toptop
Fernando
Torres scored one and made the other as Chelsea saw off Swindon Town 2-0 in the
third round of the Capital One Cup.
Juan Mata and David Luiz were included from the start by Jose Mourinho, as they
look to prove their worth to the Portuguese coach, but it was Torres who stole
the show at the County Ground.
The Spanish striker edged Chelsea in front just before the half-hour mark,
tapping home after Wes Foderingham could only parry a Mata effort into his path.
Some nimble footwork from Torres and a perfectly-weighted pass slid into the
path of Ramires - who replaced the unfortunate Marco van Ginkel after he fell
awkwardly and twisted his knee - allowed the Premier League outfit to double
their lead 10 minutes before the interval, with a clever dinked finish glancing
in off the inside of the post.
League One hopefuls Swindon thought they had found a route back into the game
early in the second half, as Dany N'Guessan glanced in a Jay McEveley free-kick,
but he and the Robins were denied by an offside flag from the assistant referee.
Importance
Mourinho is fully aware of the importance of a much-maligned competition having
successfully targeted the League Cup as his maiden piece of silverware during
his first stint in charge of the London club, winning it in 2005 and then again
in 2007.
And he sent out his clear intentions this time around as he named a strong
second string at a sold-out County Ground, worth an estimated £185million
compared to Swindon's £550,000.
Most of the pre-match attention was on Mata and Luiz, omitted altogether from
Mourinho's matchday 18 for Saturday's 2-0 win at Fulham, with the Blues boss
insisting the former has a future at the club but challenging the Spaniard to
adapt his game.
And Mata, the club's player of the year for the past two seasons, certainly put
in an industrious, roving performance.
His defence-splitting pass sent Torres clear while, just two minutes later, the
midfielder looked destined to score himself, only for impressive Town goalkeeper
Foderingham to parry his effort into the path of Torres for the opener.
Torres turned provider with a neat bit of skill to set up Ramires soon after and
that was the way it stayed - with two clinical attacks proving the difference
against a flat-footed Swindon backline.
It was hardly a vintage performance - which could have been more convincing had
Torres and Willian made more of second half opportunities - but Chelsea did
enough and can now turn their attentions to Saturday's crucial Premier League
clash at title rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Swindon, meanwhile, could be proud of their display and saw a chance of their
own chalked off shortly after half-time as N'Guessan was correctly ruled
marginally offside with his header.
Teams
Swindon Town Foderingham, N. Thompson, Hall, Ward, McEveley, Kasim,
Luongo, Pritchard, N’Guessan, Ajose (El-Gabbas 73), Ranger (L. Thompson 46)
Subs Not Used Storey, Barthram, Belford, Raphael, Wood
Booked N. Thompson
Goals
Chelsea Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, van Ginkel
(Ramires 9) (Terry 46), Essien (c), De Bruyne (Ba 78), Mata, Willian, Torres
Subs Not Used Blackman, Schurrle, Eto’o, Baker
Booked Azpilicueta, Essien
Goals Torres 29, Ramires 35
Attendance 14,924
Referee M. Oliver