Chelsea secured their place in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals after a 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge. The result gave them a 3-1 aggregate win, though their first-half performance left much to be desired.
Despite dominating possession, Chelsea failed to register a single shot in the opening 45 minutes, leading to frustration among the home supporters. Manager Enzo Maresca made changes at halftime, bringing on Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella to add energy to the team. The substitutions quickly made an impact, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock just 10 minutes into the second half.
Dewsbury-Hall capitalized on a well-worked attacking move, driving into the box before confidently slotting the ball into the bottom right corner. His goal eased tensions and ensured Chelsea’s progression to the next round.
Copenhagen started the match with more intensity, outplaying Chelsea in the first half and forcing mistakes from the home side. Their strong pressing and defensive structure prevented Chelsea from creating clear chances. The visitors had moments of promise, but they failed to take advantage of their early dominance.
After the break, Chelsea improved significantly, recording 11 shots in the second half. Palmer, who has been struggling for goals, had a couple of promising opportunities but couldn’t find the net. His best chance came with a curling effort that narrowly missed the left post, followed by a late attempt that was saved by Copenhagen’s goalkeeper.
