Djurgardens IF 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday evening.
Owing to his team’s 4-1 advantage from the first leg, Enzo Maresca named an unusual XI that featured Marc Cucurella alongside Reece James in midfield, with 16-year-old Reggie Walsh operating behind the comparatively senior 19-year-old Tyrique George, who started as the Blues’ nominal striker.
As a result, the hosts did not start as quickly as they had in Sweden, though Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall still managed to open the scoring before the half-time interval, courtesy of an assist from George.
The hosts remained in control throughout, and should have doubled their lead when Dewsbury-Hall squandered a golden opportunity following an impressive cross-field ball from James and a powerful run and composed pass from George that set up the chance.
Joni Honkavaara‘s visitors will be disappointed to have walked away from the tie with only one goal on the scoresheet, but their fans were certainly supportive of the type of play that forced Blues shot-stopper Filip Jorgensen into making three saves on the night.
SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT
© Imago
While Chelsea will have been disappointed to end up in the Conference League after last season, Maresca has used the competition to give opportunities to talented youngsters.
For example, 16-year-old Reggie Walsh became the third youngest player to feature for Chelsea’s senior side in the first leg, and he was handed a first start in front of a home crowd as the Blues progressed comfortably into the final.
Similarly, 17-year-olds Shim Mheuka and Genesis Antwi came on as substitutes this week, and the manager deserves credit for trusting youth in a way that bodes well for the club’s future.
As for Djurgardens, they may have lost 5-1 on aggregate, but their fans were spirited throughout, and they will remember this tie as the first European semi-final for the club and the first for a Swedish team since IFK Goteborg in the 1980s.
That being said, the visitors missed a number of chances in the first leg and had some moments in the second that could have changed the course of the tie, but as Honkavaara stated before the match, Chelsea’s clinical finishing was decisive.
CHELSEA VS. DJURGARDENS IF HIGHLIGHTS
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall goal vs. Djurgardens IF (38th min, Chelsea 1-0 Djurgardens IF (5-1 Agg.))
Dewsbury-Hall opens the scoring for Chelsea 🙌
That Tyrique George pass 😳
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/RwgNtjzaHK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2025
Tosin Adarabioyo picks out George with a fine pass through the lines from centre-back, and the 19-year-old drags the Djurgardens defence out of position before sliding a ball through to Dewsbury-Hall, who dribbles into the box and fires Chelsea ahead with a strike off the left-hand post.
66th min: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea) big chance missed
© Imago
Reece James plays an excellent pass out to Tyrique George on the left wing, and the young forward takes a fantastic first touch beyond the defender before laying the ball on a plate for Desbury-Hall to finish 14 yards out, but the midfielder fails to connect properly and drags his shot wide.
71st min: Filip Jorgensen (Chelsea) save
© Imago
Djurgardens work the ball out to the right flank, where Kosugi plays a one-two before dribbling inside and having his shot blocked by Malo Gusto, and as the rebound falls to Stensson, the midfielder fires a powerful strike that needs to be dealt with by Filip Jorgensen.
MAN OF THE MATCH – TYRIQUE GEORGE
© Imago
The versatile forward looked assured once again, despite playing alongside a number of players out of their regular positions and a crop of youngsters that made him seem relatively senior.
His assist for Dewsbury-Hall’s opener added to his impressive start to life at senior level for Chelsea, and he once again justified his manager’s trust.
CHELSEA VS. DJURGARDENS IF MATCH STATS
Possession: Chelsea 65%-35% Djurgardens IF
Shots: Chelsea 17-12 Djurgardens IF
Shots on target: Chelsea 5-3 Djurgardens IF
Corners: Chelsea 7-3 Djurgardens IF
Fouls: Chelsea 5-20 Djurgardens IF
BEST STATS
At 16 years & 200 days old, Reggie Walsh becomes the youngest player to ever start a European match for Chelsea.
He’s so young that he was born five months after John Terry slipped & missed his penalty in the shootout during the 2008 Champions League final vs Man Utd. pic.twitter.com/jKlwVmkFTZ
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) May 8, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Up next for Chelsea is a Premier League trip to take on Newcastle United this Sunday as they fight for a Champions League place, while Djurgardens will travel to face Goteborg in the Swedish Allsvenskan on Monday.
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