Chelsea Thrash Djurgarden 4-1 to Edge Closer to UEFA Conference League Final
Chelsea FC moved within touching distance of the UEFA Conference League final after a resounding 4-1 win over Djurgarden in the semi-final first leg held in Stockholm on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Goals from Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke, and a brace from Nicolas Jackson gave the Premier League side a firm grip on the tie, with only one game remaining before the final in Wroclaw, Poland, on May 28.
Under the guidance of manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea dominated the match despite early resistance from the Swedish underdogs. Sancho opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a lofted ball into the box and forcing a deflection off Marcus Danielson for the opener.
Chelsea gradually adjusted to the artificial pitch at the 3Arena, and by the 43rd minute, Madueke doubled the lead with a composed finish inside the near post. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, born in Sweden, kept Djurgarden from pulling one back just before halftime with a sharp save from Tokmac Nguen’s deflected strike.
In the second half, Nicolas Jackson struck twice within six minutes—first with a tap-in after a defensive blunder, and then with a powerful strike from outside the box—to make it 4-0.
Teenager Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta gave Djurgarden a brief moment of celebration by scoring his first senior goal with a well-placed header in the 68th minute.
Djurgarden, despite being the first Swedish club to reach a European semi-final since 1987, struggled with squad depth, fielding just 14 senior players due to injuries.
🔁 Elsewhere in the Conference League:
In the other semi-final, Real Betis took a narrow 2-1 advantage over Fiorentina in Seville. Abde Ezzalzouli opened the scoring early, and Manchester United loanee Antony extended the lead with a stunning goal in the second half. Luca Ranieri pulled one back for Fiorentina to keep the tie alive.
Both second-leg matches will be played next Thursday, May 8, determining who progresses to the final of Europe’s third-tier competition.
