Chelsea beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday as Jose Mourinho’s side won for the first time in five games in all competitions.
Aleksandar Dragovic scored an own goal to put Chelsea 1-0 up but then equalized himself in the second half to set up a nervy finish for the Blues. However, Willian bent in a marvelous free kick late on to seal the win as relief was the overriding emotion among the home fans in West London.
The victory means Chelsea sit second on seven points in Group G, three points behind leaders FC Porto with two games to go. If Chelsea win their next game away at Maccabi Tel-aviv they will seal qualification to the knockout stage.
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Chelsea started brightly with Ramires and Oscar having chances but both hit their efforts straight at the goalkeeper. Willian raced down the right wing with some great trickery and pulled a cross back which Kiev cleared but the Blues were in the ascendancy throughout the first half.
GOAL, Chelsea! It's an OG from Kiev's Dragovic, but Mourinho & Co. will take goals anyway they can. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/xoTnFu5Xgv
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 4, 2015
That pressure paid off in the 33rd minute as Willian crossed whipped in a great cross to the near post which saw Dragovic try to clear the danger but he headed into his own net. 1-0 to the Blues and it was exactly what they deserved. As half time arrived Chelsea’s defense seemed a little nervy as they started to give possession away, while at the other end Diego Costa wanted a penalty kick after appearing to be nudged off the ball when clean through on goal but replays showed he was looking for the PK.
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In the second half Kiev threatened but Kurt Zouma made a superb last ditch tackle as Kravetz looked to be clean through, then Yarmolenko’s shot deflected just wide of the post. Kiev continued to pile the pressure on Chelsea as the second half wore on but Zouma missed a great chance as Willian’s free kick found him at the back post but the French defender prodded wide.
Chelsea settled down a little as the second half wore on but it was far from convincing for Mourinho’s men -- it has to be said, the home fans got behind Mourinho and his side all game long -- as Kiev had plenty of chances to draw level with Junior Moraes inches away from heading home at the back post. In the 77th minute the equalizer arrived as a corner from the right found its way to Dragovic at the back post and the defender hammered home to make it 1-1 and in all honesty, it was exactly what Kiev deserved.
GOAL, Kiev! Dragovic makes up for his own goal, equalizes for Dynamo at Chelsea. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/rty5DdOHya
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 4, 2015
Eden Hazard and Pedro immediately came on as subs and six minutes after being pegged back the Blues won a free kick 25-yards out and Willian bent in a beauty to make it 2-1. Hazard made a real difference after coming on as he skinned a Kiev defender and pulled a great ball back for Costa but Dragovic cleared at the final moment. Hazard rifled another effort into the side-netting in stoppage time as Chelsea held on to claim all three points.
