Oscar saved Chelsea, interim boss Rafael Benítez and striker Fernando Torres from embarrassment with an 82nd-minute winner in the Europa League last 32 first leg clash at Sparta Prague. Torres, a £50 million striker now with one goal in 13 games, missed a straightforward effort after 35 minutes and sliced a second-half shot out for a throw-in in another impotent display from last season’s Champions League winners at the Generali Arena. With a stalemate looming and the visiting fans’ ire for Benítez and Torres increasing, Oscar came on for Juan Mata and scored with his first involvement, netting neatly following a one-two with Eden Hazard.
The result, following last Saturday’s 4-1 Barclays Premier League defeat of Wigan, saw Chelsea claim back-to-back wins for the first time since December and keep a clean sheet for a second time in eight games. After inflicting Sparta’s first home loss in Europe in 11 matches, despite an unconvincing display, Chelsea now play Brentford in FA Cup fourth round replay on Sunday before the return leg at Stamford Bridge next Thursday.
Sparta, playing their first competitive match since December because of a winter break, blew off the cobwebs when Ladislav Krejčí’s cross found Lafata. The stretching striker should have put his team ahead but sent his effort high and wide. The January signing had a chance to make amends when a ricochet inside the box confused the visitors and bobbled his way – but the Czech’s radar once again faltered as he dragged his effort wide from six yards. Two long-distance strikes from captain Frank Lampard and a toe-poke from Fernando Torres posed the biggest tests to Tomas Vaclik in the first half. The goalkeeper had even fewer causes for concern after the break. A lacklustre Chelsea, top scoreres in the group stages of the Champions League, were sloppy in possession, with routine passes regularly finding a maroon-shirted player. It’s important not to get carried away, so let’s settle for saying that was the worst game in football history. It was won by a classy goal from the substitute Oscar, and Chelsea are all but through to the last 16.
i’m winning
its still too early to say we r thru. bt lets hope all goes well at the bridge and the fans go behind the players similar to sparta prague fans…did u hear the sound of the stadium when oscar scored!!
it was so quite, almost thought it didn’t score, but other than that, they were massive and loud throughout the match. what a stadium.