09 December 2015

Chelsea 2-0 FC Porto: Determined Blues Edge Out Portugese Side

The blues had a more organised team display to edge Porto out of the Champions League after Dynamo Kiev beat Maccabi. A first own goal and a Willian goal gave the blues a comfortable win over the Portugese side.

Chelsea tied up top spot in Champions League Group G with a comfortable 2-0 win over Porto, who finish in third place and fall into the Europa League.

Jose Mourinho's men knew that a win would guarantee first place and the Premier League champions ensured they would avoid Europe's top sides in the second round thanks to an early own goal and Willian's second-half strike.


Following an eighth defeat of their Premier League title defence against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, Mourinho welcomed skipper John Terry back from injury and recalled Diego Costa.

Costa, on the bench in the Blues' last two games, had a hand in the hosts' hugely fortuitous opener when his saved effort rebounded in off Ivan Marcano.

Porto threatened in spells, knowing a victory was always likely to be required with Dynamo Kiev recording the win expected of them against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Ukraine.

Maccabi's failure to spring an upset means the Portuguese side now head into the Europa League, with Willian sealing victory for Chelsea seven minutes into the second half.

Amid a subdued atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea appeared nervy in the opening stages but were handed a huge slice of fortune for their 12th-minute opener.

Eden Hazard set Costa in on goal for Chelsea's first meaningful foray forward, with the recalled striker's effort saved by Iker Casillas, only to rebound back into the net off Marcano.

Maicon's efforts to sprint and keep the ball from crossing the line proved in vain and the opener initially knocked the wind out of Porto sails.

Oscar saw penalty appeals waved away after claiming contact with Marcano, with the Brazilian's deflected effort veering just wide before the half-hour mark.

Costa dragged an effort wide of Casillas' right-hand post as Chelsea edged the final stages of the half, with Willian's powerful drive testing the Porto star early after the restart.

Jesus Corona's curled strike forced Thibaut Courtois into a smart save, but Willian would not be denied with his second attempt - powering a strike past Casillas from a similar position to his earlier chance.

Hazard supplied the Brazilian as Porto's back three were woefully exposed - the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder finishing low and hard to seal Chelsea's progression as group winners.

With Kiev winning against already-eliminated Tel Aviv, Porto threw caution to the wind as Yacine Brahimi curled an effort wide and Courtois tipped substitute Cristian Tello's effort round the post.

But Chelsea remained in control - Hazard hitting the post late on - as an improved display from the weekend ensured a rare bright spot in what has been a difficult campaign, leaving Porto to focus on Europa League football.

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