Darren Steward reports

Chelsea successfully negotiated their Champions League qualification hurdle with a 0-0 draw against Latvia's Skonto Riga. Thus the Blues achieved a 3-0 aggregate scoreline with a controlled performance that elicited professionalism and concentration from Vialli's men rather than the flair they are capable of.

Dennis Wise and Bjarne Goldbaaek quickly took a grip of midfield to the delight of the coaching staff, and began feeding Celestine Babayaro and Tore Andre Flo down the left.

As Chelsea enjoyed the majority of possession that their middle-of-the-park mastery afforded them, the chances started to arrive.

Flo decided to shoot from a narrow angle after ten minutes when the perfectly positioned Forssell was the better option. Then, the Norwegian met a curling Bjarne Goldbaaek cross from the right but Latvian 'keeper Kolinko was equal to his powerful header.

Skonto's most promising efforts involved 20-year-old Andre Rubins and Astajevs, but the Latvian champions often overhit crosses and final through balls when they wrested quality possession from the visitors. Ed de Goey tipped one such cross onto the bar after 17 minutes without a Skonto forward in sight. The home side would have to gamble more to get back into the tie.

After 35 minutes, a wonderful flick from Flo released Forssell in the box, but although he rounded the 'keeper, the tight angle forced him to cross rather than shoot.

In the second period, Skonto tried to throw everything at the Chelsea rearguard. David Chadladze tried a dipping half-volley that De Goey pawed away for the corner. Four minutes later, the home side spurred on by the din of 5,000 airhorns, had Chelsea concerned.

Miholaps crossed viciously from the left and De Goey was fortunate that Desailly was on hand to steer the ball away that the Dutchman couldn't hold. Gianluca Vialli's men would have to regain the initiative, because at the midway point of the half, the Baltic Blues were starting to ask the questions.

Mark Nicholls entered the fray after 66 minutes to add fresh legs and help consolidate Chelsea's hold on the game. The game's pace slowed, however, and the Latvian efforts subsided. Gianluca Vialli looked pensive in the dugout but he must have felt Chelsea were home and dry.

Ed de Goey came off to give reserve 'keeper Cuducini some valuable experience. John Harley replaced Bjarne Goldbaek to make his fourth career appearance in a first team shirt.

A late flurry by Skonto forced two corners, off Petrescu and Nicholls repectively, but both were fruitless and easy to clear. Referee Gilles Veissiere's whistle sounded and Chelsea's players clenched their fists, knowing a minimum of six intriguing European games await them.

Teams:

Skonto Riga: Kolinko, Silagadze, Zemlinskis, Blagonabezdins, Rekhviashvili, Bleidelis, Rubins, Miholaps, Laizans, Astafjevs, Chaladze. Subs: Stephnous, Babichev, Menteshashvili, Piedels, Kolesnicenko, Korgalidze, Olsanskis.

Chelsea: De Goey, Petrescu, Babayaro, Hogh, Desailly, Poyet, Wise, Goldbaek, Flo, Morris, Forssell. Subs: Leboeuf, Sutton, Nicholls, Cudicini, Zola, Clement, Harley.