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Chelsea confirmed their success in the Conference League as they finished top of the league after another win at home to Shamrock Rovers.
Rovers started the day in sixth place but lacked an answer to Enzo Maresca’s shadow form, while striker Marc Guiu helped himself to a first-half hat-trick.
The Irish side threatened early on when Johnny Kenny failed to get on the end of a dangerous cross and Guiu quickly punished him by making a defensive error to score.
The visitors were few when Markus Poom – former son of Derby, Sunderland and Arsenal goalkeeper Mart – fired into the crowd.
Marc Cucurella makes 5️⃣ at Chelsea 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/booesylj6U
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballantnt) December 19, 2024
But another mistake allowed Guiu to put Chelsea back in front and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall both sealed the win with a clinical finish.
Guiu took the lead from Noni Madueke’s cross when after a break Marc Cucurella burst into the area and finished from the centre.
Chelsea will now play in the last 16 in March while Rovers – despite a heavy defeat – have a place in the last 16 in February.
Marc Guiu is now the top scorer in the Conference League with 6 goals ⚡⚽️ pic.twitter.com/xGRSqP9Ygn
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballantnt) December 19, 2024
Is Guiu disputing his claims?
Guiu, the 18-year-old ex-Barcelona player did not start as Maresca’s head coach in the Premier League, but the fourth-time European pick showed the poacher’s enthusiasm to bury his team, diving twice to the goalkeeper. scoring before looking for a good third header.
Chelsea had more than 80% possession in the first 25 minutes, but it took a huge mistake for them to take the lead.
Renato Veiga shot the ball forward for Tyrique George to chase down. Darragh Burns got there first, but his curling header back to his goalscorer was misjudged to allow Guiu to steal in and nudge Chelsea in front.
Daniel Cleary gifted Guiu another gift when his back pass to Leon Pohls hit just wide and was nowhere near the goal, but he had a good chance for Guiu to get there and round Pohls to make it 2-1.
Maresca later sent graduates Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Harrison Murray-Campbell and Harvey Vale to taste European football, while 18-year-old winger George almost opened his Chelsea account, after being rejected on the line by Rovers captain Lopes.
