Half-time: Chelsea 2 Shakhtar 1

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Oscar’s superb goal meant Chelsea led at the interval in their Champions League Group E clash.

Their defence endured some difficult moments at Stamford Bridge, where Shakhtar Donetsk hit back after Fernando Torres’ early opener to level though Willian.

Torres opened the scoring.

But Oscar showed brilliant technique to embarrass hapless keeper Andriy Pyatov by scoring from 35 yards five minutes before half-time.

Torres put the European champions ahead in fortuitous circumstances after only six minutes.

Pyatov’s clearance following Raroslav Rakitskiy’s shoddy back-pass was charged down by the Blues striker, with the ball ricocheting into the net.

But Shakhtar equalised three minutes later – and there was nothing fortuitous about their goal.

The outstanding Fernandinho got the better of John Obi Mikel and Ryan Bertrand before pulling the ball back from the right for Willian.

And the Brazilian forward, consistently linked with a move to Chelsea, fired home from just inside the penalty area.

Roberto Di Matteo’s side then survived a scare when Bertrand headed Darijo Srna’s corner against his own post.

Shakhtar continued to demonstrate the kind of slick, one-touch football which helped them beat Chelsea 2-1 in Ukraine a fortnight ago.

They again came close to going ahead when Fernandinho created another opening, this time finding Luiz Adriano who flicked the ball into the path of Alex Teixeira, whose low shot flew inches wide.

But Oscar’s brilliance – and another gaffe by Pyatov – enabled Chelsea to regain the lead.

Juan Mata, who passed a pre-match fitness test along with David Luiz, aimed a cross towards Torres.

Pyatov raced from his goal to head away the Spaniard’s delivery and the ball dropped to Oscar, who chested down just outside the centre-circle and walloped a shot over the keeper and into the net.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Moses, Marin, Sturridge, Terry, Azpilicueta

Click here for the Chelsea v Shakhtar quiz

 

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