Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the only goal shortly before the break and although we did not add to that tally, it was a comfortable and deserved victory for Enzo Maresca’s side.

The head coach gave a full debut to 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, who impressed with his confidence in possession and willingness to get stuck in against players twice his age. Tyrique George was lively again, setting up Dewsbury-Hall’s goal and coming close himself, while there was also playing time for Josh Acheampong, Shimmy Mheuka and Genesis Antwi.

Maresca was able to make full use of his squad with Sunday’s game against Newcastle in mind, and it was one of his regulars in this competition, Dewsbury-Hall, that made the difference with a cool finish in off the post. It was his fourth Conference League goal.

We will play Real Betis in the final.

Team news

Maresca made ten changes to his Chelsea team, the most notable of which was the selection of Academy youngster Walsh.

Walsh was deployed in an advanced midfield role in what was a very fluid Chelsea XI. Marc Cucurella was in the middle of the park alongside captain Reece James, with Malo Gusto a very advanced right-back, and Acheampong at left-back. George led the line.

On a beautiful evening at the Bridge, Chelsea started authoritatively. Walsh saw plenty of the ball early on, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position that Tosin headed goalwards but straight at the visiting keeper Jacob Rinne.

Taking control

Jadon Sancho on our left flank was a regular outlet as we sought to stretch the visitors, while Dewsbury-Hall and George effectively harried on the opposite flank. From one foray down that side before the half-hour, George had a shot blocked with Dewsbury-Hall pouncing on the loose ball and forcing an awkward save from Rinne.

From a narrow angle, George’s shot was kept out by the outstretched foot of Rinne after Sancho had cutely slipped him in.

KDH breaks through

It was George and Dewsbury-Hall who combined for the opening goal seven minutes before the interval. Tosin played a positive pass through the lines to George, who skilfully turned and sent Dewsbury-Hall away. He calmly cut inside and stroked a fine finish into the Shed End via the inside of the post. The scoreline now accurately reflected our dominance.

Filip Jorgensen was forced into his first save of note with half-time approaching, reacting well to deal with a deflected strike from Keita Kosugi. Besides that, the opening 45 minutes had been Chelsea’s.

Shimmy Mheuka replaced Cucurella for the second period. Dewsbury-Hall dropped into central midfield, and George moved wide left, with Sancho now on the right.

Dewsbury-Hall headed a Gusto cross at Rinne as he looked to double his and our tally. At the other end, Jorgensen made a super save to keep out Miro Tenho’s close-range header, even if the offside flag meant it wouldn’t have stood anyway.

George flashed a shot over having tricked his way into the box, and then he missed a header from much closer in, although again the assistant intervened.

Seeking a second

With the home support in full voice, a delicious diagonal from James released George, who cut the ball back invitingly for Dewsbury-Hall. He screwed his shot wide.

Trevoh Chalobah and Genesis Antwi replaced James and Sancho for the final 20 minutes. Immediately Jorgensen was called into action, tipping Daniel Stensson’s piledriver over.

Antwi danced into space and set up a shooting opportunity for Acheampong, blasted over, and nearer the end Walsh also tried his luck from distance, with no luck. It did underline his confidence, though!

Gusto had a final effort tipped over in injury time, and that was that. Job done!

What it means…

We are in a European final for the eighth time, looking to add fresh silverware to our already bulging trophy cabinet. The final against Betis is in Wroclaw in Poland on Wednesday 28 May.

What’s next…

A long trip to Newcastle on Sunday. Kick-off for the huge Premier League encounter is at midday, with the Blues hoping to strengthen our Champions League qualification aspirations.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Badiashile, Acheampong; James (c) (Chalobah 70), Cucurella (Mheuka h/t); Dewsbury-Hall, Walsh, Sancho (Antwi 70); George

Unused subs Bergstrom, Sanchez, Colwill, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Neto, Palmer, Jackson

Scorer Dewsbury-Hall 38

Booked Tosin 17

Djurgarden (4-3-3): Rinne; Kosugi, Tenho, Une (c) (Danielson 64), Bergh; Finndell (Selfven 86), Stensson, Gulliksen (Manneh 86); Haarala (Alemayehu 63), Priske, Nguen

Unused subs Croon, Persson

Booked Stensson 53

Referee Joao Pinheiro

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