Chelsea booked their place in the UEFA Conference League final with a 1-0 win over Swedish side Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, completing a dominant 5-1 aggregate victory.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the lone goal late in the first half, while 16-year-old Reggie Walsh made history by becoming the youngest player to start a European match for the club.
The win sets up a final clash in Wroclaw on May 28, where Chelsea will face either Fiorentina or Real Betis. Victory would make Chelsea the first club to win all three of UEFA’s current competitions—Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
Manager Enzo Maresca made significant changes to the squad ahead of Sunday’s key Premier League match against Newcastle, retaining only Marc Cucurella from the starting XI that beat Liverpool last weekend.
Despite criticism over his conservative tactics, Maresca has Chelsea sitting fifth in the league and in contention for a Champions League spot next season.
Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock in the 38th minute after latching onto a precise pass from Tyrique George and slotting the ball in off the post. He nearly added a second before halftime, but his header was saved.
Djurgarden, making their first-ever European semi-final appearance and backed by 6,000 travelling fans, struggled to mount a comeback. Filip Jorgensen made a key save to deny Daniel Stensson from long range in their best moment.
Chelsea, chasing their first trophy since the 2021 Champions League triumph, will be favourites in the final as they aim to deliver the first silverware of the Todd Boehly era.
