Marc Guiu hat-trick helps Chelsea finish off overpowered Shamrock Rovers | European Conference League

Chelsea sealed a perfect record in the league stage of the Conference League as Marc Guiu scored a first-half hat-trick to secure a 5-1 demolition of League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge.

The 18-year-old former Barcelona striker is yet to start for Enzo Maresca in the Premier League, but when selected for a fourth time in Europe, he demonstrated a poaching instinct to bury the visitors, twice intercepting passes back to the keeper to score. before slotting in a fine header for his third.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also scored, as did Marc Cucurella for the second time in as many games, with Chelsea confirming what had long been clear: They are far too strong for the teams they have faced in the first phase of Europe’s third competition.

The defeat was the first in Europe this season for Shamrock, who left west London with the consolation of a place in February’s play-off round, as well as the memory of Markus Poom’s goal that briefly leveled the score at 1-1 in the first half and bid. the glimmer of a greater disturbance. Chelsea enjoyed more than 80% of the possession during the first 25 minutes, but it took a defensive error for them to take the lead.

Renato Veiga kicked a looping ball forward for Tyrique George to chase down. Darragh Burns reached it first but his wayward header back to his keeper was woefully misjudged, allowing Guiu to steal in and nod Chelsea ahead.

The visitors responded with no small amount of courage. Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen flew towards his top corner to palm away a Johnny Kenny drive as Shamrock broke. From the resulting corner, Shamrock briefly let their supporters dream.

Dylan Watts’ cross was headed out to the edge of the box, where Estonian international Poom – whose father, Mart, played here for Derby in the 1990s – was waiting to smash it back towards goal, his drive tipping off the heel of Cesare Casadei and rushes past Jörgensen.

It was a memorable moment for Shamrock on their European adventure, making the manner in which they conceded the next goal all the more bittersweet. Daniel Cleary offered Guiu another gift. His back pass to Leon Pöhls was underhand and didn’t get anywhere near his keeper, but had the perfect trajectory for Guiu to get there first and grab Pöhls to make it 2-1.

The hosts scored a third after 40 minutes. Cucurella stepped a ball through to Christopher Nkunku, who was tackled to the ground by Roberto Lopes. Before the referee could blow for a penalty, Dewsbury-Hall had driven the loose ball into the bottom corner for his second Chelsea goal.

Guiu completed his hat-trick with the final act of the first half, rising highest inside the box to head Noni Madueke’s cross into the corner. Cucurella cut inside his defender before driving inside the near post to make it 5-1 just before the hour mark.

Maresca sent academy graduates Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Harrison Murray-Campbell and Harvey Vale to get a taste of European football, when 18-year-old winger George almost opened his Chelsea account, denied on the line by Rovers captain Lopes.