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…
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