Chelsea on Tuesday enjoyed their second 4-0 Champions League victory over 10-man Maccabi Tel Aviv this season to move into prime position to reach the knockout stages of the competition from Group G.
However, with Dynamo Kiev winning 2-0 against Porto, the qualifiers for the last 16 will only be determined in the last round of matches, when Chelsea host Porto and Kiev welcome Maccabi.
Goals by Gary Cahill, Willian, Oscar and Kurt Zouma secured the victory for Chelsea, whose task was made easier when Maccabi captain Tal Ben Haim, a key player in the heart of the defense, was sent off five minutes before halftime.
Photo: AP
After five games — Chelsea, who only need to draw their final match to progress — and Porto each have 10 points with Kiev on eight, while Maccabi are bottom without a point.
Cahill put the visitors on the scoresheet in the 20th minute with a close-range effort after mounting Chelsea pressure as Maccabi’s spirited start faded after about 15 minutes.
Maccabi kept up their attempts to penetrate the Chelsea defense, but their cause was undermined when Ben Haim was shown a red card for a wild kick on striker Diego Costa.
The home side maintained their efforts after the break, but the result was sealed when Willian scored in the 73rd minute with a perfectly executed curling free-kick that beat the Maccabi wall and left goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic stranded.
Oscar made it 3-0 in the 77th from close range as Maccabi’s defensive shield was breached again before Zouma pounced on a corner in the first minute of stoppage time to seal the win.
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said the result flattered his side.
“I think we played very well in the first half, the pitch didn’t help,” Mourinho said.
“In the second we slept a bit for the first 15-20 minutes waiting for the second goal to come and only when we were again in danger did we react well. No doubt about the victory, but I think Maccabi deserved a bit more than that,” he said.
Maccabi coach Slavisa Jokanovic said the sending off made it impossible for his players to overcome technically superior opposition.
“Playing 11 against 11 is hard enough in the Champions League and when it’s 10 against 11 Chelsea players, it becomes pretty much impossible,” he said.
Moments before the second goal, Chelsea captain John Terry had to be substituted after injuring his ankle, an incident that Mourinho said occurred as a result of the poor playing surface.
The extent of the injury was not initially known, but Mourinho looked worried and suggested that Terry might not be available to play against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.
“This is such a beautiful stadium and a wonderful crowd, but the surface was really bad,” he said.
They deserve better than this,” he added.
Mourinho was in playful mood at the post-match press conference, asking journalists for a calculator so he could figure out what Chelsea would have to do to qualify for the last 16.
After pausing and thinking about it, Mourinho said: “I know if we win, we finish first. If we lose we are going to the Europa League and with a draw second place.”
However, he was forced to deny there was a problem between him and Spain international striker Diego Costa after the two were seen shouting at each other on the way into the changing rooms at halftime.
“I reacted, he did too. At half-time in the dressing room, a few kisses and a few cuddles. No problem,” Mourinho said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely