Dewsbury-Hall seals Chelsea a quarter-final spot
Chelsea secured its place in the Europa Conference League last eight after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's goal snatched a 1-0 win over Copenhagen, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Chelsea secured its place in the Europa Conference League last eight after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's goal snatched a 1-0 win over Copenhagen, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Goals from Reece James and Enzo Fernandez in the first leg gave Chelsea a 2-1 lead to defend at Stamford Bridge, where Enzo Maresca's side rarely looked troubled.
A much-changed Chelsea team were made to wait but Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock early in the second half, teeing up a tie with either Molde or Legia Warsaw.
The Premier League side was slow to get going in the first half of the return leg, failing to muster a clear-cut opportunity as Pedro Neto's muted penalty appeals were the only sign of excitement before the break.
Maresca responded by sending on first-choice starters Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer at the interval, and those changes paid dividends as Chelsea soon hit the front after 55 minutes.
Dewsbury-Hall intercepted in midfield before dancing through numerous challenges and firing a delightful finish into the bottom-right corner on his left foot.
That goal ultimately proved decisive in a low-key affair, with Maresca able to shuffle his pack again late on and hand a Chelsea debut to 17 year-old Genesis Antwi.
