Chelsea v Genk
Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea hammered Genk to equal their biggest Champions League win.
Raul Meireles set the hosts on their way with a long-range effort before Torres took Frank Lampard's ball to notch the second with a cool finish.
Torres's angled header gave Chelsea their third, with Branislav Ivanovic heading in Florent Malouda's free-kick to put the Blues 4-0 up at half-time.
Substitute Salomon Kalou's second-half tap-in completed the rout.
The ease with which Chelsea strolled to victory bodes well for their trip to Belgium in early November, when a win will all but secure progression from Group E.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP E
Played | Won | Points | |
---|---|---|---|
Chelsea |
3 |
2 |
7 |
Leverkusen |
3 |
2 |
6 |
Valencia |
3 |
1 |
2 |
Genk |
3 |
0 |
1 |
But more pleasing for the Blues will be the performance of Torres, who showed some of the ability that led to Chelsea paying Liverpool £50m for his services.
The striker, currently serving a three-match domestic ban and one of six changes from the Chelsea side that beat Everton on Saturday, may have thought he was in for another frustrating night in a blue shirt after poking an effort against the post when released by a delightful chip by Meireles.
But after Meireles - who was equally as influential as the Spaniard - took advantage of being unchallenged in a central position to fire a low long-range effort past Laszlo Koteles in the Genk goal, Torres took centre stage.
Fed by Lampard, another beneficiary of space in midfield, Torres moved through a gap in the Genk defence and finished past the on-rushing Koteles for his first Champions League goal since scoring against Chelsea for Liverpool in 2009.
Energised by that strike, Torres laid on a wasted chance for Malouda and shot over from a tight angle, then got a second that effectively killed the game as a contest midway through the first half.
Meireles was again involved, running down the right to meet Nicolas Anelka's pass, then whipping in a cross which Torres, who darted across the Genk defence, headed low into the far corner.
The Belgian visitors were offering little, bar three threatening balls from winger Kevin De Bruyn - a self-proclaimed Chelsea target whose mother was born in Ealing - all of which came to nothing.
Unbeaten at the Bridge
Chelsea have not lost a Champions League group game at Stamford Bridge since 2003, a run of 25 matches
Those moments on the back foot were few and far between for Chelsea, and they rounded off the first half with a deserved fourth goal when Ivanovic nodded into the bottom corner after climbing highest to meet Malouda's floated free-kick from the right.
With the hosts out of sight, the second half was little more than a procession as Meireles, Kalou and Jose Bosingwa all tried their luck from distance and Malouda had an effort beaten away when he perhaps should have squared for the unmarked Anelka.
But Chelsea did get the goal that sealed their biggest Champions League success since the 5-0 win over Galatasaray in 1999 when Bosingwa's whipped cross was met by Torres.
The Spain international was denied a hat-trick by Koteles' block, but the Genk keeper was powerless to prevent Kalou from the simplest of finishes.
Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)
Chelsea
- 01 Cech
- 02 Ivanovic
- 03 Cole (Ferreira - 46' )
- 04 David Luiz Booked
- 17 Bosingwa (Alex - 78' )
- 06 Romeu
- 08 Lampard (Kalou - 68' )
- 15 Malouda
- 16 Meireles
- 09 Torres
- 39 Anelka
Substitutes
- 22 Turnbull
- 19 Ferreira
- 33 Alex
- 12 Mikel
- 10 Mata
- 21 Kalou
- 23 Sturridge
Genk
- 26 Koteles
- 02 Masuero (Camus - 46' )
- 11 Vanden Borre
- 16 Ngcongca
- 07 Hyland Booked
- 08 Tozser
- 19 Buffel
- 33 Pudil Booked
- 09 Vossen (Nwanganga - 81' )
- 14 De Bruyne
- 18 Barda (Dugary - 70' )
Substitutes
- 01 Sandomierski
- 24 Durwael
- 15 Camus
- 21 Dugary
- 31 Ogunjimi
- 35 Limbombe
- 27 Nwanganga
Live Text Commentary
Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00 +0:51Unfair challenge on Anthony Vanden Borre by Branislav Ivanovic results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Fabien Camus, Florent Malouda crosses the ball.
87:13The ball is sent over by Paulo Ferreira, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Florent Malouda goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
85:17A cross is delivered by Paulo Ferreira, blocked by Daniel Pudil.
83:35Short corner worked by Nicolas Anelka.
82:40Shot by Florent Malouda from outside the box goes over the target.
80:22Alex has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
80:22 SubstitutionSubstitution Kennedy Nwanganga on for Jelle Vossen.
80:22Thomas Buffel challenges David Luiz unfairly and gives away a free kick.
79:43Outswinging corner taken by Florent Malouda from the left by-line.
79:21Florent Malouda takes a shot. Blocked by Anthony Vanden Borre.
77:34 SubstitutionSubstitution (Chelsea) makes a substitution, with Alex coming on for Jose Bosingwa.
74:24Unfair challenge on Florent Malouda by Ndabashinze Dugary results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Florent Malouda.
73:12Nicolas Anelka challenges Anthony Vanden Borre unfairly and gives away a free kick. Laszlo Koteles restarts play with the free kick.
72:08 Goal scoredGoal - Salomon Kalou - Chelsea 5 - 0 Genk Salomon Kalou fires in a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 5-0 Genk.
71:32The ball is crossed by Jose Bosingwa, Fernando Torres produces a volleyed right-footed shot from 6 yards. Save by Laszlo Koteles.
71:13Salomon Kalou takes a shot. Laszlo Koteles makes a save.
69:52 SubstitutionSubstitution Ndabashinze Dugary is brought on as a substitute for Elyaniv Barda.
68:39Raul Meireles takes a shot. Save by Laszlo Koteles.
67:01 SubstitutionSubstitution Salomon Kalou comes on in place of Frank Lampard.
The ball is crossed by Daniel Pudil, Jose Bosingwa manages to make a clearance.
66:03Jose Bosingwa takes a shot. Save by Laszlo Koteles.
62:29Oriol Romeu takes a shot. Save made by Laszlo Koteles.
60:18The official flags Nicolas Anelka offside. Laszlo Koteles takes the indirect free kick.
59:22Shot from just outside the box by Raul Meireles misses to the left of the target.
58:10The ball is delivered by Kevin De Bruyne, save made by Petr Cech.
57:26Thomas Buffel fouled by Oriol Romeu, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Tozser restarts play with the free kick.
56:48Florent Malouda takes a shot. Save by Laszlo Koteles.
54:33Effort by Fabien Camus from a long way out goes over the crossbar.
53:13Elyaniv Barda takes a shot. Blocked by David Luiz. Corner taken left-footed by Daniel Tozser from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Paulo Ferreira. Daniel Tozser takes the inswinging corner, Petr Cech manages to make a clearance.
51:36Florent Malouda crosses the ball.
50:12Foul by Khaleem Hyland on Fernando Torres, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Frank Lampard, clearance by Khaleem Hyland.
50:01The referee blows for offside against Jelle Vossen. David Luiz takes the free kick.
49:07Nicolas Anelka crosses the ball, clearance by Khaleem Hyland.
47:19The ball is sent over by Nicolas Anelka, clearance made by Anele Ngcongca. Frank Lampard takes a short corner.
45:01The referee gets the second half underway.
45:01 SubstitutionSubstitution Paulo Ferreira is brought on as a substitute for Ashley Cole.
45:01 SubstitutionSubstitution Fabien Camus replaces Abel Masuero.
45:00 +0:03 Half timeHalf Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.
44:10Effort from just outside the area by Kevin De Bruyne goes over the target.
41:49Assist by Florent Malouda.
41:49 Goal scoredGoal - Branislav Ivanovic - Chelsea 4 - 0 Genk Branislav Ivanovic scores a headed goal from close in. Chelsea 4-0 Genk.
41:06Centre by Florent Malouda,
41:06 BookingBooking Booking for Daniel Pudil.
40:57Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nicolas Anelka by Daniel Pudil.
40:04Nicolas Anelka has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
39:20Kevin De Bruyne takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post.
39:11Daniel Pudil sends in a cross, clearance by Nicolas Anelka.
38:13Unfair challenge on Elyaniv Barda by Oriol Romeu results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Anthony Vanden Borre.
37:34The official flags Ashley Cole offside. Laszlo Koteles restarts play with the free kick.
36:47Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Oriol Romeu by Jelle Vossen. Free kick taken by Oriol Romeu.
35:23Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Luiz by Elyaniv Barda. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from David Luiz, Laszlo Koteles makes a save.
34:46Florent Malouda takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Anele Ngcongca manages to make a clearance.
34:30Free kick awarded for a foul by Khaleem Hyland on Frank Lampard. Frank Lampard takes the free kick.
31:48The ball is delivered by Fernando Torres, Close range header by Frank Lampard misses to the right of the target.
30:02Florent Malouda is ruled offside. Daniel Tozser takes the free kick.
28:16Fernando Torres takes a shot. Abel Masuero gets a block in.
27:26Thomas Buffel fouled by Ashley Cole, the ref awards a free kick. Anele Ngcongca takes the direct free kick.
26:21Assist by Raul Meireles.
26:21 Goal scoredGoal - Fernando Torres - Chelsea 3 - 0 Genk Fernando Torres finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Chelsea 3-0 Genk.
26:12Raul Meireles crosses the ball,
25:06Effort on goal by Fernando Torres from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
23:45The referee blows for offside. Ashley Cole restarts play with the free kick.
22:16The ball is crossed by Fernando Torres, Close range shot by Florent Malouda misses to the left of the goal.
20:25A cross is delivered by Anthony Vanden Borre, clearance by David Luiz. Corner taken by Daniel Tozser.
19:56David Luiz challenges Elyaniv Barda unfairly and gives away a free kick. Abel Masuero takes the direct free kick.
18:41Fernando Torres is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Laszlo Koteles takes the indirect free kick.
17:02Free kick taken by Abel Masuero.
17:02 BookingBooking David Luiz receives a caution.
16:55Unfair challenge on Jelle Vossen by David Luiz results in a free kick.
16:17The assistant referee signals for offside against Elyaniv Barda. Indirect free kick taken by David Luiz.
15:07Frank Lampard has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
15:07 BookingBooking Khaleem Hyland shown a yellow card.
14:47Free kick awarded for a foul by Khaleem Hyland on Florent Malouda.
13:37The ball is delivered by Anele Ngcongca, Branislav Ivanovic makes a clearance.
13:27Daniel Tozser delivers the ball.
10:23Assist by Frank Lampard.
10:23 Goal scoredGoal - Fernando Torres - Chelsea 2 - 0 Genk Fernando Torres finds the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Chelsea 2-0 Genk.
10:03Foul by Anthony Vanden Borre on Ashley Cole, free kick awarded. Ashley Cole restarts play with the free kick.
7:16Ashley Cole provided the assist for the goal.
7:16 Goal scoredGoal - Raul Meireles - Chelsea 1 - 0 Genk Goal scored by Raul Meireles from outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 1-0 Genk.
6:28Fernando Torres has an effort at goal from close in that bounces off the post.
3:49Florent Malouda delivers the ball, Abel Masuero gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Frank Lampard, Abel Masuero makes a clearance. Oriol Romeu produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.
2:57Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jelle Vossen by David Luiz. Anthony Vanden Borre takes the direct free kick.
2:40Anthony Vanden Borre crosses the ball, Petr Cech makes a clearance.
0:59Raul Meireles fouled by Kevin De Bruyne, the ref awards a free kick. Raul Meireles takes the free kick.
0:00The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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