- Chelsea continued their flawless European record this season with sixth win
- The Blues have now scored 26 goals in six Europa Conference League games
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Chelsea’s 18-year-old striker Marc Guiu scored a first-half hat-trick to make it six wins from six in the Conference League on another evening when youth stole the show.
Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong enjoyed important initiations this week as each was appointed his own locker in the first-team dressing room at Cobham. Both 18-year-olds started here, while Harrison Murray-Campbell, also 18, made his debut from the bench.
That trio came through Chelsea’s academy, whereas Guiu was a £5million summer signing from Barcelona. Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku may be ahead of the teenager in the Enzo Maresca’s pecking order of strikers, but he used this European dead-rubber with Shamrock Rovers to show Stamford Bridge what he can do if given the chance.
‘Marc is a bit unhappy as Nicolas and Christopher are doing well,’ Maresca said of Guiu, who is now the Conference League’s top scorer with six goals. ‘When you’re a nine and another nine is doing well, it is a matter of being questioned. It is important that they work hard.’
Already qualified for the last 16, Maresca handed other minutes to youngsters such as Harvey Vale, 21, and Samuel Rak-Sakyi, 19.
Darragh Burns was responsible for Chelsea taking the lead after 22 minutes as he attempted to head back to his goalkeeper, only for it to fly over Leon Pohl entirely as Guiu accepted the gift.
Enzo Maresca’s side have won all six of their Europa Conference League games this season
£5m summer signing Marc Guiu scored a first-half hat-trick to begin Chelsea’s dominant night
The Blues remain the only team in the Conference League with a perfect record this season
Rovers equalised in the 26th minute when Markus Poom’s shot deflected beyond Filip Jorgensen. But regular service resumed for Chelsea in the 34th via another Rovers mistake as Daniel Clearly’s under-hit back pass was intercepted by Guiu as he scored from a tight angle. After 40 minutes, it was 3-1 as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall tucked the loose ball into the corner.
Guiu sealed his hat-trick with the last touch of the first half by heading in Noni Madueke’s cross, with Marc Cucurella finding the corner from Nkunku’s assist for Chelsea’s fifth.
