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By KIERAN GILL Published: 06: 49 AEDT, 7 March 2025 | Updated: 08: 44 AEDT, 7 March 2025 10 View comments Enzo Maresca’s Reece James experiment in midfield helped Chelsea secure their first away win since December 12 and a slender advantage over Copenhagen, as the club captain unleashed a 25-yard bolt from the blue in this Conference League victory. It was after being appointed Blues boss in the summer that Maresca watched back a few Wigan Athletic games from 2018-19. As unusual as that sounds, the reason was he wanted to see how a teenage James coped as a midfielder while on loan there. Clearly, he sees something in the 25-year-old’s skillset that can work in the middle, and James’ strike came after Maresca made three half-time substitutions following a dire first half in which they failed to test Copenhagen goalkeeper Diant Ramaj. Enzo Fernandez was one of those introduced and he gave the visitors a two-goal lead in this last-16 first leg. However, Copenhagen halved the deficit when a straightforward set-piece was headed in by Gabriel Pereira in the 80th minute, making next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge somewhat less comfortable than it could have been. ‘You can ask Reece, ’ Maresca said afterwards. ‘The day after I signed with Chelsea, I sent him a video showing how I see him as a midfielder. That was before I had met him. ' That clip was believed to be James’ 25-yard screamer for Wigan against Bristol City in April 2019, and Maresca added: 'He is in a very good mood. We know how important he is for us, our captain, a fantastic player. ' Reece James drives in at the start of the second half with Chelsea's first shot on target The 25-year-old Chelsea captain celebrates his second goal of an injury-hit season with glee Enzo Fernandez roars in delight after finishing a fine move to double Chelsea's advantage History was also made here as Shim Mheuka became Chelsea’s youngest-ever starter in a major European competition at the age of 17 years and 137 days, beating the previous record set by Joel Kitamirike against Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2001. It would be harsh to criticise Mheuka for Chelsea's toothless first half as the teenager, Benoit Badiashile and Moises Caicedo were all replaced at the break by Christopher Nkunku, Fernandez and Levi Colwill. That trio joined Marc Cucurella, who had been brought on earlier. Just 55 seconds into the restart, Cucurella set up James to score from 25 yards into the bottom-left corner. Chelsea led 2-0 when Fernandez finished Tyrique George’s set-up following energetic pressing from Cucurella. However, Copenhagen made it 2-1 as Pereira headed home. Cole Palmer toils but was unable to end his scoring drought which now extends to eight games Gabriel Pereira put Chelsea on edge by pulling a goal back for Copenhagen with a bullet header Chelsea (3-2-4-1): Sanchez 6; Chalobah 6, Adarabioyo 6, Badiashile 6 (Colwill 45, 6); James 7, Caicedo 6. 5 (Fernandez 45, 6. 5); George 6. 5, Palmer 6 (Sancho 72, 6), Dewsbury-Hall 6, Gusto 6 (Cucurella 25, 6. 5); Mheuka 6 (Nkunku 45, 6. 5). Subs (not used): Jorgensen, Bergstrom, Neto, Acheampong, Amougou. Manager: Enzo Maresca 6. 5 Attendance: 35, 859 Manager: Enzo Maresca 6. 5 Attendance: 35, 859
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