From the very start, they were considered the clear favorites. Transfermarkt states that no team in the Conference League comes close—they have a squad almost three and a half times more valuable than Fiorentina, the next team on the list. However, if they don’t take the third-tier European competition seriously, the trophy could easily slip through their fingers. Just as Copenhagen could have punished the London team’s somewhat careless approach tonight and knocked them out as early as the Round of 16.Drewbury-Hall’s 3rd goal in Chelsea’s blue 🔵🔥💙 pic.twitter.com/ygEQ8tdraA— Resilient 🇬🇭💙 (@SalaJacklyn) March 13, 2025 Enzo Maresca’s mixed lineup frustrated Stamford Bridge for an entire half, turning an expected routine victory into a real struggle, putting their progression to the next round in doubt. That progression was ultimately secured at the start of the second half by Maresca’s loyal soldier, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who scored the decisive goal—1:0 (0:0), after winning the first leg 2:1.Bruno the magician and festival of penalties are United winning combination!The English midfielder pulled off a real piece of magic in the 55th minute. Picking up a rebound just outside the opponent’s penalty area, the player whom Maresca brought with him from Leicester last summer weaved past four Copenhagen defenders with a bit of luck before slotting a precise shot into the far corner, turning Chelsea’s early second-half awakening into a well-deserved lead. Before the break, Chelsea looked worrying—some might even say disgraceful. With a London derby against Arsenal coming up this weekend, a crucial match in the race for a Champions League spot, Maresca significantly rotated the squad, giving opportunities to several younger, less experienced players like Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George, as well as second-choice players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Benoit Badiashile. Perhaps he underestimated the Danish visitors, thinking the job was already done after last Thursday’s first-leg victory.Kopengagen was a pleasant surprise, showing no fear and threatening three times within the first 20 minutes. While not too seriously, they showed their teeth and signaled that they would fight until the very end. The problem was—they had no one to fight with! Chelsea’s uncoordinated team in the first half seemed completely lost, unsure of what they were doing, when and how to press, or how to attack. The result? Some shocking statistics: the London side went into halftime without a single shot on target and had only three touches in the opponent’s penalty area. Maresca clearly understood that changes were needed at halftime—and he acted accordingly. He brought on Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer, and Chelsea immediately shifted into a higher gear. Just two minutes after coming out of the dressing room, the midfielder signed from Manchester City created Chelsea’s first real chance. Shortly after, the Blues took the lead. Dewsbury-Hall did most of the work, but credit also goes to Cucurella, whose pressing on Copenhagen’s backline forced a mistake right outside the penalty area. Even then, Copenhagen didn’t give up. They tried to make the tie more dramatic until the final whistle but ultimately failed. Chelsea marches on in pursuit of the last of the three European trophies missing from their collection.UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE – ROUND OF 16Second legThursday Cercle Brugge – Jagiellonia 2-0 (1-0)/Bruggen 8, Augusto 50/Djurgarden – Paphos 3-0 (2-0)/Fallenius 35, Stensson 69, Nguen 86/Lugano – Celje 4-4 (3-1)/Mahmoud 21, Correia 44, Koutsias 42, 80 – Seslar 40, Svetlin 68, Kucys 90+5 pen, Nieto 97/Rapid – Borac Banja Luka 2-1 (1-1)/Beljo 70, Schaub 96 – Ogrinec 66/Chelsea – Copenhagen 1-0 (0-0)/Dewsbury-Hall 55/Fiorentina – Panathinaikos 3-1 (2-0)/Mandragora 12, Gudmundsson 24, Kean 75 – Ionnaidis (p) 81/Guimaraes – Betis 0-4 (0-2)/Bakambu 5, 20, Antony 58, Isco 80/Legia – Molde 1-0(1-0)/Morishita 34/
