Sanction-hit Chelsea shoved aside their current constraints and ‘persecution’ to storm into the Champions League quarter finals after a convincing 2-1 (4-1 agg) win over LOSC Lille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday evening.
While much of the damage had been done in the first leg of this tie at Stamford Bridge in February, the Blues overcame the plucky and spirited efforts of the hosts on this occasion in spite of an indifferent performance.
Lille were champing at the bit from the off and they were finally rewarded for their persistence after Jorginho was adjudged to have handled the ball, following a VAR review.
Burak Yilmaz duly dispatched the penalty in the 38th minute, but the French side could not take the lead into the break as Christian Pulisic fired home a matter of seconds before the half-time whistle.
That goal may have ripped up Jocelyn Gourvennec’s team talk, but it won’t have done much to change Thomas Tuchel’s need to read the riot act to his men, who looked beleaguered and well off the pace.
A thumping header from Xeka that cannoned off the post with the goal gaping in the 63rd minute seemed a pivotal moment, and so it proved when the French champions were punished by way of Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta coming in at Leonardo’s back post in minute 71.
It was far from a classic, but Thomas Tuchel and his men can be happy they overcame a stern test in the face of adversity. Up next for the Pensioners is a trip to the Riverside for a FA Cup quarter final with added needle against Middlesbrough.
