In a thrilling night of UEFA Europa Conference League (ECL) quarter-final action on April 17, 2025, Chelsea and Uールゴーデン advanced to the semi-finals, showcasing resilience and skill in their respective matches.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea faced Legia Warsaw, who were looking to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg. The match began with an early shock for the home fans as Legia's Tomasz Pekhart earned a penalty in the 9th minute after being fouled by Chelsea's goalkeeper, Jörgensen. Pekhart coolly converted the penalty, giving Legia a surprising 1-0 lead.
Despite the setback, Chelsea quickly regrouped. In the 33rd minute, Marc Cucurella leveled the match with a well-placed shot, bringing the aggregate score to 4-1 in favor of Chelsea. The Blues displayed their attacking prowess, but Legia remained dangerous, with Morishita Ryoya missing a golden opportunity to narrow the gap further.
Legia regained the lead in the 53rd minute when Steve Kapuadi headed home from a corner, making it 2-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate. Chelsea, however, held firm, despite some late pressure from Legia, ultimately securing their spot in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, in another quarter-final match, Uールゴーデン faced Rapid Wien, having lost the first leg 0-1. The Swedish side was determined to reverse their fortunes. The match took a dramatic turn when Rapid's Mamadou Sangare was sent off in the 7th minute for a dangerous tackle, giving Uールゴーデン a numerical advantage.
Uールゴーデン took the lead in the 42nd minute through a penalty converted by Marcus Danielson. However, they conceded an own goal just before halftime, ending the first half with an aggregate score of 1-2.
In the second half, 19-year-old defender Kosugi made his mark by scoring a stunning volley from the edge of the box in the 77th minute, tying the aggregate score at 2-2. This was his second goal of the tournament and a pivotal moment for Uールゴーデン.
As the match went into extra time, Uールゴーデen capitalized on their momentum. Tobias Griechen scored twice in extra time, securing a 4-2 aggregate victory for Uールゴーデン. This marked the first time in club history that Uールゴーデン reached the semi-finals of a European competition.
In the semi-finals, Uールゴーデン will face Chelsea, setting the stage for an exciting clash between the two teams. Chelsea, despite their loss to Legia, will look to build on their strong performance in the first leg, while Uールゴーデン aims to continue their fairy-tale run.
As the tournament progresses, fans are eagerly anticipating the semi-final matchups, with both Chelsea and Uールゴーデン eager to secure a spot in the final. The excitement is building as the ECL continues to deliver unforgettable moments on the road to glory.
