It was all handshakes, smiles and high-fives by the end but Chelsea have lost the knack of doing anything the easy way.
In
such tempestuous times, even a routine win against a team reduced to 10
men before half-time and without a Champions League win, or even a goal
from open play, unfolded in the shadow of a brand new storm.
Gary Cahill opened the scoring against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Tal Ben Haim was sent off for a brainless hack on Diego Costa.
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill
celebrates in front of the travelling supporters after opening the
scoring for the Premier League outfit
The England international celebrates
after opening the scoring in the Group G clash within the first 20
minutes of the encounter in Israel
Former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim sees red after a late tackle by the former Premier League centre back on Diego Costa
Willian doubled his side's lead with a
trademark free-kick, Chelsea's midfielder impressed before being taken
off in the 79th minute
Chelsea playmaker Oscar celebrates with the ball under his shirt as he looks to the sky in celebration of his 77th minute goal
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE FROM THE SAMMY OFER STADIUM
MACCABI TEL AVIV (4-2-3-1):
Rajkovic 6; Dasa 6, Ben Haim I 3, Carlos Garcia 5, Ben Haroush 5;
Alberman 6.5 (Azulay 85mins), Peretz 6; Ben Haim II 6 (Ben Basat 80),
Igiebor 5, Zahavi 6 (Itzhaki 89); Rikan 5
Subs not used: Lifshitz, Tibi, Mitrovic, Vermouth
Sent off: Ben Haim I 40
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1):
Begovic 6; Azpilicueta 5, Cahill 7, Terry 6.5 (Zouma 72, 6), Baba 6:
Fabregas 7, Matic 6.5; Oscar 6, Willian 7.5 (Remy 79), Hazard 6.5 (Pedro
69, 6); Costa 6
Subs not used: Blackman, Ivanovic, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek
Goal: Cahill 20, Willian 73, Oscar 77, Zouma 90
Booked: Matic, Fabregas
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
Attendance: 29,121
Here's how Gary Cahill scored -click HERE for more of our brilliant Match Zone
Jose
Mourinho’s team were coasting along when a furious row that erupted
between the manager and Costa, in the final seconds of the first half,
saw them both disappear down the tunnel at half-time in furious moods.
Mourinho claimed they kissed and made up, but whatever happened it unsettled Chelsea and encouraged Maccabi, who were revived.
For half an hour they threatened to level, until Willian came to the rescue by converting his sixth free-kick of the season.
On
an awful pitch there was also an injury to John Terry, who was carried
off having rolled an ankle, sparking concerns ahead of Sunday’s derby
against Tottenham, before Oscar scored the third. Kurt Zouma, on as a
substitute for Terry, headed in the fourth goal, but Dynamo Kiev have
complicated matters in Group G with a surprise win in Porto.
Chelsea move to the top of the pool but are not certain of their place in the last 16, with one to play at home to Porto.
Mourinho
was grumbling about the state of the pitch before kick-off. It was
lumpy, slow and soon cutting up badly. One turn by Willian carved a huge
slice out of the turf.
Together
with a noisy home crowd, it made for an uncomfortable opening spell.
Unable to trust the surface, Chelsea were edgy on the ball while Maccabi
were quick and aggressive, seeking to pounce on errors.
Dor
Peretz headed narrowly over, Eran Zahavi caused panic with a mazy run
and Eli Dasa sliced a good chance wide. All this within the first five
minutes, but the Londoners took the lead on 20 minutes from a corner
delivered by Willian.
Predrag
Rajkovic made a splendid save from Cahill’s initial header, powerful
and directed down after leaping high above Nosa Igiebor. Rajkovic pushed
it on to a post but the rebound spilled to Cahill who was quick to
react and boot it over the line. As his team celebrated, the Chelsea
manager strolled on to the pitch to stamp down some of the larger
divots. Just making a point.
Mourinho
had made four changes to the team which beat Norwich, three of them in
the back four, where only Terry remained. Oscar came in for Pedro and
Eden Hazard moved back out on to the left wing.
Cahill puts his side in the lead by tapping home from close range to score past Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper Slobodan Rajkovic
Cahill (far left) is congratulated by his Chelsea team-mates, including Cesc Fabregas who gives his the Englishman a high five
Brazil international Willian was on
the scene to congratulate Cahill following his 20th-minute opener
against the Israeli outfit
Maccabi
lost intensity after going behind and Chelsea produced fluent football,
with Cesc Fabregas increasingly influential alongside Nemanja Matic,
who prowled the midfield with some of the swagger which defined his game
last season.
Willian
and Hazard dribbled and jinked, Oscar flicked and twisted on the ball
and Costa produced a bicycle kick which veered wide.
Ben Haim made life easier for his former club by stupidly hacking down Costa in midfield.
The
experienced Israeli, who eight years ago to the day was in tandem with
Terry for Chelsea against Derby, seemed surprised when the referee
pulled out a red card, but it was a ridiculous challenge, an
old-fashioned hack which wiped out Costa as he shielded the ball.
With
Maccabi down to 10, it ought to have been plain sailing but cue the
bust-up between Costa and Mourinho as the whistle went for half-time.
Loic Remy spent the interval warming up but Costa returned after the
break and Remy remained on the bench.
Ben Haim was sent into the Maccabi Tel Aviv dressing for an early bath after he appeared to lash out at the Chelsea forward
The 33-year-old defender, who also
played for Manchester City, Sunderland, Portsmouth, West Ham and QPR in
England, was reckless
Perhaps
the flashpoint unsettled Chelsea, because full back Dasa forced Asmir
Begovic into the first save of the second half, and Cesar Azpilicueta
made his own goalkeeper stretch for a header which momentarily appeared
destined for his own net.
Azpilicueta
forced a fine save from Rajkovic, the keeper at the other end, when he
probably ought to have scored, before Begovic denied Zahavi on the
counter-attack with a fingertip save.
Suddenly
the group whipping boys were looking dangerous, but they could not find
an equaliser and Willian settled Chelsea with another of his
free-kicks, this one curled delicately over the defensive wall from just
outside the box.
Two
headers late in the game completed the scoring. Oscar struck from a
cross by Baba Rahman and centre back Zouma nodded in from a corner in
stoppage time.
Costa survived for the full 90 minutes but was thwarted by Rajkovic in the closing seconds and could not find a goal.
When the whistle went Costa was standing by the tunnel. He headed straight off the field and was the first player on the bus.
Ben Haim (second left) leaves the
field of play after Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco had no
choice but to brandish the red card
Costa lays on the floor as he is
comforted by Chelsea captain John Terry following Ben Haim's late
challenge on the Spain international
Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard fends off Gal Alberman to maintain possession for his side during the Group G clash in Israel
Captain John Terry had to be taken off shortly before Chelsea's second after he sustained an injury during the second half
Terry was carried off on a stretcher before he was replaced by fellow defender Zouma in the 72nd minute of the match in Israel
Brazilian attacking midfielder Willian leaps in the air after doubling his side's lead with 17 minutes left on the clock
Zouma (right, pictured with Fabregas) rounded off the scoring to cap off a fine night for Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side
The Frenchman (second left) is mobbed by his Chelsea team-mates after he scored the final goal of the night in Haifa
A Chelsea supporter dons a Mourinho mask ahead of the action at the Sammy Ofer Stadium on Tuesday evening
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