Wednesday 25 November 2015 13:29, UK
Chelsea moved to the top of Champions League Group G with a comfortable 4-0 win over 10-man Maccabi Tel Aviv on Tuesday night.
Gary Cahill opened the scoring from close range after his initial header was saved, before Tal Ben Haim I was sent off for kicking Diego Costa just before half-time.
Willian scored his fourth goal from a free-kick in five Champions League matches with 17 minutes to play, and Oscar put the game out of reach with a powerful header from six yards on 77 minutes. Substitute Kurt Zouma made it four with a stoppage-time header.
The only negative for Chelsea was John Terry's injury as the captain was carried off on a stretcher in the second half after falling awkwardly, Jose Mourinho admitting after the whistle he is a doubt to face Tottenham at the weekend.
Dynamo Kiev's 2-0 victory in Porto means Chelsea are now in a strong position in Group G, and a draw against the Portuguese side at Stamford Bridge will be enough to guarantee qualification for the knockout round.
Depending on Kiev's result against Maccabi, a point could see Porto leapfrog Chelsea due to their superior head-to-head record, which is only applied after all matches in the group stage are completed. However, a draw would still be enough to send the Blues through whatever happens.
Maccabi, champions for the last three seasons in Israel, went top of their domestic league at the weekend but Slavisa Jokanovic's side failed to impress in a one-sided first half in which Chelsea enjoyed 70 per cent of the possession.
They did have the first chance of the game through Don Peretz, but the midfielder headed over from close range after a pinpoint cross from winger Tal Ben Haim II.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Cesc Fabregas had efforts that failed to trouble Predrag Rajkovic, before Cahill opened the scoring on 20 minutes. The Chelsea defender rose highest to meet Willian's corner, and poked home at the second attempt after Rajkovic had tipped onto the post.
Maccabi rarely threatened Asmir Begovic and failed to register a shot on target in the first half, and that frustration may have contributed to a straight red card for former Chelsea defender Ben Haim I just before the interval.
The Israel centre-back seemed to suggest Costa had caught him in the face with a stray arm before twice kicking out at the striker as the Chelsea man shielded possession, leaving referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco little choice but to produce the red card.
Despite the one-goal lead, Jose Mourinho and Costa were seen apparently arguing as they headed down the tunnel, and Loic Remy was sent out to warm up at half time.
Costa appeared for the second half, but it was Eden Hazard who was next to attract the wrath of his manager. The winger failed to track Eli Dasa's run, allowing the full-back to test Begovic with a stinging shot the Chelsea 'keeper was equal to.
At the other end, Hazard twice weaved through the Maccabi defence, only for the attacks to lose momentum at the crucial moment as the Blues initially laboured against the 10 men.
Peretz gave Chelsea another scare when he stole in at the back post, but the set-piece delivery was slightly over-hit. Hazard and Azpilicueta forced Rajkovic into two impressive saves in the space of 30 seconds, and the 20-year-old Maccabi 'keeper was his side's best performer on the night.
Begovic earned a round of applause from Mourinho as he preserved the clean sheet, keeping out Eran Zahavi with a finger-tip stop after a rapid Maccabi counter-attack caught Chelsea cold.
Worryingly for Mourinho, Terry was carried off with an ankle injury after clashing with Gal Alberman with 20 minutes to play, and the Chelsea boss has confirmed he is a doubt for Sunday. Shortly after, Willian made the points safe with a brilliantly curled free-kick, before Oscar headed home a superb Baba Rahman cross from the left from close range to put Chelsea three ahead.
Zouma, who replaced Terry, put further gloss on the scoreline with a firm header in the 91st minute, Chelsea's third set-piece goal of the evening.
