Chelsea power into last 16 as Spartak downed

Stand-in captain Didier Drogba led from the front as Chelsea powered into the last 16 of the Champions League here Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over Spartak Moscow.

Drogba, making his first appearance in European football this season, scored one goal from the penalty spot and set up one as the Russians were swept aside at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s other goals came from defender Branislav Ivanovic (2) and Nicolas Anelka.

The win left Chelsea on top of Group F with 12 points from four matches, six clear of second placed Spartak and French side Marseille.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was delighted to have wrapped up a place in the last 16 early on.

“It was a good evening, we played well and we got a good result,” said the Italian.

“I think that we are playing better this season and with more confidence than last season because there were many things going on. Now we have to ensure we top the group.”

Anelka had set Chelsea on the road to victory four minutes into the second half, producing a finish of the highest class to break the deadlock after a cagey opening 45 minutes.

Salomon Kalou slipped a clever pass through to Anelka who beat the off-side trap to score exquisitely from the tightest of angles, beating the on-rushing Andriy Dykan at the near post.

Chelsea’s turned the screw on on 62 minutes when Drogba, leading the side in the absence of John Terry who started on the substitutes bench, surged into the box only to be brought crashing down by Yevgeny Makeev.

The Ivorian striker made no mistake from the spot, rifling an unstoppable penalty past Dykan low into the bottom left corner.

Four minutes later Drogba was at the thick of the action again, his free-kick from the right met by Ivanovic whose downward header flew into the net to leave Chelsea cruising toward the knockout rounds.

The only blemish on an otherwise assured performance was the concession of a late consolation goal by Nikita Bazhenov on 86 minutes before Ivanovic scrambled in his second in injury time.

Chelsea had earlier dominated possession throughout the first half but were unable to convert their pressure into an opening goal.

The Blues missed a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock four minutes from half-time, when a wicked Yuri Zhirkov corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by Ivanovic to centre-half partner Alex.

But with the goal gaping, Alex somehow managed to scoop his shot over the bar when it seemed harder to miss than score.

Anelka and Drogba had kept the Spartak on the back foot, their pace and presence stretching the Russian defence time and again.

Anelka had the first meaningful shot on goal after 15 minutes, cutting in from the left and ghosting past two defenders before curling a low shot just wide of Dykan’s upright.

Anelka’s effort heralded a sustained period of Chelsea pressure, Alex being denied from close range before a surging break by Ramires ended with a fierce low shot from Drogba being parried away by Dykan.

At the other end Spartak gradually began to show glimpses of attacking intent, and Welliton had Chelsea nerves jangling on 30 minutes when he found space in the box only to be closed down before getting his shot away.

Encouraged, Spartak tested Petr Cech again shortly afterwards, Alex unleashing a vicious dipping drive from 25 yards which forced the Chelsea keeper to save turn around for a corner.