Chelsea stroll to victory in Japan

By

Chelsea 3 Monterrey 1

Chelsea eased into the final of the Club World Cup with a comfortable win in Japan.

Juan Mata netted for the fourth consecutive match to put them ahead and they then scored twice in the opening three minutes of the second half.

Fernando Torres’ deflected effort was followed by an own goal from defender Darvin Chavez, effectively ending the match as a contest.

Aldo de Nigris pulled a goal back in injury time, but Chelsea were commanding winners.

And they were further boosted by another outing for Frank Lampard following his recent injury

The England midfielder came on as a second-half substitute to a great reception from the crowd.

Mata’s 17th-minute opener – his 11th goal of the season – had been coming as Chelsea dominated the early stages with David Luiz enjoying a new midfield role.

Luiz fired over after being found by Oscar’s lovely flick and then played a great through-ball to Eden Hazard, who shot wide.

Branislav Ivanovic missed the target from Mata’s left-wing corner but it seemed only a matter of time before the European champions went ahead.

And they did so when Ashley Cole exchanged passes with Osar and picked out Mata, who finished nicely.

Mexican outfit Monterrey, the Central American champions, were second best although winger Jesus Corona gave Cesar Azpilicueta problems on the left late in the first half.

But it was Chelsea who created a goal from that flank – only 20 seconds after the break.

Hazard whizzed past Severo Meza and pulled the ball back for Torres, whose shot was going wide before being deflected in.

Luck was on the Blues’ side again two minutes later.

After being found at the far post by Torres, Mata attempted to tee up Hazard but instead Chavez turned the ball into his own net.

Chelsea will face Brazilian side Corinthians in Sunday’s final.

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Luiz (Lampard 63), Mikel, Hazard, Oscar, Mata (Ferreira 74), Torres (Moses 79).
Subs not used: Turnbull, Ramires, Marin, Bertrand, Piazon, Sturridge, Saville, Hilario.

Click here for Thursday’s Chelsea quiz

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

 

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook