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Chelsea Cruise Into UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals

 

Chelsea cruised into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a straightforward 2-0 win (3-1 on aggregate) over Galatasaray at Stamford Bridge.

The hosts got the evening off to a dream start as Samuel Eto’o fired them in front after just four minutes, beating the offside trap to latch onto Oscar’s through ball as his strike was too strong for the hand of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Chelsea continued to control proceedings but had little joy in front of goal, with Eden Hazard, Willian and John Terry all spurning chances, but Gary Cahill doubled the scoreline just before the break, slamming home from close-range after Muslera pushed Terry’s header into his path.

The visitors rarely threatened and Didier Drogba was largely subdued on a frustrating Chelsea return. The Blues came close to extending their lead late on as Muslera denied Hazard and then substitute Fernando Torres with smart saves on a comfortable evening for Jose Mourinho’s men.

Mourinho warned of a dangerous tie poised 1-1 after the first leg in Istanbul three weeks ago, but four minutes into the second leg his side regained the advantage before advancing into the last-eight draw with ease – 3-1 on aggregate.

Drogba, scorer of 157 goals in 341 appearances over eight years for the Blues, including the decisive penalty in the 2012 European Cup win, was expected to be the main protagonist of the contest.

But it was another 30-something African striker who found the net with the first attack as, for once, the Ivorian faded into the background on the big occasion, with Eden Hazard the outstanding forward on display.

Eto’o showed his predatory instinct to fire the Blues in front at the end of a move started by Hazard and although Chelsea were unable to add to their tally, they did not need to.

Roberto Mancini’s visitors were a distant second best throughout and offered up little resistance as the former Manchester City manager’s return to England ended in a limp loss.

Chelsea – and Hazard, in particular – were finding holes in the visiting defence and Felipe Melo was booked after a series of fouls, usually on his fellow Brazilians.