Djurgarden Chase History In European Semi-final Against Chelsea

Djurgarden are aiming for a historic upset as they prepare to take on Chelsea in Thursdays UEFA Conference League semi-final - a match that marks the club's biggest-ever European fixture and Sweden's first appearance in a continental semi-final since 1987.

The Stockholm-based side booked their place in the final four with a remarkable extra-time win over Rapid Vienna, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a stunning 4-1 victory in Austria. It was Djurgarden's first quarter-final in European competition since they lost to Hibernian in the 1955-56 European Cup.

The last Swedish club to reach this stage was IFK Gothenburg, who went on to win the 1987 UEFA Cup.

Against Rapid, Djurgarden benefitted from an early red card for Mamadou Sangare and drew level on aggregate through teenage forward Keita Kosugi. Norwegian midfielder Tobias Gulliksen then fired two goals in extra time to seal the tie.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime feeling - almost impossible to believe," said coach Jani Honkavaara. "But we believed, and the players believed too."