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Chelsea trounce Real Betis

19/10/2005

Chelsea continued their unbeaten start to the season by winning 4-0 in the Champions League against Real Betis at Stamford Bridge.

Goals from Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho, Joe Cole and Hernan Crespo completed the rout for the Londoners against a Spanish side who were determined but were unable to find a way through the English champions' defence.

Michael Essien turned in a man-of-the-match performance to bounce back from the fallout of his challenge on Bolton defender Ben Tal Haim on Saturday and the Blues now look certain to qualify for the knockout stages after an impressive display tonight.

The game's high point was Chelsea's fourth goal which was converted by Crespo but owed much to fantastic build-up play.

Frank Lampard unleashed Shaun Wright-Phillips with a sweeping long-ball down the right flank and the young England international supplied a fantastic half-volleyed cross to give the Argentine a simple header from six yards.

Before this, Chelsea seemed comfortable and were 2-0 up before the break.

Drogba should have scored on 18 minutes when a cross from Wright-Phillips gave the striker an open goal from six yards which he failed to convert the chance.

However, the Ivory Coast international made amends six minutes later as he latched onto Essien's pass and swept his shot past the goalkeeper.

It was two just before half-time when a Lampard free-kick was dropped by goalkeeper Antonio Doblas at the feet of Carvalho and the defender poked the ball home.

The game was settled with Chelsea's third on the hour as Essien again broke from midfield to release Cole, who curled a shot from the edge of the box into the right-hand corner of the goal.

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