- Chelsea beaten 2-1 by Servette in UEFA Conference League
- Blues progress to league phase by a 3-2 aggregate score-line
- Christopher Nkunku impressed but many others struggled
Chelsea have reached the aptly named ‘league phase’ of this season’s UEFA Conference League after securing a narrow 3-2 aggregate victory over Servette in the play-off round.
The Blues had opened up a 2-0 lead from the first leg at Stamford Bridge a week ago, before taking an early advantage in Switzerland courtesy of Christopher Nkunku from the penalty spot (again).
But Jeremy Guillemenot cancelled out that strike in the first half, while Servette substitute Enzo Crivelli secured what is a famous win for the Swiss side, although it wasn’t enough to take the tie.
How the game unfolded
As had been the case in the first leg, Enzo Maresca made wholesale changes to his starting XI, with only Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and hat-trick hero Noni Madueke keeping their places from the weekend’s thumping Premier League win in Wolverhampton.
Chelsea were the dominant side from the beginning, with Fernandez going close from distance in the first five minutes – his effort needed saving. It then wasn’t long before the Blues opened the scoring and extended their aggregate lead, Mudryk winning the penalty after being taken down by Servette’s Keigo Tsunemoto when he won the ball high up the pitch.
Nkunku made no mistake, firing into the bottom corner, and the balloon was back out.
Mudryk, Nkunku and Madueke were all involved to promising effect as Chelsea remained on top, looking comfortable defensively too. But the home fans erupted when Guillemenot unexpectedly fired Servette level on the night, lashing a first-time finish across Filip Jorgensen after being played in by Dereck Kutesa as he drove through the Chelsea lines from midfield.
Immediately at the other end, Joel Mall smothered as Nkunku tried to lift the ball over him. The home goalkeeper was again in the way as Madueke fired on target in the closing stages of the first, while Filip Jorgensen also made his first meaningful save to deny Kutesa.
As the second half began, Mudryk was full of running without end product, either picking the wrong pass or finding himself crowded out when it mattered most.
The game eventually became one that gave the impression of being lively without much in the way of tangible action. With the clock ticking into the final quarter of the 90, neither side was creating clear chances, promising moves often breaking down on the edge of both penalty areas.
That was, until a hopeful ball into the box from Servette’s right flank. The cross wasn’t closed down and Crivelli was able to drift into the gap between Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo to head beyond the rather helpless Jorgensen, who did get a faint touch as the ball flew it.
Needing only one more goal to level the aggregate scored, Servette sensed blood, although Chelsea sub Nicolas Jackson then had the ball in the net only to be denied by an extremely tight offside call. Cole Palmer, another Maresca sub, then wound up hitting the crossbar from an excellent position.
The roars of the home crowd pushed Servette on when six minutes of stoppage time was indicated and they very nearly forced extra-time when Timothe Cognat curled a shot agonisingly wide.
Chelsea player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Filip Jorgensen - 6/10 - Stood no chance when Servette equalised. Stood a little more chance when they took the lead but cannot be blamed. Did most other things pretty well.
RB: Axel Disasi - 6/10 - Marshalled the noticeably stronger side of the Chelsea back-line.
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo - 5/10 - Carried the ball into midfield well on occasion, but not a polished defensive performance. Didn't always seem in control.
CB: Benoit Badiashile - 5/10 - Seemed unsure where he and others were when the ball came into the box for Servette's second goal.
LB: Renato Veiga - 5/10 - Gave Miroslav Stevanovic too much time and space to cross for that aforementioned go-ahead goal, which put Chelsea under needless pressure late on.
CM: Enzo Fernandez - 4/10 - Didnt particularly impress despite an early chance. A £108m player should be completely bossing a game like this one.
CM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 5/10 - Considering he is now effectively the replacement for Conor Gallagher, the comparison didn't go in his favour here. Lacked enough mobility.
RM: Noni Madueke - 6/10 - Didn't make his feelings on the city of Geneva known before kick-off, although nobody could argue it isn't much nicer than Wolverhampton. Decent, not outstanding.
AM: Christopher Nkunku - 7/10 - Chelsea fans didn't see enough of him last season because of injury but he's making his mark on this competition. Scored fom the spot but good in open play.
LM: Mykhailo Mudryk - 6/10 - On the receiving end of plenty social media frustration during the first leg but won the early penalty by nicking the ball high up the pitch. Lively but inconsistent.
ST: Marc Guiu - 5/10 - Even with Chelsea dominating the ball, service didn't really come his way.
Substitutes
SUB: Tyrique George (62' for Madueke) - 5/10
SUB: Moises Caicedo (63' for Fernandez) - 6/10
SUB: Nicolas Jackson (63' for Guiu) - 6/10
SUB: Cole Palmer (72' for Mudryk) - 6/10
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (GK), Marcus Bettinelli (GK), Josh Acheampong, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella.
Manager
Enzo Maresca - 5/10 - Changed his team significantly from the weekend, trying to utilise the full squad at his disposal. It was a gamble that didn't really pay off.
