Shakhtar Donetsk 2 - 1 Chelsea: Shakhtar punish Chelsea errors as Terry return soured

Published on 23/10/2012 22:37

JOHN Terry’s Chelsea return went awry as the European champions crashed to their first major defeat of the season at Shakhtar Donetsk.

Shakhtar Donetsk: Teixeira (3), Fernandinho (52)

Chelsea: Oscar (88)

Att: 50,000

The Blues were ruthlessly punished by Alex Teixeira and Fernandinho goals despite 
Oscar’s late consolation, as 
Shakhtar deservedly took charge of Champions League Group E in the first of what could be a crucial double-header.

Chelsea were spared dropping out of the qualification places by Juventus’ shock draw at Nordsjaelland, but they will need to do much better at Stamford Bridge in two weeks to avoid doing so.

Terry’s first appearance since accepting his racism ban got off to the worst possible start as he unwittingly set up Shakhtar’s opener inside three minutes, but he was arguably the least culpable Chelsea player on a night which cost the Barclays Premier League leaders dearly and a risible performance from Fernando Torres scuppered their hopes of a comeback.

The defeat was their first since their UEFA Super Cup thrashing by Atletico Madrid and the performance was almost as alarming at times as they were carved open by an outstanding 
Shakhtar side.

Shakhtar have not lost for exactly 11 months while winning their last 21 league games. And the home side scored from their first attack after two minutes and 53 seconds, Luiz Adriano’s shot hitting Terry’s elbow and falling perfectly for Teixeira to slot past a helpless Petr Cech.

Torres’ weak hooked volley from Branislav Ivanovic’s cross summed up a half in which he proved a real liability, a theme that continued after the restart.

Chelsea were otherwise looking capable of equalising, Juan Mata firing over after good work from Hazard, who immediately produced a gaffe to gift Shakhtar their second goal in the 52nd minute. He was pickpocketed in the centre-circle by Fernandinho, who fed Adriano, who raced goalwards to slot past Cech.

Oscar set up a tense finish two minutes from time when he swept home Ivanovic’s cross.

Shakhtar: Pyatov, Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Rat, Hubschman, Fernandinho, Teixeira (Ilsinho 82), Mkhitaryan, Willian (Douglas Costa 88), Luiz Adriano. Subs not used: Kanibolotskiy, Stepanenko, Eduardo, Gai, Kryvtsov.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole, Oscar, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard (Hazard 18), Mata, Torres (Sturridge 70). Subs not used: Turnbull, Romeu, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Bertrand.