Chelsea got their Champions League Group E campaign back on track with a 3-0 victory over a disappointing AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
The Blues were bottom of the section heading into the affair with the Italian champions, but they have now moved up to second, with goals from Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Reece James handing them all three points in the English capital.
Mason Mount had the game's first attempt in the third minute when he found space in a forward area before curling one towards the bottom corner, but Ciprian Tatarusanu was on hand to make a smart save.
Fofana had the next half-chance in the 20th minute when he met a corner from the right, but the centre-back's effort came off his shoulder and therefore failed to cause the Milan goalkeeper any major issues.
Tatarusanu was pressed into action shortly after, though, as he had to palm a Silva header over.
The pressure from Chelsea was growing, and the hosts managed to make the breakthrough in the 24th minute when Fofana converted from close range after a period of panic inside the Milan box, with Tatarusanu denying Thiago Silva before the ball broke for his defensive partner.
Mount had the ball in the back of the net in the 33rd minute courtesy of a clever finish, but the offside flag denied the England international.
Raheem Sterling had Chelsea's final chance of the first period when he broke into the Milan box, but Fikayo Tomori did brilliantly to come across and make the challenge, before Rade Krunic lifted the ball over the crossbar down the other end after Kepa Arrizabalaga had kept out Rafael Leao.
Chelsea doubled their lead in the 56th minute when Aubameyang converted a James cross from close range, with Tomori failing to make contact on the cross.
James then got his name on the scoresheet just past the hour, with the defender finding the back of the net from a narrow angle after a clever pass from Sterling.
Milan only managed one shot on goal during a disappointing showing at Stamford Bridge, and the Serie A giants have now dropped to third in the group ahead of the return match at San Siro next week.
Matt Law
