Champions League Group G, Sammy Ofer Stadium – Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 Chelsea 4 (Cahill 20, Willian 73, Oscar 77, Zouma 90+1′)
Chelsea moved to the top of Champions League Group G with a comfortable 4-0 success away to 10-man Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
The Blues took the lead on 20 minutes when Gary Cahill fired in a poacher’s goal after his initial header had been brilliantly tipped onto the post by Predrag Rajkovic.
It was no more than Jose Mourinho’s side deserved as they overcame a slow start to dominate the proceedings, with their hopes further enhanced by the straight red card shown to their former defender, Tal Ben Haim just before the interval for a wild kick at Diego Costa.
Despite that loss, Maccabi almost levelled after the break with Eli Dasa and Eran Zahavi going close before Willian sealed victory with a delicious free kick just seconds after John Terry was stretchered off following an awkward fall.
Oscar added a third with a bullet header from Baba Rahman’s pinpoint cross before Kurt Zouma powered home in stoppage time as Maccabi tired.
Chelsea must now avoid defeat at home to Porto on matchday six to ensure they get out of the group after Dynamo Kiev’s surprise win in Portugal prevented the West Londoners from qualifying for the last 16 with a game to spare.
[RELATED: Jose Mourinho turns groundsman to save Maccabi Tel Aviv’s woeful pitch]
TWEET
KEY MOMENTS
2′ – MACCABI TEL AVIV CHANCE! Dor Poretz heads over from less than six yards out with the goal gaping after Chelsea had been exposed down the right.
20′ – GOAL! Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-1 Chelsea. The visitors lead. Gary Cahill pounces to tap home the rebound after Rajkovic had pushed his initial header from the right-wing corner onto the post.
40′ – RED CARD! Tal Ben Haim has been given his marching orders against his old club. He has two wild kicks at Costa and looks aghast at what he has done.
50′ – MACCABI TEL AVIV CHANCE! Dasa races free into the right side of the Chelsea area and sizzles in a first-time shot from a narrow angle that Begovic is forced to block behind.
72′ – TERRY INJURY! The Blues are forced into a change. Terry, sitting on a stretcher, is taken off following an awkward fall. Zouma on.
73′ – GOAL! Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-2 Chelsea. Willian steps up and curls a delicious 25-yard free kick into Rajkovic’s right-hand corner. The keeper was nowhere near it.
77′ – GOAL! Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-3 Chelsea. It’s all over. Rahman curves a lovely cross into the box for Oscar who powers a header beyond the keeper.
90+1′ – GOAL! Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-4 Chelsea. The Blues rub salt in the home side’s wounds as Zouma thunders a header into the net from a right-wing corner via the keeper’s leg.
KEY STATS
Chelsea win their first CL away in nearly a year. Their last away win prior to today was the 5-0 at Schalke 04 on 25 November 2014.
Maccabi Tel Aviv lose their fifth match this CL season. Olympique Marseille and Viktoria Plzen (both 2013/14) were the last teams to lose their opening five matches of a CL campaign.
All four of Willian’s CL goals this season have come from a direct free kick. Since the 2007/08 CL season, no player has scored more than three goals from a direct free kick in a single CL season (Cristiano Ronaldo three free kick goals in 2009/10).
Gary Cahill has scored exactly once in each of the last four Champions League seasons
Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada
TALKING POINT
Will Chelsea qualify? The Blues had hoped to avoid a nervy home match against FC Porto on December 9 but Dynamo Kiev’s 2-0 success at FC Porto means qualification is still up for grabs in Group G. A Chelsea draw should be enough to progress to the last 16 but they are still not firing on all cylinders despite an emphatic scoreline here. Kiev will be expected to beat Maccabi in their final game so Mourinho and co MUST avoid defeat to avoid dropping into the Europa League. In previous years you’d be confident Chelsea would get the job done but it’s not gone to plan so far in 15-16 and it could yet prove to be a banana skin that would really add to Jose’s woes.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Willian (Chelsea): In a season where Chelsea have struggled for consistency, the midfielder has been a shining light. Hard work, industry, assists and crucial goals. His set pieces have been a key feature in Chelsea’s attempts to turn their campaign around and there’s no doubt he has been their stand-out performer so far.
PLAYER RATINGS
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Rajković 7, Dasa 6, Ben Harush 6, Ben Haim 4, Carlos García 6, Alberman 6, Zahavi 6, Rikan 6, Igiebor 5, Peretz 5, Ben Chaim 5. Subs: Azulay n/a, Ben Baset n/a, Itzhaki n/a.
Chelsea: Begovic 7; Azpilicueta 7, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Baba Rahman 8; Fabregas 6, Matic 6; Willian 8, Oscar 8, Hazard 7; Diego Costa 6. Subs: Pedro 6, Zouma 6, Remy 6.
MATCH IN A TWEET
TWEET
Eurosport – Paul Hassall – 11/24/15, 9:38 PM
