Chelsea overpowered Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge (Image: Getty)
Chelsea thrashed Shamrock Rovers 5-1 to close out the first stage of their bid for UEFA Conference League glory in style. The Blues won six games out of six in the league phase, scoring 26 goals as Enzo Maresca’s second string grasped a valuable opportunity to prove their worth.
Marc Guiu scored a sensational hat-trick at Stamford Bridge to dismiss the Dublin side, who were briefly level when Markus Poom equalised in the 26th minute. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Cucurella also netted on a night when Chelsea’s youngsters were given the freedom to express themselves.
With the Londoners safely through to the knockout stages, Express Sport takes you through how each one of them performed…
Chelsea player ratings vs Shamrock Rovers (4-2-3-1)
Filip Jorgensen: 7
Good save to deny Johnny Kenny in the first half and generally commanded his area well. Not much he could have done about Poom’s deflected goal.
Josh Acheampong: 6
Largely played it safe at right-back but looked solid enough. Certainly an air of composure about him for such a young player.
Axel Disasi: 5 (Murray-Campbell, 59)
Lost Kenny who should have tapped in an easy chance early on. Caught out moments later by a long ball which created another good chance for Kenny – Jorgensen came to the rescue.
Renato Veiga: 6
His early ball over the top asked a question of the Shamrock Rovers defence, leading to the calamity which put Guiu’s first goal on a plate.
Enzo Maresca has overseen six wins from six in the Europa Conference League (Image: Getty)
Marc Cucurella: 8
Two in two for the left-back, who saw that coming? Good through-ball to Christopher Nkunku which led to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s goal, and took his own chance brilliantly with a neat touch and finish off the post to make it five.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 7 (Rak-Sakyi, 83)
Looked comfortable in possession and found the bottom corner with precision to mop up after Nkunku was tackled in the box.
Cesare Casadei: 6
His half-hearted attempt at a block deflected in Poom’s equaliser. Later in the game had an excellent long-distance shot saved by Leon Pohls.
Noni Madueke: 6 (Vale, 45)
Should have done more at the front post to stop the flick-on which led to Poom’s goal. Made up for it with a lovely cross to assist Guiu’s third.
Christopher Nkunku: 8
Will have been disappointed not to get amongst the goals on a night when they were flowing for Chelsea, but his general play was excellent, and his pass set up Cucurella to score as Chelsea streaked clear.
Tyrique George: 7
Becoming increasingly confident in senior football and looks particularly lively when driving inside from the left. Produced a great cross for a missed Madueke chance at the back post, and set up a Joao Felix chance with an audacious through-ball in the second half.
Marc Guiu: 10 (Joao Felix, 59)
Chelsea’s centre-forward role is already well-contested between Nicolas Jackson and Nkunku, but Maresca will have to take this stellar performance into account. Brilliant anticipation to pounce on a pair of Rovers mistakes for his first two goals, and a pinpoint header for his third. Led the press from the front and took his chances clinically – Guiu could be a top penalty-box striker. He’s the top-scorer in the UEFA Conference League right now and he’s only 18.
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Harvey Vale: 6
A quiet cameo from the 21-year-old who could be moved on in January.
Harrison Murray-Campbell: 6
Got his first senior start in the heart of defence at 18 years old and looked comfortable on the ball. A dicey Shamrock penalty appeal went his way late on.
Joao Felix: 7
Missed a flurry of good chances after coming on for the last half-hour, but he is so effective and so incredibly dangerous against this calibre of opponent.
Samuel Rak-Sakyi: N/A
A late addition.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1991052/chelsea-player-ratings-vs-shamrock-rovers-enzo-maresca