Chelsea reach final with easy win over Djurgarden

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has four goals and two assists in the Conference League

Chelsea will face Real Betis in the Conference League final later this month after sealing a comfortable semi-final triumph against Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge.

Despite 10 changes from Sunday's win over Premier League champions Liverpool and handing a first senior start for 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, the Blues hardly broke a sweat to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory against the visitors.

In the title clash to be played in the Polish city of Wroclaw on 28 May, they will meet Manuel Pellegrini's Betis, who beat Fiorentina 4-3 on aggregate after extra-time in the other last-four contest.

Having won the first leg in Sweden 4-1 last week, Enzo Maresca's side increased their advantage when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall picked out the bottom corner from just inside the box after played through by Tyrique George.

The travelling Djurgarden fans were at the top of their lungs all night but the hosts closed out the narrow second-leg victory and reached the final of Europe's third-tier club competition after bringing on Shim Mheuka and Genesis Antwi, both 17, in the second half.

It will be the eighth European final in Chelsea's history and a first since beating Manchester City 1-0 to win the Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel.

And for their current boss Maresca, it will be a chance to secure a first trophy - not only of his Blues reign but also the club's during the post-Roman Abramovich era.

Second-string Blues finish the job

Maresca was looking to avoid another lethargic display from Chelsea, who had suffered a 2-1 defeat by Legia Warsaw in the quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge last month despite winning the first leg convincingly.

Djurgarden, meanwhile, had overturned a first-leg deficit to pull off an extra-time victory at Rapid Vienna to reach their first European semi-finals.

But the Swedish club's hopes of producing any such drama this time were dashed after 38 minutes when Dewsbury-Hall put Maresca's side ahead with his fourth goal of the European campaign.

The former Leicester City midfielder ran onto a pass from George and saw his low drive go in after hitting the inside of the post for the only goal of the night.

Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen was called into action a couple of times in the second half - first to keep out a Miro Tenho header that was later flagged offside and then a fierce shot by Daniel Stensson from distance.

While Walsh, the youngest player to appear for Chelsea since 1967, impressed in the midfield on his full debut, 19-year-old George could have put the game to bed late on but strayed offside before heading Jadon Sancho's cross wide from point-blank range.

It mattered little, however, as Maresca's side, many people's favourites to win this competition even before a ball was kicked, moved another step closer to the title.

But before the Conference League final, the Blues, who have been barely tested in the competition so far, will hope to have secured a place in next season's Champions League.

They will face Newcastle United on Sunday and the likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, who were rested against Djurgarden, will hope to play a big part at St James' Park in a 'six-pointer' in the race for Europe.