Teenager Tyrique George scored his first senior goal, and Noni Madueke netted twice off the bench as Chelsea secured a comfortable 3-0 victory away to Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday, April 10th. The win puts the Premier League side firmly in control ahead of the return leg.
Despite facing an intimidating atmosphere created by the home supporters, featuring pre-match tifos and flares, Chelsea dominated possession in the first half but struggled to break down the Polish side. Goalkeeper Kacper Tobiasz made good saves to deny Tosin Adarabioyo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, while Christopher Nkunku was thwarted by excellent defending from Rafal Augustyniak. Cole Palmer, starting after being rested for the group stage, had limited impact and his goal drought extended to 13 games before he was substituted at halftime.
Chelsea’s breakthrough came four minutes into the second half. Substitute Tyrique George, 19, reacted quickest to score the rebound after Reece James’s shot was parried by Tobiasz.
Fellow substitute Noni Madueke, who replaced Palmer, doubled the lead in the 57th minute, finishing low after good work and an assist from Jadon Sancho.
Chelsea were awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute, but Christopher Nkunku saw his spot-kick saved by Tobiasz. However, the miss proved inconsequential as Madueke scored his second almost immediately afterwards, converting another Sancho cross from close range.
The victory gives Chelsea, the strong favourites to win Europe’s third-tier competition, a commanding advantage heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, April 17th. The winners of the tie will face either Swedish side Djurgardens or Austria’s Rapid Vienna in the semi-finals. The Conference League final will be held in Wroclaw, Poland, on May 28th.
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