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Chelsea have gone top of the group E when the Blues defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 last night at the Stamford Bridge. David Luiz opened the score the hosts after one hour, while newly arrived Juan Mata, who has already won his place at Chelsea, impressed with a second one in the last minute.
Fernando Torres, who was probed over wide criticism on his ‘slow’ team mates, washed away his sins in front of coach Villas Boas with two assists which finally attracted Portuguese’s forgiveness. Chelsea had a strong start as Torres picked the first chance in the second minute. The Spaniard was picked on the edge of the box only to volley it wide over the bar.
Bayer were denied a goal in the third minute. The Germans won a corner on the left Simon Rolfes headed it past keeper Czech, the goal being disallowed for a foul in attack. Chelsea, too, were refused a goal for an offside after Torres’ shot was interfered by Meireles who eclipsed the beaten keeper.
Two minutes later Torres was shown a yellow card for a tough challenge on Rolfes. The Spaniard replied with a dangerous finish in the tenth minute keeper Leno managed to save at the death. Mata picked his conational inside the box only to waste the golden chance.
Daniel Sturridge was sued as a replacement for injured Didier Drogba who was in the stands all game long. The striker tried his luck with a range shot Leno tipped away. Bayer first picked a yellow card in the 40th minute through Gonzalo Castro who took down Mata just outside the box.
The first half ended with Ivanovic’s header. Mata beat his mark to deliver a perfect cross for the Serb whose finish was blocked by the same Leno who managed to keep the sheet clean throughout the entire first term.
Ten minutes into the second part, Torres mocked a big chance following Malouda’s cross which the Spaniard headed poorly and straight at the keeper. On the other side, Leverkusen neared the opener two minutes later through the former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack who beat the offside trap but not Cech, too.
David Luiz also conceded a yellow card in the 60th minute for a foul on Schurrle. Cech provided yet another big save three minutes later. Kiessling picked Schurrle in good position only to be blocked by a vigilant Cech who cleared the air in what could have been a valid opener.
But Luiz, who made his first appearance after a long term recovery, broke the ice and scored the first one for Chelsea in the 66th minute. The Brazilian started a personal action in the middle of the pitch the finish of which saw Torres pick him back on the edge of the box for a well placed shot into the far post.
Anelka neared the second one in the 72nd minute following a poor defending from the Germans who allowed the Frenchman to control the ball and feed Torres in good position. The Spaniard then played Mata whose finish went wide to the dismay of Andre Villas Boas.
Mata missed yet another big opportunity one minute later. Anelka fed the former Valencia player inside the box but his header was shaved by Leno who gifted the hosts a corner. Leverkusen replaced Sam with Eren Derdiyok in the 74th minute. Just one minute after being introduced, Derdiyok received a yellow card for a foul on Malouda.
David Luiz made way for Alex in the 77th minute while Bayer introduced Balitsch for Bender two minutes later. An offside disallowed Anelka’s second goal in the 82nd minute as Chelsea were desperately chasing the clear win. Mata did bring the second one in the last minute of extra time following a superb action on the left developed by Torres who beat two marks before feeding unmarked Mata who put it home into the empty net.
Said the 31 year old Malouda after the win: “We had a tough opposition. Leverkusen played very well I think in the first half we had possession but had to be patient. Until we scored the first we were not sure to win so had to push them hard, and that’s what we did… For me it was a perfect match, a perfect start and we have to carry on.”
Chelsea lead the group E with three points, being followed by Valencia CF and Racing Genk with one point. Bayer lie foot of the table and will next host Racing on September 28. Chelsea visit Mata’s former side Valencia the same day in what is expected to be the first big derby of the group stage.
Chelsea – Cech; Cole, David Luiz, Ivanovic, Bosingwa; Mikel; Malouda, Raul Meireles, Mata, Sturridge, Torres. Reserves: Paulo Ferreira, N. Anelka, F. Lampard, Hilario, S. Kalou, J. McEachran, Alex.
Bayer Leverkusen – Leno; Castro, Reinartz, Toprak, Kadlec; Rolfes; Bender, Ballack, Schurrle, Sam; Keissling. Reserves: K. Bellarabi, H. Balitsch, M. Friedrich, D. Yelldell, D. Schwaab, E. Derdiyok, R. Augusto.
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