Colwill goal seals Chelsea's Champions League place

Levi Colwill's goal clinched Chelsea's place in the Champions League next season with a narrow and nervy win at Nottingham Forest, who qualified for the Uefa Conference League despite defeat.

The defender's second-half strike saw Enzo Maresca's side finish fourth in the Premier League and end Forest's own hopes of returning to Europe's top table.

Chelsea can prepare for the Champions League - a goal which was expected and demanded - with Maresca confirming their transfer targets depended on what competition they are in next season.

Victory also gave them the perfect platform for Wednesday's Conference League final against Real Betis in Poland.

Yet it was disappointment for Forest, who survived on the final day last term, but even after missing out on the top five their season and seventh place is a success.

Two wins in their final eight games saw them ultimately fall away having sat in the top four for large parts and they will now play in the Conference League, three years after returning to the top flight after a 23-year absence.

They end the campaign winless in four at home and could not rediscover their form as a tense game initially struggled to live up to its billing.

While intriguing, it lacked the drama of a shootout for a Champions League place.

Pedro Neto and Chris Wood turned over the bar in the first half but there was little action, though that changed when Colwill turned the ball home from close range five minutes after the break.

The hosts could not respond - there was plenty of effort but little quality, and Wood fired over in stoppage time to miss their best chance.

Chelsea celebrated at the City Ground, the substitutes' bench bursting on to the pitch at the final whistle.

Colwill's tap-in settled a game which failed to live up to its pre-match billing as the two teams slugged it out with a Champions League spot the ultimate prize.

Chelsea feel they belong there, and Maresca got them over the line in what could be a triumphant few days before Wednesday's Conference League final.

The average age of Chelsea's starting line-up in the Premier League this season is 24 years and 36 days - the youngest ever.

With qualification for the Champions League and a potential European trophy, the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge can start to rightly claim their project is finally coming to life after several false dawns.

Source: BBC Sport