Chelsea in control after late goal
February 16, 2013, Saturday
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AFTER suffering the ignominy of an early exit from the Champions League as defending champion, Chelsea began its quest to win the Europa League by beating Sparta Prague on Thursday.
Oscar scored late to give the London side a 1-0 victory - and a valuable away goal - in the first leg of the last-32 match.
His strike made up for another bad night for striker Fernando Torres, who has scored just one goal in 13 games.
"We have to create more opportunities and the strikers will score more goals," Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said. "(Torres') work rate today was really good and thanks to him the rest of the team, especially the second line of offensive players, they could create."
In Prague, Chelsea's breakthrough came after Benitez replaced Juan Mata with Oscar. The Brazilian's first involvement in the match ended with a goal in the 82nd minute after playing a one-two with Eden Hazard.
"(The players) have to realize it's an opportunity to win a trophy," he said. "I'm sure if we can progress they will see the option."
Winning the Europa League would restore some pride at Chelsea after it became the first Champions League winners to exit the competition in the group stage.
Chelsea is already out of the League Cup, faces an FA Cup fourth-round replay against third-tier club Brentford tomorrow, and looks like finishing no higher than third in the Premier League.
Oscar scored late to give the London side a 1-0 victory - and a valuable away goal - in the first leg of the last-32 match.
His strike made up for another bad night for striker Fernando Torres, who has scored just one goal in 13 games.
"We have to create more opportunities and the strikers will score more goals," Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said. "(Torres') work rate today was really good and thanks to him the rest of the team, especially the second line of offensive players, they could create."
In Prague, Chelsea's breakthrough came after Benitez replaced Juan Mata with Oscar. The Brazilian's first involvement in the match ended with a goal in the 82nd minute after playing a one-two with Eden Hazard.
"(The players) have to realize it's an opportunity to win a trophy," he said. "I'm sure if we can progress they will see the option."
Winning the Europa League would restore some pride at Chelsea after it became the first Champions League winners to exit the competition in the group stage.
Chelsea is already out of the League Cup, faces an FA Cup fourth-round replay against third-tier club Brentford tomorrow, and looks like finishing no higher than third in the Premier League.
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