Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea: Blues in control of Conference League last-16 tie after narrow win | OneFootball

Blues a long way from their best but they remain favourites to win the competition

Super sub: Enzo Fernandez doubled the lead with a smart finish

Action Images via Reuters

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Chelsea took control of their Conference League last-16 tie against Copenhagen with a 2-1 win despite a largely unconvincing display.

After an entirely forgettable opening 45 minutes, the Blues took the lead shortly after half-time as Reece James drilled a finish into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.

Enzo Fernandez, one of three changes at the break, doubled the lead after getting on the end of Tyrique George’s cut-back, before Copenhagen gave themselves some hope when Gabriel Pereira took advantage of some dreadful Chelsea marking to power in a header from a free-kick.

That will have frustrated Enzo Maresca, but his side remain firmly in charge of the tie heading back to Stamford Bridge for the second leg next week.

Chelsea lost Malo Gusto - starting in the unfamiliar position of left-back - to injury after 23 minutes, the defender seeming to catch his foot in the turf as he blocked a cross before limping from the pitch.

The first half passed with the visitors managing just a single shot on goal, a speculative Cole Palmer volley that trickled wide, while Copenhagen posed little greater threat despite raucous home support.

It was one of the more frustrating halves Maresca's side had endured even on their rocky patch of form that stretched back to December, trying and failing to find the pass that would allow their wingers George and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to get around the back of Copenhagen, who defended with discipline and what little rigour Chelsea demanded of them.

The Blues boss responded by sending on Christopher Nkunku, Levi Colwill and Fernandez, and having assumed a more familiar look to their line-up they took under a minute of the second half to break through.

Marc Cucurella won the ball tenaciously near the left touchline and ran in behind Copenhagen. Looking up he saw James striding through midfield into space, and as the cut-back arrived in front of him he stroked it with a cool, crisp instep beyond goalkeeper Diant Ramaj.

Copenhagen then hit the post, threatening an immediate reply as Viktor Claesson's shot struck the inside of the upright and landed in the grateful arms of Sanchez.

Palmer guided an effort fractionally beyond the post as his scoreless run stretched to eight games, but a second Chelsea goal was not long in coming.

It arrived in the 65th minute, George earning his fourth assist of the season and his second in two games, following good work from Cucurella and Nkunku, to tee up Fernandez who picked out the corner of Ramaj's goal.

Chelsea looked to have one foot in the quarter-final, then Pereira drifted unmarked into the penalty area to head a goal to give the home side hope ahead of the return.