Guiu bags hat-trick as Chelsea hammer Shamrock to keep up spotless European season

A first-half hat-trick from Marc Guiu alongside goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Cucurella were enough to ease Chelsea to a 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers.

The result secured The Blues top spot in UEFA Conference League league phase, while Rovers finished 10th, bagging a place in the play-off round.

Chelsea dominated the early exchanges and took the lead courtesy of a breakdown in communication in Rovers’ backline as Darragh Burns headed past his own goalkeeper to give Guiu the easiest of tap-ins.

Rovers then had their dream moment as just a short while after conceding, they won a corner which found its way to Markus Poom who fired in a volley from the edge of the box.

The away fans’ delight was quickly derailed as another mistake at the back, this time Daniel Cleary underhitting a backpass, allowed Guiu to once again pounce and add his second of the game, restoring Chelsea’s lead.

The hosts then turned up the intensity and added two more before the break. First a composed finish from Dewsbury-Hall, before Guiu completed a first half hat-trick, just seconds before the whistle, expertly guiding home a Noni Madueke cross.

The second period was a similar affair as Chelsea began using it as an opportunity to give a raft of youngsters first-team minutes.

Yet, it was one of their senior men who completed the rout as Cucurella applied an accurate finish with his right foot to score Chelsea’s fifth and final goal of the game.

It was a commanding performance to round off a perfect league phase for Chelsea as they finished top with six wins from six.

Meanwhile, Rovers will no doubt be better for the experience but after dropping down to 10th will now face a play-off game in February.

Six games, six wins, 26 goals and just five conceded. Chelsea have topped the league phase at a canter using largely a second team. After another near-perfect night, It begs the question who can stop the heavy favourites going all the way in this competition especially when, or if, their stars begin to get involved?

Fiorentina would be the most likely competitors with the Italian side finishing third and finding themselves fourth in Serie A, never mind the fact they have reached the final of this competition twice before.

Yet it would still be a shock. There feels like something of an inevitability around Enzo Maresca’s side in this competition, while it also feels like they have not even had to get out of first gear yet.

It could only be the hat-trick hero. He led the line superbly and harried the Shamrock Rovers defence relentlessly in the first half. He forced regular errors in the first half and got his just rewards with a couple of goals before showing why he might be a star of the future with a wonderful striker’s header to secure the match ball.

For just 18 years old he has exception movement, anticipation and physical attributes to match and he demonstrated all three. He took his tally in the competition up to six goals.

Chelsea: Jorgensen 6, Acheampong 7, Disasi 7, Veiga 6, Cucurella 8, Dewsbury-Hall 8, Casadei 6, Madueke 8, Nkunku 7, George 7, Guiu 9. Subs: Vale 6, Murray-Campbell 6, Felix 7, Rak-Sakyi 6.

Shamrock Rovers: Phols 5, Cleary 2, Lopes 4, Grace 4, Burns 3, Watts 5, O’Neil 4, Poom 6, Honohan 6, Kenny 5, Farrugia 4. Subs: Mandroiu 5, Bryne 5, Green 4, Burke 5, Nugent 5.

22′ – GOAL! – CHELSEA 1-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS (GUIU) – Chelsea have their breakthrough but it’s a shambolic way for Rovers to concede. A standard ball over the top isn’t dealt with as Burns attempts to head back to the on-rushing Pohls. However, there’s a breakdown in communication and the header flies right past him and Guiu is on hand to tap it into an empty net.

26′ – GOAL! – CHELSEA 1-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (POOM) – What a response from Rovers! The away side go straight up the other and end after conceding and win a corner. The ball is whipped and goes through everyone before dropping too Poom who fires a volley into the ground the ball bounces into Chelsea’s net. A dream goal for Rovers!

34′ – GOAL! – CHELSEA 2-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (GUIU) – Chelsea regain the lead and it’s another clanger from a Rovers perspective. Another breakdown of communication as the backpass from Clearly to Pohls is short and Guiu hunts it down, rounds the keeper and taps into an empty net for a second of the game.

40′ – GOAL! – CHELSEA 3-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (DEWSBURY-HALL) – It’s another for Chelsea and they’ve really got their mojo back after retaking the lead. Cucurella cuts open the Rovers backline and puts Dewsbury-Hall in one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The midfielder makes no mistakes and slots it into the bottom corner.

48′ – GOAL! – CHELSEA 4-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (GUIU) – Right before half time Guiu seals his hat trick with a superb header! A corner is taken short and Madueke puts a cross into the box which is met by Guiu who guides it into the far corner.

58′ – GOAL! – CHELSEA 5-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (CUCURELLA) – Chelsea have a fifth and it’s a lovely finish from the left-back. He cuts inside onto his weaker right foot and guides it in low off the post.