Chelsea have taken a step into the Europa Conference League final after defeating Djurgarden 4-1 in Stockholm in the first leg of their semi-final.
Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke scored in the first half.
Substitute Nicolas Jackson scored a brace, before 18-year-old Isak Alemayehu pulled one back for the hosts with the first goal of his senior career.
Success in the competition will make them the first club to complete the full set of European trophies, having won the Champions League and Europa League twice.
A spectacular tifo display from Djurgarden supporters had welcomed Chelsea into the 3Arena, but the visitors drew first blood through Sancho after just 12 minutes, the BBC reports.
Enzo Fernandez clipped a ball towards the back post for the on-loan winger to chest down and pass it into the back of the net, with the help of defender Marcus Danielson’s sliced clearance.
The artificial pitch, which was a cause of concern for Maresca before kick-off, did not seem to hamper the Londoners at all as they dominated both possession and chances throughout.
The Blues were 2-0 up when Fernandez slipped in Madueke two minutes before the break and he beat goalkeeper Jacob Rinne at the near post with a sharp finish.
Despite the comfortable lead, Maresca made four half-time changes, including bringing on Cole Palmer and Jackson and the latter capitalised on a horrible defensive mix-up between Danielson and keeper Rinne to make it 3-0 just before the hour mark.
The Senegal striker then bagged a second six minutes later as he found the top corner with a fine finish from the edge of the box to assert Chelsea’s control in the tie.
The loud home supporters were buoyed, though, by Alemayehu’s downward header in the 68th minute, although it will take something special for Djurgarden to stop Chelsea taking their place in the Wroclaw showpiece on 28 May.
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