toptop
Chelsea
put one foot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a 3-0 first-leg
home win over Dynamo Kievon Thursday.
Playing their seventh game in 18 days, Maurizio Sarri's men netted courtesy of
Pedro (17) and a sumptuous Willian free-kick (65) before Callum Hudson-Odoi
added a late third (88) as Chelsea recorded their third win on the spin in all
competitions.
The Blues dominated the encounter for large spells and would be heading to the
second leg with an even healthier advantage if it wasn't for an inspired
first-half performance by visiting goalkeeper Denys Boyko.
The return leg in Ukraine takes place next Thursday.
Chelsea were given a reminder about the dangers of knockout football at this
stage of the competition by Arsenal's defeat in the early kick-off in Rennes.
Sarri's men started with an intensity that Kiev struggled to live with.
Player Ratings
Chelsea: Kepa (6), Zappacosta (7), Christensen (7), Luiz (8),
Alonso (6), Kovacic (7), Jorginho (7), Barkley (7), Pedro (7), Giroud (7),
Willian (7)
Subs: Loftus-Cheek (7), Kante (7), Hudson-Odoi (7)
Dynamo Kiev: Boyko (8), Kedziora (6), Burda (6), Shabanov (6),
Mykolenko (6), Shepeliev (6), Sydorchuk (6), Shaparenko (6), Buyalskiy (6),
Tsygankov (6), Rusyn (6)
Subs: Periera (6), Garmash (6)
Man of the match: David Luiz
The opening goal came on 17 minutes when Olivier Giroud played a cheeky flick
through the legs of his marker and Pedro collected before firing home from close
range.
That should have been the first of a glut of goals for the Spaniard but Boyko
was in sparkling form to deny him twice while Ross Barkley was also thwarted by
the busy visiting goalkeeper as somehow Kiev got in at the break just one
behind.
It needed something special to beat Boyko and Willian provided the magic on 65
minutes with a quite stunning free-kick from 25 yards. The former Shakhtar
Donetsk star had struggled with his final ball up until spanking this effort
home - the execution was so perfect that Boyko didn't even move.
Substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek blazed over from close range as Chelsea chased a
third goal and their wastefulness nearly cost them as Kiev chased an away goal
in the closing stages. However, their press left space for the counter and
Loftus-Cheek broke clear before setting up Hudson-Odoi to put Chelsea in a very
strong position in the tie.
Man of the match: David Luiz
A joy to watch. Forget about Jorginho dictating play from deep, Chelsea's
platform was set by their majestic ball-spraying centre-half who pinged some
outrageous long passes to pin their opponents back. He breezed through this game
defensively, too, as his performance merited a clean sheet.
Opta stats
Dynamo Kiev have never won a European match on English soil, with the Ukrainians
drawing three and losing 12 of their 15 previous visits.
Pedro has scored two goals in his last three games for Chelsea in all
competitions, as many as he managed in his 16 before that.
Giroud has been directly involved in seven goals in his last six Europa League
games for Chelsea, scoring six and assisting one.
Odoi has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven games in all
competitions for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (4 goals, 3 assists).
What's next?
Chelsea are back in Premier League action on Super Sunday when Wolverhampton
Wanderers visit Stamford Bridge.
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Kepa, Alonso, Christensen, Zappacosta, Luiz (c),
Kovacic, Barkley (Loftus-Cheek 62), Jorginho (Kante 62), William (Hudson-Odoi
78), Pedro, Giroud
Subs Not Used Caballero, Rudiger, Hazard, Higuain
Booked
Goals Pedro 17, Willian 65, Hudson-Odoi 90)
Dynamo Kyiv Boyko, Mykolenko, Kedziora, Shabanov, Burda,
Buyalskiy (Sidcley 71), Taygankov, Shepelev, Shaparenko, Sydorchuk (c), Rusyn
(Garmash 66)
Subs Not Used Bushchan, Kadar, Smyrnyi, Andrievsky,
Tsitaishvili
Booked Shepelev, Buyalsky
Goals
Attendance 37,280
Referee Slavco Vincic (Slovenia)