UECL: Chelsea Cruise Past Djurgarden in Conference League Semi-Final

Chelsea edges closer to the Conference League final after a dominant 4-1 win over Djurgarden in the semi-final first leg. Find out what happened.

Chelsea secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Djurgarden in the first leg of the Conference League semi-final, putting one foot in the final. This win extends Chelsea's impressive European away record, with the team now having lost just one of their past 15 games on the road in European competitions.

Despite fielding a rotated starting lineup under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea dominated the opening 45 minutes and showcased their quality against Djurgarden, who were facing Premier League opposition for the first time. The win brings Chelsea closer to their goal of becoming the first club to win all of UEFA's major competitions.

Chelsea took the lead within the first 15 minutes when Marcus Danielsson turned Jadon Sancho's shot into his own net, giving the visitors the advantage. Noni Madueke had a chance to double the lead around the 30-minute mark but was denied by a brilliant save from Jacob Rinne.

Madueke made amends before halftime, slotting home from close range to ensure Chelsea went into the break with a comfortable advantage. Djurgarden struggled to create clear chances in the first half, though goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen was alert to keep out Tokmac Nguen's deflected effort.

Chelsea cruise past Djurgården 😮‍💨#UECL pic.twitter.com/v38TtL5X2s

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) May 1, 2025

After the break, Djurgarden increased the pressure and created several chances to reduce the deficit. August Priske's long-range shot narrowly missed the post, and Chelsea's goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen made a crucial fingertip save to deny Adam Stahl's header.

However, Chelsea regained control with two goals in six minutes, further solidifying their advantage and putting the tie in their favor. This decisive surge effectively put the result beyond doubt, leaving Djurgarden with a tough task in the second leg.

Enzo Maresca made changes at halftime, introducing Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer, and Jackson made an immediate impact. He scored twice in quick succession, first tapping into an empty net after a mix-up between Ståhl and Rinne, and then hammering a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Djurgarden showed resilience and pulled one back through substitute Isak Alemayehu's header at the back post. Despite pushing for more goals, the damage had already been done, and Chelsea's lead seemed insurmountable.

Chelsea comfortably held on to their three-goal lead to secure a convincing victory. With this win, they remain unbeaten against Swedish teams. Next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge will be a major test for Djurgarden, who will need a monumental effort to overturn the deficit and prevent Chelsea from advancing to the final.