He's not a National Trust property, but Dewsbury-Hall is a winner for Blues withn only goal in 1-0 over Copenhagen
By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 1 v FC Copenhagen 0 (3-1)
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A strike by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the second half was the difference between the sides as Chelsea moved into the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League with a 1-0 win.
It was a dull affair in truth, with little goalmouth action that justified the word.
The away supporters were the bright element of the night – they never stopped shouting and dancing, and generally knew their fate but hoped it might be something special.
It wasn't, but not without trying – a lack of clinical finishing denied any sort of serious jeopardy.
It was a tentative start by the Blues as the visitors were full of vigour and determined to try and get an early goal.
Birger Meling was unlucky on 14 minutes with a header which inched just wide of Fillip Jorgensen's right post.
Chelsea for most of the half were a distinct second best.
Copenhagen showed greater flexibility in defence, sometimes playing it short, other times playing the long game. Chelsea struggled to play a pass that wasn't among themselves in the back four.
Chelsea gave away another free header on 42 minutes, this time Viktor Claesson had a go – but the effort was not powerful to trouble Jorgensen, who snaffled the ball easily.
Chelsea had a shout for a penalty ignored by Romanian referee Radu Petrescu as Neto went on a run. He hit the deck from a challenge from Kevin Diks, but it was more embarrassing than a penalty.
Maresca had seen enough and replaced Joshua Acheampong and Enzo and brought in Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella at the break.
While not actually getting an effort on target, Tyrique George almost latched onto a deep ball at the far post, but he could not steer the ball goal bound.
Jadon Sancho's shot, on 48 minutes, was the Blues first on target in the match. Diant Ramaj punched the ball clear.
The visitors continued to press forward for the aggregate equaliser and cut the home side open on 50 minutes but could not find a clinical finish.
And that was their undoing on 54 minutes, when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall bundled his way through the Danish defence and let fly with a fierce low left- that zipped past Ramaj and into the back of the net to put the home side 1-0 up and 3-1 up on aggregate.
Palmer went on a run, on 64 minutes, but his final effort, a low, left-footed curler on the edge of the box went wide.
Chelsea's next change was a minute later and Christopher Nkunku replaced Sancho.
Skipper Reece James was next to enter the fray on 78 minutes, off went Moises Caicedo.
With a minute left, off went Neto and on came, Genesis Antwi for his debut.
All those changes did was to knock off the minutes - thankfully.
Teams: Chelsea: Jorgensen, Tosin, Badiashile, Neto, Enzo, Sancho, Dewsbury-Hall, Chalobah, Caicedo, George, Acheampong
Subs: Sanchez, Bergstrom, Cucurella, Colwill, Nkunku, Palmer, James, Amougou, Murray-Campbell, Antwi, Mheuka, Walsh
Copenhagen: Ramaj, Diks, Pereira, Hatzidiakos, Claesson, Elyounoussi, Huescas, Froholdt, Meling, Achouri, Clem
Subs Trott, Runarsson, Garananga, Mattsson, Larsson, Lerager, Robert, Chiakha, Gocholeishvili, Delaney, Falk
Referee: Petrescu (Romania)
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