Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea: Blues hold narrow advantage heading into second leg

Chelsea kept their perfect win record in the UEFA Europa Conference League intact with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Copenhagen, marking their first away win in all competitions since the 12th of December. While it wasn’t a dominant performance, the Blues did enough to secure a crucial win on the road, leaving the tie finely poised heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca rotated his squad ahead of the fixture, giving opportunities to a few young forwards such as Shumaira Mheuka and Tyrique George, while also bringing Benoit Badiashile back into the starting lineup after a spell on the sidelines with injury.

Malo Gusto was deployed on the left in place of Marc Cucurella to provide some much-needed rest for the Spanish full-back. However, Gusto’s game was cut short after an ankle injury forced him off, leaving CFC more problems with limited depth.

The first half saw the west Londoners struggle to break down Copenhagen. Despite having the lion’s share of possession, the Blues looked a bit toothless in attack, creating very few real threats. Their control of the ball was not matched by the intensity needed to break through Copenhagen’s defense, leaving the game goalless at the break.

It was a much-needed spark that came just a minute into the second half when Reece James broke the deadlock with a stunning long-range strike. The Chelsea skipper unleashed a one-time powerful shot from well outside the box, sending the ball hurling into the bottom corner of the net beyond the reach of Copenhagen’s goalkeeper. It was a moment of individual brilliance that gave Chelsea the lead and reignited their attacking intent.

The Blues doubled their advantage just past the hour mark with a well-worked team goal. Christopher Nkunku spots Tyrique George in some space and the Cobham graduate cuts back to the Argentine, who finished with clinical precision to make it 2-0. At this point, Chelsea seemed on course to take a comfortable two-goal advantage back to Stamford Bridge.

However, things got tense late in the game. Copenhagen reduced the deficit in final ten minutes of the game after a free-kick led to Gabriel Pereira being left unmarked at the back post. The Brazilian center-back headed home a cross from the resulting set-piece, giving the Danish side a glimmer of hope. It was a disappointing goal to concede for the Blues, as the foul that led to the free-kick was avoidable, and the defending on the set-piece left much to be desired.

Despite this setback, Chelsea held firm and managed to see out the win. It wasn’t the most dominant of performances, but it was enough to secure a valuable win on the road. The Blues will now turn their attention to the second leg at the Bridge, where they will look to finish the job and confirm their place in the quarter-finals.

Looking ahead, Chelsea’s next challenge comes on Sunday when they host Leicester City in the Premier League. With the league season heating up, Maresca will be keen to maintain momentum while also ensuring his squad is fully prepared for the second leg against Copenhagen. The injury to Gusto will also be closely monitored, as the Blues aim to avoid further setbacks and continue their push for success in both domestic and European competitions.