The Times

Nicolas Anelka’s strike gives Chelsea laboured victory
Chelsea 1 Porto 0

Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent


Roman Abramovich has another holy grail to obsess him after a week in
which he was forced to abandon a planned ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Back at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s latest crusade in the Champions
League began with the first faltering steps on the long road to the
final in Madrid next May.

Faltering? Only in the sense that their performance dipped in the
final half-hour, after Nicolas Anelka had put them ahead. But Carlo
Ancelotti, understandably, was content with a sixth victory in as many
games in charge of Chelsea, a result that heightened the perception
that his team, even when playing below their best, will be a force to
be reckoned with once more this season.

Given that Chelsea routinely sail through group stages, victory in
their opening game is no basis on which to judge Ancelotti, but the
former AC Milan coach is entitled to a share of the credit for the way
in which his team overcame a talented Porto side. Their progress was
never entirely convincing, but the breakthrough, three minutes into
the second half, came when Anelka was sent clear of the Porto defence
by the persistence of Salomon Kalou, who had been pushed farther
forward by his Italian coach as part of a tactical reshuffle at the
interval.

As such, it would seem trite to pick holes in Chelsea’s performance.
Yes, they missed Didier Drogba, starting a three-game suspension for
his outburst at the referee after his team missed out on last season’s
final in agonising circumstances against Barcelona in May, and yes,
they could have been punished for the way they retreated in the
closing stages, whether out of caution or fatigue, but Porto are a
strong team who impressed in drawing 2-2 at Old Trafford in the
quarter-final, first leg last season. Not until Fernando was sent off
in the third minute of stoppage time, for a second bookable offence,
did they accept that this would not be their night.

In that sense, this was probably the toughest match Chelsea have faced
under Ancelotti. Porto are the antithesis of Stoke City, who were
defeated on Saturday by a stoppage-time goal from Florent Malouda, but
they are not a team to be taken lightly.

Nor are they a soft touch, as John Terry will testify, having been
knocked out cold at one point in the first half by an elbow from Bruno
Alves and been given an extensive examination in defence by Hulk, the
23-year-old Brazilian forward whose dubious moniker should become
better known in the coming years.

One hundred and thirty-two days had passed since Andrés Iniesta
plunged a dagger into Chelsea hearts with the stoppage-time goal that
sent Barcelona to the final and sparked the furious reaction, led by
Drogba, at Tom Henning Ovrebo, the Norwegian referee.

The pain from that elimination cannot be said to have healed and, as a
series of half-chances went begging in the first half last night and a
succession of menacing crosses from Branislav Ivanovic went
unrewarded, the hangover seemed destined to drag on.

Relief came three minutes into the second half when Kalou, taking up a
more central position, forced the ball through to Anelka. The France
forward’s first attempt was saved by Helton, the Porto goalkeeper, but
he was quickest to the loose ball, which he dispatched into the top
corner, prompting Ancelotti to smile for the first time all evening.

Kalou had two headed chances to extend Chelsea’s lead, the first sent
wide from Ashley Cole’s cross and the second saved by Helton after
Ivanovic attacked down the opposite flank. But from that moment on,
Porto took the initiative and Joe Cole, back on the Chelsea bench for
the first time since suffering cruciate knee ligament damage in
January, when Luiz Felipe Scolari was in the dugout, must have sensed
that he would have to wait a little longer for his comeback.

With nine minutes remaining, Álvaro Pereira got behind Ivanovic and
crossed to the edge of the penalty area, where Silvestre Varela, with
a downward volley, forced Petr Cech into an awkward, scrambling save.
In stoppage time, Pereira crossed again and this time Falcao, diving
to reach the ball six yards out, narrowly missed making a connection.

That was as good as it got for Porto. Within 30 seconds, Fernando, the
central defender, had been sent off and Chelsea, finally, could relax.
Their latest ascent is off to a successful start, but, as Abramovich
will know, it is a long way to the summit.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole —
M Ballack, M Essien — S Kalou (sub: J Belletti, 77min), F Lampard, F
Malouda — N Anelka. Substitutes not used: R Turnbull, S Hutchinson, J
Bruma, J Cole, D Sturridge, F Borini. Booked: Essien, Malouda.

Porto (4-3-3): Helton — Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Álvaro Pereira —
F Guarín, Fernando, Raul Meireles — M González (sub: Falcao, 54),
Hulk, C Rodríguez (sub: S Varela, 64). Substitutes not used: Nuno,
Maicon, C Sapunaru, F Belluschi, T Costa. Sent off: Fernando. Booked:
Fernando, Rolando.

Referee: K Plautz (Austria).



----------------------------------------------------



Telegraph:


Chelsea 1 Porto 0:

By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge


Totally in keeping with the monsoon conditions, Chelsea made heavy
weather of defeating Porto on Tuesday night. Nicolas Anelka steadied
local nerves, scoring a wonderful winner just after the break, but
this was hardly the regal first stride down the road to Madrid
expected under Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian has been brought in by Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich,
to get the bridesmaids of the Champions League to the altar and they
need to move more confidently up the aisle than this. Occasionally
wasteful in possession, occasionally far too narrow, Chelsea were
unimpressive, under siege for periods and ultimately reliant on the
defensive excellence of Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole in particular
to see them to safety.

The midfield balance was not right. Michael Essien is a dynamic
presence, driving forward from the deep but he lacks the Claude
Makélélé traits of sitting and holding, breaking up opposition moves
and calmly transferring the ball to the likes of Frank Lampard. Essien
also charged upfield, running into space that is usually such fertile
ground for Lampard.

But never mind the quality, feel the quantity of points collected and
Chelsea can also take heart from the welcome sight of Joe Cole on the
bench, following his long absence with a knee injury. In mitigation,
Chelsea can also point to the absence of the suspended Didier Drogba,
whose battering-ram strength would have brought more pressure on a
Porto defence ably organised by Bruno Alves, one of Europe’s most
accomplished centre-halves.

Yet Anelka made his mark, settling the game three minutes into the
second half. Salomon Kalou appeared to have miscontrolled the ball yet
managed to squeeze it through the middle into the path of Anelka, who
had timed his run well, staying just onside. Porto’s keeper, Helton,
saved well but was caught out by Anelka’s brilliant follow-up, the
ball swept between the Brazilian and his left-hand upright.

Chelsea hardly deserved the lead. During the first half, Ancelotti’s
side endured awkward times, their composure not helped by a tactical
system that meant the wide players, Kalou and Florent Malouda tucked
inside. Chelsea sought width from Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic
and both full-backs produced a few crosses. Lampard did meet one
Ivanovic delivery with a powerful header punched away by Helton.

Chelsea suffered a nervy moment on their next visit to Helton’s area.
Rising for the ball, John Terry took a forearm in the face from Bruno
Alves and fell to the sodden earth, lying immobile for a worrying
minute. Natural gladiator that he is, Terry soon recovered, waving
away the stretcher, hobbling to the touchline before resuming his
battle with Hulk.

Porto’s deft centre-forward kept running strongly at Chelsea’s
defence, imperiously holding off Terry at one point and then demanding
a save from Petr Cech. Hulk’s threat became so substantial that Essien
foolishly dived in on Porto’s No 12, earning a caution.

Some of Porto’s slick, counter-attacking football left Chelsea groggy.
Brazil’s Hulk buzzed around, Colombia’s Fredy Guarin kept raiding
through the middle, even heading just over, while Uruguay’s Fucile
charged forward from right-back, keeping Ashley Cole on his toes. At
times, it seemed like half of Latin America was rolling towards Cech’s
box.

Fucile also showed Porto’s defensive resilience, sliding in to
dispossess Kalou with only Helton exposed just before the break. No
matter, Anelka soon struck. The lead seized, Chelsea should really
have doubled their advantage 10 minutes later. When Ivanovic cut the
ball back, the unmarked Kalou directed his header too close to Helton
who saved.

Porto’s coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, introduced a famous name, Falcao,
through the middle, pushing Hulk out to the left where he began to
send beads of sweat mixing with the rain on Ivanovic’s forehead.
Bustling into Chelsea’s area, Hulk was denied only by a skilled piece
of defending by Carvalho, the former Porto player reading the danger
well, timing his interception to perfection.

Down the other end, Silvestre Varela slid in athletically to take the
ball off Ashley Cole’s toes. The game was opening up, both defences
becoming stretched. If Kalou had showed an element of calm, he could
have settled this game midway through the second half, ending the
growing anxiety. With 15 minutes remaining, Ancelotti acted, removing
Kalou, sending on Juliano Belletti to stiffen midfield. The move
resembled a declaration by Chelsea’s coach, the Italian clearly
wanting to close the game down.

But Porto really went for it, pouring in orange waves towards Cech.
Hulk cut in again from the left and sent the ball into the
side-netting. Carvalho slid in to nick the ball away from the flying
feet of Varela. Guarin shot goalwards but Cech saved. But Carvalho and
Ashley Cole stood firm. In clearing one attack, Cole was clattered by
Fernando, whose second yellow of the night brought expulsion.

Next up for Chelsea is Apoel away, followed by tricky home-and-away
tests against Atletico Madrid, then a trip to Porto before finishing
with Apoel at the Bridge. Chelsea will surely qualify but they need
Drogba back, the striker returning in Madrid, and must avoid
surrendering the ball so easily.




-----------------------------------------------


Independent:


Anelka fires but Chelsea miss Drogba

Chelsea 1 Porto 0

By Sam Wallace at Stamford Bridge



Didier Drogba shook the hands of a few supporters at the final whistle
and took his leave down the tunnel – which was a good deal more
dignified than his last Champions League exit on this ground. The
first big game without Drogba had been negotiated by Chelsea but no
one needed telling twice that this team is not the same without him.

The winning goal was scored by Nicolas Anelka, a delicate chipped
finish after his initial, fiercely-hit shot had been saved. For that
moment alone the finesse in front of goal that comes as standard with
Drogba was replicated but there were too many times when the decisive
touch of the big man from the Ivory Coast was badly missed.

That was why there was a frantic defensive action from Chelsea as
Porto tried their luck in the last 10 minutes when really Carlo
Ancelotti's team should have been comfortably home and dry. Dry was
not really the word on a night when west London was deluged with a
downpour so relentless that at times Chelsea's stars passed the ball
as if they were wearing the wrong boots on a devilishly slick surface.

A couple of miles north at Loftus Road, Queen's Park Rangers' game
against Crystal Palace was called off because of a waterlogged pitch
and the rain made no distinction between the Championship and the
Champions League. The conditions did not make it any easier for
Chelsea, they were not at their most fluent in their first group game
but they got the job done. Drogba will miss the next two Champions
League fixtures against APOEL and Atletico Madrid through suspension
for his outburst against Barcelona in May, but it will be his absence
for the African Cup of Nations in the new year that will hurt as well.
Anelka is not a bad replacement but on nights such as these Chelsea
really miss a centre-forward capable of putting the finishing touches
to periods of dominance.

It is the first small step on the long Champions League journey that
Chelsea have embarked upon in the previous six years in pursuit of the
one trophy that Roman Abramovich's money has not been able to buy.
They look no less equipped to win it than usual. You just have to
wonder where the goals would come from if the team was to lose Anelka
as well as Drogba.

As Porto pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages of the match,
their midfielder Fernando was sent off for a dismal tackle on Ashley
Cole that earned him a second booking. His was not the worst challenge
of the night – that dishonour belonged to the Porto right-back Fucile
whose two-footed lunge on Florent Malouda was so full-blooded that you
shudder to think of the damage had he made contact.

This Porto team bears no resemblance to the side that won the 2004
Champions League with Jose Mourinho. In fact, as Ricardo Carvalho, who
played in that team, pointed out before the game, there are more
veterans of that 2004 side at Chelsea than there are at Porto. Like
most summers, the Portuguese club have had to sell this year but they
are wily campaigners at this level and they kept Chelsea out in the
first half.

There was one iffy moment for Petr Cech in the first half when a shot
from Porto's Brazilian striker Hulk – Givanildo Vieira de Souza if you
want to be polite – looked so unpredictable that the goalkeeper saved
with his knees. Chelsea created plenty of chances. A header from Frank
Lampard stood out. When they were on their game, Chelsea weaved some
beautiful moves down the left wing, most notably an interchange
between Malouda and Lampard that presented Anelka with a chance that
he hit straight at Helton. Salomon Kalou might have done better –
Drogba surely would – when Lampard chested a ball in to his stride.

As Chelsea do when the game appears to be slipping away from them,
they scored. Three minutes after half-time, Kalou flicked the ball on
to Anelka whose first shot was saved by Helton. When the rebound came
back, the striker chipped his shot beautifully inside the near post.

It was hard on Helton, who had done more than any other in the Porto
team to keep his team in the game but Chelsea should have scored many
more. Their was an invitation to score a second 10 minutes later when
Branislav Ivanovic's cross found Kalou unmarked and his header forced
another great save from Helton.

There was no run-out for Joe Cole, on the substitutes' bench for the
first time since he ruptured his cruciate ligaments in January, but he
did get an exceptionally warm welcome from the Chelsea fans. He looked
over longingly at Ancelotti as the clock ran down. This has to be the
toughest midfield in the Premier League to break into, especially with
Malouda on such good form.

Porto's best chance was a volley that Silvestre Varela struck into the
ground and forced a good save out of Cech before Fernando was sent
off. It was strangely tense at the end but it often is when you fail
to take your chances.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Essien;
Kalou (Belletti, 77), Ballack, Lampard, Malouda; Anelka. Substitutes
not used: Turnbull (gk), J Cole, Sturridge, Hutchinson, Bruma, Borini.

Porto (4-3-3): Helton; Fucile, Rolando, B Alves, Pereira; Guarin,
Fernando, Meireles; Gonzalez (Falcao, 54), Hulk, Rodriguez (Varela,
64). Substitutes not used: Nuno (gk), Belluschi, Maicon, Costa,
Sapunaru.

Referee: K Plautz (Austria).



---------------------------------------------------


Guardian:


Nicolas Anelka gives Chelsea winning start against Porto

Chelsea 1 Anelka 48 FC Porto 0

Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge



Carlo Ancelotti, to his regret, cannot shake off his image as the
impresario of the Champions League. This awkward match at least
supplied him with more evidence that the tournament is full of strain
and doubt, no matter who happens to be in the dug-out.

As he so often did in the past with Milan, Ancelotti simply achieved
the desired result. He was not much of an orchestrator and the match
approached its end with Petr Cech pulling off a good save from the
substitute Silvestre Varela. Porto did not look wholly discouraged
until the midfielder Fernando was sent off, for a second yellow card,
in stoppage time.

Credit is due the visitors, but they were seldom forced to panic.
Didier Drogba, suspended for his outburst after last season's
Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, was badly missed. It is
no surprise that Chelsea should pine for a man who spreads terror so
liberally.

Victory was achieved, in any case, with a good goal from another
striker, Nicolas Anelka. This opening to Group D felt as if it
belonged to a far more advanced date in the Champions League calendar.
Domestic matches in this stadium seldom keep Cech so occupied.

John Terry also had to make decisive challenges. That was a reflection
of the shaky display that Chelsea gave. Passes went awry and the
fragmented showing left many gaps for Porto to explore. Joe Cole, who
has not played since January, is over his knee surgery and returned to
the bench here, but any notion that he could have an outing had to be
shelved.

This fixture was no place for a convalescent. The adjustment Ancelotti
did make was to remove the attacker Salomon Kalou and introduce the
more conservative Juliano Belletti. By then, Kalou had made his mark
by putting Anelka through in the 48th minute. Helton saved the first
effort but could not prevent the Frenchman from finding the net from
an angle with the rebound.

The goal had come in a spell where Chelsea raised the tempo while also
distributing the ball with some care. Their difficulties may have had
their origins in the enterprise of Porto. When Jesualdo Ferreira's
side came to London a year ago, they were routed 4-0 by Arsenal, but
considerable improvement followed.

Last night the team reminded you that they had run Manchester United
very close in last season's quarter-final, when it took a goal from
Cristiano Ronaldo at Estadio do Dragao to win the match. It would be
pleasing to think that a side from Portugal could once more hold its
own against clubs from wealthier nations. Atlético Madrid's goalless
draw at home to Apoel Nicosia will have heartened them.

Porto, after four successive domestic titles, ought to have faith in
themselves, but they were still prudent. Four of their new signings
were named purely as substitutes, despite the fact that the Colombian
striker Falcao had found his goal-scoring rhythm in the Portuguese
League.

Ferreira's team did have a settled air and there was enterprise as
well. They were ready to search for goal and Cech had to save well
from Hulk early in the match. The striker has an unpredictability
about him as well a sense of purpose. Terry had trouble containing
him, but the centre-half may also have been affected by a first-half
collision that left him dazed.

Ancelotti was right in his prediction that Porto would seek to attack
whenever possible. There was a balance to the game. Although Chelsea
did have a desire to assert themselves, they could not lay siege for
long because Porto continually took their opportunities to break.

When the moments of crisis did come in the first half, the visitors
reacted well. Helton coped with efforts by Frank Lampard and there was
a decisive tackle from Fucile on Kalou when it looked as if he would
burst through on goal.

Chelsea found the match taxing enough for Michael Essien and Florent
Malouda both to be booked early on. Essien had not seemed particularly
suited to the holding role in midfield, even though his sheer physical
presence ought to be a deterrent. Porto were full of hope and
confidence.

Considering the absence of several experienced Chelsea players, it was
no surprise to see an unchanged line-up emerge after the interval, but
there was a new focus and a spurt of energy. Porto, in any case, were
not allowed to regroup before Anelka had landed the critical blow.

Chelsea, with the advantage of the goal, could make this a more
conservative display. Ferreira's introduction of two substitutes,
including the predator Falcao, by the 64th minute confirmed that he
was obliged to reshape his approach. A lapse in the Chelsea back four
did give Falcao scope on the edge of the area but his attempt ran
straight to Cech.

If there had been neutrals present, some members of the crowd would
have been enjoying themselves. As it was, this match must have had an
uncomfortable grip on Chelsea fans.



-------------------------------------------------------


Mail:



Chelsea 1 Porto 0: Nicolas Anelka's the top dog in the absence of Didier Drogba

By Matt Lawton


Before Chelsea set their sights on the Champions League final Carlo
Ancelotti has identified as the minimum requirement for this season,
they need to remember how long and potentially perilous a road it is
to Madrid.

They made hard work of the first of their first-round encounters,
underestimating a Porto team that made it an anxious opening European
night for Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge.

In the end they got there, and it is a measure of their sheer quality,
solidity, professionalism and, in the case of John Terry, heroism
after withstanding an elbow in the face that they did.

After what must have been something of a dressing-down from Ancelotti
during the interval, Nicolas Anelka took little more than three
minutes to score what amounted to an excellent winning goal.

But for the opening 45 minutes and the concluding 20, Porto
demonstrated how they gave Manchester United a run for their money
last season and reminded Chelsea just how much they can struggle
without the suspended Didier Drogba.

Anelka might find such an assessment rather unfair when his finish was
as good as it was, but Drogba is to Chelsea what Wayne Rooney and
Fernando Torres are to their respective clubs and success is unlikely
to come for Ancelotti in the absence of the Ivory Coast striker.
Especially when the Italian might not be able to sign a replacement
until January 2011.

It is with some relief that Ancelotti will, no doubt, reflect on this
game, not least because of the price his more recent predecessors have
had to pay for early-season mediocrity in the Champions League.

A draw with Rosenborg and a crushing defeat in Rome certainly proved
costly for Jose Mourinho and Luiz Felipe Scolari.

A master of European football, Ancelotti made sure there would be no
such repeat on this occasion and for a decent spell after the break
Chelsea were much more like the side that have made a perfect start to
their Barclays Premier League campaign with five straight wins.

This amounted to the continuation of another impressive run. The 19th
consecutive European tie at Stamford Bridge without defeat. But they
should have won it more comfortably than they did, given the amount of
possession they enjoyed.

It is only when you see Chelsea like this, though, that one realises
exactly the role Drogba performs.
Not just the prolific scorer of often spectacular goals but a forward
around whom the other attacking players dovetail to such good effect.

Drogba is the oil in the machine as well as Chelsea’s most devastating
weapon, and
someone they would have badly missed had they allowed him to leave
during the last two summers. Given the threat of this FIFA transfer
ban, it is enough to give Ancelotti nightmares.

Porto almost gave him one or two as well on Tuesday night, most
memorably in the form of the opportunities Hulk and Freddy Guarin
would have converted had it not been for an excellent performance from
Petr Cech.


Too often Chelsea conceded possession cheaply and it was only because
of their goalkeeper that they kept their noses in front. Porto
unleashed 17 shots. Far too
many for a former coach of AC Milan whose Champions League success was built as
much on defensive discipline as flair and invention going forward.

The conditions might have contributed to Chelsea’s problems but Porto
seemed to cope well enough in the rain with some fluent passing
football.

Incredible is not a word one could normally associate with this
particular Hulk but he was certainly impressive here, as much with his
dribbling and passing as a blistering shot that forced Cech to make a
desperate save with his knees.

Frank Lampard also looked sharp, a shot from distance and a header
from close range demanding that Helton make two terrific saves. But it
was Porto who probably went closest to breaking the first-half
deadlock, Guarin powering in a header that skimmed the roof of the
net.

That Anelka scored so soon after the break was tough on Porto. That
the Frenchman did it the hard way must have made it all the more
painful.

Helton had done so well to parry Anelka’s first effort but the Chelsea
striker somehow struck a second with a shot that had to clear a
sliding defender before squeezing between Porto’s goalkeeper and his
left-hand post.

For Porto, however, time enough remained to hit back and how close they went to
punishing Chelsea for squandering what chances they created for the
remainder of a
tense contest. Salomon Kalou was chief among the offenders.

Had it not been for Cech, Guarin and Silvestre Varela would have been
celebrating a
much-deserved equaliser. But Cech did his job and when Fernando was
then sent off for a second yellow card — for a nasty challenge on the
excellent Ashley Cole — Porto’s challenge died.

For Ancelotti, it meant a sixth consecutive victory as the new manager
of Chelsea. As good a start as it gets.

But if he is glad to have Joe Cole back in his squad, he will be even
more relieved when Drogba has finally served his suspension.


--------------------------------------------------------


Sun:


Chelsea 1 Porto 0

By IAN McGARRY


NICOLAS ANELKA'S winner meant Carlo Ancelotti was left with something
to smile about last night.

But Ancelotti knows only too well there is a fine line between success
and failure in the Champions League.


Witness the 2005 final when his AC Milan side were three up against
Liverpool at half-time before losing on penalties.


So if he thought managing Chelsea in the competition was going to be
any different, then last night burst that bubble.


Chelsea, of all teams, have a habit of making it hard for themselves
in the competition coveted more than any other by Roman Abramovich.


They have made four semi-finals and one final in the last five years
and have still to be crowned champions.


A lot of the shortcomings which have dogged the Blues in Europe in
recent years were evident here against Porto.


Gone was the cock-sure confidence which has seen them bulldoze their
way to five wins in five in the Premier League.


In its place was a much more stuttering performance where mistakes
almost cost them. But their indomitable spirit was enough to see them
through.


Well, that and an exquisite finish from Anelka who chose to first miss
the easy chance and then score with a chip from an angle.


It was a fitting response to the absence of the suspended Didier
Drogba and one which drew a sigh of relief from Ancelotti on the
bench.


The Italian was bullish enough in the build-up to this match -
proclaiming he had a squad good enough to qualify without the services
of the banned Drogba and Jose Bosingwa.


For long periods of this contest, that statement looked more than
optimistic as Chelsea laboured in the pouring rain.


You would think the September showers would have suited the home side
much better but in the opening exchanges it was the Blues who were
slipping up.


Porto forward Hulk tried his best to fire a shot in anger.


A long-range effort had Petr Cech squirming in the conditions but he
did enough to block Hulk's blow.


In response, Chelsea were weak as milk. Salomon Kalou and Anelka
barely showed any teeth never mind bite up front.


Their best chance came when Branislav Ivanovic's cross was met by
Frank Lampard but his header was well saved by Helton.


During the patchy periods of play, the most consistent factor was the downpour.


Cech was caught in the floodlights as a cross came in and Fredy Guarin
rose above Hulk to head powerfully towards goal. The Blues keeper, who
conceded an awful goal at Stoke on Saturday, watched in gratitude as
the ball floated over.


Ancelotti is a coach renowned for his patience so there was no
surprise the same players returned for the second half.


And he was rewarded with a goal in the 48th minute.


Kalou, who improved as the game went on, first collected and then
seemed to lose control of a long pass through the middle.


It did not matter as he was given the chance to stab a short pass into
Anelka who had already run off his marker.


The French ace should have buried it first time. But, after Helton
saved, he clipped it into the net at the second offering. Ancelotti
celebrated like a man who had been freed from prison - perhaps a hint
of the pressure he is under to deliver in his first season at the
Bridge.


Lifted by the lead, Chelsea started to play with more freedom.


Ivanovic's cross was met brilliantly by Kalou but Helton stuck out a
strong hand to deny the striker.


Signs of a Chelsea charge were there - but they did not shut the door on Porto.


And the Blues almost paid for it as they needed Cech to save from
Silvestre Varela.


The Portuguese visitors finished the night with 10 men as Fernando saw
red for a second bookable offence.


So Chelsea won the battle - but the march to Madrid and the Champions
League final looks to be as hard as ever.