Chelsea are all but through to the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals after a confident 3-0 away win over Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their quarter-final showdown.
After a spirited start from the Polish side, the team that came into the two-legged tie with the most clean sheets of any team in the competition, Chelsea’s quality told. Legia spurned the early opportunities, Luquinhas and Ryōya Morishita going close, but the Blues started to take charge late in the first half. A curling shot from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall tested Kacper Tobiasz, and Christopher Nkunku and Dewsbury-Hall wasted clear openings before the break.
The visitors flew out of the blocks after the interval and with just five minutes played they broke the deadlock, Tyrique George on hand to avert the danger following the piece of play he arched a shot goalward, before scruffy the rebound into the net for his first-career Chelsea goal. Moments later, Noni Madueke’s relaxed finish from close range doubled Chelsea’s advantage, which they were not going to surrender. Nkunku had a penalty saved but Madueke did complete his brace, finishing Jadon Sancho’s low cross.
Control never left Chelsea’s grasp; Legia rarely threatened. With a commanding three-goal cushion, Enzo Maresca’s side will head into the return leg at Stamford Bridge with one foot firmly in the semi-finals.
