Anelka strike enough for unconvincing Chelsea

Chelsea kicked off their Champions League campaign in unconvincing fashion as Nicolas Anelka’s goal clinched a barely-deserved 1-0 win over Porto on Tuesday.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team spluttered for long periods at Stamford Bridge but Anelka’s superb finish early in the second half was enough to kill off the Portuguese champions.

Porto ended with 10 men after Fernando was sent off for a second booking following his rash challenge on Ashley Cole.

The Blues will have to improve significantly to end their long wait to win Europe’s elite club competition, but the return of suspended striker Didier Drogba, who is banned for two more matches, should make a major difference.

With Drogba and Jose Bosingwa absent following their rants at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after last season’s semi-final defeat to Barcelona, Blues boss Ancelotti brought in Branislav Ivanovic at right-back, while Salomon Kalou partnered Anelka up front.

England winger Joe Cole was on the bench after recovering from the knee injury that kept him out since January.

On the eve of the match Ancelotti had told his players that a place in the final is the minimum he expects from a squad of such talent and experience.

But Ancelotti has no need to set targets for his players in Europe. As the list of agonising near-misses in the Champions League continues to grow, achieving success in the competition has become an obsession at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues made a bright start as they returned to European action for the first time since Ovrebo’s controversial penalty decisions and Andres Iniesta’s last-gasp goal ended Chelsea’s challenge in May.

Frank Lampard seized his first shooting opportunity with a dipping long-range effort that Porto keeper Helton pushed away for a corner.

Bruno Alves was fortunate to avoid punishment for an elbow on John Terry but Jesualdo Ferreira’s side showed no signs of an inferiority complex.

They went close to taking the lead twice in quick succession when Brazilian forward Hulk tested Petr Cech with a swerving strike before Cristian Rodriguez headed over from the resulting corner.

Lampard’s stooping header from Ivanovic’s cross forced Helton into a fine stop but Chelsea laboured as the half wore on.

As Chelsea passes went astray with increasing regularity, Porto were able to push forward. Fredy Guarain looped a header just over, while Raul Meireles should have done better than nod tamely at Cech.

The torrential rain soaking west London had also hindered Chelsea’s passing, but they emerged after half-time in a more focused mood.

Ancelotti’s side were ahead within three minutes of the re-start as Kalou poked a pass through to Anelka. The France striker’s first effort was saved by Helton but he pounced on the rebound and whipped a brilliant strike back past the keeper from an acute angle.

Porto had failed to win on any of their previous 13 visits to England and their frustration was clear when Fucile made an ugly two-footed lunge on Florent Malouda.

Only a fine save from Helton, pushing away Kalou’s diving header, denied Chelsea a second goal moments later.

Yet in the closing stages Chelsea reverted to the sloppy play that marred their first half. Guarin should have made them pay but shot straight at Cech after Porto cut through the home defence.

Cech preserved Chelsea’s victory in the final moments as he clawed away an awkward shot from Silvestre Verela, then Fernando saw red for his foul on Cole in stoppage time.