Chelsea turn it on in second half to win Conference League final

For 45 minutes in Wrocław, it looked like Chelsea were in for a humbling. Then came the second half.

Real Betis took a deserved lead in the ninth minute when Abde Ezzalzouli, who had been lively from the opening whistle, smashed home a left-footed finish after a clever reverse ball from the imperious Isco. Betis dominated the first half with energy and purpose, while Chelsea stumbled, their attacks stunted and their midfield outplayed.

Palmer leads Chelsea’s second-half turnaround

Enzo Maresca had seen enough. The Chelsea manager made decisive changes at the break, introducing Reece James to deal with Abde, and later bringing on Jadon Sancho and Levi Colwill. The impact was swift.

Cole Palmer, quiet in the first half, burst into life. In the 66th minute, he picked out Enzo Fernandez with a sumptuous left-footed cross. The Argentine’s run was perfectly timed, and his header brought Chelsea level. Five minutes later, it was Palmer again with the assist, this time turning his marker inside-out before crossing for Nicolas Jackson, who bundled home with his chest.

Betis never recovered. Their early intensity faded, their substitutions offered little, and Chelsea controlled the rhythm. Sancho put the game to bed in the 83rd minute with a thumping finish into the top corner after a counterattack led by Dewsbury-Hall.

Moises Caicedo capped off a commanding second half with a long-range strike that took a slight deflection en route to the net. Fittingly, it was Caicedo’s goal in added time that sealed the 4-1 scoreline, and Chelsea’s first-ever Conference League title.

Palmer walked off to a standing ovation. Isco faded. And Maresca, much maligned at halftime, ended the night with silverware.

Chelsea have now won the Champions League, and Conference League — completing the treble.

The anthem was long gone, but the Chelsea end sang: “We’ve won it all.”