Watch Chelsea Vs Shamrock Rovers highlights as teenager Marc Guiu’s first-half hat-trick sent the Blues on their way to a 5-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Already qualified for the last-16, Enzo Maresca’s men made it six from six to finish top of the league phase of this year’s Europa Conference League.
Despite dominating from the first whistle, it took Chelsea 22 minutes to break the deadlock.
Eighteen-year-old striker Guiu made the most of a mistake between Rovers’ keeper Loen Pohls and Darragh Burns to give the hosts the lead.
Rovers equalised within minutes, though. Having twice gone close through Johnny Kenny, they restored parity thanks to Markus Poom’s deflected effort.
His strike found its way in via Chelsea’s Cesare Casadei, sending the 3,000 travelling Shamrock fans wild.
But the hosts quickly silenced the visiting support. Daniel Cleary’s poor back pass gifted Guiu another opportunity, with the youngster converting from a narrow angle.
A third Chelsea goal came from Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall, who reacted quicker to a loose ball in the Shamrock Rovers box.
Guiu then completed his first-half hat-trick in stoppage time before the break, heading home from close range to make it 4-1 at the break.
The hosts completed the scoring when defender Marc Cucurella’s low effort squeezed in off the post to beat Pohls and round off the victory.
Watch: Chelsea Vs Shamrock Rovers Highlights
Another thumping win for Chelsea reminded everyone why they are the overwhelming favourites for this year’s competition.
They are the only side to win all six league phase games, and registered a goal difference of +21.
For Shamrock Rovers, they must now navigate their way through the playoff round if they are to make the last 16.
They finished the league phase in tenth, level on points with Cercle Brugge but missing out on the top eight through goal difference.
