Chelsea beat Real Betis in the final to win the UEFA Conference League. (AP)
Chelsea secured their place in football history by defeating Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final in Wroclaw on Wednesday, becoming the first club to win all five UEFA club tournaments.
Despite falling behind early, Chelsea's second-half performance, sparked by Cole Palmer's brilliance, saw them score four unanswered goals through Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moises Caicedo.The victory marks Chelsea's first trophy under Todd Boehly's ownership, which began in 2022, and completes their collection of UEFA trophies, including the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup, and the Cup Winners' Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Real Betis started strongly, taking the lead in the ninth minute when Abde Ezzalzouli converted after a clever pass from captain Isco, following Malo Gusto's loss of possession.
The Spanish side dominated the first half, with Marc Bartra testing goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen from distance and Johnny Cardoso coming close with a deflected shot.Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's strategic substitutions in the second half transformed the game, particularly the introduction of Reece James for the struggling Gusto.
"The club have invested lots of money in the last three or four years, so they are also waiting for results," Maresca told TNT Sports. "Hopefully this can be a starting point and from tonight, from this season, (we are) building something important."Cole Palmer's influence proved decisive, first providing a precise cross for Fernandez's equalizing header in the 65th minute.Five minutes later, Palmer's skill created another opportunity, setting up Jackson for Chelsea's second goal.
Substitute Jadon Sancho extended Chelsea's lead in the 83rd minute, combining with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before finishing from an angle.Moises Caicedo completed the scoring with a strike from the edge of the box, sealing Chelsea's comprehensive victory.The result ends an extraordinary run of Spanish success in major finals, breaking a sequence of 27 consecutive victories for Spanish teams in various competitions including World Cups, European Championships, Champions League, and UEFA Cup/Europa League.
RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025, Qualifier 1: Quick singles from Mullanpur
Chelsea's triumph caps a successful end to their season, having also secured Champions League qualification with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.Todd Boehly joined the celebrations on the pitch after the match, marking a significant moment in his ownership of the club.The final was played against a backdrop of fan tensions in Wroclaw, with Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak reporting 28 arrests following clashes between supporters in the city's market square.
English (US) ·