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Chelsea logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 9, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Porto

2-0

Marcano (12' og.), Willian (52')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Chelsea sink Porto to advance

An Ivan Mercano own goal and a strike from Willian are enough to give Chelsea a 2-0 win over Porto and secure their progression to the last 16 of the Champions League.

A refreshed Chelsea side booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Porto at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Loic Remy celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group G football match between Chelsea and Porto at Stamford Bridge in London on December 9, 2015.© Getty Images

Jose Mourinho's side took the lead early on in front of the Shed End in slightly fortuitous circumstances when Diego Costa latched on to Eden Hazard's through-ball.

As the Spanish striker bore down on goal, his shot deflected off Iker Casillas and into the unwitting Ivan Mercano, who couldn't prevent the ball from deflecting into the back of the net, despite the best efforts of Maicon to clear it.

Costa, back in the Chelsea side and prowling the pitch with typical menace, then picked up a booking for a needless trip on the Porto goalkeeper.

However, the Chelsea forward showed all his best qualities in Chelsea's second goal as he held up the ball before playing in Hazard, who picked out Willian on the edge of the area.

From there the Brazilian winger, who has been in excellent goal-scoring form this season, drilled a low effort inside the near post.

The lively Hazard then broke quickly and sent Costa through on goal with a defence-splitting pass, but just as Costa was set to pull the trigger, Danilo Pereira bundled him off the ball.

Jose Mourinho, Manager of Chelsea makes a point during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Chelsea FC and FC Porto at Stamford Bridge on December 9, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. © Getty Images

Porto manager Julen Lopetegui rang the changes late on in a bid to salvage something from the game, and they almost pulled one back when substitute Cristian Tello's effort from the edge of the box was tipped around the post by Thibaut Courtois.

However, the damage had already been done, and Hazard almost put the gloss on a comfortable Chelsea victory when he burst into the box and crashed an effort against the near post in the dying minutes.

The result means that Chelsea finish top of Group G, with 13 points from their six games.

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Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea celebrates the opening goal scored by Pedro of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea at The Hawthorns on August 23, 2015
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