Chelsea moved a step closer to the Europa Conference League final with a dominant 4-1 away win over Swedish side Djurgarden in the first leg of their semi-final tie on Thursday night. The Blues’ commanding performance in Sweden has put them in an excellent position to advance to the final, with a resounding victory that left the home side with little hope of pulling off an unlikely comeback in the return leg. Chelsea’s clinical attacking play and solid defensive showing were the highlights of a night where they proved their worth on the European stage once again.
Enzo Maresca’s side overcame an unfamiliar artificial surface and a lively home crowd to establish a commanding advantage ahead of the return leg in London. Despite playing on a difficult pitch that many of the Chelsea players were not accustomed to, the team handled the conditions well, displaying impressive composure and skill to dominate the match. The home crowd at the Tele2 Arena were passionate and vocal, but Chelsea managed to silence them with their clinical finishing and solid teamwork.
Jadon Sancho opened the scoring in the 13th minute when his effort took a deflection off Marcus Danielson and beat goalkeeper Jacob Rinne. The goal was somewhat fortuitous as Sancho’s shot seemed to be going wide, but it took a deflection that wrong-footed the Djurgarden goalkeeper and found the back of the net. Despite the luck involved, Chelsea’s early goal was a sign of things to come, with the team looking dangerous going forward right from the opening whistle.
Chelsea doubled their lead just before halftime, with Noni Madueke finishing off a neat move after a well-timed layoff from Enzo Fernandez. The goal came at a crucial time for Chelsea, just moments before the break, and gave the visitors a comfortable cushion. The move was slick, with Fernandez’s intelligent pass threading through the Djurgarden defense and finding Madueke, who calmly finished past Rinne to give Chelsea a commanding 2-0 lead heading into the interval. The Blues were in control of the match at this point, with Djurgarden struggling to keep up with their fast-paced attacks.
Djurgarden responded strongly early in the second half, with Hampus Finndell and Adam Stahl both going close, but it was Chelsea who struck next. The Swedish side came out after halftime with renewed energy, pushing Chelsea back with a series of attacks. Finndell came close to scoring, testing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, while Stahl had a decent opportunity, but Chelsea’s defense held firm. Despite Djurgarden’s efforts, it was the visitors who extended their advantage when substitute Nicolas Jackson capitalised on a mix-up between Danielson and Rinne to score Chelsea’s third in the 59th minute. The goal came from a defensive error, with Rinne rushing out to clear the ball but getting caught in a misunderstanding with Danielson. Jackson, ever alert, seized on the opportunity and slotted the ball into the empty net to make it 3-0 in Chelsea’s favor.
The Senegalese forward added a second six minutes later, firing into the top corner after Moises Caicedo forced a turnover deep in the opposition half. Jackson’s second goal was a clinical strike, showcasing his sharp finishing ability. Caicedo’s pressing in midfield had forced a turnover, and Jackson was quick to latch onto the loose ball before unleashing a powerful shot into the top corner of the net. This goal put the game beyond doubt and further demoralized Djurgarden, who could not cope with the speed and precision of Chelsea’s attacking play.
Isak Alemayehu pulled one back for the hosts in the 68th minute with a well-placed header, but Djurgarden failed to build on that momentum. The goal was a moment of individual brilliance, with Alemayehu finding space in the box and heading a well-delivered cross past Kepa. However, the Swedish side could not capitalize on this goal, as Chelsea quickly regained control of the match and never looked like conceding again. Despite Djurgarden’s efforts, the Blues were simply too strong on the night.
Stahl missed a clear-cut opportunity minutes later, squandering a chance to reduce the deficit point-blank. Djurgarden’s best chance to score again came from Stahl, who found himself unmarked in the box with only Kepa to beat. However, in what was a frustrating moment for the hosts, Stahl’s shot was blazed over the bar, much to the disappointment of the home fans. This miss effectively sealed the result, as it was clear Chelsea would not relinquish their advantage.
Chelsea will host the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week, with a place in the final firmly in their grasp. The Blues will be full of confidence heading into the second leg, as they have already put themselves in an incredibly strong position to progress to the final. A comfortable win in London will seal their place in the Europa Conference League final, where they will hope to add another European trophy to their collection. Djurgarden will need a miracle to overturn the deficit, but Chelsea’s resolute defense and clinical attack will make them difficult to break down in the return leg.