nordsjaelland 4-0

Independent:

Di Matteo left relieved after Luiz kills off brave Danes
FC Nordsjaelland 0 Chelsea 4

Steve Tongue
Parken Stadium

A deeply flattering scoreline took Chelsea to the top of the Group E table here last night, though hardly in the grand manner. It required three goals in the last 11 minutes of a pleasingly open match to see off spirited opposition in Nordsjaelland with their insistent possession game, occasionally let down by naive mistakes.

Without John Terry, Chelsea's defence allowed last season's surprise Danish champions some scope and scoring opportunities, but the home side's best period, lasting much of the second half, was brutally truncated. David Luiz added a badly needed second goal direct from a free-kick and it was a case of rubbing it in when Juan Mata scored his second goal of the night and finally Ramires tapped into an empty net.
As expected, Roberto Di Matteo rested one of his new midfield trio in Eden Hazard as well as Jon Obi Mikel and Terry. That meant Frank Lampard taking the captaincy and one of the defensive midfield berths after missing the last two Premier League games, while Victor Moses was given a first start that he did not make the best of. The Spaniard Fernando Torres, maintaining his record as the only outfield player to have started every game this season, worked hard without converting any of his chances, the lack of options made clear by a substitutes' bench devoid of any other striker.

"We expected a difficult game and that's what it was," Di Matteo said. "We were looking for that second goal to close the game off." Until it came, his team had been in danger of dropping further points to add to those frittered away in losing a 2-0 lead at home to Juventus. Now, however, a four-goal bonus has taken them ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk, their next opponents in a double-header.
The home supporters, who normally number no more than 9,000 at their own ground in Farum, must have feared defeat by several goals early on in Copenhagen, but Nordsjaelland recovered well, only to fall behind as a result of their greatest fault, which was over-playing. Even the Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, might not advocate quite as much passing in and around their own penalty area.
Enoch Adu was some 10 yards outside it when Torres brushed him off the ball. He had support in the shape of Lampard, who immediately found Mata for a smart finish. In the opening 10 minutes alone, Oscar drove narrowly wide, Moses headed against a post while clashing heads with the outstanding 20 year-old defender Jores Okore and Lampard showed that he can still race into the penalty area as of old, hitting Mata's pass just too high.

The home side kept their composure and kept passing, however, and it took a fine blocking tackle by Ashley Cole to prevent Kasper Lorentzen sweeping home a cross. After scoring once, Chelsea threatened to do so again, mainly through Torres, who was twice denied by the goalkeeper. Early in the second half Moses also put the ball past Jesper Hansen from a Torres pass but was adjudged to have fouled Michael Parkhurst before doing so.
The holders needed a second goal to feel more comfortable, as was emphasised when Joshua John came inside Ramires with a low shot just wide, Mikkel Beckmann headed Okore's long cross onto the roof of the net and the captain, Nicolai Stokholm, forced Petr Cech to make a low save. With Chelsea suddenly on the back foot, Cech had to push John's shot on to a post and it was Cole who blocked the follow-up from Beckmann.
That proved to be the worst of it, though. Di Matteo had sent on Hazard for the disappointing Moses but it was from a counter-attack that the relief of a second goal came. Torres, fighting hard for everything, was fouled 20 yards out and Luiz hit a free-kick that Cristiano Ronaldo would have admired, dipping over the wall and brushing a post on its way in. That was in the 79th minute and it was very harsh on the home side to concede twice more, well worked as the goals were. Mata wriggled through for the third, giving him four in three games, and Ramires was neatly set up by Oscar.
"We played a tight game for 75 minutes, then collapsed," said the Danish side's coach Kasper Hjulmand. It was a fair summary.

Man of the match Mata.
Match rating 7/10.
Referee M Strahonja (Croa).
Attendance 42,000


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Guardian:


FC Nordsjælland 0  Chelsea 4
Dominic Fifield at Parken Stadium

Chelsea achieved the remarkable on foreign soil in May but there was still something strangely unfamiliar about this. A team which has spluttered too often away from Stamford Bridge in this competition mustered a victory by a margin to send a message to the group, even if plenty about this occasion was deceptive. At first glance this looks a thrashing but against a side still pinching themselves about being in the Champions League at all the holders will not be hoodwinked.

Emphatically as it all ended, with Nordsjaelland running out of steam in the last dozen minutes and wilting at the end, this was anything but a walk in the Parken. If the majority of chances created by the arena's adopted home side were only fleeting sights of goal, usually snuffed out by a blur of blue as a Chelsea player dived in to intercept, then there was genuine anxiety when Joshua John, the Danes' outstanding loanee from Twente, curled an attempt towards the far corner when the holders' lead was still at its most slender. Petr Cech, diving to his left, summoned a staggering save to fingertip the ball on to the post and Nordsjaelland's chance was gone.
"It was a crucial save," said Roberto Di Matteo. "The Danes had nothing to lose at the time and, with the scoreline only 1-0, it was a dangerous time.". He could at least depart encouraged that this own team is winning away again in Europe.

Penalty shoot-outs in Munich aside – and that success in May was one to cherish above all others – only Benfica had been beaten on Chelsea's travels since Carlo Ancelotti's team prevailed in Copenhagen two seasons ago. This team will travel to Donetsk for a potentially critical fixture later this month with confidence pepped and as early leaders in Group E. They will need to be better there than they were here but the reality that Shakhtar drew at Juventus was a reminder of how tight this section could prove.

Chelsea will still be confident of progress, particularly if their attacking unit is permitted to flourish as they eventually did here. Juan Mata was their inspiration, the Spaniard having been irrepressible since he was granted a short break during last month's international window to recharge his batteries. His burst upfield just after the half-hour went unnoticed as Nordsjaelland's rearguard were panicked by Fernando Torres's dispossession of Enoch Adu, the striker shifting the ball on to Frank Lampard who in turn slid it into space to his right. Mata finished on the gallop, putting the ball beyond Jesper Hansen.

The early exchanges had threatened a cricket score with Victor Moses – on his first outing in this competition – forcing Jores Okore to nod against his own post and Torres twice close to registering personal reward. Yet, without John Terry to bark orders across their back-line, sloppiness crept into the visitors' game. This was a landmark occasion for the Danes, a home debut in the Champions League albeit in an arena some 15 miles from their distinctly cosier Farum Park. The club has existed in various guises over the years and endured scandal and financial uncertainty aplenty and this game was seized upon as reason for celebration. The crowd in attendance was more than Farum's entire population. They could be proud of their team's efforts until the closing stages.

John was a nuisance down the left, with Ashley Cole doing well to snuff out Kasper Lorentzen's attempt in front of goal as carelessness offered the locals sights of goal. Their best opportunities were chiselled out just after the hour, John skimming a shot into the side-netting, Nicolai Stokholm forcing the goalkeeper to push another attempt clear and Mikkel Beckmann twice spurning presentable opportunities.
Then came Cech's save, with the substitute Mario Ticinovic's follow-up well blocked, before Chelsea roused themselves to respond.

The goals came at a canter thereafter. Oscar had seen one harshly ruled out, the Croatian official having opted against playing an advantage, before David Luiz curled a fine free-kick in off a post with Hansen static. "We collapsed after that second goal," said the Nordsjaelland coach, Kasper Hjulmand. "We'd been playing well, creating chances, but in the end it looks stupid on the scoreboard, 4-0."
Mata's second was slid home after he emerged from the clutter on the edge of the area and Ramires' tap-in from Oscar's cross added gloss to the win.


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Telegraph:

FC Nordsjaelland 0 Chelsea 4
By Jeremy Wilson

There was no Danish fairytale in Copenhagen; just the familiar and rather more prosaic story of relentless Chelsea efficiency.
Against a team whose players earn less in a year than John Terry or Fernando Torres are paid in a week, Chelsea delivered a resounding victory that places them at the summit of Champions League Group E.
Three goals in the last 11 minutes did actually disguise a largely lacklustre performance but, as has so often been the case under Roberto di Matteo, the result was what really mattered.
A draw at Stamford Bridge last month against Juventus had placed considerable significance on dispatching Nordsjaelland and, despite a prolonged second-half wobble, a first away win in the Champions League group phase for two years was duly secured.

In his team selection, Di Matteo again underlined that the days of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea “untouchables” are long gone. On Saturday, it was Frank Lampard consigned to the bench and on Tuesday night it was Terry who had to be content with a place among the substitutes for the second time in four matches.
Terry’s elevated status at Chelsea — and the fact that he is three years younger than Lampard — has made his new role even more surprising.
Yes, David Luiz and Gary Cahill must soon get accustomed to playing together if Terry’s four-match ban is upheld but it still partially weakened Chelsea defensively for a match Di Matteo regarded as pivotal to their Champions League defence.
Di Matteo, though, had clearly also factored the relative weakness of last night’s opposition into his calculations. Nordsjaelland were only formed 21 years ago, they are based in a town of just 18,000 people and were making their home Champions League debut. A relatively modest support-base is evident in their 10,000-capacity ground and, having opted to play their Champions League matches at Denmark’s national stadium, it was clear that many of the locals had come to support the reigning European champions.

Chelsea should have taken the lead after only four minutes. Oscar’s quick feet and vision were soon evident as he drifted into space behind Nordsjaelland’s defence and turned to chip his cross towards the far post. It was perfectly weighted, the ball evading Jesper Hansen in Nordsjaelland’s goal but was somehow headed against the post by Victor Moses from inside the six-yard box.
Ultimately, as has so often been the case in 2012, it was actually Torres’ team play that helped deliver the crucial breakthrough. Having diligently tracked back to regain possession, Torres quickly fed Lampard who, in turn, split the defence for Juan Mata. On this occasion, the chance fell to arguably Chelsea’s coolest finisher and Mata calmly side-footed his finish past Hansen for his third goal in three games.
Nordsjaelland were carrying a sporadic goal threat but, to their credit, never compromised on their free-flowing and passing style. It led to several prolonged periods of possession and, amid some joyful chants of 'olé’ from their supporters, also the occasional clear chance. Joshua John was particularly threatening down the right and it required a wonderful first-half interception from Ashley Cole to deny Kasper Lorentzen from his cross.

The second-half soon settled into the same pattern. Chelsea were struggling to find their rhythm but still more incisive while Nordsjaelland enjoyed a surprising percentage of possession. Their finishing, though, continued to undermine some impressive football.
John again evaded Branislav Ivanovic down the right but his low shot was drilled just inches outside Petr Cech’s near-post. Jores Okore then delivered a perfectly weighted cross to Mikkel Beckmann, whose looping header was guided over Cech but on to the top of the goal-netting.
Nicolai Stokholm then maintained the brief siege on Chelsea’s goal by forcing Cech into a diving save low to his left.
Di Matteo replaced Moses with Eden Hazard but still Chelsea found themselves pinned back. John turned inside Ivanovic and forced Cech to guide his curling shot onto the outside of the post with his fingertips before Cole then produced an excellent block to deny Lorentzen on the follow-up.
After so many chances, it was inevitable that Nordsjealland’s profligacy should be punished and Luiz duly doubled the lead with a delightful free-kick. A further, somewhat unmerited gloss, was added to the scoreline in the final 10 minutes when Mata and then Ramires punished Nordsjaelland’s obvious fatigue to score past Hansen.


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Mail:

Nordsjaelland 0 Chelsea 4: Late gains calm defending champions' jitters

By Sami Mokbel

 The scoreboard may have read 4-0 to Chelsea but that was not the full story —and if the European champions knew little about Nordsjaelland before Tuesday night, they certainly do now.

The Danes made life hugely uncomfortable for Chelsea on a night when the visitors were expected to win comfortably. In the end they did so, thanks to a flurry of late goals from David Luiz, Juan Mata and Ramires.

But those strikes put gloss on  a less-than-emphatic Chelsea performance.

You are not supposed to enjoy easy matches in the Champions League — but this visit to Copenhagen certainly seemed to offer that possibility.

This was only Nordsjaelland’s  second outing among Europe’s elite — their first ending in a 2-0 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk.

Nordsjaelland, who were only founded in 1991, pay their players on average £150,000 a year — enough for seven days of service from  Chelsea skipper John Terry.

And Roberto Di Matteo saw fit to leave his captain out of his starting line-up as David Luiz and Gary Cahill began in the heart of defence, while Victor Moses was handed his Champions League debut in place of Eden Hazard.

Di Matteo knew only victory at Parken Stadium would be good enough, particularly after the 2-2 home draw against Juventus on match-day one. But a record of one win in eight away Champions League clashes must have been a worrying distraction for the  Chelsea manager.

The biggest night in Nordsjaelland’s history almost got off to the worst possible start as a sloppy throw-in from left back Patrick Mtilinga on three minutes handed the returning Frank Lampard space on the edge of the box to pick out Brazilian starlet Oscar.

He exchanged passes with Moses, then conjured a shot that trickled narrowly wide of Jesper Hansen’s far post.

Nordsjaelland were breathing another sigh of relief less than 60 seconds later as Moses somehow sent a header from three yards on to a post with the goal gaping after Oscar’s superb cross.

But in fairness to Hjulmand’s side, they did not let Chelsea’s promising start effect their passing philosophy and the Danes popped the ball about attractively.

Nevertheless, Chelsea continued to press for an opener in the face of a suspect-looking back four, with Lampard firing over from outside the box after Mata’s surging run down the right in the 10th minute.

Despite three early scares, Nordsjaelland refused to throw the ball forward aimlessly. Their first chance arrived in the 15th minute, Joshua John — who had been pinpointed as one of Nordsjaelland’s dangermen — firing over from long range after some sloppy defending.

Without creating any clear-cut opportunities, there was a sense of the home side’s confidence growing with every passing minute.

And Nordsjaelland would have been celebrating their first Champions League goal in the 21st minute had it not been for Ashley Cole, who produced a goal-saving challenge on Kasper Lorentzen deep inside the Chelsea area after John’s accurate low cross.

Paris St-Germain  manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed his intention to sign Cole in January, branding him ‘the best left back  in the world’ —  and there was plenty of evidence to support the Italian’s assertion.

Torres was denied by an excellent Hansen save in the 22nd minute as the visitors tried to regain their early dominance. But while Nordsjaelland’s play was defined by neat passing, Chelsea’s was quite the opposite as they struggled to find any rhythm.

Di Matteo would have been hugely relieved, then, when a Nordjaelland mistake led to his side taking an undeserved lead in the 33rd minute.Torres robbed Enoch Adu deep inside the Danes’ half and he slipped the ball inside to Lampard, whose pass set up Mata to coolly slot past Hansen.

Torres should have doubled the lead just before half-time after Oscar’s beautiful through pass — but with just the keeper to beat the No 9 fired straight at the keeper from 12 yards.

Chelsea had created enough clear-cut chances in the first half to be out of sight, while the hosts, who enjoyed 55 per cent of the ball in the opening period, would have felt they deserved more for their dominance in terms of possession.

And the impressive John came close to an equaliser in the 53rd minute, his drive from the edge of the area arrowing just wide of Petr Cech’s near post.


Mikkel Beckman went close just before the hour, sending a looping header on to the roof of Cech’s goal after Adu’s searching cross, before Stokholm saw his long-range piledriver parried by the keeper.

Di Matteo sent on Hazard for the ineffective Moses in the 65th minute as he tried to inject some much-needed invention.

But Nordsjaelland could have pulled level in the 73rd minute when Cech tipped John’s curling effort on to a post before Cole blocked Beckman’s rebound.

Chelsea were rocking until Luiz struck a stunning free-kick inside Hansen’s near post on 79 minutes. Then Mata nudged home his second of the night after a dash into the box and Ramires tapped  in a minute from time as the floodgates finally opened.Whether Chelsea deserved their 4-0 win was another matter.


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Nordsjaelland 0-4 Chelsea: Mata strikes twice in Danish demolition job

David Luiz and Ramires also scored but it was far from comfortable for the Blues

by Martin Lipton

Four more goals, another win, the new-look Blues on cruise control?
Don't you believe that, not for a second, after a night that could so easily have turned into an embarrassment for Roberto Di Matteo and his men.
In the end, yes, it was a walk in the Parken Stadium, in terms of the scoreline at least.
Three goals in the final 10 minutes, including a David Luiz stunner, ensured a smile could finally replace the frown written all over Di Matteo's face.
But until that late goal blitz allowed the quality gap to be exposed, Chelsea huffed and puffed, missing a catalogue of chances and so nearly paying the price, grateful for the enduring brilliance of Petr Cech.
Yes, Chelsea should have been three or four up in the first 10 minutes, looked to be on course for a simple victory when the excellent Juan Mata displayed genuine conviction in front of goal before the interval.

Yet either side of that, Chelsea's finishing gave little ammunition to the idea that they can be the first team to retain the Champions League, as Fernando Torres had another of THOSE nights, Victor Moses fluffed his big chance, even the returning Frank Lampard lacked his normal conviction.
And on a night when Di Matteo's decision to leave out John Terry left a Chelsea side lacking his authoritative presence, the value of Cech was, once again, on full public display.
Maybe it was the weight of recent problems on their European travels - this was Chelsea's first group stage away win since victory at Spartak Moscow in October 2010 . More likely, perhaps, it was because it had seemed so easy early on.
Moses should have netted inside four minutes, somehow conspiring to nod Oscar's clever cross against the post from point-blank range, with the Brazilian playmaker himself dragging wide.
Lampard, wearing the armband, spooned over when set up by Mata - Chelsea's pressing game was in command early on - before Torres, through on goal, shot straight at home keeper Jesper Hansen.

At least the £50million man redeemed himself soon afterwards to set up the opener.
Torres, working back, caught Enoch Adu in possession and drove to the edge of the box before feeding Lampard, who might have gone for goal but picked the pass to allow Mata to slide home.
But Torres, in from Oscar's slipped ball, again shot weakly and the longer it went on the more the Danish minnows, enjoying a 25,000 crowd in their adopted home - two and a half times their normal full-house 20 miles outside the capital - started to believe.
Important interceptions by Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill before the break were not heeded and Chelsea started to creak, creak and creak again.
Joshua John walked past Ramires - who only showed in the final minutes - to fire inches wide, the unmarked Michael Beckham floated a header onto the roof of the Chelsea net and then what Di Matteo admitted was the "crucial" moment.
John found it far too easy to get past Luiz - the Brazilian had to do better - and arced towards the far corner, the home fans rising to their feet only for Cech's finger-tips to divert onto the post, Cole blocking Kaspar Lorentzen's follow-up.
Chelsea, belatedly, woke up and a three-goal blast followed to change the complexion of the evening - if not the abiding memories.

Luiz thundered a free-kick past the wall and in off the inside of the keeper's right hand post, a devastating body-blow for the home team who suddenly fell apart.
Within a minute, Mata took advantage of a rebound to dance through and slip home his fourth of the season, before Ramires had the goal at his mercy when set up on a plate by substitute Eden Hazard.
Four, but nowhere near that easy.
Chelsea must do better, a lot better, in Donetsk later this month. The Ukrainian champions will be a far tougher task.
They know it, too. But winning is a good habit to get into. And Chelsea are showing they know how to win, even when they don't play well.


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Sun:
Nordsjaelland 0 Chelsea 4

By MARK IRWIN


They are more organised than last season and although they may have lost Didier Drogba, the Blues still have match-winners.

CHELSEA regained control of their own Champions League destiny but still failed to convince the rest of Europe they will be winners again.

Late goals by Juan Mata, David Luiz and Ramires confirmed victory in Copenhagen and put the holders firmly back on course to qualify from Group E.

But boss Roberto Di Matteo knows his team flattered to deceive last night against a team they should have waltzed past.

And it was not until the final 10 minutes that Chelsea secured the points against a team of Euro rookies who did not even exist 10 years ago.

This was FC Nordsjaelland’s first home game in the Champions League. Yet their lack of history did not prevent the Danish minnows from delivering an almighty scare to Chelsea’s Euro millionaires.

Di Matteo had warned his players there could be no margin for error after they had surrendered two-goal lead to Juventus at the Bridge two weeks ago.

But for long periods last night they were clinging on to a single-goal lead and in real danger of chucking away more points.

As anticipated, Frank Lampard returned to the starting line-up after being rested for the previous three games.

What was not quite so expected was that he would be wearing the armband in the absence of skipper John Terry, who found himself on the bench despite his man of the match show in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Arsenal.

Terry expects to receive the FA’s written verdict for his four-match racism ban within the next 24 hours. But Chelsea insist the captain’s on-going battle to clear his name had no bearing on Di Matteo’s team selection last night.

Eden Hazard and John Obi Mikel were also given the night off after their recent exertions, with Victor Moses making his first European appearance since his £9million move from Wigan.

Yet the changes did not blunt Chelsea’s attacking intentions as they almost took the lead after just four minutes.

Oscar hung up a tantalising cross which Moses seemed certain to convert until Jores Okore bravely diverted the ball against his own post at the expense of a painful clash of heads.

The Brazilian playmaker had already shot tamely wide following an exchange of backheels by Moses and Fernando Torres before Lampard shot just too high as the visitors dominated.

But they almost paid for their complacency after quarter of an hour when Ashley Cole’s sloppy pass presented Joshua John with Nordsjaelland’s first opportunity.

And though the Dutchman was unable to hit the target from 16 yards, it was enough to persuade the home side Chelsea were not so invincible after all.

Cole and Gary Cahill were both forced into last-ditch tackles in their own area as Nordsjaelland visibly grew in confidence.

And even when Torres was allowed a clear run on goal by Ivan Runje’s misdirected header, keeper Jesper Hansen was able to save with his legs.

But just when things were threatening to turn awkward for the Blues, they got a much-needed breakthrough.

Torres robbed Enoch Adu and slipped the ball inside to Lampard, whose first-time pass behind the defence was simply begging to be dispatched by Mata.

The little Spanish star did not disappoint, sliding his 33rd-minute shot beyond the advancing Hansen to put his team in control.

That was Mata’s third goal in as many games since returning from his recent mini-break.

Chelsea should have doubled their lead just before the break but Torres again shot straight at the keeper after being released by Oscar’s exquisite flick.

Torres was again denied by Hansen before Moses had a 53rd-minute effort ruled out for a foul on Michael Parkhurst.

Yet while they led by just a solitary goal, Chelsea were always vulnerable to the counter-attack and the Danes almost caught them out when John sidestepped Ramires’ soft challenge before shooting wide.

Mikkel Beckmann then escaped Branislav Ivanovic’s attention to head a glorious chance over and John’s curling shot was touched against the post by Petr Cech before Cole blocked Beckmann’s follow-up.

But just as the 25,000 crowd were starting to sense the mother of all upsets, Luiz gave Chelsea some much needed breathing space with a 79th-minute free-kick which curled in off the post.

Two minutes later Mata struck again after his attempt to play in Lampard came back into his path off a defender.

And Ramires added a flattering fourth in the dying seconds, tapping in from Oscar’s low cross.

STAR MAN - JUAN MATA (Chelsea)

CHELSEA: Cech 7, Ivanovic 5, Luiz 6, Cahill 7, Cole 6, Ramires 5, Lampard 7, Moses 7 (Hazard 5), Oscar 7, Mata 8 (Mikel 5), Torres 6.

Subs not used: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Terry, Bertrand, Romeu.

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Express:

DI MATTEO MEN FINALLY PUT BITE ON TIGERS

By Tony Banks

CHELSEA got the victory they needed to get their Champions League campaign back on track - but they are going to have to play much better than this if they are going to defend the trophy they won so gloriously in May.
Juan Mata struck twice, David Luiz fired in a glorious free-kick and Ramires added a fourth to give Roberto Di Matteo's men their first victory in Group E. It was one they desperately needed after fluffing their lines in their opening game against Juventus, but although the final score suggests a story of a comfortable win in chilly Copenhagen, for long periods it was anything but against a plucky and skilful Danish side.
 After Mata had given Chelsea an early lead to settle nerves against the group minnows, it was only a couple of great saves by goalkeeper Petr Cech that kept the holders in front. And it was only in the last 12 minutes that class eventually told and it turned into a stroll.
 Chelsea scored three more times to make the game comfortable, Luiz netting a curling free-kick, Mata walking in a second and Ramires wrapping things up.

Juan Mata struck twice, David Luiz fired in a glorious free-kick and Ramires added a fourth to give Roberto Di Matteo’s men their first win in Group E
The "Wild Tigers" of Nordsjaelland, by stark contrast to Chelsea's mostly seasoned campaigners, were in their first season in the competition, but they are acquitting themselves well. Their highest paid player earns about £150,000 a year - the equivalent of a week's wages for John Terry.
It is in Europe where Chelsea, peerless in the domestic competitions, have had problems this season. Thumped by Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup final and held at home by Juventus in their opening group game, reputations had to be restored. In the end last night it was their first away win in group games in two years.

Chelsea were almost ahead inside three minutes, when Oscar's chip to the far post was met by Victor Moses, but Jores Okore got in front of him to somehow head against the post and away.
 Frank Lampard, the skipper, cracked a shot just over the bar after a rampaging run by Mata. But Chelsea were looking nervous and their hosts, to their credit tried to play football, stroking the ball around with confidence.
 It was immediately evident that it was not going to be a cakewalk.
 An excellent last-ditch tackle from Ashley Cole stopped Kasper Lorentzen, but then Fernando Torres pounced on a poor clearance, only to shoot at keeper Jesper Hansen.
 Chelsea were being given very little space on the ball by the tenacious Danes, but then they broke through. Enoch Adu fatally dallied on the ball and Torres robbed him to set up Lampard.
 He spotted Mata arriving and his low pass enabled the Spaniard to slot home, somewhat against the run of play. Chelsea at last began to move the ball about with fluency, but they still had to be alert - Patrick Mtiliga's shot testing Cech - but Torres should have made it two when put through by Oscar, again firing his shot against goalkeeper Hansen.
 Chelsea had created and missed enough chances to have made the game comfortable, but it was clear that a second goal was needed - a message emphasised as Joshua John cut inside from the left and unleashed a drive which whistled just past Cech's right-hand post.
 Mikkel Beckmann then should have punished Chelsea, but headed over the bar when presented with a golden opportunity.
 Lampard alone, with his sure touch and accuracy of pass, stood out for the champions. Di Matteo threw on Eden Hazard in a bid to pep up his side.
 But Nordsjaelland, in the end, lacked the cutting edge to take advantage of some of their clever approach play, while their shaky defence always offered Chelsea a chance.
 And had Cech not tipped John's curling shot on to the post and Cole then blocked Mario Ticinovic's shot at a crucial stage, it could have been an embarrassing evening.
 But then Torres was fouled and Luiz struck with a glorious curling 30-yard free-kick which flashed in off the post. Relief all round.
 Two minutes later Mata pounced as the ball bounced off a defender and stroked his shot home from eight yards, before Ramires tapped in from a yard after Oscar's piece of trickery in the final minute.
 It ended with a scoreline few could have imagined an hour into the game. But Di Matteo will not care about that. The job got done. That is all that counts.

 NORDSJAELLAND (4-2-3-1): Hansen; Parkhurst, Okore, Runje, Mtiliga; Stokholm, Adu; Lorentzen (Laudrup 84), Nordstrand (Ticinovic 65), John; Beckmann (Christensen 75. Booked: Runje.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Lampard: Moses (Hazard 65), Oscar, Mata (Mikel 83); Torres. Goals: Mata 33, 82, Luiz 79, Ramires 89.

 Referee: M Strahonja (Croatia).

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Star:

NORDSJAELLAND 0 CHELSEA 4: BLUES USE THE OLD JUAN-TWO

By James Dobson

CHELSEA got the win they needed and after a sluggish start sounded a warning they mean business in their ­defence of the trophy.
Juan Mata struck twice, David Luiz fired in a glorious free-kick and Ramires added a fourth to give Roberto Di Matteo’s men their first win in Group E.
It was a win Chelsea desperately needed after fluffing their lines in their opening game against ­Juventus.
Against a plucky and skilful Nordsjaelland it had looked in doubt for long periods.
But in the end it turned into a stroll.
Mata grabbed his first from skipper Frank Lampard’s pass, and Chelsea scored three times in the last 11 minutes, Luiz netting a free kick, Mata walking in a second and Ramires wrapping things up.
Di Matteo sprang a surprise as he left skipper John Terry on the bench, but Lampard returned to the starting line-up after three games, and Victor Moses got a Champions League debut.
The “Wild Tigers” of Nordsjaelland are in their first season in the competition. The club, only founded in 1991, have an annual wage bill of £150,000 – about a week’s wages for Terry.
Nordsjaelland’s Farum Park 10,100 capacity stadium was too small for the expected crowd so the game was played in the national Parken Stadium with large empty spaces the result.
The Premier League side were almost ahead inside three minutes, when Oscar’s chip to the far post was met by Moses, but Jores Okore dived in to make a challenge to force him to head against, rather than into, an empty net.
Then Lampard cracked a shot just over following a rampaging run by Mata.
But Chelsea were looking nervous and edgy, and Nordsjaelland to their credit were stroking the ball around with confidence.
It was immediately evident it was not going to be easy.
An excellent last ditch tackle from Ashley Cole stopped Kasper Lorentzen, but then Fernando Torres pounced on a poor clearance, only to shoot straight at goalkeeper Jesper Hansen.
Chelsea were being given very little space on the ball by the Danes.
But Chelsea’s quality finally told. Enoch Adu fatally dallied on the ball, and Torres robbed him and then set up Lampard.
He spotted Mata arriving, and his low pass enabled the Spaniard to slot home, somewhat against the run of play.
It was a goal that was needed to steady those nerves, and Chelsea at last began to move the ball about with fluency.
They still had to be alert with Patrick Mtiliga’s shot testing Petr Cech but Torres should have made it two when put through by Oscar, again shooting against the goalkeeper.
Chelsea had created and missed enough chances to have made the game comfortable, but it was clear a second goal was needed.
That message was made clear as Joshua John cut inside from the left and unleashed a drive which whistled just past Cech’s right hand post. Chelsea, in ­contrast to their tight, disciplined performance in winning at ­Arsenal on Saturday, were finding it tought.
Mikkel Beckmann should have punished them, but headed over the bar when presented with a golden opportunity. Then Nicolai Stokholm tested Cech.
Lampard alone, with his sure touch and accuracy of pass, stood out for the champions.
Di Matteo threw on Eden Hazard in a bid to pep up his side, who had looked worryingly sluggish throughout.
Niordsjaelland lacked a cutting edge and their shaky defence always offered Chelsea a chance.
Had Cech, though, not tipped John’s curling shot onto the post and Cole then blocked Mario ­Ticinovic’s shot, it could have been embarrassing.
But then Torres was fouled and Luiz struck with a glorious curling 30 yard free kick which flashed in off the post.
Two minutes Mata pounced as the ball bounced off a defender, and stroked his shot home from eight yards.
Ramires tapped in from a yard after Oscar’s piece of trickery in the final minute.
Job done.


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