Legia Warsaw vs Chelsea LIVE RESULT: Noni Madueke scores BRACE to add to Tyrique George opener as Blues WIN in Poland
CONFERENCE LEAGUE favourites Chelsea are LEVEL with Legia Warsaw in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The hosts held firm in the opening 45, with Dewsbury-Hall coming closest but still heading his effort wide.
The Blues managed to break the tough defence down in the second half, with Noni Madueke and Tyrique George capitalising after mistakes from the Warsaw 'keeper.
Christopher Nkunku had the chance to add a third for Chelsea from the spot, but his penalty was saved.
However, it was for nothing, as from practically the next attack, Chelsea came forward and Madueke added his second and the Blues third.
- Final score: Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Follow Chelsea's Conference League clash below...
That's all from Warsaw
Chelsea took a massive step towards the Conference League semi-finals with a 3-0 win against Legia Warsaw at the Polish Army Stadium.
A historic goal by academy star Tyrique George and a brace by Noni Madueke sealed the big win for the Blues.
Reece James also put together an incredible captain's performance, while Jadon Sancho leaves Poland with two assists.
Chelsea proved beyond a shadow of a doubt why they are the biggest favourites to win the entire competition.
That's all from us here at SunSport, have a great night.
Credit: Reuters Night to forget for Palmer
Whether Enzo Maresca was managing his minutes or not, Palmer will be disappointed to walk away from another 90 minutes without a goal.
Well, 45 minutes.
Palmer was dragged at half-time, and to make things worse, Chelsea went on to score three times in his absence.
But, Maresca said: "we planned for him and Tosin [Adarabioyo] to come off on 45 minutes.
"Everything is fine."
Still, Palmer will be disappointed.
Credit: Reuters/Andrew Boyers Noni's grand return
Madueke has missed a portion of the season with injury, but he stepped up in a big way tonight.
Off the bench, it could have been easy for him to just make some passes, complete some dribbles, and feel his way back into European football.
But that is not Madueke. The winger scored a BRACE, helping everyone forget Nkunku missed from the spot just moments prior.
Noni is BACK.
Credit: AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski
When is the return leg?
Legia Warsaw will make the trip to London next Thursday.
But, Chelsea are in command, and it would take a lot for the Polish side to turn it around from here.
However, stranger things have happened.
More from Maresca
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is pleased with the performance against Legia Warsaw and the fact he got to rest some key players for the weekend.
We planned the game to try to have our best players for this game and give chances to the rest of the players to recover energy.
Overall, a professional performance, a good result.
We were much better in the second half compared to the first half for different reasons.
We need to learn to play different kind of games.
Enzo Maresca
Credit: Getty Maresca on George
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca praised academy star Tyrique George after his first ever senior goal.
But Maresca also had special praise for Josh Acheampong.
Happy first of all for the Chelsea academy because he is one of our boys.
He was quite good in the first half, taking responsibility. He was probably better in the middle.
The one I fall in love with tonight is Josh Acheampong. He can be a fantastic player for this club.
A good player can play in different positions and he showed that. Since we started, I'm in love with him but tonight he showed he can be a very good player for this club.
He can be good in different positions. The best thing for Josh is that he's open - he wants to learn. 'Full-back? No problem, what do I have to do?'
Enzo Maresca
Credit: Getty Maresca on Nkunku
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca addressed Christopher Nkunku's missed penalty against Legia Warsaw.
Maresca suggested there might be an issue with confidence when it comes to Nkunku.
A lack of confidence in this moment but the only way to deal with that is to work hard.
The good thing about Christo is that he's working well every day.
Enzo MarescaMaresca on Palmer
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed Cole Palmer's surprise substitution at half-time.
Maresca hauled Palmer off for Noni Madueke, who went on to score a brace.
And the Italian tactician confirmed "everything is fine" and it wasn't down to an injury.
We planned for him and Tosin [Adarabioyo] to come off on 45 minutes.
Everything is fine.
Enzo Marwsca
Credit: Getty Blues stand out
Chelsea had three stand-out players against Legia Warsaw at the Polish Army Stadium.
Reece James set up Tyrique George's historic opener and picked up a poor clearance by Legia goalkeeper Kacper Tobiasz before Noni Madueke doubled the Blues' lead.
Madueke completed a brace in the second half after coming off the bench at half-time to replace Cole Palmer.
And Jadon Sancho picked up two assists, both of which led to his England team-mate's double.
Word from Warsaw
The flares and pyrotechnics were in the home areas but it was Chelsea who delivered the second-half explosives to effectively seal their place in the Conference League semi-finals.
This Blues team, which cost over £1billion to put together, has not exactly set alight the tournament which was introduced by Uefa for the game’s paupers.
But no other team in the Conference League can afford to take off a player like Cole Palmer at half-time and introduce a player like Noni Madueke.
Blues manager Enzo Maresca was rewarded for his change with Madueke playing a part in the first goal, scored by teenager Tyrique George, before the England international grabbed the next two goals.
Madueke’s second goal, for 3-0, came 25 seconds after striker Christopher Nkunku missed a penalty.
And while Chelsea failed to score in the first half for a seventh successive game, they are in a good place for next week’s second leg when Legia and 1,000 of their notorious fans - after a five-match away ban - will head to Stamford Bridge.
For Chelsea, this was a first ever competitive game in Poland and it looks as though a second one in the same country will follow next month.
The city of Wroclaw is about 220 miles away from Warsaw. While only 742 of Chelsea’s hardcore away support were allowed into this quarter-final first leg - and they were kept in for 60 minutes after the match for their own safety - the supporters will surely be heading back here in much greater numbers on May 28.
As expected, the atmosphere inside the Polish Army Stadium was pretty lively and the home ultras’ constant use of flares is certain to land them a Uefa fine. Another one.
Credit: AP What's next for Chelsea?
Chelsea are now set to host Legia Warsaw next week on Thursday at Stamford Bridge.
Legia are facing a mountain of a task as they will need at least three goals to complete a miraculous comeback and send the second leg to extra-time.
The winner of this pair will face either Rapid Vienna or Djurgardens in the semi-finals.
The Blues' potential opponents in the final four are locking horns in 10 minutes.
Credit: EPA Legia Warsaw vs Chelsea stats
Chelsea dominated 72 per cent of possession against Legia Warsaw.
The Blues registered a total of 24 shots, 10 of which were on target.
Legia, on the other hand, amassed eight shots but only one of them was on target.
More below:
FT: Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Chelsea may have already booked their place in the Conference League semi-finals after a dominant display against Legia Warsaw in the quarter-finals' first leg at the Polish Army Stadium.
Tyrique George opened the scoring on 49 minutes with his first ever senior goal with the Blues at the age of 19 after getting the rebound from a long-range shot by Reece James.
Noni Madueke doubled the visitors' lead eight minutes later after a poor clearance by Legia goalkeper Kacper Tobiasz who sent the ball to James and the captain found Jadon Sancho who provided the assist.
Madueke completed his brace in the 74th minute, shortly after Christopher Nkunku's missed penalty, thanks to another assist by Sancho.
Credit: AP FT: Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Full-time!
That's all in Warsaw!!!
90+1 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Chance
Another effort by Chelsea's Dewsbury-Hall but Tobiasz palms it away with ease.
90 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Chance!
Legia Warsaw register their best chance of the match!
Kun gets a powerful shot but Jorgensen falls to his left and palms it away.
Three more minutes of stoppage time to go.
88 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Legia Warsaw are out of answers, but their fans have maintained their voice.
Two minutes until stoppage time, can;t be too much...
86 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Chelsea are closing in on another important win in the Conference League without breaking much of a sweat.
Would be quite a shocker if the Blues don't win the trophy, of course there are other tough teams in the competition still like Real Betis who are playing against Legia Warsaw rivals Jagiellonia.
83 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Substitution
Another double substitution by Legia Warsaw manager Feio as Szczepaniak and Bichakhchyan replace Oyedele and Chodyna.
Fun fact, Oyedele is an English-born Polish ace that started out in Man Utd's academy...
80 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Are Chelsea already through?
Well Legia are facing a massive mountain of a task ahead of next week's return fixture at Stamford Bridge.
One thing is for certain, Madueke has transformed Chelsea ever since his introduction at half-time.
The winger has done much more than the man he replaced, Cole Palmer.
Credit: Rex 75 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Substitution
We got changes from both teams after Madueke's second goal.
Chelsea boss Maresca brings on Amougou and Mheuka who replace Gusto and George.
Legia Warsaw boss Feio introduces Goncalves and Pekhart who come on for Elitim and Luquinhas.
74 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
What missed penalty...?
Chelsea find a third almost immediately after as Sancho delivers a crisp low cross from the left and finds Madueke at the far post from where he easily taps it in for the visitors' third.
Second goal for Madueke, second assist for Sancho.
74 Legia Warsaw 0-3 Chelsea
Goal!
Madueke again!!!
73 Legia Warsaw 0-2 Chelsea
Nkunku denied!
Very poor hit by the Chelsea star as Tobiasz easily lunges to his right to palm it away.
73 Legia Warsaw 0-2 Chelsea
The penalty is awarded for a foul on Dewsbury-Hall it seems after the Nkunku foul.
Nkunku taking on the spot-kick.