May 09, (THEWILL) – Chelsea progressed to the 2024/2025 UEFA Conference League final after defeating Swedish side Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
The London club, having established a commanding 4-1 advantage from the first leg in Stockholm, completed the tie with a 1-0 victory in the return fixture, resulting in a 5-1 aggregate win.
Enzo Maresca utilised the opportunity to rotate his squad significantly, with 16-year-old Reggie Walsh making history by becoming the youngest European starter in Chelsea’s illustrious past.
Fellow Academy graduates Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong maintained their positions in the starting lineup following their appearances in the first-leg contest.
The solitary goal of the evening came from midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, extending Chelsea’s already substantial lead against a Djurgarden team that struggled with limited personnel options throughout the encounter.
The Swedish visitors failed to mount any meaningful challenge to overturn the deficit they faced from the opening leg.
Chelsea will face Spanish outfit Real Betis in the final scheduled for May 28 in Warsaw, Poland.
The Spanish side earned their place after overcoming Italian team Fiorentina in an extra-time thriller in the other semi-final matchup, with Fiorentina having been runners-up in this competition on two previous occasions.
The Blues continue their pursuit of European glory while simultaneously maintaining focus on domestic objectives, with Premier League top five qualification remaining a priority for Maresca’s men during the final stages of the 2024/2025 campaign.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
