Chelsea 3 - 1 Sporting

11.12.2014 14:00

Chelsea rounded off their Champions League group stage with a fourth victory and denied Sporting Lisbon qualification for the knockout stages.

Cesc Fabregas put the home side ahead early on with a penalty after Filipe Luis had been fouled by Ricardo Esgaio.

Andre Schurrle doubled the lead soon after with a low right-foot strike.

Sporting pulled a goal back in the second half through Jonathan Silva, before John Mikel Obi tapped in from a Fabregas free-kick to secure the win.

With Chelsea already guaranteed qualification as group winners, Jose Mourinho made six changes to the side which lost 2-1 against Newcastle on Saturday, resting the likes of Willian, John Terry and Eden Hazard.

However, he named a strong side with Nemanja Matic returning to midfield following suspension and goalkeeper Petr Cech captain in his third Champions League appearance of the season.

Among the substitutes was England Under-19 midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 18, who made his club debut replacing Fabregas in the closing stages.

Sporting - who began the night in second place in Group G and needing a draw to progress to the last 16 - were without on-loan Manchester United winger Nani, due to a thigh injury.

It wasn't long before Chelsea took the lead from Fabregas' penalty.

Filipe Luis was clumsily brought down just inside the area by Sporting right-back Esgaio and Fabregas slotted the ball down the middle past goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Chelsea doubled their advantage as Schurrle collected a square ball from Matic 20 yards out, his driving right-foot strike finding the bottom left-hand corner of Patricio's goal.

Sporting gave themselves a lifeline moments after the interval when Silva's neat chest down and right-foot shot beat Cech low to his right from inside the penalty area.

But the home side's two-goal advantage was restored when Mikel got on the end of a Fabregas free-kick as Sporting failed to clear the ball across goal.

Sporting missed out on a place in the last 16 by a point after Schalke - managed by Champions League-winning Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo - won 1-0 away at Slovenian side Maribor.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho speaking on Sky Sports: "We were very focused and serious. I'm happy with that. I feel sorry for Sporting, I would have liked them to qualify.

"The win was important. It was a good reaction to losing at Newcastle and a good chance for players to have more minutes. I'm happy with many things we did.

"We have a good squad. It was a game without pressures - it was quite an easy game to play.

"Andre Schurrle is in my plans when he's in top form. He came back from Germany duty very ill. It's taken him time to recover. He needs to adapt better to the Premier League."

(BBC)

ANN.Az

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