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Chelsea run riot in Russia to cruise to Champions League win over Krasnodar


Chelsea delivered a commanding Champions League performance to seal an emphatic 4-0 win at Krasnodar.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic all found the net as the Blues eased to their first Group E victory in Russia.

Regular penalty-taker Jorginho missed his second spot-kick of the campaign though, wrong-footing goalkeeper Matvei Safonov with his trademark skip-step run-up – only to scuff the ball against the post as he attempted to give Chelsea the lead.

Jorginho had just been substituted with 15 minutes to play when Chelsea won a second penalty in the match.

And with the Italy midfielder off the field, Germany hitman Werner seized control and rifled the ball into the net, in a dead-ball style in complete contrast with Jorginho’s approach.

Jorginho’s trademark technique was unerring for eight penalties in a row, but so far this term the 28-year-old has missed twice and scored three times from the spot.

Ziyech was on target for Chelsea

Werner’s net-busting strike will at least hand boss Frank Lampard food for thought in terms of a regular penalty-taker, with the striker doubtless keen to take those duties as often as possible.

Chelsea cruised to a fine victory in any event, with full debutant Ziyech looking sharp and influential, floating in off the right flank to much creative effect.

Hudson-Odoi marked his start with a goal, but was later seen icing his left thigh.

Chelsea’s third clean sheet in a row is another boost to boss Lampard, on a night where owner Roman Abramovich was in attendance in southern Russia.

Krasnodar made by far the faster start, Marcus Berg drawing a solid save from Edouard Mendy.

Ziyech looked sharp on his full debut and worked himself into position for a low drive, but could not catch out Safonov.

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Frank Lampard’s team made waves during the summer by splashing over £250million to bring in the likes of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Edouard Mendy and Thiago Silva.

It has given them one of the Premier League’s most potent attacks – but behind them remains a defence that continues to leak goals, with 3-3 draws against West Brom and Southampton already behind them.

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Chelsea won a deserved penalty shortly after though, when Brazilian defender Kaio lost his composure and caught Werner in his own box.

Jorginho stepped up and wrong-footed Safonov, but scuffed his effort against the post and the rebounding ball ricocheted off the nonplussed Safonov and flicked away to safety, leaving Chelsea lamenting a major missed opportunity.

If Chelsea’s missed penalty carried an air of misfortune, then their opening goal was laden with luck.

Slick build-up play saw Hudson-Odoi fed in the box cutting in off the left. The England forward checked and pinged a shot on goal, and what should have been a harmless effort squirmed under Safonov’s body and into the net.

Chelsea took that 1-0 lead into the break, without ever hitting full stride in a fractious first-half.

The Blues were unable to take control after the interval, and the crossbar shortly came to their rescue.

Yuri Gazinski blasted into the turf after a corner and the resulting bounce left Mendy unable to divert at full stretch, with the ball rattling the woodwork.

Havertz conjured a fine chance for Ziyech on the break with an inviting ball into the box as Chelsea sought to cement their lead.

But the enterprising Morocco winger could not find a finish to match his footwork to open the space for the shot.

Defender Aleksandr Martynovich’s handball gifted Chelsea a second penalty in the match with a quarter-hour to play.

Up stepped Werner – who blasted home emphatically to seal the Blues’ win and Ziyech added a third moments later, finishing well to cap a strong full debut as the visitors finally eased their path to victory.

Pulisic added the fourth at the death, slotting home at the near post, capitalising on a smart tee-up from Tammy Abraham.





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