Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea LIVE RESULT: James and Fernandez give Blues advantage in Conference League last-16 tie
CHELSEA have beaten Copenhagen 2-1 to take a lead back to Stamford Bridge in their Conference League last-16 tie.
Reece James put the Blues ahead seconds into the second half with a superb strike from the edge of the box.
Enzo Fernandez added to his skipper's opener with rifled finish on 65 minutes.
Gabriel Pereira's header pulled one back for the hosts, but the Blues held firm to take a lead back to Stamford Bridge.
- Match result: Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
- Copenhagen team: Ramaj, Diks, Gabriel, Hatzidiakos, Claesson, Froholdt, Chisakha, Gocholeishvili, Meling, Achouri, Clem
- Chelsea team: Sanchez, Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile, Gusto, James, Dewsbury-Hall, Palmer, George, Mheuka
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Maresca on James - 'I see him as a midfielder'
Enzo Maresca was full of praise for his captain's performance this evening.
Speaking post-match, the Italian said: "We know how important he is for us. He's our captain, a fantastic player. We need him fit, so that is our duty, our target because for sure he is going to help us.
"He can play in many positions because the good players can play in many positions.
"You can ask Reece, when I signed for Chelsea, the day after I sent him a video about seeing him as a midfielder.
"I see Reece as a midfielder. Since day one. I sent him a clip when he was on holiday about how he can be a midfielder.
"He has played in full-back, central defender, so the main target for us is to keep him fit."
Chelsea's next five
The Blues return to Premier League action on Sunday as they welcome struggling Leicester to the Bridge.
The second leg of Chelsea's last-16 tie with Copenhagen comes next Thursday at a slightly later time of 8pm.
Match report
Relive all the action with the match report below...
Match stats
Certainly not one for the ages in Copenhagen, but the Blues got the job done to take a slender lead back to Stamford Bridge.
View of Andy Dillon in Copenhagen
Chelsea have done enough that should see them through to the last eight of the Conference League.
But it was nervy for the last ten as concentration slipped.
Too much tinkering by Enzo Maresca made for an unfamiliar and unbalanced Chelsea, although full-back Reece James did the biz in midfield.
Bottoms up
Cole Palmer enjoyed that Enzo Fernandez goal for the Blues tonight...
Credit: Reuters/Andrew Boyers Chelsea win in Denmark
The Blues got the job done in Denmark.
Two goals in the second half from Reece James and Enzo Fernandez gave them a cushion, before Gabriel Pereira got Copenhagen a goal back.
However, Chelsea will take a lead back to Stamford Bridge next week.
Credit: Reuters/Andrew Boyers FULL TIME: Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
90' - Four minutes added on.
Chelsea still lead.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
90' - Lopez is suspended for the second leg for Copenhagen.
Unfortunate there, as it looked as though the referee walked into him.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
88' - Closing in on full-time, Chelsea still hold the lead.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
80' - Copenhagen have a way back in.
A good free-kick is swung into the back post, and unmarked Gabriel Pereira heads the ball straight into the back of the net, beyond Robert Sanchez.
GOAL: GABRIEL PEREIRA
Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea
74' - Chelsea are in control with just over 15 to go, thanks to goals from Reece James and Enzo Fernandez.
Credit: Getty Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea
71' - Palmer's run without a goal continues.
The Englishman comes off after 71 minutes without a goal, extending his run to eight in all competitions.
Chelsea substitution
Jadon Sancho comes on for Cole Palmer
View of SunSport's Andy Dillon in Copenhagen
Chelsea are in control now and two nil up. In a bizarre way, the first half injury to Malo Gusto has helped. It meant Marc Cucurella has come on and the left flank is now his to own.
He claims an assist for the first goal scored by Reece James and provided the key pass for Tyrique George to cut back and let Enzo Fernandez pick his spot to double the lead with 66 minutes gone.
Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea
65' - Unreal vision from Tyrique George to find Enzo Fernandez.
Nkunku and Cucurella with some good pressure to win the ball back, and Nkunku finds George in the box.
He cuts the ball back to Enzo, who fires in with a good right footed finish beyond Ramaj from inside the box.
GOAL: ENZO FERNANDEZ
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
64' - Palmer tests Ramaj from range.
On his longest goalless run for Chelsea, Palmer has a pop from distance that goes just wide.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
59' - Close from Cucurella.
Enzo Fernandez sends a ball over the top, he meets it with his head and it bounces the wrong side of the post - but the flag was up anyway.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
54' - Half chance for Copenhagen.
Achouri has a shot from the edge of the box, but drags it wide
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
51' - The game has suddenly opened wide up.
Two big chances either side after both sides were sleepwalking towards half-time in the opening 45.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
50' - Copenhagen hit the post!
The ball comes to Claesson who rolls a shot across Robert Sanchez, it bounces off the post and comes into the grasp of Sanchez.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
47' - Reece James with a lovely finish from the edge of the box.
The ball came to Cucurella on the left, and he shifted the ball to Reece James on the edge of the box, and he in turn passed it into the bottom corner.