After
a run of results that threatened to blow Jose Mourinho out of town, the
wind finally changed in the direction of Chelsea’s manager. The storm
clouds have passed, for now.
Victory
over Porto guarantees protection from the elements, job security for
Mourinho after a traumatic and turbulent Champions League campaign.
There
was a slice of fortune about Chelsea’s opener, an own goal scored by
Porto defender Ivan Marcano after just 12 minutes of this final group
game. What matters is that they are through.
Willian leaps into the air after his
second half strike sent Chelsea 2-0 up against Porto in the vital
Champions League group stage contest
Chelsea striker Diego Costa (right) is
congratulated by team-mates after his break forward led to the opening
goal at Stamford Bridge
The Spaniard's shot was saved by
countryman Iker Casillas (right) before cannoning off Porto
defender Ivan Marcano after 12 minutes
Maicon's clearance was clearly over
the goal-line and the lead was eventually confirmed for Jose Mourinho's
side in the 12th minute
The Brazilian
sent an arrowed shot into the back of Porto's net after 52 minutes to
double the lead for the home side on Wednesday
The Chelsea players launch onto Willian having moved 2-0 up against Porto to confirm the Blues' place in the knockout stages
‘Our first goal was an own goal, but in the Premier League everything goes against us,’ claimed Mourinho.
‘It
was an important result, for the players and for the club. It is
important to go through to the next stage with the best teams. We can
play Juventus, PSG, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, plus Juventus were in the
final last year.’ What will happen to them when the draw for the second
round is made on December 14 is for another day because this club has
been through enough in recent weeks. At least let them enjoy this
moment.
When
Chelsea scored a second through the excellent Willian after the break,
the whole place broke out into spontaneous smiles and hugs and cries of
‘Ole’ from fans in the Matthew Harding Stand.
GROUP G TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
Here is how Chelsea took the lead at Stamford Bridge after Ivan Marcano's own goal -CLICK HERE FOR MATCH ZONE
Towards
the end, when cries of ‘Jose Mourinho’ reverberated around the stadium,
he waited until the entire stadium had fixed their eyes on him before
he responded with a dignified wave.
Everybody
at Stamford Bridge is happy again, at least until they travel to the
King Power Stadium on Monday evening to play the Premier League leaders
Leicester City.
This
was a return to the Chelsea of old, ramping it up whenever Willian, the
game’s outstanding performer, or Oscar or the illuminating presence of
Eden Hazard wanted to. That little bit of luck, one of those moments
Mourinho has been crying out for in recent weeks, went Chelsea’s way
after just 12 minutes.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (right) braves the cold in west London to watch a crucial Champions League contest for his club
Striker Diego Costa (left) was
returned to the Chelsea starting XI and was a constant menace for Porto
in the first-half of action
An ardent Porto fan shows off his club badge tattoo across his chest before kick-off against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea captain John Terry (centre),
restored to the starting line-up, leads out the Blues onto a rain
drenched Stamford Bridge pitch
Diego
Costa had been put clear through when Hazard turned the ball round the
corner, flicking the switch for the Chelsea striker to run clean through
on goal. Iker Casillas was the only man standing in the way of Costa
scoring for the first time in the Champions League since the 4-0 victory
over Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sept 16. He will have to wait a bit longer.
Casillas
saved, but the momentum carried the ball on to the chest of his central
defender Marcano and bounced with enough top spin on it to take it
beyond the covering run of Maicon.
This
was a measured Chelsea performance, with the commanding presence of
their returning captain John Terry providing reassurance whenever Porto
forward Yacine Brahimi wriggled through.
Under-pressure Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho salutes the home supporters who are continuing to back their manager
Maicon desperately tries to clear off
Porto's goal line but the Chelsea fans were already celebrating the
opening goal for the home side
It was Costa's (left) initial shot that caused the opening goal as Blues owner Abramovich (right) celebrates the first goal
The Chelsea squad celebrate taking an early lead in their Champions League group stage encounter with Portuguese side Porto
He
was a threat early on, drawing a decent save out of Thibaut Courtois
before he, along with his team-mates, were simply over-run by Chelsea.
Nemanja Matic was the defensive shield, screening in front of the back
four and feeding the forward players with simple and effective short
passes. He tried nothing fancy here and it worked.
He left that to Oscar, drawing a booking for Porto’s clumsy right back Maxi Pereira when he nutmegged him in the left channel.
Oscar
oozed class, providing the first half’s magical moment when he traded
wall passes with Matic and read Willian’s back heel on the edge of the
area. The only thing missing was the finish.
The
biggest issue Wednesday night was Costa, who was booked for swinging a
leg at Casillas after the Porto keeper had safely rushed out of his goal
to gather a loose ball. Costa really can be a fool.
He
was eventually substituted five minutes from time, apparently with an
injury to his right knee, after another heavy touch when he was put
through one-on-one with Casillas again.
‘I
cannot fault him because his movement was excellent,’ added Mourinho.
‘You could feel the lack of confidence when he had a chance through on
goal. The goals are coming.
‘I took him off not because I was not happy, but because I wanted to be more dangerous in different areas.’
By
then Chelsea had sealed victory, scoring again after stepping it up at
the start of the second half. Willian was on a different level.
Costa
set up the first chance for Willian, but Casillas came to Porto’s
rescue with a decent save. He could do nothing about the next chance.
Porto captain Maicon vies for possession with Chelsea star Eden Hazard (right) in the Champions League Group G clash
Costa managed to collide with Porto keeper Casillas as tempers threatened to flair in a vital European night at Stamford Bridge
Costa was booked after a brief
altercation with fellow Spaniard Casillas (left) as Chelsea looked to
dominate the contest with Porto
Willian
took it, stretching this game in the 52nd minute when he beat the Porto
keeper with a low strike that beat Casillas at his left hand post.
After
that it was easy, pushing the ball around the pitch with precision and
purpose. Mourinho will need more of this in the coming weeks.
Porto
made a couple of changes in a lame, desperate attempt to salvage the
game when they brought on striker Vincent Aboubakar and Ruben Neves.
They were two down by then and it was too late.
This
was Chelsea’s night, returning to a little bit of form when it matters
most in the Champions League. When they play like this, life's a
breeze.
Wearing a protective mask, Chelsea's
Nemanja Matic (right) keeps his eye on the ball under the challenge of
Porto's Yacine Brahimi
Hazard sprints away with possession
with three Porto players in pursuit as Chelsea looked to secure progress
into the knockout stages
Costa is sent falling to the turf following a heavy shoulder barge from Danilo but the decision went in favour of the away side
Playmaker Oscar (left) controls the ball with Maicon keeping an eye on the Brazilian during the Champions League clash
Costa trudges off the Stamford Bridge pitch to a rapturous roar from the home crowd following his dogged performance
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (left) smiles and applauds after the victory sent Chelsea into the Champions League last 16
Tags
SOCCER