Cucurella goal sees Chelsea through despite defeat by inspired Legia Warsaw

The Guardian

17-04-2025

Enzo Maresca is still not feeling the love. This was another uneven performance from Chelsea, who at times seemed intent on raising Legia Warsaw's hopes of a comeback for the ages, and few at Stamford Bridge seemed minded to celebrate their side securing a Conference League semi-final.
It was not supposed to be this difficult. Legia were 2-1 winners on the night and there were times when Chelsea, who went through 4-2 on aggregate, toyed with humiliation. Filip Jörgensen, Robert Sánchez's understudy, was jittery in goal and the worries for Maresca extended to Palmer failing to take an opportunity to end his barren run against meagre opposition. Palmer, who has gone 15 games without a goal, cut a frustrated figure in the final third. He was not alone.
Nobody turned up expecting that they might be about to witness a Polish remontada. The main intrigue revolved around why Enzo Maresca chose to name such a strong side when Chelsea led 3-0 from the first leg. There was no rest for Marc Cucurella at left-back and if there was surprise at Palmer and Nicolas Jackson starting in attack, it was possible to interpret an evening in the company of the Ekstraklasa's fifth best side as an opportunity for both forwards to play themselves back into form before the run-in.
That seemed a sound enough theory when Palmer surged through in the second minute, only to send a wonky shot wide. Would his goal drought ever end? The frustration gnawed at Palmer. He spurned another chance moments later, failing to turn in a rebound after Jackson had a shot saved by Vladan Kovacevic, and the gamble was looking decidedly foolish when a nasty challenge from Tomas Pekhart left Chelsea's chief creator hobbling in the 20th minute.
Chelsea were behind by that stage, Pekhart squeezing a penalty past Jörgensen after being fouled by the goalkeeper, and were far from secure. The first hint of discontent from the home support came when Ryoya Morishita ran through on the right and shot just wide.
The topless travelling fans carried on singing. It was left to Cucurella, Chelsea's top scorer in 2025, to calm the growing unease, equalising from close range when Jadon Sancho delivered a good ball from the right.
Jackson, without a goal since December, was replaced by Tyrique George at half-time. But Chelsea's distribution was poor and a mistake from Josh Acheampong almost led to Claude Gonçalves heading past Jorgensen.
This will not go down as one of Chelsea's great defensive performances in Europe. Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoît Badiashile were unconvincing in the middle and there was inertia when Legia regained the lead, everyone in blue ball-watching as a corner was recycled and Steve Kapuadi bundled in from six yards out.
Sign up to Football Daily
Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football
after newsletter promotion
Chelsea began to panic, Jorgensen nervily pushing another cross away. Now the crowd booed. Maresca responded by taking off Palmer for Noni Madueke. Kovacevic soon had to make a series of eye-catching saves. Jorgensen, meanwhile, came close to conceding another penalty after spilling an effort from Luquinhas.
Chelsea, who had not tasted defeat in this competition before, escaped. They will have to better in the next round. There cannot be many teams who have been booed off after reaching the semi-finals of a European competition before.