Chelsea have one foot firmly planted in the semi-finals of the Conference League after brushing aside Legia Warsaw in Poland.
The competition favourites defied a hostile home atmosphere and an insipid first-half performance at the Marshall Jozef Pilsudski Stadium on Thursday night to improve hugely after the interval and score three times, Noni Madueke notching a brace - the second just moments after a penalty miss from Christopher Nkunku - after Tyrique George had broken the deadlock with his very first senior goal.
The emphatic scoreline leaves Legia with a mountain to climb ahead of next week’s quarter-final second-leg trip to Stamford Bridge, with either Djurgarden of Sweden or Austrian side Rapid Vienna awaiting in the last four.
Enzo Maresca made five changes to the Chelsea side held to a frustrating goalless draw by west London rivals Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday, with Cole Palmer returning to the starting XI, captain Reece James moved into midfield and starts for young duo Josh Acheampong and George.
Legia made a fast start as smoke filled the stadium from the numerous red and green flares set off by their fervent ultras, who are known for their tifo game, pyrotechnics and creating one of the most hostile home atmospheres anywhere in European football that endured throughout the evening with little let-up.
But Chelsea quickly took control and monopolised possession in the first half, only to lack a threat inside the opposition box as their best chances fell to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, whose first-time curling shot was tipped behind by Kacper Tobiasz at full stretch after Palmer had been denied following great work from Acheampong.
Dewsbury-Hall also guided a free header well wide on the stroke of half-time from Nkunku’s pinpoint cross, while Benoit Badiashile’s header from an accurate Malo Gusto delivery was crucially diverted onto the roof of the net by Legia captain Rafal Augustyniak with Nkunku lurking.
Legia’s best chance was created on the break by former Manchester United midfielder Maxi Oyedele, who surged forward and fed Ryoya Morishita for a hopeful bending shot that failed to trouble Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, starting ahead of Robert Sanchez in the Conference League once more.
Maresca replaced Palmer and Tosin Adarabioyo with Madueke and Levi Colwill at the interval, with the Blues instantly much improved as Dewsbury-Hall headed off target again before the crucial breakthrough was finally made by 19-year-old academy graduate George, who reacted quickest to turn home his first senior goal on the rebound after James’ powerful half-volley had been parried back out.
Chelsea doubled their advantage just eight minutes later when a poor clearance from Tobiasz fell straight to James, with Jadon Sancho then working his way into the box well and laying off for Madueke to slot in.
Madueke then doubled his tally by tapping into an empty net from a Sancho pass from point-blank range just 25 seconds after Nkunku’s penalty following a foul by Patryk Kun on Dewsbury-Hall that led to a VAR check was well saved by Tobiasz.
Suddenly ruthless Chelsea continued to hunt more goals with further chances for the likes of the busy Dewsbury-Hall, though in the end they settled for 3-0 with Jorgensen called into action to ensure there was no ray of hope for Legia to take to the Bridge as he pushed wide a fierce strike from Kun in the closing stages.
