Chelsea secure their first win under new boss Enzo Maresca - Match details

 

• UEFA Conference League play-offs: Chelsea defeated Servette in the first leg.
• At Stamford Bridge, goals from Noni Madueke and Christopher Nkunku
• Enzo Maresca records his first victory as Blues manager.

From Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca's first victory as Chelsea's head coach came in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off against Servette, winning 2-0.

The Blues have the advantage heading into next week's second leg in Switzerland, with a place in the group stages up for grabs.

A Christopher Nkunku penalty just after half-time and a thumping strike from Noni Madueke ensured the west Londoners were triumphant on Thursday night.

Chelsea should have been ahead inside 90 seconds. High up the pitch, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall won possession and slipped past Marc Guiu, whose touch was sufficient to get him past goalkeeper Jeremy Frick. However, Guiu was unbalanced and fell to his knees before he could prod the ball home, causing it to trickle just past the post instead.

Remarkably, the hosts had to wait until the 28th minute to have a shot. Guiu held the ball up well for Mykhailo Mudryk to latch on to, but he dragged his effort wide of the near post.

Debutant Filip Jorgensen was forced into a save when Steve Rouiller was allowed a free header from a free-kick as Servette looked to sneak the opening goal.

Two minutes into the second half, Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Nkunku was felled by Frick. The Frenchman stepped up and slotted home the first goal of the Maresca era to put the hosts ahead and ease the tensions around Stamford Bridge.

Frick's up-and-down evening continued moments later when Guiu blocked a kick from the back, and he seemingly had an empty net to tap into. However, Frick retreated and made an astonishing triple save to deny the young striker.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Chelsea doubled their advantage. Enzo Fernandez's pass around the outside of the Servette defence was met by Madueke, who made his way infield and fired into the roof of the net.

A free header from Timothe Cognat whistled over from the next corner, but Servette were not about to depart the English capital quietly. First, they saw a shot from Tiemoko Ouattara deflect onto the bar.

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