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05/01 16:19 CDT Chelsea beats Djurgrden 4-1 in Conference League semifinals,
Real Betis tops Fiorentina 2-1
Chelsea beats Djurgrden 4-1 in Conference League semifinals, Real Betis tops
Fiorentina 2-1
By KAREL JANICEK
Associated Press
Chelsea took a big step toward advancing to the UEFA Conference League final by
beating Swedish club Djurgrden 4-1 in the first leg of their semifinal on
Thursday.
Nicolas Jackson struck twice six minutes apart in the second half after Jadon
Sancho and Noni Madueke netted in the first half for Chelsea to take control
ahead of the second leg next Thursday at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea was a big favorite against the Swedish team that has reached a European
semifinal for the first time and proved that status despite the game being
played on an artificial pitch at the Stockholm Arena.
Enzo Fernndez sent a precise floating cross from the right for unmarked Sancho
to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead in the 13rd minute.
Madueke doubled the advantage two minutes before halftime, with Fernndez again
providing the final pass.
Jackson only needed to score into an empty net after a defensive blunder in the
59th for his first before hitting the roof of the net from the edge of the area
to make it 4-0.
Isak Alemayehu scored a consolation goal for the hosts.
Real Betis, another team in its first semifinal, topped Fiorentina 2-1 in
Sevilla.
The opening goal for Betis came in the sixth minute with Cdric Bakambu
crossing from the right for Abdessamad "Abde" Ezzalzouli to score from close
range with the ball bouncing off the crossbar and a video review confirming it
crossed the goal line.
Antony, who is at Betis on loan from Manchester United, added the second in
64th on a rebound past former Man United goalkeeper David De Gea after his
initial shot was blocked by Luca Ranieri.
Fiorentina was the runner-up in the third-tier club competition in the last two
years, losing the finals to West Ham in 2023 and Olympiacos last year.
Then Ranieri, the Fiorentina captain, reduced the lead to 2-1, leaving the
second leg wide open.
In the second-tier Europa League, Man United won 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao and
Tottenham beat Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in London.
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