Chelsea maintained their perfect record in the Europa Conference League group stage, securing a 2-0 victory over German side Heidenheim to edge closer to the knockout rounds.
Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the group stage, continuing his remarkable form in the competition. The French forward, who previously played in Germany with RB Leipzig, showcased his composure by expertly controlling Jadon Sancho’s pass before firing home. Nkunku has now scored in every group game, bringing his season tally for Chelsea to 11 goals since his £52 million transfer.
Despite the scoreline, Chelsea had to work hard for the win, with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen making crucial saves to deny Heidenheim. The 22-year-old pulled off a stunning one-handed stop to thwart 18-year-old Paul Wanner in the first half and later kept out efforts from Leo Scienza and Wanner again after Nkunku’s opener.
The Blues sealed the victory late in the game when Mykhailo Mudryk found the top corner with a brilliant strike in the 86th minute.
The match wasn’t without controversy. Chelsea thought they had earned a first-half penalty when Mudryk went down under a challenge from Patrick Mainka. However, after a lengthy VAR review, referee Serdar Gozubuyuk reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor and ruled that there wasn’t sufficient contact.
Chelsea also finished the game with 10 men after midfielder Cesare Casadei received a second yellow card in added time and was sent off.
Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea had breezed through their first three group games, scoring 16 goals. However, Heidenheim, a club that has climbed the ranks of German football, posed a stiffer challenge. The Bundesliga side’s resilience tested the Blues, but their quality ultimately proved decisive.
Chelsea remain top of the 36-team competition, with four wins from four games, and are well-positioned to advance to the next stage.
SOURCE: BBC
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