Chelsea thrash Maccabi to go top
Chelsea move joint top of Group G in the Champions
League after a comfortable win at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Gary Cahill poked home the opener after his initial header
was saved, before ex-Chelsea player Tal Ben Haim was sent
off for a wild lunge on Diego Costa.
Willian added a second from a free-kick, before headers
from Oscar and Kurt Zouma wrapped up the win.
Dynamo Kiev's win against Porto means Chelsea need a
point in their final group game to reach the last 16.
The Blues, level on 10 points with Porto and two ahead of
Dynamo Kiev, host the Portuguese side at Stamford Bridge
on 9 December.
A big win, but room for improvement
Mourinho believes his side are beginning to get their
confidence back after a dismal start to the season but,
despite taking an early lead through Cahill, it took until the
73rd minute before the Blues made the game safe.
For all their patient build-up Chelsea fell short in final third,
prompting Mourinho to cut an increasingly frustrated figure
on the touchline.
Chelsea have
won three of
their last 11
away games in
the Champions
League
Willian, who was always dangerous from set-pieces, enabled
Mourinho to breathe easy and from then on the fight
evaporated from the hosts, allowing Oscar and substitute
Zouma to add gloss to the scoreline.
In the end, it was a comfortable win, but Mourinho will know
his side will need to show more in their crucial clash with
Porto to ensure they get the result they need to progress.
Oscar's goal
was the only
one in the
game to come
from open play
Willian key for Chelsea
Once again, a number of Chelsea's big players failed to
impress.
Eden Hazard struggled to stamp his authority on the game,
while Costa was unable trouble home keeper Predrag
Rajkovic.
Mourinho certainly appeared unhappy with Costa's first-half
performance, with the two having an exchange of words as
they made their way to the tunnel at the break while Loic
Remy was sent out to warm up.
Willian, though, stood out. The midfielder has been
impressive from set-pieces all season and it was from his
corner that Chelsea scored their first, before his second-half
strike took his tally from free-kicks this season to six - the
most of any player in Europe's top five leagues.
Man of the match - Willian
Willian has
scored six free-
kicks from 12
attempts this
season
What the manager said
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, speaking to BT Sport: "The
win is very important, especially with what happened in
Porto (a 2-0 loss to Dynamo Kiev). We really needed to win
this match.
"It is also an important two victories in a few days. I hope
confidence comes.
"It was important because we went a lot time without
consecutive victories. To do that is great."
League after a comfortable win at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Gary Cahill poked home the opener after his initial header
was saved, before ex-Chelsea player Tal Ben Haim was sent
off for a wild lunge on Diego Costa.
Willian added a second from a free-kick, before headers
from Oscar and Kurt Zouma wrapped up the win.
Dynamo Kiev's win against Porto means Chelsea need a
point in their final group game to reach the last 16.
The Blues, level on 10 points with Porto and two ahead of
Dynamo Kiev, host the Portuguese side at Stamford Bridge
on 9 December.
A big win, but room for improvement
Mourinho believes his side are beginning to get their
confidence back after a dismal start to the season but,
despite taking an early lead through Cahill, it took until the
73rd minute before the Blues made the game safe.
For all their patient build-up Chelsea fell short in final third,
prompting Mourinho to cut an increasingly frustrated figure
on the touchline.
Chelsea have
won three of
their last 11
away games in
the Champions
League
Willian, who was always dangerous from set-pieces, enabled
Mourinho to breathe easy and from then on the fight
evaporated from the hosts, allowing Oscar and substitute
Zouma to add gloss to the scoreline.
In the end, it was a comfortable win, but Mourinho will know
his side will need to show more in their crucial clash with
Porto to ensure they get the result they need to progress.
Oscar's goal
was the only
one in the
game to come
from open play
Willian key for Chelsea
Once again, a number of Chelsea's big players failed to
impress.
Eden Hazard struggled to stamp his authority on the game,
while Costa was unable trouble home keeper Predrag
Rajkovic.
Mourinho certainly appeared unhappy with Costa's first-half
performance, with the two having an exchange of words as
they made their way to the tunnel at the break while Loic
Remy was sent out to warm up.
Willian, though, stood out. The midfielder has been
impressive from set-pieces all season and it was from his
corner that Chelsea scored their first, before his second-half
strike took his tally from free-kicks this season to six - the
most of any player in Europe's top five leagues.
Man of the match - Willian
Willian has
scored six free-
kicks from 12
attempts this
season
What the manager said
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, speaking to BT Sport: "The
win is very important, especially with what happened in
Porto (a 2-0 loss to Dynamo Kiev). We really needed to win
this match.
"It is also an important two victories in a few days. I hope
confidence comes.
"It was important because we went a lot time without
consecutive victories. To do that is great."
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