Chelsea eased to a 3-0 win over Legia Warsaw in a UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg match on Thursday, with Tyrique George getting a first Blues goal to put the toppings on a result that gives Enzo Maresca’s side a healthy advantage ahead of the return leg.
There was little goal-mouth action in the first half in Warsaw, with Chelsea coming closest to a goal through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – whose shot was kept out by Legia Warsaw keeper Kacper Tobiasz in the 34th minute.
Dewsbury-Hall had another chance to score soon after the restart but could only head the ball over the bar from an unmarked position. However, the introduction of Noni Madueke for Cole Palmer at half-time would soon prove decisive.
First, Cheslea broke the deadlock through George when the 19-year-old pounced on the rebound, after Tobiasz kept out a Reece James shot. Madueke then doubled Chelsea’s lead moments later when a poor clearance by the Legia keeper fell to Jadon Sancho, who picked out the substitute to score in the 55th minute.
Christopher Nkunku had the chance to make it 3-0 only for Tobiasz to save the Frenchman’s penalty, but the Blues would get that third goal eventually as Sancho and Madueke combined again to put the game to bed.
Elsewhere in the Conference League, Fiorentina got a 2-1 win at Celje, Rapid Wien came away from Sweden with a 1-0 advantage over Djurgarden, while Cedric Bakambu was on target as Real Betis got a 2-0 win over Jagiellonia Bialystok.