LONDON, England — Chelsea continued their impressive run in the UEFA Conference League, beating Djurgarden 3-0 while Tottenham faced a tense moment in the Premier League after a controversial match against Athletic Bilbao.
Nicolas Jackson scored the third goal in Chelsea’s decisive victory on Thursday, capitalizing on a blunder from Djurgarden’s goalkeeper Jacob Rinne. After Rinne lost control of the ball, Jackson pounced to slot it into an empty net, securing Chelsea’s place in the final.
As the match unfolded, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised his players’ performance, saying, “We are building momentum, and the team is responding well. It’s important we keep this up as we approach the final.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s match against Athletic Bilbao quickly turned chaotic. As Cristian Romero was challenged for the ball, the referee was forced to check for a potential penalty after a foul was called. The match saw several yellow cards being issued amidst a heated atmosphere in San Mames.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson commented on the intensity, noting, “It’s carnage, absolutely carnage here. The crowd is very restless, and the referee has a difficult job managing this game.”
Television replays showed that the controversy surrounding a challenge involving Harry Maguire added to the tension, leading to further protests from the Athletic Bilbao fans. They waved white handkerchiefs in frustration as their team struggled to regain control of the game, already reduced to ten men.
In another thrilling moment of the match, Djurgarden’s Adam Stahl nearly scored with a header, but Chelsea’s Filip Jorgensen made a stunning save to deny him.
“We’ve had some tough moments this season, but this was a great opportunity for us,” said Djurgarden’s coach. “We showed fight and determination even though we didn’t get the result.”
As the stakes rise in the Premier League, both Chelsea and Tottenham are feeling the pressure in their respective competitions. Chelsea now focuses on their upcoming final while Tottenham clings to the hope of survival away from the relegation zone.
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