Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warszaw (agg 4-2) result - Enzo Maresca's side booed off pitch after reaching Conference League semi-finals despite defeat

Decent delivery by Marc Cucurella, but nobody on hand to test the visiting goalkeeper and Legia with a comfortable enough clearance. Cue the applause from the fans with no tops on behind the goal.

Look completely transformed from the team which lost 3-0 in the first leg. Right up to the speed of the match, and making life difficult for the home side to break them down. So far.

Moving the ball swiftly on the edge of the Legia box before the shot by Reece James is charged down. Legia with plenty of bodies back. Cucurella then lifts the ball over the bar.

Rúben Vinagre opts to go for goal from 35 yards with the free-kick, but ends up smashing the shot well over the bar. That was optimistic, to say the least.

Which is more than Chelsea are doing. Legia working so, so hard to close down space. And they earn a free-kick as Juergen Elitim is taken out of the action late.

Tough to break down the low block with so many bodies back, but Legia show their danger too on the break as Morishita thumps a shot inches wide. Not sure if he was onside, but a warning shot for the home side.

Around 1,000 of them inside the ground tonight. A few have got their tops off too. Such is the joy of scoring at an elite Premier League ground. Legia with 11 men behind the ball.

Should have been ahead before shipping that opening goal, but plenty of time to find their feet with the home fans not as engaged like the Legia fans so far.

Tomas Pekhart converts the penalty after being dragged down by goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who then compounds the error by failing to save what was a fairly poor penalty. 1-0 to the Polish side.

Legia goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic with two fine stops to make the save from Christopher Nkunku and then the header by Palmer. Still 0-0. Somehow. Legia fans making plenty of noise.

Legia caught dwelling on the ball at the back as they are robbed of possesion, but Cole Palmer can't come up with the finish as he drags the finish wide. 14 games without a goal. Chance to rectify that stat tonight.

Chelsea fans expecting them to put on a show this evening. The home side get the game moving on a pitch which is like a bowling green. Ideal for passing football.

Chelsea are in a strong position to progress into the UEFA Conference League semi-finals when they host Legia Warsaw in their quarter-final second leg tonight.

Some sections of Stamford Bridge booed the team at both half-time and full-time in their 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town on Sunday.

However, Enzo Maresca has urged Blues fans to keep the faith heading into tonight's second leg.

He told TNT Sports: "Sometimes, we need to be able to engage the people, the fans, because we need the fans.

"They are the main part of any club in the world, so we need them.

"Last Sunday, we were not good enough in some moments of the game to engage them, so they were right.

"Probably, we need to do better things to engage them because we know when we are able to engage them, they are an extra player for us."

Would be quite an achievement if they can also add the Conference League to the two Champions League, two Europa League and UEFA Super Cup triumphs. Exceptional level of success in Europe.

*kick offs 20.00 BST unless stated 

 

Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League chasing a top-five finish to qualify for the Champions League while the UEFA Conference League is the only major trophy yet to be won by the club.

"The most important thing is to win and get Chelsea in the Champions League next year and to win the Conference League trophy," said the France full-back.

"We have a lot of quality in the group so I’m sure we can finish with our target, and we will give our best to make it.

"We don’t really feel the pressure. We are a lot of young players, but with a lot of qualities. I think we are good enough to just stay focused on ourselves and to give our best game after game.

"Most of the season we were top four or top five, so I think it’s because the plan was good. But it’s not enough because the season’s not finished.

"We have a few games in the future so we just have to continue like this, to give our best on the pitch and try to finish with our target."

Nicolas Jackson and Marc Cucurella are handed starts for Chelsea with Malo Gusto and Tyrique George dropping out.

Meanwhile, Legia chase four goals in London for victory and make four alterations with goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic, Jan Ziolkowski, Claude Goncalves Tomas Pekhart in from the outset at Stamford Bridge.

Are Legia playing only for professional pride this evening? Would surely be the mother of all upsets if they remain active in this tournament beyond full-time.

The winner will face Rapid Vienna or Djurgarden in the semi-finals. Rapid 1-0 ahead with the home leg to come this evening.

Chelsea beat Legia Warszaw 3-0 in Poland in the quarter-final first leg of the UEFA Conference League.

Enzo Maresca gave Cole Palmer just his second start of the competition, while Christopher Nkunku got the nod ahead of Nicolas Jackson up front.

However, the visitors struggled to break through in the first half, with Kieran Dewsbury-Hall going closest. While they dominated possession, their slow play allowed Legia to keep their shape.