Five-star Chelsea ran riot in a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League on Thursday night, with Marc Guiu scoring a first-half hat-trick to top off a flawless league phase campaign.
Shamrock proved to be the architects of their own downfall in the first 45 minutes as defensive errors proved costly, twice allowing Chelsea and Guiu to capitalise on their mistakes, sandwiched around Markus Poom's deflected strike that briefly restored parity for the visitors, before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added to the tally and Guiu headed home to secure his first-half hat-trick.
It was a much more controlled second half performance from Chelsea with knowledge of the victory and their flawless league-phase record already secured, although that did not stop Marc Cucurella superbly joining the scoring on the hour mark with a real striker's finish off his weaker right-foot to make it five for the Blues.
The result meant Chelsea placed top of the Conference League table with 18 points from a possible 18, making the Blues the only side to progress with maximum points, while Shamrock fell out of the top eight and into 10th, meaning they must now compete in the knockout phase play-off round to secure a spot in the round of 16.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
It is difficult to judge Chelsea given Enzo Maresca's decision to split his squad between the Premier League and Conference League, with very few players featuring regularly in both competitions, but the manager deserves considerable credit for maintaining high morale and ensuring his players continue to perform at a top level despite the demands of effectively managing two separate teams.
While they are undoubtedly the favourites to secure the Conference League trophy at the end of the campaign, highlighted by their 5-1 win over a Shamrock side that were sixth heading into the fixture, the Blues also find themselves fighting for the Premier League title as things stand, trailing Liverpool by just two points.
Given how Chelsea are able to seamlessly transition their style of play across a large squad and various competitions, Maresca's men must be taken seriously as contenders, and performances like tonight's, despite being in a different competition, will only further boost the club's confidence as they fight on two fronts.
CHELSEA VS. SHAMROCK ROVERS HIGHLIGHTS
Marc Guiu goal vs. Shamrock Rovers (23rd min, Chelsea 1-0 Shamrock Rovers)
Chelsea have the lead in the most unlikely of circumstances, horrible mistake from Shamrock to gift Guiu the goal!
A long ball forward by Chelsea looks to be easily dealt with by Shamrock, but a miscommunication between Darragh Burns and Leon Pohls sees the defender attempt to head back to his goalkeeper.
Unbeknownst to Burns, his goalkeeper has come charging out to collect the ball, with the resulting header bouncing towards goal and allowing for Guiu to steal in and head home from close range.
Markus Poom goal vs. Chelsea (26th min, Chelsea 1-1 Shamrock Rovers)
Shamrock with the instant response, Poom equalises!
A poor corner from Shamrock somehow makes its way through the mass of bodies inside the penalty area and to the edge of the box, where Poom steps onto the bouncing ball and connects with the volley.
Poom's effort takes a deflection off of Cesare Casadei to send the ball looping up into the top corner, though the midfielder's effort looked to be going in regardless.
Marc Guiu goal vs. Shamrock Rovers (34th min, Chelsea 2-1 Shamrock Rovers)
Chelsea have stolen the lead again, Shamrock once again gifting Guiu a goal!
Shamrock Rovers are enjoying a seamless spell of possession as they look to recycle the ball around the back, but the Hoops once again are the architects of their own downfall.
This time, the culprit is Daniel Cleary, whose underhit pass back to Pohls allows Guiu to intercept, round the goalkeeper and slot a left-footed effort into the net from a tight angle to restore Chelsea's lead.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall goal vs. Shamrock Rovers (40th min, Chelsea 3-1 Shamrock Rovers)
Three for Chelsea, Dewsbury-Hall getting in on the action!
The Blues win the ball back high up the pitch and quickly shift it to Cucurella, who takes one touch and feeds the ball into the path of Christopher Nkunku racing towards goal.
Roberto Lopes makes a superb challenge to deny Nkunku the shooting opportunity, but the loose ball only falls as far as Dewsbury-Hall inside the box, with the midfielder guiding his effort into the bottom left corner.
Marc Guiu goal vs. Shamrock Rovers (48th min, Chelsea 4-1 Shamrock Rovers)
What a header from Guiu, first-half hat-trick for the striker!
Chelsea play a short corner to Noni Madueke to change the angle, with the winger chopping right and left before eventually delivering a cross into the box.
Guiu meets the cross on the penalty spot, perfectly directing the header down and into the bottom left corner to complete his his hat-trick and surely secure the victory for Chelsea.
Marc Cucurella goal vs. Shamrock Rovers (58th min, Chelsea 5-1 Shamrock Rovers)
Cucurella adds a fifth, Chelsea are running riot here!
The Blues are in possession as they probe for a fifth goal, with an attempted tackle diverting the ball into the feet of Dewsbury-Hall just outside the box, and the midfielder quickly passes to Nkunku.
Nkunku takes a touch and passes forward to Cucurella just outside the box, and the defender takes a touch inside before smashing a right-footed effort along the floor, off the post and into the bottom left corner, a brilliant finish from the Spaniard.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MARC GUIU
Guiu may have only played an hour of football before being taken off for Joao Felix, but it is virtually impossible to not award man of the match to a striker that netted a first-half hat-trick.
The 18-year-old displayed the awareness of a player well beyond his years, twice gambling on potential errors to secure Chelsea's first two goals, while his header was a true-striker's finish, guided hard and low into the corner.
Nkunku also deserves a mention for his performance, as despite failing to score in the Conference League for the first time this campaign, the Frenchman assisted twice and served as a constant threat with his link up play in the build-up for Chelsea.
CHELSEA VS. SHAMROCK ROVERS MATCH STATS
Possession: Chelsea 73%-27% Shamrock Rovers
Shots: Chelsea 20-6 Shamrock Rovers
Shots on target: Chelsea 10-4 Shamrock Rovers
Corners: Chelsea 7-3 Shamrock Rovers
Fouls: Chelsea 7-11 Shamrock Rovers
BEST STATS
WHAT NEXT?
Disregard what many people surrounding Chelsea are trying to tell you, they are firmly in the Premier League title race as it stands, and their attention will turn back to the battle to become champions when they take on Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
As for Shamrock, their focus will be entirely on who they are drawn against in the next round of the Conference League, with the League of Ireland Premier 2025 season not set to start until February 16, when they take on Bohemians.
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