Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s second-half strike sends Chelsea to quarter-finals.
Image credit: Premier League
Chelsea booked their place in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals with a narrow 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen in the second leg at Stamford Bridge, securing a 3-1 aggregate win.
Despite a dismal first-half performance where they failed to register a single shot on target, a much-improved second-half display, sparked by substitutes Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella, was enough to see them through.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall netted the game’s only goal, ensuring Enzo Maresca’s side advanced to the next stage of the competition.
Sluggish First Half Sparks Stamford Bridge Frustration
The home crowd was left frustrated in the opening 45 minutes as Chelsea struggled to create any meaningful chances against a disciplined Copenhagen side.
The visitors dominated the midfield battle, outworking their Premier League opponents and forcing errors.
Chelsea looked lethargic, failing to register a shot on target, and were met with boos from sections of the home support as they trudged into the dressing room at halftime.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Maresca made two key changes at the break, bringing on Palmer and Cucurella to inject energy into the attack.
Their introduction immediately made a difference, with Chelsea looking far more composed and threatening in possession.
Dewsbury-Hall Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough came just 10 minutes after the restart. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who was one of Chelsea’s brightest performers, drove into the penalty area, skipped past a defender, and clinically slotted a low shot into the bottom corner.
19-year-old Tyrique George providing the spark for Chelsea 👏💙 pic.twitter.com/6JBg2lhAiS
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) March 13, 2025
The goal lifted the mood inside Stamford Bridge and provided the Blues with a much-needed cushion.
Chelsea went on to dominate proceedings in the second half, registering 11 attempts on goal. Palmer, despite his growing influence, was unable to end his goal drought, which has now stretched to 10 matches.
The England international came close twice—first curling a shot wide of the far post and later forcing a save from Copenhagen’s goalkeeper.
Maresca’s Tactical Gamble Pays Off
Speaking after the match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca defended his approach, explaining that the team had deliberately planned for stronger second-half performances:
“The first leg we played in Denmark, first half we struggled, second half we were much better. The reason why is because we planned both games that way.
The first game there we tried to analyse a little bit in the first half and then to push a little bit in the second half in case we needed it.“
“And because we won there, we prepared the game exactly in the same way tonight. First half we analysed, we saw what we needed to improve.
We changed the structure, we changed Joshua Acheampong, not because he was not doing well, he was doing very good.“
“We changed him because we needed to change the structure. We were attacking with five, we needed to attack with six players, and second half was much better.”
On a roll.#CFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/7D6iUTlRsS
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 13, 2025
While Chelsea ultimately progressed, their sluggish starts remain a concern. Against stronger opposition, they may not be able to afford such a passive first half.
Dewsbury-Hall: “We Believe We Can Win This”
After the match, Chelsea’s match-winner Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall exuded confidence in his team’s ability to go all the way in the competition:
“Chelsea have won the Champions League, the Europa League, it would be stupid of us to say we can’t win this.
It’s not arrogant from us but we just know the quality that we have in the squad. Copenhagen are a good team but we are happy to be through.”
What’s Next? Chelsea’s Road to the Final
Chelsea will now face Legia Warsaw in the quarter-finals, with the two legs scheduled for April 10 and 17.
Should they progress, a potential semi-final clash against one of the tournament’s top contenders awaits.
With domestic form still inconsistent, Maresca’s side will need to ensure they maintain momentum in Europe, especially as the competition intensifies.
While they have navigated past Copenhagen, their reliance on second-half turnarounds remains a risk. If Chelsea want to lift the trophy in Athens on May 28, they will need more complete performances moving forward.
Final Thoughts: A Job Done, But Improvement Needed
What we understood from the words of Sky Sports’ David Richardson at Stamford Bridge:
Chelsea have looked comfortable in the Conference League so far, but tonight was a reminder that they cannot afford to be complacent.
Their lackluster first-half display was a concern, and against stronger opponents, they may not be given the chance to recover.
That said, knockout football is about results, and Chelsea have progressed. They now have a real shot at silverware this season, but they must ensure they don’t develop a habit of slow starts.
Will Chelsea lift their first-ever UEFA Conference League title this season? Their journey continues…