Nordsjaelland 0 - 4 Chelsea: Mata brace gives Chelsea victory

Published on 03/10/2012 00:00

IN THE end, it was a walk in the Parken as Chelsea scored three times in the final 11 minutes last night to get their Champions League defence up and running in earnest against their Danish opponents.

Juan Mata continued his amazing recent form with his third goal in three games, but it took a superb free-kick by David Luiz to open the floodgates as Mata and Ramires sent the European champions top of Group E.

Before that, there were as many questions as answers at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen as Chelsea almost let another lead slip two weeks after blowing a two-goal advantage to draw their opening match against Juventus.

Frank Lampard returned to the starting XI for the first time since then, captaining the side in the absence of the rested John Terry. The 34-year-old cleverly set up Mata’s opener , showing great vision in feeding Mata to slot home.

Nordsjaelland assumed control after the interval and Mikkel Beckmann sent a looping header just over from Okore’s long ball. Petr Cech only parried Nicolai Stokholm’s swerving 25-yarder and Beckmann screwed Parkhurst’s cross wide. Then Cech brilliantly saved John’s curler onto the post and Cole was on hand to block Beckmann’s rebound.

But from a Chelsea free kick 11 minutes from time, Luiz swerved a vicious shot in off the inside of the near post.

It was game over three minutes later when the champions’ best move of the match ended with a lucky break off a defender, with Mata stroking home.

And there was still time for Ramires to put gloss on the scoreline by tapping home Oscar’s cross.

Nordsjaelland: Hansen, Parkhurst, Okore, Runje, Mtiliga, Adu, Stokholm, Lorentzen, Nordstrand, John, Beckmann. Subs: Villadsen, Christiansen, Christensen, Gundelach, Laudrup, Ticinovic, Petry Andersen.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Moses, Oscar, Mata, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Mikel, Hazard, Terry, Azpilicueta, Bertrand.