MX23RW : Monday, November 25 10:18:32| >> :60:1010:1010:
[monks data]
Chelsea logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 9, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Porto

2-0

Marcano (12' og.), Willian (52')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Chelsea sink Porto to advance

An Ivan Mercano own goal and a strike from Willian are enough to give Chelsea a 2-0 win over Porto and secure their progression to the last 16 of the Champions League.

A refreshed Chelsea side booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Porto at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Loic Remy celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group G football match between Chelsea and Porto at Stamford Bridge in London on December 9, 2015.© Getty Images

Jose Mourinho's side took the lead early on in front of the Shed End in slightly fortuitous circumstances when Diego Costa latched on to Eden Hazard's through-ball.

As the Spanish striker bore down on goal, his shot deflected off Iker Casillas and into the unwitting Ivan Mercano, who couldn't prevent the ball from deflecting into the back of the net, despite the best efforts of Maicon to clear it.

Costa, back in the Chelsea side and prowling the pitch with typical menace, then picked up a booking for a needless trip on the Porto goalkeeper.

However, the Chelsea forward showed all his best qualities in Chelsea's second goal as he held up the ball before playing in Hazard, who picked out Willian on the edge of the area.

From there the Brazilian winger, who has been in excellent goal-scoring form this season, drilled a low effort inside the near post.

The lively Hazard then broke quickly and sent Costa through on goal with a defence-splitting pass, but just as Costa was set to pull the trigger, Danilo Pereira bundled him off the ball.

Jose Mourinho, Manager of Chelsea makes a point during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Chelsea FC and FC Porto at Stamford Bridge on December 9, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. © Getty Images

Porto manager Julen Lopetegui rang the changes late on in a bid to salvage something from the game, and they almost pulled one back when substitute Cristian Tello's effort from the edge of the box was tipped around the post by Thibaut Courtois.

However, the damage had already been done, and Hazard almost put the gloss on a comfortable Chelsea victory when he burst into the box and crashed an effort against the near post in the dying minutes.

The result means that Chelsea finish top of Group G, with 13 points from their six games.

ID:261427: cacheID:261427:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4998:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea celebrates the opening goal scored by Pedro of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea at The Hawthorns on August 23, 2015
Read Next:
Courtois: 'Europa League embarrassing'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!