Cole Palmer's struggles continue in Chelsea's easy quarterfinal win

Chelsea have seemingly booked their place in the last four of the Conference League following a dominant 3-0 quarterfinal first-leg victory away at Legia Warsaw on Thursday where 19-year-old academy product Tyrique George scored his first goal for the club and Noni Madueke bagged a brace.

The victory maintained Chelsea's 100% record in the competition and provided further evidence of why they are considered clear favourites to lift the trophy in Wroclaw, Poland on May 28.

Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising moment of the night was Cole Palmer's substitution at halftime after an ineffectual first-half display and Chelsea's instant improvement in the second period after his replacement, Madueke, was introduced. 

"I'm really happy to score, really delighted," George said. "I've played a few games now but it's good to get my first goal."

Head coach Enzo Maresca reserved his highest praise for 18-year-old Josh Acheampong who lined up at right-back in Poland.

"The one I fell in love with tonight is Josh Acheampong," Maresca said. "He can be a fantastic player for this club. A good player can play in different positions and he showed that.

"The best thing for Josh is that he's open -- he wants to learn. Full-back? No problem, what do I have to do?"

Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

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Chelsea were frustrated by the hosts' resolute defence during a drab first 45 minutes in which Maresca's side had 74% possession but struggled to create many clear openings.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall came closest to opening the scoring when his curling effort was pushed wide of the post by Kacper Tobiasz.

The former Leicester City man had another opportunity on the stroke of halftime when he was found in space by Christopher Nkunku's ball into the box, but Dewsbury-Hall flicked his header narrowly wide. 

Dewsbury-Hall saw another chance come and go inside the first minute of the second half but he got his timing all wrong as he looked to meet Reece James' cross and the ball ricocheted harmlessly wide. 

George finally put Chelsea in front three minutes later when he followed up on James' shot which Tobiasz parried back into a dangerous area in the six-yard box. The teenager made no mistake with his left-footed finish before reeling off in delight at scoring his first senior goal.

Madueke doubled Chelsea's lead in the 57th minute. A poor clearance from Tobiasz presented Jadon Sancho with the ball in a dangerous area and the Manchester United loanee duly slipped it to his right to present Madueke with a clear sight of goal which he converted. 

The goalkeeper made up for his error with a penalty save from the out-of-form Nkunku, but Madueke did score Chelsea's third seconds later when the ball was worked back into the box by Sancho and his opposite winger swept home. 

With their ascendency in the tie beyond doubt, Chelsea's intensity dropped in the closing stages, with Patryk Kun almost getting a goal back for Legia Warsaw in the 90th minute, but his effort was well-saved by Filip Jorgensen.