Chelsea 2-1 Dynamo Kiev: Willian scores stunning free-kick to rescue crucial Champions League victory for Jose Mourinho's side after Aleksandar Dragovic had scored at both ends

The Stamford Bridge crowd rose as one. 'Stand up for the Special One,' they sang. On the touchline, a rare emotion from Jose Mourinho. He looked genuinely humbled, almost tearful as the love swept over him.

He clenched a fist, punched his heart twice, gave several gestures of thanks. At least they believed in him, still. Them; and Willian.

What a player he is turning out to be this season. Heaven knows where they would be without him. Willian has been one of those little pockets of resistance as chaos and lethargy engulfs Chelsea. It is not so much that he never stops running, more that the only time he stops running is to size up a goal from range.

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Cesar Azpilicueta, Ramires, Kurt Zouma, Baba Rahman, Willian, Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic (L-R) celebrate Chelsea's winning goal

Cesar Azpilicueta, Ramires, Kurt Zouma, Baba Rahman, Willian, Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic (L-R) celebrate Chelsea's winning goal

Brazil international Willian runs towards the stands at Stamford Bridge to celebrate scoring the winner against Dynamo Kiev

Brazil international Willian runs towards the stands at Stamford Bridge to celebrate scoring the winner against Dynamo Kiev

Willian gets the ball up and over Dynamo Kiev's wall to score a sublime free-kick and seal a 2-1 victory for Jose Mourinho's side

Willian gets the ball up and over Dynamo Kiev's wall to score a sublime free-kick and seal a 2-1 victory for Jose Mourinho's side

Aleksandar Dragovic runs towards Dynamo Kiev's travelling supporters at Stamford Bridge after making it 1-1 in the 77th minute

Aleksandar Dragovic runs towards Dynamo Kiev's travelling supporters at Stamford Bridge after making it 1-1 in the 77th minute

Former Basle defender Dragovic strikes a pose after scoring Dynamo's equaliser but they would not remain on level terms for long

Former Basle defender Dragovic strikes a pose after scoring Dynamo's equaliser but they would not remain on level terms for long

Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic failed to gather a Dynamo Kiev cross, allowing Dragovic to power the ball into the back of the net

Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic failed to gather a Dynamo Kiev cross, allowing Dragovic to power the ball into the back of the net

Chelsea boss Mourinho watches on from the touchline during his side's crucial Champions League clash on Wednesday night

Chelsea boss Mourinho watches on from the touchline during his side's crucial Champions League clash on Wednesday night

He did not just win the game, he may even have preserved Mourinho as Chelsea's manager. It is the Champions League that invariably does for the man in the tracksuit at this club. Roberto Di Matteo, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Mourinho the first time, all went because Roman Abramovich feared failure in Europe's biggest tournament.

So when Dynamo Kiev equalised with 12 minutes remaining, Mourinho's race looked close to run. He may have staggered into the international break, but maybe not through it. Now, he will hope Chelsea have braved the worst.

They could qualify for the last 16 with a win over Maccabi Tel Aviv later this month. More importantly, they finally have a victory of character on which to build, a springboard. It was not a pleasant occasion for Chelsea — but it was, ultimately, a positive one.

There were seven minutes remaining when Willian stood over a free-kick, 28 yards from goal on the left. Mourinho was in dice-throwing mode by then. Having dropped Eden Hazard from the starting line-up, he introduced him from the bench in a desperate attempt to conjure a revival.

Few were optimistic. This is a team, and a manager, desperately short of magic dust right now. Then Hazard drew the fateful foul. Willian stepped up. He curled the ball up and over the wall and past goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy. It may one day be viewed as a turning point. At least someone in the dressing-room still loves the boss.

Yet it was heart-stoppingly close. Throughout Chelsea's dismal season, one man who has emerged blameless is goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. Crisis has a way of creating collateral damage, however, and on Wednesday night catastrophe claimed him.

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, GROUP G TABLE, REMAINING FIXTURES AND MATCH ZONE

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic6, Azpilicueta 6.5, Zouma 6, Terry 6.5, Rahman 7.5, Ramires 6.5, Matic 7, Willian 8 (Cahill 92), Fabregas 6.5 (Hazard 79), Oscar 7.5 (Pedro 79), Costa 6.5

Subs not used: Blackman, Kenedy, Remy, Loftus-Cheek

Goals: Dragovic OG 34, Willian 83

Dynamo Kiev: Shovkovskiy 7, Vida 6.5, Khacheridi 6.5, Dragovic 6, Antunes 6, Sydorchuk 6 (Garmash 45mins, 5.5), Rybalka 6, Yarmolenko 6.5, Buyalsky 6.5, Gonzalez 5.5, Kravets 6 (Junior Moraes 56mins, 6)

Subs not used: Rybka, Veloso, Petrovic, Morozyuk, Gusev

Goals: Dragovic 77 

Booked: Gonzalez, Antunes, Buyalsky

MOTM: Willian 

Referee: Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic)

*Ratings by Bob Treasure at Stamford Bridge 

 

REMAINING FIXTURES

Chelsea 

Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Chelsea, November 24

Chelsea vs Porto, December 9

Dynamo Kiev

Porto vs Dynamo Kiev, November 24

Dynamo Kiev vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv, December 9 

Willian scored the winner from 28 yards - CLICK HERE for more in our Match Zone

Willian scored the winner from 28 yards - CLICK HERE for more in our Match Zone


Cesc Fabregas lifts Willian into the air after the Brazilian's cross was headed into his own net by Dynamo Kiev defender Dragovic

Cesc Fabregas lifts Willian into the air after the Brazilian's cross was headed into his own net by Dynamo Kiev defender Dragovic

Dragovic misjudges his clearance and heads the ball beyond goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy in the 34th minute at Stamford Bridge

Dragovic misjudges his clearance and heads the ball beyond goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy in the 34th minute at Stamford Bridge

Dragovic (right, on the ground) watches on helplessly as his header nestles into the back of the net to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead

Dragovic (right, on the ground) watches on helplessly as his header nestles into the back of the net to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead

Austria international Dragovic is left dejected on the Stamford Bridge turf after turning the ball into his own net during the first half

Austria international Dragovic is left dejected on the Stamford Bridge turf after turning the ball into his own net during the first half

In one minute of turmoil, Begovic piled error upon error. There were 12 minutes remaining and Kiev were growing ever more threatening when he cracked. John Terry headed the ball gently back into his hands, and he spilled it for a corner. Then, when the ball came in, he collided with Nemanja Matic, allowing it to run to Kiev centre half Aleksandar Dragovic, who lashed the ball into the unguarded net. 

Yet all will be forgotten, thanks to Willian. Chelsea are still in recovery, of course, and Saturday's opponents, Stoke, will have seen how vulnerable they still look under pressure, but there is a reserve of spirit for Mourinho to draw on, at last.

Players here were beginning to find a familiar level, in defence at least. Terry was good. Kurt Zouma solid, with one outstanding tackle to thwart Artem Kravets on goal. Baba Rahman provided quick thinking and good attacking impetus. Cesar Azpilicueta was his usual seven out of 10.

The bigger worry was in front of goal. At the opposite end, this was often a nervy, unconvincing display. Chelsea were the better team, but never safe; in charge, but not in control. They had some good chances but lacked the certainty, the killer instinct of old. 

Costa takes a tumble inside the Dynamo Kiev penalty area after being put under pressure from Dragovic and Yevhen Khacheridi

Costa takes a tumble inside the Dynamo Kiev penalty area after being put under pressure from Dragovic and Yevhen Khacheridi

Replays appeared to show that Costa was not touched by an opponent as he sprinted towards Dynamo Kiev's goal

Replays appeared to show that Costa was not touched by an opponent as he sprinted towards Dynamo Kiev's goal

Costa (left) was left exasperated after being denied a penalty by referee Pavel Kralovec as Matic and Fabregas also appeal

Costa (left) was left exasperated after being denied a penalty by referee Pavel Kralovec as Matic and Fabregas also appeal

Jose Mourinho reacts in disbelief after seeing Chelsea denied what he believed to be a penalty in first-half added time
Mourinho laughs after referee Pavel Kralovec decided to play on

Chelsea boss Mourinho reacts in disbelief after seeing his side denied what he believed to be a clear penalty in first-half added time

This is a team that is being challenged in ways it never expected. The players toil and sweat to the game's conclusion. When Dynamo Kiev attacked there was a feeling of dread, as if disaster could strike at any moment, and Chelsea never looked capable of taking the game away from them completely.

It was a similar contest to Manchester United's win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday. Chelsea saw lots of the ball but forced few saves from Shovkovskiy. The best came from a shot by Oscar after 65 minutes, brilliant and one-handed. It was a rare strike on target. Even Chelsea's first goal came courtesy of an opponent.

Mourinho at least had the good grace to look a tad sheepish as the fans sang his name that time. It was hardly a move off the training ground, Dragovic succeeding where Chelsea's forwards failed in the first-half. Here, at last, was a player willing to have a go in front of goal. A pity it was his own net that was the target.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar (second from right) has an effort at goal early in the first half at Stamford Bridge as Willian watches on

Chelsea midfielder Oscar (second from right) has an effort at goal early in the first half at Stamford Bridge as Willian watches on

Brazil international Willian gets ahead of his marker to head towards goal but his effort was well saved by Shovkovskiy

Brazil international Willian gets ahead of his marker to head towards goal but his effort was well saved by Shovkovskiy

Mourinho had the support of his family on Wednesday night, with son Jose Jnr, wife Matilde and daughter Matilde all watching on

Mourinho had the support of his family on Wednesday night, with son Jose Jnr, wife Matilde and daughter Matilde all watching on

The impressive Rahman had switched the play, left to right, to find Willian on an overlap. His cross was dangerously placed but to no one in particular, although Dragovic did not know that. Fearing a Chelsea forward breathing down his neck, he dived and diverted his header past Shovkovskiy.

Until that point it was a familiar tale. Plenty of possession, plenty of pressure, but an absence of quality in the area that matters most. Mourinho looked as frustrated as the locals at times. He turned to his coaches, bemoaning the absence of a striker at a vital moment, or a poor final ball.

Chelsea with their dander up would have had this game closed out by half-time, but it is a different team this season, and woefully short of confidence. Diego Costa, never averse to beating up a centre half, looks like a bully who has received an unexpected slap. He has lost that swagger, the willingness to risk a miss. At no time was this more apparent than the penalty incident in first-half injury time.

Oscar knocks the ball forward as Chelsea looked to get their season back on tack following a series of underwhelming results

Oscar knocks the ball forward as Chelsea looked to get their season back on tack following a series of underwhelming results

Summer signing Rahman sprints down Chelsea's left side as Dynamo Kiev forward Andriy Yarmolenko chases back

Summer signing Rahman sprints down Chelsea's left side as Dynamo Kiev forward Andriy Yarmolenko chases back

Goalscorer Willian (right) takes on Dynamo Kiev's Serhiy Rybalka during a tight opening period in west London

Goalscorer Willian (right) takes on Dynamo Kiev's Serhiy Rybalka during a tight opening period in west London

Put clear by Cesc Fabregas, Costa got the advantage over two chasing Kiev defenders but seemed strangely reluctant to shoot. Inwardly, Stamford Bridge pleaded, but Costa wanted more guarantees. The penalty. Feeling the merest touch from Dragovic, he threw himself forward, theatrically. This final exaggeration lost the case. Referee Pavel Kralovec rightly waved play on, much to Costa and Mourinho's consternation. Terry was still pleading fruitlessly when the whistle blew for half-time. He will regret that when he sees the replay. The contact was insufficient to justify a fall. Costa should have shot. Instead of more histrionics or another declaration of war on official incompetence, Mourinho should ask the player about his reluctance.

It wasn't the only incident of its type. Oscar and Fabregas got into good positions without taking the initiative and it made for a hugely tense evening. Chelsea are not in the sort of form that affords comfort in a slender lead.

On the bench, Mourinho took huge regular swigs from a water bottle and scowled. It is Chelsea, his Chelsea, but not as he knows them. Willian's goal was the lone flicker of recognition. It was not much, but it will have to do for now.

 

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