FC Porto 0 Chelsea 1

Chelsea beat FC Porto on their home patch in the first time in three attempts to claim victory in Group D. But, despite the victory, it wasn`t the greatest of matches.

Team News - A Carlo Ancelotti had implied during the pre-match interview there were several changes to the line-up with the match against Arsenal, on Sunday, very much on his mind.

Michael Essien, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole were all on the bench although perhaps one major surprise was to see the name of Didier Drogba on the team sheet. It had been expected that our leading scorer this season wouldn`t start in this game as he recovers from the rib injury sustained against Manchester United.

With Ashley Col eon the bench we were to witness the first start, in competitive action, of Yuri Zhirkov. However, those expecting our teenage sensation Gael Kakauta to at least be on the bench were disappointed as Ancelotti went with experience.

First Half - Chelsea got the action underway in the 'Dragons Den` but with both teams having qualified it has to be said the action lacked that cutting edge normally associated with the Champions League.

On reflection though it`ll be Porto who would consider they had the better chances with Belluschi twice testing Petr Cech. The first, a long range effort, saw Cech forced to push the ball away and the keeper then did well to block two efforts from rebounds. The second saw Cech beaten but the ball crashed against the cross bar from twenty yards out.

Chelsea looked to be content to keep the score at 0-0 and created very few clear cut chances. Early on both Anelka and Malouda dragged shots wide from distance and Beto, in the Porto goal, was forced to push away a swerving shot from Anleka from twenty-two yards out.

Chelsea forced three corners but with Deco delivering the ball the home defence coped okay. The first of the three drifted wide, the second saw Drogba head well wide and the third saw the keeper claim a clean catch.

Second Half - Porto got the second half underway and it was played at a slightly higher tempo. Fernandes received a yellow card for a foul on Drogba before Deco fired inches wide after an injection of pace from Anelka.

Chelsea were pushing forward but some dangerous looking balls, fizzed into the box, by Malouda and Zhirkov were not being met by Chelsea forwards. Porto introduced Hulk and he tested Cech with a shot from a very acute angle before volleying over from outside the box.

However, with sixty nine minutes gone and with Essien on for Ballack, Chelsea were to get that vital goal. Some good work saw the ball fed to Malouda and when his cross was delivered it was left to Anelka to score his sixth goal of the season.

Porto tried to get back on level terms but Cech saved well from Farias and Hulk and the three pints that confirmed us as group winners were ours.

Chelsea - Cech, Ivanovic Terry, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Mikel, Ballack (Essien-76), Malouda, Deco (J.Cole-76), Anelka, Drogba

Unused Subs - Turnbull, A.Cole, Kalou, Alex, Belletti,

Chelsea Scorers - Anelka

Chelsea Yellow Cards - Ballack

Chelsea Red Cards - Nil

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