FC Porto 0 - 1 Chelsea: Nicholas Anelka goal enough for lacklustre Chelsea to win the group

Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 22:44

NICOLAS Anelka stunned Porto for the second time this season as Chelsea recorded a win that will mean they finish top of Group D.

The French striker, who scored the winner when the two teams met at Stamford Bridge, stooped to head home a cross from Florent Malouda in the 69th minute. But overall it was another uninspiring performance from the Blues, who had the woodwork to thank in the first half when Fernando Belluschi's 25-yard effort smashed off the crossbar.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti had originally planned to leave Didier Drogba on the bench but he had recovered sufficiently from a chest injury to play from the start.

Yuri Zhirkov replaced Ashley Cole at left-back with Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Ballack all recalled to the side as expected.

There were many empty seats among the Porto sections of the ground and the atmosphere which accompanied the start of the game was hardly intimidating for Chelsea.

It was a low-key opening from both sides with very little goalmouth action.

Porto almost took the lead in the 20th minute with their first real attack of the game. Fernando Belluschi's 25-yard drive was palmed into the path of Falcao by Petr Cech but the Chelsea goalkeeper redeemed himself with another fine save at the feet of the Porto forward.

Porto were unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 29th minute when Argentine Belluschi, playing his first game for a month, again tried his luck from 20 yards. This time his shot beat Cech in the Chelsea goal but rebounded off the crossbar to safety.

Chelsea were living dangerously but Porto did not appear to have the guile to create anything other than the occasional long-range effort.

Time and again Chelsea wasted the ball in good areas, with full-back Branislav Ivanovic one of the main culprits.

Chelsea had made a much better start to the second half, with more purpose about Chelsea's play now.

In the 67th minute Chelsea replaced the ineffective Ballack with Michael Essien, with Ancelotti anxious to add some drive to a rather lacklustre midfield.

It brought instant results, although not from Essien. Yury Zhirkov broke down the left and his pass found Malouda inside the penalty area. The winger's cross found the head of Anelka for his third goal of the European campaign. It was enough to secure three points.