Chelsea qualify for Conference League

Christopher Nkunku scored in both legs of the tie. Getty Images

Stade de Genève, August 30 — Chelsea moved into the league phase of the Europa Conference League despite losing in Switzerland against Servette in the second leg of their qualifying play-off.

Enzo Maresca’s side led 2-0 after the first leg at Stamford Bridge a week ago and extended that advantage after 14 minutes through Christopher Nkunku’s penalty after Mykhailo Mudryk had been fouled by Keigo Tsunemoto.

Jeremy Guillemenot pulled one back for Servette, running on to Dereck Kutesa’s pass and shooting first time across Filip Jorgensen.

Two Servette substitutes combined with Enzo Crivelli heading in from Miroslav Stevanovic’s left-wing cross to put the Swiss side ahead on the night.

But the hosts could not find another goal that would have taken the tie to extra time as Chelsea held on for a 3-2 aggregate win.

Chelsea survive scare to get job done

Before the game, Maresca said he was not worried about complacency despite his side holding a two-goal advantage and Enzo Fernandez nearly stretched Chelsea’s lead with a fine 25-yard strike, which was tipped over by Joel Mall after only three minutes.

But, just as in the first leg, Nkunku converted from the penalty spot to seemingly put the tie beyond the Swiss side, although Guillemenot then scored with Servette’s first real chance in the 32nd minute to make it 1-1 on the night.

On a poor quality pitch, Kutesa had a chance to score another for the hosts when he raced through, but, from a tight angle, was denied by Jorgensen.

It has been a great start to the season for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who was called up for the England squad for the first time earlier on Thursday after he had grabbed a hat-trick in the 6-2 win over Wolves at the weekend.

He scored the Blues’ second goal in the first leg and looked to have a great chance early in the second half in Geneva, only to be denied by excellent defending.

Crivelli’s header set up a frantic finish before Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson had a goal ruled out for offside and Cole Palmer hit the crossbar.

In the fourth minute of added time, Servette nearly made it 3-3 overall, but Timothe Cognat dragged his shot wide.

There was a delay to the match near the end of the second half when a number of flares and fireworks were let off from home fans. Getty Images

Qualification vital to give fringe players game time

Chelsea won the 2021 Champions League and are competing in Europe’s third-tier tournament for the first time after only coming sixth in the Premier League last season, a performance that cost boss Mauricio Pochettino his job.

The Blues have signed 10 players since Pochettino left with Maresca having one day left of the transfer window to trim an already bloated squad. England duo Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are among those that could leave on Friday’s transfer deadline day and neither were in the squad in Switzerland.

Maresca already faces a tough challenge in keeping the remaining members of his squad happy, but this progression in the Conference League ensures he will have at least another six matches to give game time to fringe players.

The draw for the league phase of the Conference League will be held on Friday from 13:30 BST at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Just like the Champions League and Europa League, there will be 36 teams competing in one league, with the top eight advancing into the last 16, while those finishing between ninth and 24th will compete in the knockout phase play-offs.

Each team in the Champions League and Europa League plays eight different sides once apiece, with four of those games at home and four away, but the Conference League is slightly different, with each club only facing six opponents, three at home and three away.