Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea sealed their place in the Conference League quarter-finals with a forgettable second-leg win over Copenhagen.
The midfielder showed quick feet on the edge of the box before bundling through a pair of challenges and finishing clinically across the goalkeeper into the bottom corner 10 minutes into the second half.
Chelsea, who held a 2-1 aggregate lead from the first leg, were second best in the first half and there were some boos at the end of an opening 45 minutes in which the home side did not have a shot.
Copenhagen were full of energy and attacking intent, showing no sign of nerves at Stamford Bridge, but lacked the quality and decision making in the final third to hurt the hosts.
Cole Palmer, who started on the bench having missed training sessions earlier in the week through illness, was sent on for the second half and played his part in a much-improved display from Enzo Maresca’s side.
After Dewsbury-Hall put them in front, Palmer came close to ending a goal drought that now stretches to 10 games as he drove forward and sent his shot narrowly wide.
While Copenhagen attempted to force their way back into the tie, Chelsea were comfortable.
The visitors had to wait until stoppage time to create a real chance of note when Rodrigo Huescas broke into the box but fired his shot over the bar.
Chelsea progress, though, and will face Norwegian side Molde or Legia Warsaw from Poland in the last eight.
Palmer sparks Chelsea into life but drought goes on
While Chelsea did not have to go in search goals after victory in Denmark last week, Maresca would have hoped for a much better performance from his side after they toiled to a narrow win over Leicester at the weekend.
What they served up in the first 45 minutes, though, did nothing to satisfy an increasingly restless home crowd.
Copenhagen were the team full of verve, attacking at pace and throwing men forward, while in comparison, Chelsea were lifeless.
The positives there were for the Blues came in glimpses of quality from youngsters Tyrique George and Joshua Acheampong, who was unfortunate to be substituted at half-time.
Chelsea needed impetus and, even in the midst of his recent barren spell, Palmer was the man to provide it.
There was suddenly tempo to Chelsea’s play, the passing was sharper, their threat apparent.
Palmer was central to it, interchanging quick passes, jinking away from defenders and looking to thread balls in behind the Copenhagen defence.
Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock and as the game wore on, with Chelsea in control, Palmer’s desperation for a goal become more apparent as, on a couple of occasion, he went for goal when he might otherwise have passed.
Even with Palmer, it was far from a vintage Chelsea performance but the second half was a clear example that even when the England star is struggling in front of goal, he remains essential to the Blues’ chances of success.
