Chelsea qualify for Conference League despite second-leg defeat
Chelsea advanced to the league phase of the Europa Conference League despite a loss in Switzerland against Servette in the second leg of their qualifying play-off.
Enzo Maresca’s team had a 2-0 lead from the first leg at Stamford Bridge a week earlier and extended their advantage after 14 minutes when Christopher Nkunku scored a penalty, awarded after Mykhailo Mudryk was fouled by Keigo Tsunemoto.
Servette’s Jeremy Guillemenot reduced the deficit by scoring from a pass by Dereck Kutesa, shooting across Filip Jorgensen.
Two Servette substitutes then played a key role, with Enzo Crivelli heading in Miroslav Stevanovic’s cross from the left wing to give the Swiss side the lead for the night.
Despite their efforts, Servette could not find the additional goal needed to force extra time, allowing Chelsea to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Chelsea survive scare to get job done
Before the match, Maresca expressed confidence that his side would avoid complacency despite holding a two-goal advantage. Enzo Fernandez almost extended Chelsea’s lead with a superb 25-yard strike, which Joel Mall managed to tip over the bar after just three minutes.
However, as in the first leg, Nkunku’s penalty seemed to put the tie out of reach for the Swiss team. Nonetheless, Jeremy Guillemenot capitalized on Servette’s first significant opportunity in the 32nd minute to level the score for the night.
On a subpar pitch, Servette’s Dereck Kutesa had a chance to add another goal for the hosts but was thwarted by Jorgensen from a tight angle.
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who was recently called up to the England squad for the first time earlier on Thursday, continued his impressive form after scoring a hat-trick in the 6-2 victory over Wolves.
He netted the Blues’ second goal in the first leg and had a promising chance early in the second half in Geneva, but was thwarted by excellent defending.
Crivelli’s header set up a tense conclusion, with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson having a goal disallowed for offside and Cole Palmer hitting the crossbar.
In the fourth minute of added time, Servette nearly equalized on aggregate, but Timothe Cognat’s shot went wide.
Qualification vital to give fringe players game time
Chelsea, winners of the 2021 Champions League, are competing in Europe’s third-tier tournament, the Europa Conference League, for the first time after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season, which led to Mauricio Pochettino’s departure.
Since Pochettino’s exit, the Blues have signed 10 new players. With just one day left in the transfer window, Maresca faces the challenge of managing an already bloated squad. England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, who were absent from the squad in Switzerland, could be among those leaving on Friday’s transfer deadline day.
Despite the difficulties, Maresca’s progression in the Conference League offers an opportunity to give game time to fringe players, with at least six more matches guaranteed.
The draw for the league phase of the Conference League will take place on Friday at 13:30 BST at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Similar to the Champions League and Europa League, the Conference League will feature 36 teams in one league, with the top eight advancing to the last 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th will enter the knockout phase play-offs.
Unlike the Champions League and Europa League, where each team plays eight different opponents (four home and four away), Conference League teams will face six opponents—three home and three away.
Player of the Match: J. Guillemenot