Chelsea ensured that Champions League despair did not follow more Premier League disappointment by beating Porto 2-0 at Stamford Bridge this evening to reach the last 16 of the competition.
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The Blues would have been eliminated with a defeat but were ahead after just 12 minutes as Marcano Sierra knocked the ball into his own net after Iker Casillas had saved a shot from Diego Costa.
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With no goal-line technology available as it is in the Premier League, it was up to the fifth official to adjudge whether the ball crossed the line. It did despite the best efforts of Porto captain Maicon.
Costa remained involved in the thick of the action and showed his petulant side as he was shown a yellow card for leaving his foot in on Spain international teammates Casillas in the first half.
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But Porto saw the other side of the striker seven minutes after the restart as his excellent hold-up play helped provide Willian with the second goal which gave the Blues a comfortable cushion.
Mourinho’s men had several chances to increase their winning margin on the counter-attack late on, but will simply be content with progressing to the knockout stages after a difficult time domestically.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth was an eighth top-fight loss this season and left them 14th in the table. Winning the Champions League could now be Chelsea’s only chance of playing in it next term.
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