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Chelsea 5 Shamrock Rovers 1: Marc Guiu bags first-half hat-trick as Blues make light work of Irish
Chelsea are cruising to the Conference League's Last 16
CHELSEA were pelted with toilet paper but are on a roll with their best run for eight years.
Play was halted for a few minutes in the first half when Christopher Nkunku came under attack from a hail of Kleenex three-ply launched from the away end as he tried to take a corner.
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But the diversion tactics backfired as boss Enzo Maresca rounded off the first phase of the Conference League with his 100 percent record intact and an eighth successive win in all competitions.
That hasn’t been seen since 2016 and is a sign of the marked upturn under the Italian this season.
Striker Marc Guiu clinched a hat-trick by half-time to add to two he scored against Kazakhstanis Astana last week.
The Spaniard put his team in front on 22 minutes when Rovers full-back Darragh Burns and keeper Leon Pohls got in a muddle with a cushioned back header.
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Chelsea were pegged back briefly when Markus Poom - son of former Derby keeper Mart - scored with a heavily-deflected shot four minutes later to level.
The wild scenes among the Irish contingent in the Shed End were quickly quelled though as Chelsea regained their lead from another cock-up in defence when Dan Clearly underhit a back-pass and Guiu nipped in to round the keeper and score.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made it 3-1 five minutes before the break and Guiu wrapped up a memorable first half for himself by heading home a cross from Noni Madueke.
Maresca included teenage centre-back Josh Acheampong in the starting line-up just a few days after the 18-year-old signed a new five-year contract.
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There was also experience in the team with Spain Euro 2024 winner Marc Cucurella playing in only his second Conference League game of the campaign.
Cucurella is banned from Sunday’s away trip to Everton for being sent off after the final whistle once the Blues had beaten Brentford 2-1.
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Chelsea ratings vs Shamrock as Marc Guiu gives keeper nightmares but Casadei fails to impress
CHELSEA made it six Europa Conference League wins in a row with a 5-1 drubbing of Shamrock Rovers.
Striker Marc Guiu got a hat-trick while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Cucurella also got in on the goals.
Here is how SunSport's Lloyd Canfield rated the players...
FILIP JORGENSEN - 7
Didn't have much at all to do throughout.
Commanded his box well, and couldn't do much about the goal.
JOSH ACHAEMPONG - 6
All eyes were on the young defender who has just signed a new long-term deal at Stamford Bridge.
He played as a more defensive-minded right-back in Maresca's system, who looked good in that role.
AXEL DISASI - 6
A commanding performance from the French centre-half, he showed maturity in his game, was always an outlet for the Chelsea midfield.
RENATO VEIGA - 6
A very solid performance from Chelsea's number 40.
Unpolished, but physically strong and composed on the ball - this tournament should prove brilliant for him in a blue shirt.
MARC CUCURELLA - 8
Acted as a leader inverting into midfield for Chelsea, mostly playing as the left-sided number 10.
Scored a classy right-footed goal into the bottom left corner to cap off a great performance.
CESARE CASADEI - 4
Turned his back on a volleyed effort which he then deflected into his own net with a flick.
Andrey Santos on loan at Strasbourg will be an upgrade on him next season.
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL - 8
His best game in a Chelsea shirt to date, a tenacious performance saw him battle to win the ball high up and press the Shamrock defense really well.
Looked overjoyed to net his second Chelsea goal since joining from Leicester.
NONI MADUEKE - 7
His excellent first touch and dazzling feet were on full show, getting the Chelsea fans on their feet a few times.
It looked like his good deliveries would get no reward until he provided a classy assist for Marc Guiu's hat-trick goal.
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU - 7
Was kicked around the pitch like a ragdoll by the visitors, but constantly drove the team forward and won foul upon foul in the first half for The Blues.
Worked tirelessly and perhaps didn't get the reward he deserved after being bought down before Dewsbury-Hall netted Chelsea's third.
Notched an assist as Marc Cucurella finished into the bottom left corner to add a fifth.
TYRIQUE GEORGE - 7
Looks a special player on the ball for the Blues, and it's easy to see why fans are so excited about him for the future.
A raw talent who is far from the finished product in terms of his final ball - his brilliant run created the defensive chaos that allowed Marc Guiu to finish with ease.
Was unfortunate not to add a goal to his performance after he sent a Shamrock defender for a Guinness at the end of the game before seeing his shot well blocked.
MARC GUIU - 10
Scored his fourth, fifth and sixth Europa Conference League goals in six matches to make him the competition's highest scorer as it stands.
The Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper will be seeing Marc Guiu's face when he closes his eyes for at least the next few weeks.
Chelsea fans will be seeing shades of Olivier Giroud's Europa League run in 2019.
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HARVEY VALE (MADUEKE, HT) – 5
Having looked far too good to be playing for Chelsea's u21's this season he was rewarded with a half in this game.
Failed to have the impact that Noni did in the first half, but it was far from a bad performance by the youngster.
HARRISON MURRAY-CAMBPELL (DISASI, 59) - 6
Didn't look out of place at the heart of the Chelsea defence when making his debut for The Blues, and looked equally as competent at right-back.
One to watch for the future.
JOAO FELIX (GUIU, 60) - 5
Showed signs of promise after coming on from the bench, but was unable to find the back of the net.
SAMUEL RAK-SAKYI (DEWSBURY-HALL, 83) - 5
Another composed few minutes in midfield for The Blues.
He signed off with a goal in the 58th minute by knocking in a shot off the inside of a post.
European football takes a back seat until March for Maresca now and that might not be the total blessing it looks on paper.
He has a strong squad of young and hungry players who are desperate to be part of his plans.
The FA Cup, which kicks off on January 11 against League Two outfit Morecambe, will not offer so many matches as a secondary competition to keep them happy the way the Conference League has up to now.
Maresca took his foot off the gas after Cucurella’s goal and handed a debut to academy full-back Harrison Murray-Campbell.
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