New Delhi: 

Real Betis, which was playing its first European final, left the Premier League side stunned early on. Their spirited start was rewarded in the ninth minute itself when Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli struck with a composed finish, receiving a clever move from the left flank. Going into the half-time, Chelsea, which fielded a strong starting XI, appeared rattled under manager Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea F.C. clinched their maiden UEFA Conference League title with a romping 4-1 victory over Real Betis Balompié at the Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław, Poland, on Wednesday. The win didn’t just add a new trophy to Chelsea’s cabinet but also made them the first side to have won all five European competitions – the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, Super Cup, and Conference League.

The second half, however, saw Chelsea’s stunning revival as, after 20 minutes of restart, Cole Palmer, who would go on to be adjudged Player of the Match, found Enzo Fernández with a lofted pass into the box. The Argentine midfielder chested it first and volleyed into the bottom corner to level the score. The equaliser injected new life into the Blues. Only five minutes later, Palmer again turned up as an assist, threading a perfect through-ball for Nicolas Jackson, who slotted the ball past Rui Silva to put Chelsea into the lead. From that very moment, Chelsea took complete control of the game. Betis forced on in search of an equaliser, but Chelsea exploited the spaces left at the back. Jadon Sancho, who took the field as a substitute, made it 3-1 in the 83rd minute with a stylish finish after he swept a counter-attack led by Fernández. Then, in the first minute of the stoppage time, Moisés Caicedo rounded off the scoring with a long-range strike which deflected off a defender and went over the Betis goalkeeper Adrián.

Post-match scenes

As soon as the final whistle blew, it sparked jubilation among Chelsea players and fans, and totally opposite was the condition of Real Betis’ side as they looked heartbroken. The cameras also captured an emotional Antony, who is on loan from Manchester United, getting consoled by his former teammate Sancho in what was a touching post-match moment.

Meanwhile, Real Betis, despite facing a heavy defeat, can take pride in their historic run to the final, routing the likes of Fiorentina and AZ Alkmaar en route. Nonetheless, Chelsea’s experience, depth, and quality proved too hot for them on the European stage.

The victory comes as a significant milestone in Chelsea’s European journey, as they completed a set of men’s club honours based in the continent. For Maresca, this is his first major trophy since taking the managerial charge of the Blues. This offers a hopeful sign for the future of a club that rebuilds after its recent domestic struggles.

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