Chelsea 2-0 Porto: Pressure lifted as Jose Mourinho's men march into the Champions League knockout stages top of their group

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.

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.

Maicon's clearance was clearly over the goal-line and the lead was eventually confirmed for Jose Mourinho's side in the 12th minute

 Chelsea striker Diego Costa (right) is congratulated by team-mates after his break forward led to the opening goal at Stamford Bridge

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.  

 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

 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

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.

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. 

 

Fan lending mourinho support

Chelsea owner Celebrate Chelsea first Goal as Costa Goal deflected





Dailymail.