Djurgarden 1-4 Chelsea: UEFA Conference League result as Blues make light work of Swedes in semis

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It was all smiles for Chelsea as they comprehensively swept past Djurgarden 4-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semi-final. 

The Blues built up a comfortable three-goal buffer with a second-string 11 that saw Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson dropped to the bench, but the stand-ins deputised ably. 

Jackson stepped off the bench to bag a brace in the second half, but it was Jadon Sancho hitting form at the right time to stroke home the opener on 12 minutes after good awareness from Enzo Fernandez. 

Noni Madueke doubled their tally with a neat finish after a fine link-up between Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Fernandez, with Madueke giving home goalkeeper Jacob Rinne the eyes as he stuck it inside the near post. 

After the interval, Maresca decided to get some minutes into his top players ahead of the Blues’ Premier League encounter with champions Liverpool this weekend. 

Jackson’s third came from a defensive mishap between Rinne and Marcus Danielsson, as the Senegalese looked to latch onto Palmer’s through pass, before a miscommunication between the Djurgarden goalkeeper and central defender allowed Jackson an empty net to add a third. 

His fourth required much more skill, as a gorgeous ball roll sold his marker, before he arrowed a left-footed finish into the top corner to practically put the tie to bed. 

Teenager Isak Alemayehu scored his first senior goal as the Swedes earned a consolation as the 18-year-old climbed highest to nod home and spoil Filip Jorgensen’s clean sheet. 

However, it was Chelsea who were in cruise control, and they quelled the raucous home support impressively, with their night bettered by the fact that fellow UEFA Champions League contenders Nottingham Forest were dealt a blow in the Premier League, beaten 2-0 at home by Brentford to keep the Blues in the top five.

There we have it.

Chelsea managed the occasion brilliantly with their second string, and they take back a big buffer with them to Stamford Bridge.

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There's a melee in the middle after a late challenge from Gulliksen on Tosin, who reacts nastily. Both players are booked.

Walsh is involved straight away, and nearly scores with his first touch! It comes out to him on the edge of the box, and he lashes one, catching it sweetly, but Rinne punches clear.

What a moment this is - Tyrique George is coming off, with Reggie Walsh making his senior debut for Chelsea, who completes his academy graduation into the first team.

... you can't fault the home crowd. The atmosphere has been electric since before the first whistle. They're savouring every moment of this journey.

Moises Caicedo was booked for not moving back with the wall.

A chance here for the Swedes with a direct free kick from about 25 yards out. Stensson is most interested in this one with the left peg, with Tokmac also over it. The striker is the one that goes for it, but it doesn't trouble Jorgensen.

Dewsbury-Hall swings one in from the right towards the near post, and it breaks for Palmer, but Rinne gets down instinctively to save!

Djurgarden are having a real go here! Left-back Kosugi is in the penalty area for some reason trying to force it home, but he's crowded out.

There's one back, and it's a towering header from the teenage substitute! It's stood up to the far post by Gulliksen, and Alemayehu is unmarked and has a clear run at the ball, and he buries the header to net his first senior goal at the age of 18! Quite the roar meets the goal!

My word, what a goal! Nicolas Jackson has his second, and that is quite sensational from the Senegalese. He picks it up on the edge of the box, and a neat ball roll works an inch of space before he unleashes a devastating left-footed finish into the far corner.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Djurgarden are making a couple of changes in a bid to spark an unlikely comeback.

It's not been Danielsson's night, and he's been replaced by Tenho, and Isak Alemayehu comes on for Santeri Haarala, who's hardly had a sniff.

I say that, and there's a calamity at the back for the hosts! Palmer looks for Jackson down the left, and there's a miscommunication between Rinne and Danielsson, giving the Senegalese an open net to slot home into.

Chelsea haven't started this second half all that well, with the pendulum swinging in Djurgarden's favour. The Swedes are in the ascendancy here, roared on by the home support.

Djurgarden are putting on some early pressure, and Stahl's glancing header needs saving by Jorgensen.