Didier Drogba scored his first goal since rejoining Chelsea as they cruised to a comprehensive 6-0 Champions League victory over Maribor this evening.
The Ivorian replaced the injured Loic Remy, who had earlier opened the scoring, to convert from the spot before John Terry put the Blues three up at Stamford Bridge.
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A second-half own goal from Mitja Viler and an Eden Hazard brace increased Chelsea's advantage further as they consolidated top spot in Group G in emphatic fashion.
It was the Slovenian visitors who threatened first as Damjan Bohar headed narrowly over a Chelsea goal being kept by Petr Cech, who was recalled to give number one Thibaut Courtois a rest.
Jose Mourinho's side soon took control and, having previously shot straight at Maribor stopper Jasmin Handanovic from a Willian through-ball, Remy chased down a Terry pass before cutting inside to place a precise left-footed shot into the bottom corner on 15 minutes.
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However, the Frenchman injured himself in the process and was replaced by Drogba, who was soon given the opportunity to join Remy on the scoresheet when Ales Mertelj handled inside the box.
The 36-year-old buried his spot kick with aplomb for his first Chelsea goal since scoring the crucial equaliser in their Champions League final triumph of 2012 - the last game of his first Blues spell.
His long-time teammate Terry put the hosts in complete command when he made an unchecked surge up the pitch to finish off a Chelsea counter-attack involving Cesc Fabregas and Hazard on 31 minutes.
Maribor held out until the interval, but conceded again nine minutes after the restart when Hazard passed up a good opportunity for himself by knocking a Filipe Luis cross against Viler and in at the far post.
With Remy having already limped off, Mourinho took no further injury risks and spared Fabregas and Oscar the final minutes in London ahead of their match with Manchester United this weekend.
Chelsea's dominance continued, but a rare lapse of concentration from Nemanja Matic gifted Maribor the chance for a reply, only for Agim Ibraimi to see the spot kick which he had earned strike the woodwork.
Hazard would not be so wasteful from 12 yards, sending the keeper the wrong way to extend Chelsea's lead to five after Branislav Ivanovic bought a penalty under minimal contact from Marko Suler.
The Belgian completed the rout in stoppage time by collecting Nathan Ake's lofted ball to twist past two defenders and power home as the Blues recorded their biggest ever Champions League victory.
Joe Fish
