Chelsea easily mastered the UEFA Europa Conference League duel against Astana and secured their place in the round of 16 with a 3-1 win. Enzo Maresca’s rapidly changing side showed depth and composure, giving the Kazakh hosts little chance of upsetting the favorites.

Young talent shines in a dominant first half

Marc Guiu was on everyone’s lips after an outstanding opening 20 minutes. The 18-year-old striker scored the first goal in the 14th minute with a decisive shot past the Astana defense. His second goal followed shortly afterwards when he deftly directed Pedro Neto’s whipped cross into the net. The teenager’s clinical performance is exactly what Chelsea fans will expect on their European trip.

The third goal came from an unlikely source: left-back Renato Veiga. Taking advantage of poor marking, he rose highest and nodded in from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s corner, putting Chelsea in control.

Marin Tomasov’s goal just before half-time briefly galvanized the home crowd but was a rare highlight in an otherwise subdued performance from Astana.

The second half lacked bite but delivered results

After the break, Astana tightened their lines and showed more organization, but they lacked the penetration to really trouble Chelsea. Despite some promising moments, they failed to convert possession into clear chances. Chelsea, on the other hand, seemed more content to manage the game than push for an emphatic result.

Enzo Maresca’s substitutions were aimed at freshening up the legs and retaining key players for upcoming games, but they somewhat disrupted Chelsea’s rhythm. Nevertheless, the Blues got through the game relatively easily, demonstrating their ability to adapt to different game scenarios.

What’s next for Chelsea?

With this win, Chelsea have confirmed their place in the knockout rounds and now turn their attention to Shamrock Rovers for the final game of the group stage. Maresca is likely to rotate his squad again, prioritizing freshness over a busy domestic schedule. However, the performance against Astana raises encouraging questions about the potential of the squad’s younger players and the strength available to Maresca in key positions.

Player Ratings: A solid team effort

Starting XI:

• TW: Filip Jorgensen – 7 Calm and collected when needed, but not overly demanding.

• RB: Josh Acheampong – 8 Energetic on the right, contributes well to defense and attack.

• CB: Axel Disasi – 7 Confident defender who handles Astana’s sporadic attacks with ease.

• CB: Tosin Adarabioyo – 7 Reliable and composed, although less involved than his defense partner.

• LB: Renato Veiga – 9 man of the match. A goal and the tireless work on the left side underlined his excellent performance.

• DM: Sam Rak-Sakyi – 8 Provided solid protection in the midfield and broke up play effectively.

• DM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 8 Controlled the tempo and provided the assist for Veiga’s goal.

• RW: Pedro Neto – 8. Sharp shot for Guiu’s second shot, who was a constant threat on the outside edge.

• AM: Carney Chukwuemeka – 8 Dynamic and creative in the center, the game is beautifully linked.

• LW: Tyrique George – 8 Tireless and lively, creates chances and draws fouls.

• ST: Marc Guiu – 8 Two goals in quick succession showed his poise and natural finishing ability.

Substitute:

• Ato Ampah (46th minute for Neto) – 6. Struggled to replicate Neto’s influence but worked hard defensively.

• Harvey Vale (67th minute for Chukwuemeka) – 6 Showed flashes of creativity but lacked consistency.

• Shumaira Mheuka (78th minute for Guiu) – 6. Limited involvement in his brief cameo appearance.

• Kiano Dyer (86th minute for Rak-Sakyi) – N/A. Came too late to have any effect.

Unused substitutes: Lucas Bergstrom, Max Merrick, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kaiden Wilson, Richard Olise.

Manager: