Chelsea 1-0 Copenhagen (3-1 agg): Dewsbury-Hall seals quarter-final progression

Chelsea secured their place in the Europa Conference League last eight after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s goal snatched a 1-0 win over Copenhagen, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Goals from Reece James and Enzo Fernandez in the first leg gave Chelsea a 2-1 lead to defend at Stamford Bridge, where Enzo Maresca’s side rarely looked troubled on Thursday.

A much-changed Chelsea team were made to wait but Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock early in the second half, teeing up a tie with either Molde or Legia Warsaw.

The Premier League side were slow to get going in the first half of the return leg, failing to muster a clear-cut opportunity as Pedro Neto’s muted penalty appeals were the only sign of excitement before the break.

Maresca responded by sending on first-choice starters Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer at the interval, and those changes paid dividends as Chelsea soon hit the front after 55 minutes.

Dewsbury-Hall intercepted in midfield before dancing through numerous challenges and firing a delightful finish into the bottom-right corner on his left foot.

That goal ultimately proved decisive in a low-key affair, with Maresca able to shuffle his pack again late on and hand a Chelsea debut to 17-year-old Genesis Antwi.

Into the next round! #CFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/wBDbDPnhP2

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 13, 2025

Data Debrief: Chelsea remain favourites

Chelsea rarely looked like getting out of second gear on Thursday, accumulating just 1.13 expected goals to Copenhagen’s 0.92.

That should not take away from the fact that Maresca’s side have won all eight matches in their Conference League campaign, scoring a total of 29 goals and conceding only six.

This win may have come as no surprise, though, as Chelsea remain undefeated against Copenhagen in all European competitions (four wins, two draws).