Servette go into the second leg of their Conference League play-off against Chelsea with a two-goal deficit. The Geneva side lost 2-0 in London after conceding two goals in the second half.
Chelsea did not cover themselves in glory against Servette either. In order to create a two-goal cushion against the Swiss Cup winners, who on paper were crassly inferior, in the first leg in front of their own fans, the English billion-pound team needed a penalty to open the scoring. Christopher Nkunku from the penalty spot and Noni Madueke scored the goals.
Ultimately, it was individual class that made the difference. After 50 minutes, former Leipzig player Nkunku forced Jérémy Frick into a penalty-worthy foul with a quick run and converted safely from eleven meters. Argentinian world champion Enzo Fernandez, who came on as a substitute, set up the 2:0 with a perfect assist.
Apart from that, Servette put up a good fight. However, coach Thomas Häberli's team had to chalk it up to the fact that they failed to capitalize on their own chances against the sloppy Londoners. Jérémy Guillemenot and Tiemoko Ouattara, who came off the bench, missed three opportunities after the 80th minute alone. Ouattara's powerful shot bounced against the crossbar.
While ex-Basel player Renato Veiga played through for Chelsea, Spanish European champion Marc Cucurella followed the action from the substitutes' bench. Raheem Sterling, who had already been left out of the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at the weekend, was not registered for the European Cup and was therefore not part of the squad on Thursday.
The second leg will take place next Thursday in Geneva.
The telegram
Chelsea - Servette 2:0 (0:0)
Referee Pignard (FRA). -
Goals: 50. Nkunku (penalty) 1:0. 76. Madueke 2:0.
Servette: Frick; Tsunemoto, Rouiller, Severin, Mazikou; Douline (69. Magnin), Ondoua; Stevanovic (61. Antunes), Cognat (85. Ouattara), Kutesa (69. Von Moos); Crivelli (61. Guillemenot).
Comments: Chelsea with Veiga (ex Basel).
The live ticker for review
Chelsea
Servette FC
- Christopher Nkunku - 1:0 (50.)
- Noni Madueke - 2:0 (76.)
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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95th minute
Guillemenot misses again
It's unbelievable. In the last second, Guillemenot takes another shot from the best position. But the striker also misses this chance. Guillemenot alone could, almost should, have scored three goals today. Then the game is over. Servette lose 0:2.
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90th minute
Servette misses chances by the minute
Von Moos and Guillemenot again miss further Servette chances. It's unbelievable what the Genevans let slip here at Stamford Bridge.
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86th minute
Ouattara hits the crossbar
That's not possible! Substitute Servettien Ouattara simply takes a shot. The ball is deflected and lands on the crossbar. Geneva deserved at least a goal here.
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81st minute
Guillemenot misses the connection twice
Servette have two chances to equalize. It's Jérémy Guillemenot twice. First the striker tries too awkwardly, a short time later Jörgensen brilliantly saves his shot from distance.
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73rd minute
Madueke increases to 2:0
And then Chelsea make it 2:0 after all. Enzo Fernandez sets up Noni Madueke with a beautiful pass into the deep. The Englishman takes off from a relatively acute angle and hammers the leather into the net.
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67th minute
Chelsea do too little
It's not as if this 1:0 for Chelsea is highly deserved. Superstars such as Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez are now also on the pitch. But it does little to change the game. The Londoners have more of the ball, but it's not really compelling.
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52nd minute
Guiu misses the monumental chance to make it 2:0
Wow, what a huge chance for Chelsea. Frick loses the ball to Marc Guiu. The Spaniard has the empty goal in front of him and actually shoots Frick. Guiu also fails to get two follow-up shots into the goal. These scenes will go viral.
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49th minute
Nkunku scores from the spot
Servette lose the ball in front of their own penalty area. Nkunku is sent deep and Frick puts the striker down. A clear-cut penalty. The Frenchman takes the spot-kick himself and scores with ice-cold precision.
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45th minute
Goalless at the break
The teams go into the break goalless. A 0:0 at the break, we would definitely have signed that from a Swiss point of view.
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38th minute
Rouiller with his head
Another chance for Servette. Rouiller gets his head to the ball from a free kick. Jorgensen makes a confident save.
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32nd minute
Neto shoots, Frick holds
The pressure from Chelsea is increasing. Now Frick also has to make his first save. But Neto's shot is also too central.
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28th minute
Mudryk misses
The Ukrainian takes a shot on the edge of the penalty area, but misses the target by half a meter. This shooting position was not bad at all, he should have made more of it.
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25th minute
Chelsea get stronger
The Blues are making an effort, but it's not really sparkling yet. Jérémy Frick has not yet had to make a single save.
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19th minute
Servette have more of the play
Geneva are getting better and better into the game and are becoming more and more courageous. It's incredible that the Swiss can keep up with this billion-dollar team from London.
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15th minute
Kutesa with the first chance
Servette ventured into the offensive and Kutesa took a shot down the left flank. But Chelsea goalie Jorgensen is able to clear for a corner.
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8th minute
Servette do well
Apart from the moment of shock after a few moments, Servette have the game pretty well under control. Certainly important to survive the first few minutes unscathed.
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3rd minute
Guiu misses the early lead
Chelsea have a great chance very early on in the game. Marc Guiu stands in front of Servette goalkeeper Jérémy Frick, leaves him standing, but stumbles past the goal. But it would have been offside anyway.
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1st minute
Start of the game
The game gets underway at Stamford Bridge.
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The Chelsea line-up
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The Servette line-up
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#
Servette clear underdogs against Chelsea
European business is at stake for Servette at the gateway to the Conference League. The Geneva side will face Chelsea away from home in London. The game kicks off at 21:00.
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90.+7.End of 2nd half
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90.+3.Yellow card Chelsea
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
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85.Substitution in Servette FC
Tiemoko Ouattara
Striker
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85.Substitution out Servette FC
Timothé Cognat
Midfielder
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84.Substitution in Chelsea
Romeo Lavia
Midfielder
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84.Substitution out Chelsea
Moisés Caicedo
Midfielder
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78.Substitution in Chelsea
Malo Gusto
Defender
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78.Substitution out Chelsea
Axel Disasi
Defender
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76.Goal for Chelsea, 2:0 through Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke
Striker
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69.Substitution in Servette FC
Julian von Moos
Defender
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69.Substitution out Servette FC
David Douline
Midfielder
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69.Substitution in Servette FC
Théo Magnin
Defender
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69.Substitution out Servette FC
Dereck Kutesa
Midfielder
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61.Substitution in Servette FC
Jeremy Guillemenot
Striker
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61.Substitution out Servette FC
Enzo Crivelli
Striker
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61.Substitution in Servette FC
Alexis Antunes
Midfielder
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61.Substitution out Servette FC
Miroslav Stevanovic
Midfielder
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57.Substitution in Chelsea
Noni Madueke
Striker
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57.Substitution out Chelsea
Pedro Neto
Midfielder
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57.Substitution in Chelsea
Enzo Fernández
Midfielder
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57.Substitution out Chelsea
Christopher Nkunku
Striker
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57.Substitution in Chelsea
Cole Palmer
Midfielder
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57.Substitution out Chelsea
Marc Guiu
Striker
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53.Yellow card Servette FC
Timothé Cognat
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50.Goal for Chelsea, 1:0 through penalties from Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku
Striker
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+2.End of 1st half
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1.Start of the match
