Chelsea were pecked by Servette after taking an early lead, losing 2-1 to the Swiss side on Thursday night but managed to sail through to the league phase of the Uefa Conference League with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Nkunku, who scored from the spot in last week’s first-leg tie, was on hand to repeat the trick after 14 minutes.
The former RB Leipzig man expertly dispatched his spot kick to give Chelsea the lead, taking his season’s goal tally to 3.
However, Servette leveled proceedings through Jeremy Guillemenot after 32 minutes, causing ecstasy amongst the home fans.
Timothe Cognat’s ball found Enzo Crivelli, who put Servette up by two against Chelsea after 72 minutes.
After much of the damage was caused at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, the Blues needed a result – win, lose, or draw- to make it to the league phase.
Chelsea managed to hold on to their lead to progress to the next stage.
When is the league phase and how does it work?
The league phase of the Uefa Conference League draw will take place on Friday, August 30, 2024, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
This represents a significant change to previous draws which were held by Uefa at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The biggest change in the revamped structure relates to the competition’s group stage, which will become a single 36-team ‘league stage’.
Each club will face eight different teams, with four home and away fixtures.
The top eight overall advance directly to the round of 16.
Teams that finish ninth to 24th will then compete in the knockout play-offs, with victors progressing to the last 16.
The final of the Conference league will be played in Poland, with Chelsea aiming to become the first English side to win Uefa’s Champions League, Europa League and Conference League trophies.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo|univers.ug.edu.gh|
