Thursday 10 December 2015 08:10, UK
Chelsea atoned for their recent poor form by booking their place in the Champions League knockout phase with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Porto at Stamford Bridge.
Ivan Marcano's 12th-minute own-goal set the Blues on their way before Willian's second-half strike capped off a fine performance by Jose Mourinho's beleaguered side.
The Group G result, coupled with Dynamo Kiev's victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv, means Chelsea join Manchester City and Arsenal in Monday's last-16 draw at the expense of 2004 champions Porto, who drop into the Europa League.
Chelsea entered the game on the back of Saturday's embarrassing defeat at home to Bournemouth, a game which Diego Costa missed following a reported spat with Mourinho.
Mourinho refused to acknowledge talk of his side dropping into the Europa League and reinstated Costa into his starting line-up, against the club with whom he made his name in management.
And Costa, the focal point of an invigorated Chelsea attack, was central to a move which saw the hosts break the deadlock after just 12 minutes.
Having been played through on goal, the Spain international's low shot cannoned off Porto 'keeper Iker Casillas and straight into Marcano, who inadvertently ricocheted the ball towards goal.
His defensive partner Maicon tried fruitlessly to prevent the ball from crossing the line but the fifth official confirmed the ball had and the goal was awarded.
Understandably, the breakthrough inspired the hosts who began to show signs of the scintillating form which saw them claim the Premier League title last season.
Costa, Eden Hazard and Oscar all linked to great effect as the latter saw a curled shot deflected narrowly wide of goal on 28 minutes.
It appeared Porto had no option but to commit fouls as two players received yellow cards before the break, but this perhaps was more down to referee Cuneyt Cakir's over exuberance to go to his pocket as Costa and Nemanja Matic were also booked.
Chelsea went in search of a second immediately after the break but Willian failed to make the most of his chance two minutes in, before Jesus Corona drew Thibaut Courtois into a fine save.
However, within five minutes Chelsea extended their lead. Porto failed to heed the warning from Willian's earlier venture forward and, after Hazard slipped him in behind Miguel Layun, the Brazilian made no mistake in rifling the ball low past Casillas.
The goal left Porto needing three goals to qualify and manager Julen Lopetegui threw caution to the wind as Ruben Neves and Vincent Aboubakar entered the fray.
The promising Yacine Brahimi proved to be Porto's only viable outlet as they pushed for a goal, but his goal-bound effort was decisively flicked away from goal by Branislav Ivanovic on 64 minutes.
The Porto substitutions appeared to benefit Chelsea more as the game opened up, but a poor touch from Costa saw the Blues fail to punish the visitors on the counter on 79 minutes, before Hazard struck the post with a low drive a minute later.
Substitute Cristian Tello drew the flawless Courtois into action late on before Brahimi saw a glorious volley miss the target at the death, but the night ultimately belonged to Chelsea.
