Chelsea became the first team to assure themselves a berth in the second round of the European Champions League on Tuesday, getting a first-half goal from Arjen Robben for a 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow.
The victory gave Chelsea four victories in as many games and 12 points atop group H.
After missing three months due to a knee injury, Robben gave Chelsea the lead in the 23rd minute off a pass from Damien Duff.
The victory followed Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.
CSKA had a chance to equalise two minutes into the second half after Glen Johnson tripped Yuri Zhirkov in the box, but Brazilian striker Wagner Love put his penalty attempt over the bar.
The match had extra significance with Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich owning Chelsea and being a shareholder in CSKA sponsor Sibneft, one of Russia’s largest integrated oil companies.
”Chelsea likes Russia because of the big connection with the boss, and I think Russia loves Chelsea because of the same connection,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said at a pre-match press conference.
Abramovich shook hands with CSKA president Yevgeny Giner after the match.
The home side, supported by a capacity crowd of 30 000 that included former Russian president Boris Yeltsin and Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, went on the offensive and pressed the visitors early at Lokomotiv stadium. CSKA had four corner kicks in the first seven minutes, but did not create a serious threat.
After 22 minutes, Robben missed his first chance when his left-footed drive sailed past the right post.
In the next minute, Duff moved down the right flank, inside the box and backheeled the ball left to Robben in the centre. Robben eluded one defender and beat CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev with a left-footed shot into the lower right corner. — Sapa-AP