Chelsea continues to maintain their unbeaten run in Europe.
Image credit: OneFootball
Chelsea continued their dominant UEFA Conference League campaign with a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge.
Teenage sensation Marc Guiu was the star of the night, netting a first-half hat-trick as the Blues finished the group stage with a perfect record.
Guiu’s Star Performance
Eighteen-year-old Marc Guiu proved why he is regarded as one of Chelsea’s brightest prospects. His first goal came after he pounced on a defensive mix-up between Darragh Burns and goalkeeper Leon Pohls.
Minutes later, Guiu intercepted a weak back pass from Daniel Cleary and slotted home from an acute angle.
He completed his hat-trick in first-half stoppage time with a close-range header, cementing his position as the tournament’s rising star with six goals this season.
Rovers Start Strong but Fall Short
Shamrock Rovers began the game with intent, causing problems for Chelsea on the counter-attack. Johnny Kenny came close twice—first failing to connect with Burns’ cross and then forcing a brilliant save from Filip Jorgensen.
Their persistence paid off when Markus Poom’s powerful strike deflected in off Cesare Casadei, briefly leveling the score and delighting the 3,000 traveling fans.
Chelsea Regain Control
Chelsea quickly reasserted their dominance after Poom’s equalizer. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall smashed a loose ball into the net to restore their lead, and the hosts never looked back.
In the second half, Marc Cucurella added Chelsea’s fifth goal with a low strike that clipped the inside of the post.
Substitutes Joao Felix and Tyrique George kept the pressure on Rovers. Felix narrowly missed adding to the scoreline, while George saw his effort blocked.
On the defensive end, Jorgensen made another crucial save late in the game to deny Graham Burke a consolation goal.
Rovers’ European Journey Continues
Despite the defeat, Shamrock Rovers showed resilience throughout the group stage and earned a place in the play-offs.
While their unbeaten run ended, the Irish side can take pride in their performance as they await the knockout phase draw.
Chelsea March Forward
With six wins from six games, Chelsea have firmly established themselves as one of the favorites to win the tournament. Their youthful squad, led by the likes of Guiu and Dewsbury-Hall, continues to impress under Enzo Maresca.
As the Round of 16 approaches, the Blues will look to carry their momentum forward, while Shamrock Rovers prepare for the challenges that await in the play-offs.