Chelsea exorcise Moscow ghosts

Moscow Spartak 0 Chelsea 2: MEMORIES OF Moscow have haunted Chelsea's recent history, though this will have served as an exorcism of sorts. A comfortable victory has maintained the London club's serene progress through Group F. The pursuit of this trophy, denied them so cruelly here in 2008, will surely now be prolonged into the new year and the knockout phase, where sterner tests than this await.

If recollections of the collision with Manchester United two and half years ago had dominated the build-up to this return to Russia, with seven of those involved that night starting, then each of those who had most to regret excelled back in familiar surroundings.

Principal among them was John Terry, who had ended the final sobbing uncontrollably after slipping on the sodden turf and scuffing his potentially decisive penalty on to a post, with the visiting captain outstanding in suffocating Spartak’s threat.

Those around him rose to the occasion as impressively as the temperature plummeted. Nicolas Anelka, who had missed Chelsea’s final spot-kick to hand United the European Cup, scored a fine goal, stretching a Spartak defence that was all too easily befuddled. When the home side did find some urgency, Petr Cech offered assurance and a flurry of reaction saves.

The Russians wilted for good after he twice denied Ibson from distance, saves that ensured Chelsea departed intact and resolute. Spartak had been keeping apace with Carlo Ancelotti’s side at the top of this section, though the Premier League team now have breathing space. A repeat victory in the return fixture on November 3rd will be enough to guarantee qualification and perhaps allow those on a youthful bench to begin to feature.

This was an occasion for the more experienced in Chelsea’s ranks to lead the way. With so many seniors absent through injury and illness – Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Jose Bosingwa, Alex, Ramires and Yossi Benayoun – those who were available had to thrive, with their reaction in hostile conditions admirable.

The first-half performance provided a lesson in capitalising on possession, Spartak’s huff and puff yielding only frustration while the visitors prospered.

Florent Malouda had twice threatened reward by the time Chelsea established their advantage, Mikel John Obi’s punt nodded down unconvincingly by Nicolas Pareja on the edge of the area for Yuri Zhirkov, breaking into space, to dispatch a stunning volley over the helpless Andriy Dykan. His first Chelsea goal was gloriously taken.

The flurry of chances that ensued reflected the sense of panic that had already gripped the home side. Anelka, liberated by Pareja’s air-kick, might have added a second only for Dykan to smother his heavy touch, though relief was short-lived.

Michael Essien powered through central midfield, bulldozing Spartak players from his path before conjuring a wonderful pass to send Anelka through yet again. This time his composure was maintained, the forward teasing Sergei Parshivlyuk and cutting inside before sliding his shot into the far corner.

The Frenchman has thrived in Drogba’s absence so often – this was his fourth Champions League goal in three European appearances this season, all without the Ivorian at his side – with Pareja and Marek Suchy heaving to contain his threat. The margin of victory might have been extended, though it was the visitors’ defensive work that truly caught the eye.

Cech, so composed, produced reaction saves with boot and glove to deny Aiden McGeady, Welliton and Ibson. Terry, meanwhile, was at his rugged best, either diving in to intercept and unsettle Welliton or hacking away when a loose ball ricocheted around his six-yard box. As the occasion became more frenetic, so the centre-half appeared more assured. Memories of the fluffed penalty will have been eased slightly as a result.

This side will be stronger for the experience. The huddle of Chelsea players who approached their travelling support, distant at the top of the stand behind Cech’s goal, at the final whistle in celebration, departed with their job supremely well done. This squad has been stripped to its core, but Ancelotti’s first team continue to find life in the group stage of the competition something of a breeze.

SPARTAK MOSCOW: Dikan, Parshivlyuk, Pareja, Suchy, Makeev, McGeady, Ibson, Shyeshukov, Dmitri Kombarov, Ari (Ananidze 85), Welliton. Subs not used: Pesyakov, Maidana, Stranzl, Sabitov, Ivanov, Kozlov. Booked: Suchy.

CHELSEA: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole (Van Aanholt 87), Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov, Kalou (McEachran 74), Anelka, Malouda (Kakuta 82). Subs not used: Turnbull, Bruma, Clifford, Mellis. Booked: Zhirkov.

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain).