Chelsea Maintain Perfect Conference League Record With Astana Win

With a 3-1 victory over Astana in Almaty on Thursday, Chile won the fifth of its five Europa Conference League games.

A much-changed Chelsea side triumphed in Kazakhstan’s frigid conditions, defeating only to earn a top-eight finish in the league phase, which would guarantee automatic round-eight qualification.

Legia Warsaw, the only other side with a perfect record in the competition, are three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the standings.

When Lugano of Switzerland takes on the Polish side later on Thursday, they will attempt to match Chelsea.

READ ALSO: &nbsp, Guardiola ‘ Questioning Self ‘ After Latest City Loss At Juve

The defeat leaves Astana in the final knock-out play-off spot with four points and at risk of elimination.

Marc Guiu and Renato Veiga’s goals gave Chelsea the lead in the first half.

On the stroke of half-time, Marin Tomasov restored the hosts’ lead, but Enzo Maresca’s side never looked unharmed in the second half.

Guiu scored a brace in the opening 20 minutes to give Chelsea the perfect start, bringing his total to three goals in five appearances this year.

His first, which came in 14 minutes, showed the ex-Barcelona attacker’s budding talent as he passed a defender on the right flank before striking home from a close range.

Pedro Neto’s good wing play saw the 18-year-old Spaniard score a striker’s goal four minutes later when he forced the ball home at the front post.

Renato Veiga, 21, headed in Chelsea’s third from a corner on 39 minutes.

In the 45th minute, Croatian veteran Tomasov stood up Renato Veiga in the box and fired a fine left-footed shot in off the far post.

Prior to that, Sweden’s Djurgarden clinched a 2-1 victory over Vikingur Reykjavik, finishing with just 10 men.

Source: Channels TV