Ruthless Chelsea expose gulf in class

Rosenborg 0 Chelsea 4:The Champions League was supposed to have done away with mismatches like this. Chelsea won the group at a canter last night, ripping Rosenborg to shreds and ensuring, when this competition resumes for the knockout phase, they will be paired with a runner-up rather than a group winner. Avram Grant's conviction that a first European Cup can be secured in Moscow in May remains unswayed.

This was a frighteningly comfortable evening against this

season's supposed surprise package. The locals had arrived braced for temperatures to plummet to around -6C. In the end, they were just grateful their side's goal difference did not quite follow suit.

This group had taken on a vaguely awkward appearance following Chelsea's goalless draw against Schalke but Rosenborg's presence, hovering in second place beforehand, was deceptive.

Such was the Premier League club's eagerness to secure progress that they had effectively killed off this tie, and with it secured top place in the section, within the opening quarter. They might have scored six in that time, the gulf between the teams occasionally embarrassing.

At times it was hard to believe these teams had not been separated at Stamford Bridge in September, on the night Jose Mourinho selected his last line-up.

Crucially, Didier Drogba had been absent injured. Last night, recovered from a knee complaint, he was simply irresistible.

The Ivorian spent much of the first period either clutching his back or hobbling around the turf watching his team-mates dominate possession but, just as a Gordon Greenidge limp invariably signalled an imminent century, so Rosenborg should have known Drogba was in the mood.

He might have scored a hat-trick in the first 20 minutes.

By then he had managed two goals, though, the first battered into the roof of the net after Lars Hirschfeld could only palm away Joe Cole's attempt from distance.

Joe Cole was just as impressive, tearing at baffled opponents with glee, with Frank Lampard and Michael Essien eager in support in the centre, and Shaun Wright-Phillips scampering up and down the right flank.

Drogba might have converted after 58 seconds and went wide again four minutes in. When Wright-Phillips and Essien combined midway through the half, Rosenborg defenders crumpled and Drogba curled a second easily into the corner.

Rosenborg fans gasped at the ease at which Chelsea cut swathes through them. Essien, in front of goal, skewed horribly and had a shot cleared from the line.

Lampard's chip had Hirschfeld scampering with alarm and Wright-Phillips, twice, should have converted. The winger clipped the woodwork early in the second half. By then the lead stood at three, Alex having stepped up five minutes before the interval to slap a low free-kick beyond the unsighted goalkeeper's delayed dive.

When Hirschfeld parried Essien's shot, Joe Cole duly tapped in the rebound.

Rosenborg may have drawn the group's opening fixture but this is a side who could finish only fifth in their domestic league. Last night, that showed.

ROSENBORG:Hirschfeld, Stoor, Kvarme, Riseth, Dorsin (Basma 85), Skjelbred, Tettey, Traore (Strand 56), Sapara, Iversen, Kone (Konan 63). Subs not used: Hansen, Koppinen, Storflor, Nordvik.

CHELSEA:Cudicini, Belletti, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 68), Essien, Lampard (Pizarro 76), Joe Cole, Drogba (Shevchenko 68). Subs not used: Hilario, Obi, Bridge, Ben-Haim.

Referee:O Benquerenca (Portugal).