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Chelsea
recorded their first win at Stamford Bridge this season after beating Maccabi
Tel Aviv 4-0 in the Champions League.
Goals from Willian, Oscar, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas gave the hosts the
perfect start in Group G, while Eden Hazard also missed an early penalty in a
very one-sided clash.
Jose Mourinho made six changes to his team in a bid to arrest Chelsea's dismal
start to the season, dropping John Terry among others, and he got the required
response.
Chelsea end Matchday One top of the group after Porto and Dynamo Kyiv played out
a 2-2 draw.
Mourinho was like a jack in the box in the early stages in his technical area,
urging his team forward and they started in fine fashion.
Willian was brought down by visiting goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic inside the box
on five minutes but Hazard looked a nervous man as he stepped up for the penalty
and ballooned the ball over the crossbar.
That only intensified the edgy atmosphere inside the stadium but the home fans
could relax on 14 minutes when Willian gave his side the lead.
He whipped in a cross from the left-flank that evaded everyone before skipping
off the surface and beyond the grasp of Rajkovic into the far corner.
Along with Terry, Mourinho had decided to give Costa a taste of life on the
bench after a lacklustre display in the 3-1 defeat at Everton but he was back
into the action on 22 minutes when he replaced Willian, who came off with a
hamstring problem.
Chelsea continued to press forward without ever really troubling the Maccabi
Tel-Aviv defence that was being marshalled by former Chelsea man Tal Ben Haim.
It looks as though the visitors would get into half-time just one goal down but
Chelsea struck with the last kick of the half. Costa did the damage, bursting
through the defence before being brought down in the area by Ben Haim.
Oscar replaced Hazard with the penalty duties and he confidently stroked the
ball into the bottom left corner from the spot.
Costa then got in on the act on 58 minutes.
Fabregas chipped a ball into the striker, who had his back to goal in the box.
That didn't stop him hitting the ball first time on the turn with his instep,
cushioning the ball elegantly into the top corner off the crossbar.
It was reminiscent of the way Chelsea attacked last season and the home fans
serenaded the goal with a chant of "stand up for the special one" in
appreciation of their under pressure manager.
Fabregas wrapped up the scoring on 77 minutes when he finished off a counter
attack spearheaded by Hazard and Loic Remy, whose shot was parried into the path
of Fabregas.
Click Here For Official Teamsheet
Teams
Chelsea Begovic, Azpilicueta, Cahill (c), Zouma, Baba,
Loftus-Cheek (Traore 77), Fabregas, Willian (Costa 23), Oscar (Ramires 65),
Hazard, Remy
Subs Not Used Blackman, Ivanovic, Terry, Matic
Booked Loftus-Cheek
Goals Willian 15, Oscar 45+4 (pen), Costa 58, Fabregas 78
Maccabi Tel-Aviv Rajkovic, Spungin (Peretz 77), Ben-Haim, Tibi,
Ben-Harush, Alberman, Mitrovic, Igiebor, Ben-Haim II (Radonjic (64), Zahavi (c),
Rikan (Miha 64)
Subs Not Used Lifshitz, Carlos Garcia, Vermouth, Itzhaki
Booked Rajkovic, Igiebor, Ben-Haim
Goals
Attendance 40,684
Referee Felix Zwayer (Germany)