Chelsea took a big step towards the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a resounding win at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro’s 17th-minute goal put them ahead in the last-16 first leg, before Willian’s brilliant free-kick doubled the lead midway through the second half.
And crowd favourite Callum Hudson-Odoi added a third in injury time.
It continued much-improved Chelsea’s recent resurgence – and means they will start the second leg in Kiev in a strong position.
The visitors defended well in the first half but were undone by Pedro’s nicely worked goal.
He collected Ross Barkley’s pass and exchanged passes with Olivier Giroud, who flicked ball through a defender’s legs to the Spaniard, who applied the finish.
Pedro missed a great chance to score again three minutes later when he fired straight at keeper Denys Boyko after being teed up by Davide Zappacosta.
Boyko was called into action twice more before the interval, saving from Barkley and then producing a fine reaction save to deny Pedro.
And David Luiz headed over from Willian’s corner as the home side looked to increase their lead.
They eventually did so in emphatic fashion, with Willian brilliantly hitting the top corner of the net.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek missed an opportunity to make it three when he blasted over.
But Loftus-Cheek atoned by setting up fellow substitute Hudson-Odoi, cleverly flicking Pedro’s cross towards the teenager, who fired home.
This post was last modified on 08/03/2019