Astana 1-3 Chelsea: Blues cruise into Conference League knockout stages as Marc Guiu stars in Kazakhstan

Chelsea extended their perfect record in the Conference League with a 3-1 over Astana in Kazakhstan, booking their place in the knockout stages.

It was a youthful side named by Enzo Maresca, with the majority of his first-team squad spared the eight-hour flight and temperatures dropping below minus-ten degrees.

Chelsea proved too good even with all those changes, with the match effectively wrapped up before half-time.

Marc Guiu scored twice in the space of five minutes, the first a brilliant run and finish and the second more fortunate, as the goalkeeper parried it out and the ball bounced off the striker and in.

Renato Veiga added a third for Chelsea, heading in from a corner, and while Astana captain Marin Tomasov pulled one back with a superb strike before the break, a comeback never felt likely.

Maresca handed a second senior start to 18-year-old Tyrique George and left at home the majority of the XI that started Sunday's 4-3 win over Tottenham, with Pedro Neto - who is suspended for the weekend's meeting with Brentford - the only player to make the 7,000-mile round-trip.

Neto had Chelsea's first chance in freezing conditions in Kazakhstan, skating in off the right and striking low towards the near post, goalkeeper Mukhammedzhan Seysen dropping low to his left to save.

Guiu's opener was a fine solo effort. Collecting the ball almost on the touchline wide on the right, he stood up the full-back Aleksandr Marochkin before powering beyond him into the box and prodding the ball inside the post for his second Chelsea goal.

Astana were already looking hopelessly stretched. Neto was next to take advantage, rocketing around the outside of his defender and crossing low towards Guiu. Seysen dived to get hands on the ball but could only turn it back into danger where it ricocheted between Guiu and Marochkin and over the line.

Carney Chukwuemeka had a shot deflected wide after being given space but Astana did not heed the warning. From the resulting corner, Veiga was given the freedom of Almaty to rise and plant his header past the goalkeeper.

A torrid night for Astana was made more palatable when Tomasov slipped the attentions of Veiga and rifled in the goal of night, his strike sailing up and wide of Filip Jorgensen's reach and in off the post.

Ato Ampah replaced Neto in the second half for his first senior Chelsea appearance, while Harvey Vale was sent on for a first appearance since 2022.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fizzed an effort inches wide as he sought his second goal since joining in the summer, as Chelsea eased off their hosts in the second half.

Forward Shim Mheuka was also handed a Chelsea debut aged 17 to become the club's second youngest player in Europe behind Dominic Solanke, then 18-year-old midfielder Kiano Dyer completed the roster of those making their bow in blue.

Additional reporting by PA Sport.