Reece James once again proved crucial for Chelsea, scoring a goal that could have been at home on a grander stage.
Captain James broke the scoreless tie with a fantastic 25-yard strike. This goal lifted his team as they were struggling to find their rhythm in the Conference League.
Chelsea’s most tenured player was moved into midfield as a tactical decision by coach Enzo Maresca. He then scored a minute into the second half, marking only his second goal this season.
Back in January, he earned a draw for Chelsea with a last-minute goal against Bournemouth, again demonstrating his importance when Maresca needed it.
The coach made three substitutions at halftime to energize his team and gain a slight advantage. This lead makes the second leg of the last 16 match next week in London a bit more manageable.
By the end of the match, Chelsea’s revised lineup featured a more recognizable look, including Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Jadon Sancho, and Enzo Fernandez on the field.
Vice-captain Fernandez increased their lead with 25 minutes remaining, scoring with a well-placed shot from inside the penalty area.
Chelsea should have maintained control from that point, but they faced a tense final ten minutes. Copenhagen, the Danish league leaders, scored from a set-piece. Gabriel Pereira headed the ball in, capitalizing on poor marking at the far post.
James’s playing time is carefully managed due to a series of hamstring injuries that have troubled his recent career.
Fortunately, the experienced full-back performed well despite playing out of his usual position in midfield, as Maresca experimented with his formation.
Credit is also due to Cucurella, who had to come on earlier than anticipated when Malo Gusto was injured after just 24 minutes.
The Spanish player was effective in attack on the left side, providing the assist for James’s opening goal and the crucial pass to Tyrique George. This pass set up Fernandez for the winning goal.
Cucurella delivered a precise cut-back pass to James, who then unleashed a powerful shot into the net from outside the box early in the second half.
From there, a more assured Chelsea team pressed their advantage. Young winger George provided a short pass from the touchline, allowing Fernandez to accurately place his shot from inside the six-yard box.
With an eye on Sunday’s Premier League game against his former team Leicester, Maresca adjusted his lineup and also substituted Cole Palmer early to conserve energy for the weekend.
Young striker Shumaira Mheuka became Chelsea’s youngest player to start in a major European competition at 17 years and 137 days old, but he was replaced at halftime.
Despite securing a win, Maresca will be disappointed that his team conceded a late goal, giving Copenhagen hope for the return leg.
Marcus Bellamy