Chelsea advanced to the Conference League quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate victory over FC Copenhagen, securing a 1-0 win in the second leg at Stamford Bridge, despite a dreadful first-half performance where they failed to register a shot.
The first half was a struggle for Chelsea, as they were outplayed by a determined Copenhagen side who pressed high and disrupted the hosts’ rhythm. The home crowd’s frustration grew, with boos echoing around Stamford Bridge at the halftime whistle. Enzo Maresca made the decision to bring on Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella in an attempt to inject some energy into his team.
The tactical changes paid off early in the second half when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock just 10 minutes after the restart. After Palmer and Cucurella had provided a spark, Dewsbury-Hall expertly dribbled through the Copenhagen defense and fired into the bottom right corner, giving Chelsea a much-needed cushion and easing the tension in the stadium.
Although Palmer was involved in the build-up, his own goal drought continued, as he was unable to find the back of the net for the 10th consecutive game. He came close with a curling shot midway through the second half that narrowly missed the left post, and later had another effort saved in the closing stages.
With the 1-0 win on the night, Chelsea sealed their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate score. They will face either Legia Warsaw or Molde in the next round, with matches scheduled for April 10 and 17.
