Chelsea confirmed their dominance of the Conference League as they finished the league stage top after another big win at home to Shamrock Rovers.
Rovers started the day in sixth place but had no answer to the quality of Enzo Maresca’s shadow side as striker Marc Guiu helped himself to a first-half hat-trick.
The Irish side threatened early on as Jonny Kenny failed to get on the end of a dangerous cross and Guey quickly punished him by making the most of a defensive error to score.
The visitors were briefly level when Marcus Pum – son of former Derby, Sunderland and Arsenal goalkeeper Mart – fired into the crowd.
Marc Cucurella makes the 5️⃣ for Chelsea 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/booesylj6U
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 19, 2024
But another mistake allowed Guiu to put Chelsea back in front and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealed victory with a clinical finish.
Guiu headed home Noni Madueke’s cross and after the break Marc Cucurella came into the area and finished as a center forward.
Chelsea will now play in the last 16 in March, while Rovers – despite a heavy defeat – have a place in the play-offs in February.
Marc Guiu is now the top scorer in the Conference League with 6 goals ⚡⚽️ pic.twitter.com/xGRSqP9Ygn
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 19, 2024
Is Guiu staking his claim?
Guiu, the 18-year-old former Barcelona forward, has yet to start for manager Maresca in the Premier League but has been capped for the fourth time in Europe, showing his poacher’s instincts to bury the away side, twice cutting back passes to the keeper. scores before curling in a fine header for his third.
Chelsea had more than 80% of the possession in the first 25 minutes, but it took a disastrous defensive error to take the lead.
Renato Vega drove a looping ball forward for Tyreek George to chase down. Darragh Burns got there first, but his odd header back at his keeper was ill-judged, allowing Guy to steal away and nod Chelsea ahead.
Daniel Cleary offered Guiu another gift when his pass back to Leon Pohls was not hit and went nowhere by his keeper, but he had the perfect trajectory for Guiu to get there first and drop Pohls to make it 2- 1.
Maresca later sent academy graduates Samuel Ruck-Sacchi, Harrison Murray-Campbell and Harvey Vale for a taste of European football, then 18-year-old winger George almost opened his Chelsea account, denied by Rovers captain Lopes .
