Chelsea took a commanding step toward the UEFA Conference League final with a 4-1 away victory over Swedish side Djurgarden on Thursday night, with substitute Nicolas Jackson emerging as the standout performer in the second half.
The Blues extended their formidable away form in Europe, having now suffered just one defeat in their last 15 continental outings.
Manager Enzo Maresca opted for a rotated lineup, mindful of their concurrent push for Champions League qualification.
Still, Chelsea asserted control from the outset, aided by an early own goal when Marcus Danielsson deflected a Jadon Sancho effort into his own net.
While Noni Madueke was denied by a fine save from Jacob Rinne around the half-hour mark, he made no mistake moments before the break, finishing neatly from close range to make it 2-0.
After the interval, Djurgarden looked livelier and crafted several chances, but Chelsea’s substitutions quickly shifted the momentum.
Maresca introduced Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, with the latter making an instant impact.
The Senegalese forward capitalised on a miscommunication between Adam Ståhl and Rinne to tap in Chelsea’s third, before unleashing a superb strike from the edge of the box for his second goal just six minutes later.
Jackson’s brace effectively ended the contest, reinforcing his growing reputation as a decisive figure in Chelsea’s European campaign.
Djurgarden did salvage some pride when substitute Isak Alemayehu headed in a consolation goal late on.
They pressed forward in search of more, but Chelsea’s control and efficiency proved too much to overcome.
The Premier League side will return to Stamford Bridge with a three-goal advantage, placing one foot firmly in the final and keeping their hopes alive of completing a historic sweep of all major UEFA club trophies.
