The goal marked Dewsbury-Hall’s fourth goal of the European campaign.
Image credit: Chelsea FC
Chelsea secured their place in the UEFA Europa Conference League final with a composed and confident performance, defeating Swedish side Djurgarden 1-0 at Stamford Bridge and sealing a 5-1 aggregate victory.
The win sets up a highly anticipated clash against Real Betis in Wroclaw, Poland, on 28 May 2025.
Despite making ten changes from their previous match against Premier League champions Liverpool, manager Enzo Maresca’s rotated squad displayed maturity and depth.
A first senior start was handed to 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, yet Chelsea barely missed a beat.
The only goal of the night came in the 38th minute.
Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall latched onto a precise through ball from 19-year-old Tyrique George before slotting home a low finish off the inside of the post.
It marked Dewsbury-Hall’s fourth goal of the European campaign and underlined his growing importance to Maresca’s system.
Youth on Display, But Chelsea Stay in Control
In the second half, Chelsea introduced more young talent, bringing on 17-year-olds Shim Mheuka and Genesis Antwi to gain valuable minutes on the European stage.
Walsh, the youngest Chelsea player to feature since 1967, impressed with his poise and positioning.
Although Djurgarden showed flashes of threat — with Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen denying Miro Tenho and Daniel Stensson — the Swedish visitors failed to replicate their quarter-final heroics against Rapid Vienna.
George nearly doubled Chelsea’s lead but was flagged offside after heading wide from a Jadon Sancho cross.
Ultimately, Chelsea’s aggregate lead never looked in danger, and the West London side maintained their reputation as favourites to win this year’s Conference League title.
Eyes on the Final — and a Champions League Place
The upcoming final in Poland will be Chelsea’s eighth European final in club history and their first since winning the Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea become the Premier League's third European finalists today! 🔵
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 8, 2025
They will meet Real Betis in the Conference League Final on 28 May pic.twitter.com/WLfWKAZrdG
For Maresca, it’s a chance to claim his first trophy at the helm and the first for the club since the post-Abramovich era began.
But before the European showdown, Chelsea must navigate a crucial Premier League fixture against Newcastle United.
With Champions League qualification still up for grabs, rested stars like Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Nicolas Jackson are expected to return as the Blues aim for a top-four finish.
Player of the Match: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
The former Leicester City midfielder stood out once again, earning a match rating of 7.73 for his decisive goal and overall influence in midfield.
Other top performers:
