Chelsea have made their way to the UEFA Conference League final after beating Sweden’s Djurgarden 1-0 in the second leg of their semi-final at Stamford Bridge, wrapping up the tie with a 5-1 total over two games.
The game took place on Thursday night in London, where Chelsea’s changed line-up, featuring several young faces, did enough to control the match. Among the players starting was 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, who made club history by becoming the youngest to start a European game for the team.
Chelsea were in control from the start after a strong first-leg performance in Stockholm, which had already placed them in a comfortable position. This second leg was more about maintaining composure and avoiding any surprises from Djurgarden, who were backed by a large group of travelling fans.
The only goal of the match came just before halftime, when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall found the net after combining with Tyrique George. A smart through ball allowed Dewsbury-Hall to burst past the defence and slot home with confidence.
Djurgarden, making their first European semi-final appearance since 1987, were limited in attack and rarely troubled Chelsea’s goal. A long-range effort by Daniel Stensson was the closest they came, but Chelsea’s keeper Filip Jorgensen made a sharp save to keep the clean sheet.
The match also showed Chelsea’s growing confidence under manager Enzo Maresca, who rotated heavily following a recent league win over Liverpool. Only Marc Cucurella kept his place in the starting eleven as the team prepared for their next league match against Newcastle.
Chelsea now look ahead to the final in Wroclaw on May 28, where they will face either Fiorentina or Real Betis. A win would make them the first club to claim all three current UEFA club trophies, adding a new chapter to their European success story.
This final also represents a major opportunity for the club to lift a trophy for the first time since winning the Champions League in 2021. With a top-five league finish still in reach, Chelsea’s season has turned into a promising one after earlier struggles.