Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea put one foot in Europa League quarter-finals with convincing win

The Blues put one foot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a 3-0 first-leg home win over Dynamo Kievon Thursday.

Playing their seventh game in 18 days, Maurizio Sarri’s men netted courtesy of Pedro (17) and a sumptuous Willian free-kick (65) before Callum Hudson-Odoi added a late third (88) as Chelsea recorded their third win on the spin in all competitions.

The Blues dominated the encounter for large spells and would be heading to the second leg with an even healthier advantage if it wasn’t for an inspired first-half performance by visiting goalkeeper Denys Boyko.

The return leg in Ukraine takes place next Thursday.

Chelsea were given a reminder about the dangers of knockout football at this stage of the competition by Arsenal’s defeat in the early kick-off in Rennes. Sarri’s men started with an intensity that Kiev struggled to live with.

The opening goal came on 17 minutes when Olivier Giroud played a cheeky flick through the legs of his marker and Pedro collected before firing home from close range.

That should have been the first of a glut of goals for the Spaniard but Boyko was in sparkling form to deny him twice while Ross Barkley was also thwarted by the busy visiting goalkeeper as somehow Kiev got in at the break just one behind.

Europa League Chelsea vs Dynamo kyiv 3 – 0 All Goal Highlights 7/3/2019 pic.twitter.com/PFQecRku4K— Coupe du monde (@Moussa74651701) March 7, 2019

It needed something special to beat Boyko and Willian provided the magic on 65 minutes with a quite stunning free-kick from 25 yards. The former Shakhtar Donetsk star had struggled with his final ball up until spanking this effort home – the execution was so perfect that Boyko didn’t even move.

Willian – Chelseapic.twitter.com/A2QPtnIhGt— Gol&Goals (@GolnGoals) March 8, 2019

Substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek blazed over from close range as Chelsea chased a third goal and their wastefulness nearly cost them as Kiev chased an away goal in the closing stages.

Hudson odoi ⚽️ Chelsea 3 Dynamo Kiev 0 #CHEDYN #ChelseaFC #EuropaLeague #ChelseaFC #UEL #ChelseaDynamo
Credit @EuropaLeague
bt sport pic.twitter.com/kYydN5lmtY— Uk_goals (@Uk__goals) March 7, 2019

However, their press left space for the counter and Loftus-Cheek broke clear before setting up Hudson-Odoi to put Chelsea in a very strong position in the tie.

Chelsea are back in Premier League action on Sunday when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.

helll no! Ugh Chelsea and Sam already trying to put target on Anthony and Kailyn. That’s ain’t it! #BBCAN7 pic.twitter.com/KvOzQ6sf4j— Hanii (@HaniLee1) March 8, 2019