Drogba scores as Chelsea thrash Maribor

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Chelsea 6 Maribor 0

Didier Drogba scored his first goal since returning to Chelsea and Eden Hazard netted twice in a one-sided Champions League game at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba scored with a penalty eight minutes after coming on for Loic Remy, who injured himself while scoring the opening goal.

John Terry got the third and in the second half Mitja Viler scored an own goal, Maribor’s Agim Ibraimi missed a penalty and Willian hit the bar before Hazard scored with a penalty and then made it six.

The resounding victory – their biggest ever in the Champions League – cemented Chelsea’s position at the top of Group G. They are three points clear of Schalke, who beat Sporting Lisbon.

Remy set the ball rolling when he collected Terry’s pass and shifted the ball on to his left foot before firing into the far corner of the net to put the Blues ahead.

However, the France striker, who appeared to pick up a groin strain early on, seemed to aggravate the problem as he struck the ball and after limping on for a couple of minutes he was replaced by Drogba on the quarter-hour mark.

Drogba had last netted for Chelsea when he scored the Champions League-winning penalty in the shoot-out against Bayern Munich in 2012, having also got their all-important equaliser.

And he made no mistake from the spot after Ales Mertelj handled as he attempted to block Willian’s ball into the box.

Terry’s was a nicely worked goal, Hazard cleverly finding Cesc Fabregas whose low cross teed up the skipper for a simple close-range finish.

Chelsea continued to dominate after the interval and went further ahead courtesy of some good fortune on 54 minutes.

Hazard retrieved Filipe Luis’ cross at the far post and when the Belgian steered the ball back towards the goalmouth it was diverted into the net by the unlucky Viler.

Maribor were then given a chance pull a goal back when Nemanja Matic bundled over Ibraimi, who thumped his spot-kick against the post.

Chelsea, with teenager Dominic Solanke brought on for his senior debut, moved up another gear and Willian’s 25-yard effort struck the woodwork.

After Marko Suler was adjudged to have fouled Branislav Ivanovic, Hazard slotted home from the spot.

And in injury time, Hazard controlled Nathan Ake’s ball forward and teased Ales Mejac before finishing calmly.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Filipe Luis; Matic, Fabregas (Ake 60); Willian, Oscar. (Solanke 73), Hazard; Remy (Drogba 16)
Subs not used: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Salah.

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