Chelsea’s season ended in glory in Wroclaw as they came from behind to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final and deliver the first trophy of the Clearlake Capital ownership era.
Chelsea were outplayed and pegged back by an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli.
Chelsea had gifted them the lead after nine minutes. Malo Gusto’s careless pass through midfield was cut out, the ball breaking to captain Isco who reversed a sumptuous pass in-field to find Ezzalzouli who peeled away.
The winger took a touch to make space with his right foot then with his left drilled in into Filip Jorgensen’s bottom corner.
It would have been two moments later had Jorgensen not produced a fine reach to keep out Marc Bartra’s curling long-range shot.
Reece James replaced Gusto at the break and slowly Chelsea began to squeeze Betis in their own half.
Finally 65 minutes into the final they produced their first clear opening, or rather Palmer did it alone.
It was he who spotted the forward dart of Argentina midfielder Fernandez, and his arcing cross from wide on the right that the World Cup-winner nodded down through the grasp of Adrian and in.
Chelsea were now awake and no one more so than Palmer, so when he picked up the ball on the far side of the penalty area five minutes later there was a ready feeling a second goal was imminent.
So it proved, Palmer’s chipped ball to the near post finding Jackson who adjusted his body well and guided home with his shoulder.
The shock clearly affected Betis who were beginning to tire following a mammoth effort.
What was left of their spirit drained away when Sancho lifted a wonderful curling finish into the top corner with seven minutes left, before Caicedo drilled home a late fourth.
