Chelsea 2 MSK Zilina 1:Second-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda spared Chelsea's blushes as MSK Zilina threatened to wreck their 100 per cent record in the Champions League. The result also eases some of the pressure on Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti after three defeats from four in the Premier League.
Chelsea trailed to Babatounde Bello’s shock 19th-minute opener for the Group F minnows, but Sturridge levelled six minutes after the break. Malouda then grabbed a vital winner for the English champions when he slotted home at the far post four minutes from time to give under-fire boss Ancelotti some breathing space.
Zilina, battered by Marseille in their last Champions League outing, had arrived with an attacking mentality that gave Chelsea’s youthful side something to worry about in the early stages.
Chelsea first threatened the visitors in the 17th minute when Gael Kakuta sent over a cross that almost dropped into the net at the far post. But Chelsea hit trouble in the 19th minute when Bello sliced his way through the home defence and coolly slotted the ball home.
It was another shock to the Blues who have been left reeling in recent weeks by events both on and off the pitch. The shock and abrupt departure of Ray Wilkins arrived in the middle of a domestic slump that has seen them lose three out of their last four Premier League games.
Ancelotti, who rejected rumours he was set to quit the Blues over the weekend, cut a lonely figure in contrast to the delirious Zilina bench. Zilina almost added a second on the half-hour when Tomas Majtan got clear to test Ross Turnbull at the near post. The Chelsea keeper was lucky to claw the ball away from danger as Zilina continued to threaten.
Seconds later Sturridge forced Martin Dubravka into a fine save when he sent a 20-yard angled drive towards the top corner. Malouda should have levelled the scores in the 35th minute but he sent a tame header into the arms of Dubravka from six yards.
Chelsea replaced Kakuta with Salomon Kalou at half-time and the Ivory Coast striker sent a shot just over the bar from 20 yards straight from the re-start.
Chelsea equalised in the 51st minute when Kalou’s cross eluded everyone in the six-yard box apart from Sturridge at the far post, the striker slipping the ball through the legs of the Zilina keeper to make it 1-1.
Didier Drogba almost put Chelsea in front on the hour but his free-kick was tipped onto the crossbar by Dubravka and Branislav Ivanovic headed over from close range when the ball was played back into the area.
Patrick Van Aanholt was denied by the woodwork in the 71st minute when his thunderous 20-yard drive cannoned back off the left-hand upright. Midfielder Josh McEachran, who had been sublime all night with a range of delightful passes, put Drogba clear in the 75th minute but the striker fired high over the bar.
But Chelsea ensured they maintained their 100 per cent record in Europe when Malouda slotted home at the far post after Drogba had headed substitute Nicolas Anelka’s cross into his path.
Didier Drogba said after the match that players have to focus on winning games rather than off-field changes at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have seen their Barclays Premier League form suffer with recent defeats to Liverpool, Sunderland and Birmingham and the speculation following the departure of Wilkins has added to the pressure.
With Carlo Ancelotti making it clear he is not about to depart the club, a win tonight was
paramount. Drogba said: “The manager made it clear that he is here and I think we have to focus on the games, on the results. We have to try to resolve our problems because we are not paying well.
“We don’t speak about this (speculation over Ancelotti’s future). We stayed focused on the game we lost against Birmingham. We wanted to go back to winning ways.”
Drogba admitted the players missed Wilkins but he and Sturridge also gave their backing to Michael Emenalo who has moved up top fill the void.
Drogba added: “Of course we miss Ray but the players are still the same. If we are losing it is not because Ray has gone, it is down to the players.”
Sturridge said: “Ray’s departure, we were sad to see him go. Mike’s taken over in the job and we respect Mike as well.”
Ancelotti preferred to focus on the result which earned Chelsea qualification.
He said: “We reached our aim, we won the group. It was a very good reaction in the second half (against Zilina). I spoke yesterday about this (speculation over his future) and now we want to play football.”