shakhtar 3-2

Independent:
Moses puts Blues back on track and rewards Oscar magic
Chelsea 3 Shakhtar Donetsk 2

Sam Wallace

It is little too early in the season for yet another Chelsea crisis but were it not for the intervention of Victor Moses last night that looked to be the way we were heading.

On the great scale of failure and triumph by which all Chelsea managers are judged by Roman Abramovich, elimination in the Champions League group stages is uncharted territory. It is unthinkable for many reasons, not least because no manager has ever failed like that before – not Luiz Felipe Scolari or even poor old Andre Villas-Boas.

Yet, at 2-2 last night and with 93 minutes played, Roberto Di Matteo was contemplating the prospect that defeat to Juventus in Turin in two weeks' time would spell the end of Chelsea's involvement in the competition. No defending champion has ever gone out in the group stages the following season but that ignominy alone would have been the least of Di Matteo's problems.

At that point the sweet triumph in Munich in May felt like a lifetime away, so the Chelsea manager unleashed his last two options upon this sophisticated Ukrainian side and, with the last significant action of the game, Moses headed in the winner. In fact the Chelsea spirit that carried them to that improbable win in the competition last season was once more evident.

Chelsea were out-played in the first half during which Shakhtar Donetsk once again announced themselves as a team of great quality. The goalscorer Willian, as well as Fernandinho, Alex Teixeira and Darijo Srna are good players who have followed the golden trail to eastern Ukraine where the oligarch Rinat Akhmetov has constructed a new European football power from the dirty old mining industries of the Soviet Union.

Last night, Shakhtar demonstrated once again that with enough money you can persuade Brazilian footballers – and not just any Brazilian footballers – to live and play in the coal mining capital of a former Soviet Union state. This is a good team, potentially a very good team. Moses' goal ended a 37-game unbeaten streak for Shakhtar that stretched back 12 months.

The winner means that a draw in Turin on 20 November and a win in their last home game against the Danish champions Nordsjaelland will see Chelsea through to the knock-out stages. As for Shakhtar, they demonstrated a fragility at the end of the game that reflects badly on them, although there were times when they played like a side that could reach the latter stages of this competition.

With John Terry left on the bench, Chelsea scored two goals through Fernando Torres and Oscar that were, to varying degrees, gifted to them by the Shakhtar goalkeeper Andrei Pyatov and went in at half-time 2-1 up and scarcely able to believe their good fortune.

They had been bossed around on their own pitch by Fernandinho and the Czech international Tomas Hübschman who controlled the midfield and passed the ball beautifully. Only Pyatov undermined them.

The best opening Chelsea created themselves in the first half was Oscar's cross from the right in the fourth minute which Torres allowed to run past him rather than act decisively. Pyatov collected the ball and passed it out to Razvan Rat, who gave it back to Yaroslav Rakitskiy before he returned it to his goalkeeper. Pyatov, under minimal pressure from Torres, stuck the ball against the striker and it deflected in.

Before the game, Torres had been presented belatedly with his Euro 2012 Golden Boot award by Kerry Dixon on the Stamford Bridge pitch. Dixon represents the old Chelsea, for whom promotion was a triumph – but he did score 193 goals for the club. Torres is supposed to be the future but in spite of his goal, this was another night when one waited in vain for him to decide the game.

From then on, Shakhtar ruled the game – and what a good side they are. In a plain old 4-4-2 formation, chosen by their coach, Mircea Lucescu, who has been in charge for more than eight years, Teixeira and Srna took charge of the right side and Willian the left.

It was Fernandinho who made their first goal, driving past Ryan Bertrand, who slipped, and then left two more in his slipstream before cutting back to Willian to pick his spot.

A Teixeira shot whistled past Petr Cech's right post on 32 minutes and the likelihood was another goal for the away side. Juan Mata, who looked Chelsea's most dangerous player, had his moments but they were brief. Then his cross from the left searching out Torres lured Pyatov into another mistake.

The goalkeeper came out to clear the ball with his head but sent it straight to Oscar who was a quarter of the pitch's length out and still with plenty to do. This boy has some command of a football, however, and he brought it down quickly on his chest and sent a half-volley with the outside of his right foot straight back over Pyatov's head. The goalkeeper knew he was beaten from the moment it left the Chelsea man's boot.

As a crafty piece of opportunism it would do nicely. As for a plan to win the match, Chelsea did not have one. Back out for the second half they duly conceded again, a beautifully crafted goal by Shakhtar's midfield

Willian began with a ball to Fernandinho; the midfielder picked out Srna on the right wing and his cross was hit first time by Willian who had wandered into the area to take up a position at the near post. At that point you felt that Shakhtar might do what they liked with the game but for the first time they started to flag.

Torres wafted a heel in the direction of a good Eden Hazard free-kick from the left which really merited closer attention from the striker. John Obi Mikel headed in a Mata free-kick but had strayed offside.

Di Matteo gambled on a winner and sent on Daniel Sturridge and then Moses, who scored the goal that saved his boss from the kind of uncertainty that has ended unhappily for so many Chelsea managers.


Man of the match Willian.

Match rating 7/10.

Referee C V Carballo (Sp).

Attendance 41,067.


=============================


Guardian:

Victor Moses gets late winner to earn Chelsea win against Shakhtar

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea's style has shifted, the muscular grind of the recent past replaced with flamboyance and flair, but the stubborn refusal to wilt in this competition remains. As this thrilling contest tore relentlessly into added time their grip on the trophy felt loosened, the prospect very real of becoming the first holders to see their defence stumble at the group stage, after two bruising collisions with Shakhtar Donetsk and with Juventus having finally stirred. Yet, by the final whistle, they were a side revived.
The decisive intervention on an evening illuminated by the brilliance of Brazilians on both sides and a goal from a Spanish golden boot winner was provided by a talent nurtured across the Thames in south London. Victor Moses had entered the fray for Oscar nine minutes from time, the youngster developed at Crystal Palace and prised from Wigan initially gasping to adjust to the frenzied pace of the game as Chelsea strived desperately for a winner. They might have been prised apart themselves in stoppage time but, amid the anxiety, somehow claimed a 93rd-minute corner, swung over by Juan Mata, and Moses, albeit at a relatively slight 5ft 10in, mystifyingly went ignored by Shakhtar's disjointed defence.
The winger's spring into space between defenders was timely, his header firm beyond the hapless Andriy Pyatov and, from playing catch-up, the holders – staggeringly – had wrested back some authority in the group.
Avoid defeat in Italy in a fortnight and a victory over the section's whipping boys, Nordsjaelland, will propel them into the knockout phase. "It was crucial for us, but the group will still probably go down to the last game, and maybe even the last kick of that last game," warned Roberto Di Matteo, though Moses has ensured his side's destiny remains in their own hands.
There was disbelief in defeat for Shakhtar. Their manager, Mircea Lucescu, spoke of "disgust" at the flashes of defensive ill-discipline that provided all three of the hosts' goals, complaining that it was "impossible for a team to have played this well and lost". Certainly, few sides have visited Stamford Bridge and shredded the hosts so impressively in recent years, the visitors' rat-a-tat attacking exchanges mustered at breathtaking pace. Fernandinho's dart to the byline, away from Ramires and Ryan Bertrand, and astute pull-back to be dispatched by Willian for Shakhtar's first equaliser had set the tone.
The speed at which Alex Teixeira, Fernandinho and Luiz Adriano subsequently combined, with the first skimming a shot beyond Petr Cech's far post, was jaw-dropping. Chelsea were still finding their feet in the second half when Willian, Fernandinho and the marauding Darijo Srna sliced through their hosts' left flank for Willian, courted by the Londoners in January, to register again. That was the 14th goal they have conceded in six games, placing under greater scrutiny the decision to omit a rusty John Terry – apparently blunted by his four-game domestic ban – despite the enforced absence of Ashley Cole.
Di Matteo admitted it had been "difficult" to inform his captain he would not be starting, and conceded some semblance of defensive solidity must be restored in Turin. "Certainly we have to work on the organisation in general," said the manager. "There were two players slipping at the first goal, and at the second goal we had plenty of players in defence to deal with the cut-back. We weren't outnumbered." They were always vulnerable, even if this is a team capable of fighting fire with fire.
The visitors may have been illuminated by a gaggle of Brazilians but the hosts had their own to savour and their opponents' similar defensive fragility to exploit. Pyatov endured a dismal evening, his early panicked attempt to clear from Yaroslav Rakitskiy's unhelpful backpass having been deflected into the net by Fernando Torres's lunge. That was the Spaniard's 100th goal in English football and further reward following the award of the golden boot for Euro 2012 in the buildup to the game. In contrast, Pyatov's misery had only just begun.
The Ukrainian might have been content with his decisive header to clear Mata's optimistic cross five minutes from the interval as the ball flew to Oscar, a distant figure emerging from the centre circle. Yet the youngster spied the goalkeeper out of his box, with his opportunistic riposte soaring gloriously into the gaping net from 40 yards. It was an astonishing finish but one in keeping with the helter-skelter nature of a contest that, by the end, had thrust Chelsea closer to the knockout round. Di Matteo is working with a new Chelsea team, but the old indomitable spirit remains.



=================


Telegraph:

Victor Moses pounces at the death to rescue Chelsea and claim 3-2 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk
Showing the resilience that characterised their journey towards glory in the Champions League last season, Chelsea never stopped believing, never stopped fighting despite being outclassed for long periods by Shakhtar’s sublime ball-players. Chelsea’s perseverance was rewarded when Victor Moses scored deep into injury-time.

By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent, Stamford Bridge

The winner was created by Juan Mata, swinging over a corner that the unmarked Moses headed unerringly home as Stamford Bridge rocked with relief and glee before the fans then launched into: “We know what we are, we’re champions of Europe’’.
Moments later, when Moses walked off the pitch at the final whistle, a beaming Roberto Di Matteo tapped the popular 21-year-old affectionately on the back of the head in appreciation. Moses’s header has transformed Chelsea’s Group E fortunes.
One moment the European champions were worrying about tumbling towards the Europa League, the next they were looking positively towards a potentially perilous trip to Turin on Nov 20. A draw against Juventus and a win over Nordsjaellend at home on Dec 5 guarantees Chelsea’s presence in the knockout stages.
Moses has needed plenty of fortitude in his climb to his current prominence. He arrived in England from Nigeria as an asylum-seeking orphan, building a new life under foster-parents. He worked hard at the fee-paying Whitgift School in south London, learning under the former Chelsea player Colin Pates. He honed his trade at Crystal Palace before moving up the ladder at Wigan Athletic and now Chelsea. Moses has taken each challenge in his stride. Those who know him well speak of a determined, polite individual eager to seize his chance.
Viewed through the selfish prism of England interests, Moses’s decision to commit to the country of his birth is an understandable frustration for the FA after good displays at England age-group levels. A prolific schoolboy footballer, Moses offers Di Matteo a range of options from the roles usually occupied by Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar or, possibly, as the lone front-runner.
Chelsea keep being linked with big-name centre-forwards as potential replacements for Fernando Torres when Moses could be worth an audition. He seems more part of Chelsea’s future than Daniel Sturridge.
Moses settled an absolute firecracker of a match. Those claiming that the group stage is a collection of stale encounters or boring mismatches will not have had their argument advanced in this week of epic games. This was compelling fare, little wonder with seven Brazilians on show. Fernandinho, Shakhtar’s No 7, was majestic, gliding forward from his central station, creating havoc with his passing and moving. Willian, who struck twice, was a feline, predatory presence. Another Brazilian, Oscar, also excelled before tiring and being replaced by Moses.
The first half had exploded into life as both sides set fire to their defensive manuals. Andriy Pyatov, Shakhtar’s unconvincing goalkeeper, was soon exposed. His short goal-kick after six minutes placed his defence under pressure. A startled Yaroslav Rakitskiy played the ball back to his keeper, who panicked, kicking the ball hurriedly. Gambling on Pyatov doing something crazy, Torres charged down the clearance. The ball flew straight back in past the embarrassed Pyatov.
Torres has scored more emphatic strikes in his career but this goal will have lifted his spirits after recent criticisms. Just before kick-off, the Spaniard had received his Golden Boot trophy for Euro 2012 leading scorer from Kerry Dixon, and he seemed briefly inspired by the ceremony. But Shakhtar, such formidable opponents, hit back. When Ramires slipped, the Ukrainians raced through the gears.
Fernandinho cut into the Chelsea box as the Matthew Harding End looked on in horror at the defensive chaos. Fernandinho cut the ball back. Willian did the rest from 12 yards.
Still Shakhtar continued to roll forward. Henrik Mkhitaryan darted about. Fernandinho was denied by Cech. Mircea Lucescu’s fine team then pieced together an absolute gem of a move, the ball ushered up the field like a VIP being guided into a premiere by petal-strewing admirers. Olexandr Kucher found Alex Teixeira and the ball was then spirited to Fernandinho and Adriano. The mesmerising build-up demanded a finish of equal stature but unfortunately for Shakhtar, Teixeira fired wide.
This was thrilling fare, Chelsea regaining the lead in spectacular fashion five minutes from the break. Juan Mata and Hazard linked up down the left, Mata curling a ball behind the defence in an attempt to release Torres. Pyatov spotted the danger, rushing out to head clear. However admirable his anticipation, Pyatov should have directed his clearance to one side not down the middle.
Oscar, all technique and vision, controlled the ball and propelled it over Pyatov from 40 yards. Having earned “best original score” headlines for his wonderful second goal against Juventus here, Oscar’s plaudits were this time of the “best adaptation’’ variety.
Chelsea’s defence continued to give cause for concern. John Terry was on the bench, apparently not match fit, and his leadership and organisational skills were missed in the centre. Ryan Bertrand was struggling at left-back, with Hazard giving him little protection, and the injured Ashley Cole was particularly missed. Two minutes into the second period, Chelsea were opened up down their left. Fernandinho swept the ball right, Darijo Srna crossed and there was Willian pouncing again. Shakhtar were rampant. Razvan Rat, picking up a loose ball, unleashed and hit a post.
Controversy then gatecrashed the party. When Hazard teased a ball through to Ramires, the Brazilian surged into the box and appeared to be knocked over by Srna. Carlos Velasco Carballo waved play on much to Chelsea’s dismay. “We’ve been here before,’’ chanted the home fans, remembering past unsympathetic officiating. Yet the Spanish referee handled a high-speed game well.
Moses then arrived, making that telling contribution. The memory will endure of Willian’s dribbling and finishing and Fernandinho’s playmaking and Chelsea’s utter refusal to give up.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Hazard, Mata, Oscar (Moses 80), Torres (Sturridge 90).
Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Marin, Terry, Azpilicueta.
Booked: Luiz.
Goals: Torres 6, Oscar 40, Moses 90.
Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Rat, Hubschman, Fernandinho, Alex Teixeira (Ilsinho 78) ,Mkhitaryan,Willian, Luiz Adriano.
Subs: Kanibolotskiy, Stepanenko, Eduardo, Shevchuk, Douglas Costa, Chygrynskiy.
Booked: Alex Teixeira.
Goals: Willian 9, 47.
Att: 41,067
Referee: C Velasco Carballo (Spain).


================


Times:

 Chelsea 3 Shakhtar Donetsk 2: Moses leaves it late to put holders back on track for qualification
 By Oliver Kay

 By the fourth minute of stoppage time last night the talk in the press box was of the nightmare scenario in which Chelsea could find themselves out of the Champions League within a fortnight. And then, with the last meaningful kick of the game, Juan Mata swung over a corner from the right-hand side and Victor Moses, a substitute, rose to head a dramatic and crucial winning goal.
 It would not have been all over in the event of points dropped last night, but the sense of anxiety around the ground seemed to be building towards that. Twice they had led, through a Fernando Torres goal and an another picture-book effort from the brilliant young Oscar, but twice they had been pegged back by a richly talented Shakhtar Donetsk team who, in Willian, the Tottenham Hotspur and former Chelsea target, have a Brazilian wonder boy of their own.
 As it transpired, Moses, a more low-key summer acquisition from Wigan Athletic, scored the winning goal and ensured that Chelsea remain hot on Shakhtar’s heels at the top of a fiercely competitive group E.

 The concern for Roberto Di Matteo’s team would be that their next fixture is a daunting trip to Juventus and that, in this form, so leaky in defence, their grip on the European Cup remains fragile.
 At least Chelsea will have the reassuring presence of John Terry to call upon in Turin. While he continues to serve a four-match suspension from domestic football, the former England defender was bewilderingly left on the sidelines last night and, given the manner in which Gary Cahill and David Luiz thrashed around in his absence, it could have been a very costly decision.
 Before the game was ten minutes old we had seen a goal at either end. That said plenty about the offensive intent in both teams, but it also reflected a lack of defensive security and a belief, it seemed, that attack was not just the best but the only means of defence. It made for an enthralling first half — end-to-end, high on flair and sophisticated creative play from Oscar, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata in the home team and Fernandinho, Alex Teixeira and Willian for Shakhtar.
 When all is going well for Chelsea, you cannot fail to enjoy the playmaking exploits of Mata, Oscar, and Hazard, who, while contributing almost nothing defensively, can be mesmeric in possession.
 Oscar, who made his mark here against Juventus, was having another memorable evening that began when he swung an inviting cross into the path of Torres in the fifth minute, and, as the former Liverpool forward failed to connect, it was tempting to wonder this would be a night when his struggles would continue in front of goal.
 From the resulting goal kick, though, Torres scored. It was a freak goal, but the forward had earned his luck, sensing that Yaroslav Rakitskiy’s back-pass had put Andriy Pyatov under pressure and ensuring that he chased it to force the goalkeeper into a mistake. As it was, Pyatov rushed his clearance, which smashed into Torres and bounced in. Not quite vintage Torres, admittedly, but he and Chelsea were up and running.
 Chelsea’s problem was that the soft centre of their team had been identified by Shakhtar, who were determined to expose it. True enough, on nine minutes Dario Srna, on the right-hand touchline, played the ball infield to Henrik Mkhitaryan, whose lay-off invited Fernandinho to run at the home defence. Ryan Bertrand’s slip began a chain reaction that saw David Luiz race over to try — and fail — to prevent Fernandinho’s cross, from which Willian, unmarked in the space vacated by John Obi Mikel, shot low past Petr Cech.
 Bertrand was having a tough time, standing in for the injured Ashley Cole, and, with no Terry in the back four, Chelsea lacked resilience as well as leadership.
 Tomas Hubschman lashed a shot across the face of goal, Fernandinho had a long-range attempt well saved by Cech and then a quicksilver combination between Fernandino and Luiz Adriano ended with Alex Teixeira striking a low shot just wide of the Chelsea goal.
 Where there was Oscar, though, there was hope for Chelsea. When the former Internacional starlet crossed the halfway line as Chelsea counter-attacked five minutes before half-time, he was merely trying to keep up with play, but, as Hazard’s pass towards Torres was intercepted by a now stranded Pyatov, the youngster sensed opportunity.
 Controlling Pyatov’s header on his chest, Oscar took the ball past Hubschman and then, showing great improvisation and even better technique, lobbed a perfect shot into the net in front of The Shed.
 Oscar threatened again before half-time, finding space in a crowded penalty area to force Pyatov into a difficult save, but Shakhtar continued to sense opportunity.
 Two minutes into the second half Willian scored his and his team’s second goal, once again profiting from non-existent marking. He started and finished the move, drifting in from the left-hand side as the ball was swept out to the right by Fernandinho, crossed by the excellent Srna and converted by Willian in almost identical fashion to the first goal.
 This time, Chelsea looked shocked, even more so when Razvan Rat struck a shot against Cech’s left-hand post a few minutes later. But they stabilised and looked the more threatening in the closing stages.
 Mikel, was correctly flagged offside when he put the ball in the net from a Mata free kick, but a more debatable decision when Ramires, the all-action midfield player, was refused a penalty after tumbled under Srna’s challenge with 16 minutes remaining.
 Mikel also struck a volley wide in the final minutes, but even then there was time for a succession of Shakhtar efforts to be blocked during a scramble in which the visiting team could and perhaps should have put the match beyond Chelsea.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, G Cahill, David Luiz, R Bertrand — J O Mikel, Ramires — J Mata, Oscar (sub: V Moses, 80min), E Hazard — F Torres (sub: D Sturridge, 90). Substitutes not used: R Turnbull, C Azpilicueta, J Terry, O Romeu, M Marin. Booked: David Luiz.

Shakhtar Donetsk (4-2-3-1): A Pyatov — D Sruna, O Kucher, Y Rakitskiy, R Rat — Fernandinho, T Hubschman — A Teixeira (sub: Ilsinho, 78), Willian, H Mkhitaryan — Luiz Adriano. Substitutes not used: A Kanibolotskiy, T Stepanenko, V Shevchuk, Douglas Costa, D Chygrynskiy, Eduardo da Silva. Booked: Teixeira.

Referee: C Velasco Carballo (Spain).


=================


Mail:

Chelsea 3 Shakhtar Donetsk 2: Moses works a miracle as Di Matteo's luck holds

By Martin Samuel

And that's how it's done. The ball was kicked sideways from the centre spot, the referee's whistle sounded and the triumphant strains of Blue Is The Colour echoed around Stamford Bridge.
There is often a debate about the best time to score. From the last attack of the match, four minutes into injury time. Usually works.
When the big one goes off, you want to be standing next to Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo, really you do. As the Australians would have it, if he fell into a tub full of breasts he's not the sort to come out sucking his thumb.
Di Matteo introduced Victor Moses late in the game for Oscar and was rewarded with a header of match-winning quality and a result that propels Chelsea to the knockout stages if they can avoid defeat in Turin later this month.
How, who knows? Shakhtar Donetsk deserved at least a draw from this match, probably more, and it will be a better tournament if they stay in it. It wasn't even as if they truly settled for a point at the end.
Shakhtar stayed on the front foot all the way, had as many chances as Chelsea to secure three points and were caught out by the oldest trick in football's book: the well worked set-piece.
Conceding a corner at the latest moment possible, they failed to pick up Moses at the near post and his header from Juan Mata's perfect delivery left goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov without a hope.

'Moses answered Chelsea's prayers,' punned one radio ham. There will be plenty of that material about on the back pages on Thursday morning, too.
Yet it was Chelsea who were seconds from being cast into the wilderness, had they failed to win here. No reigning champions of Europe have ever failed to make it through the group stages of this tournament the following season, but that looked to be Chelsea's fate. Points shared would have left them needing a win against Juventus away to maintain control of their destiny. Now it is the Italians who could be rendered helpless.
It was the usual story in many ways. How wrong we are to doubt Chelsea. How wrong we almost always are to forget their quite remarkable talent for revival in Europe. This was a huge result, not just for the club but for Di Matteo's squad because it was achieved without the famous triumvirate of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard.
Terry was on the bench, lacking match fitness following his domestic suspension, Cole and Lampard injured. Not that this was an advert for a seamlessly unfolding future, either. Ryan Bertrand, in for Cole, had a horrid time, while Chelsea never looked secure at the back without their controversial captain.
 
The mood may alter from here, though. Chelsea showed that in Oscar and Moses, for instance, they have young men who can win a big match, while Mata and Eden Hazard will only improve with time in English football.
The problem is at the back. Shorn of their old reliables, Chelsea offer a hell of a ride, but with no guarantee of staying on the rails. Moses's goal was the third time the champions had taken the lead and had there been even 10 minutes left in the match chances are it would not have been enough.
Chelsea's 1-0 lead lasted three minutes, and the 2-1 advantage stretched to seven minutes, either side of half-time. They will need to raise their game defensively if they are to survive in Turin.

Pre-match entertainment was provided by the incongruous sight of Fernando Torres receiving the Golden Boot award from the 2012 European Championship, winning the prize having started just two games for Spain. As if to prove that when your luck's in, your luck's in, Torres then promptly opened the scoring for the home team with a goal after six minutes that had no small element of fortune.
Goalkeeper Pyatov had already looked shaky under the pressure of a fairly innocuous David Luiz free-kick and when Oscar crossed the ball from the right after five minutes, his moment of hesitation appeared to have given Torres the opening a Golden Boot winner needs.

Instead, he let the ball run and even allowing for another unconvincing gathering from Pyatov, danger was averted. Groans all round, and familiar sideways glances. So what a lovely surprise when almost immediately central defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy got into a pickle when receiving a pass from left back Razvan Rat.
Rakitskiy turned towards goal but under-hit his pass to Pyatov who, forced into a dash, slammed his clearance against the right leg of Torres as the striker charged him down. Given no time to think about the moment, or even influence it, Torres made no mistake.

It is rarely simple for Chelsea without Terry, however, and Shakh-tar were soon level. Misfortune dogged Bertrand as much as the spritely opposition and he slipped, giving Fernandinho a clearer path into the Chelsea penalty area than anticipated. His cut-back pass was perfectly weighted and the brilliant Willian kept his finish low. His combinations with Fernandinho were the best of Donetsk and they could be superb if purchased as a pair.
A Fernandinho shot in the 15th minute produced an outstanding save from Petr Cech, but the Brazilian had already turned to focus on his defensive priorities when the parried ball was cleared. He is that sort of player: skilled, yet dutiful. Willian is the headline act, Fernandinho the class act.

After Oscar had restored Chelsea's lead just before half-time, Willian sliced through their defences shortly after the restart. Fernandino fed Darijo Srna on the right, his cross was stepped over by Alex Teixeira and Willian finished, sublimely.
In the aftermath, it was Donetsk who came closest to grabbing a winner when a Rat shot hit a post. Chelsea had the ball in the net through John Mikel Obi but it was rightly given offside, and a penalty appeal by Ramires after a clash with Srna looked less convincing with each repeated viewing.
Moses's winner raised the roof, but the true technical highlight of the night for the home side was Oscar's goal. Mata overhit a pass which goalkeeper Pyatov headed out from well beyond the penalty area only for Oscar to strike the ball first time back over his head from roughly 40 yards. Give that man an Oscar, as they say. Stranger things have happened, particularly with Chelsea involved.

Stamford Bridge Match Zone, by Neil Moxley

Torres scores and Sky miss it

A slap on the wrist for the Sky Sports production team who gambled on showing a re-run of Fernando Torres's missed fifth-minute chance as play was re-starting. While viewers were treated to the replay, Yaroslav Rakitskiy's backpass was being charged down by the Spain international for the evening's opening goal. All the TV subscribers saw upon returning to the live action was the ball nestling in Andriy Pyatov's net.

Oscar's a winner in Europe

Oscar certainly knows how to get himself noticed. All of his four strikes for Chelsea have come in the Champions League. The Brazilian was on target twice in the 2-2 draw against Juventus and grabbed one in the away defeat by Shakhtar before scoring against the same opposition last night. He is only one goal behind the competition's leading scorer, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, in joint second place with Schalke's Klass-Jan Huntelaar.

Wallace secures his freedom

Chelsea are expected to announce the arrival of Wallace from Fluminense next week after pushing through a £5m deal. The Blues have held 40 per cent of the  18-year-old's economic rights since Deco's free transfer to the Brazilian club in 2010. Fluminense coach Abel Braga said: 'The kid has an extraordinary future.'

Di Matteo excels in holding role

Roberto di Matteo has an enviable record since taking over from Andre Villas-Boas but at one stage last night he looked at risk of being manager of the first holders to go out in the group stage. Chelsea's defeat in Ukraine certainly raised eyebrows,  but last night's visitors were never going to be a soft touch. They arrived at Stamford Bridge boasting a 37-match unbeaten run, stretching back a year in all competitions.

========================


Mirror:

Chelsea 3-2 Shakhtar Donetsk
To the Victor, the spoils: Moses scores 94th minute winner to see off spirited Shakhtar at Stamford Bridge
Oscar and Torres were also on target while Willian bagged a brace for the visitors

By Martin Lipton

Last night at Stamford Bridge, Roberto Di Matteo and Chelsea teetered on the brink, the biggest call of the Blues boss' career looking as if it might be a disaster.
Benching John Terry, the first major European match he has been left out of since the opening Champions League game of the Roman Abramovich era in Prague nine years ago, meant it had to go right.
For 93 and a half minutes, despite being gifted two goals by Shakhtar keeper Andriy Pyatov, it was going wrong, horribly wrong.
As Juan Mata prepared for what he knew was the final set-piece of a tumultuous evening, Chelsea were seconds away from having to win in Turin in a fortnight to keep alive their realistic hopes of reaching last 16 and avoid becoming the first holders not to make the knock-out stage.
They could have not complained either. For long periods, Chelsea were played off the park, not able to get close to the brilliant movement of Fernandinho and Willian, the two rarest beans in Donetsk's Brazilian blend, run ragged by the rapier pace of Darijo Srna.
The decision to leave out Terry, from a defence already lacking Ashley Cole, left them exposed and vulnerable, especially against a side that were even better last night than they were in the first game.
Di Matteo pointed to Terry's domestic ban but his last game was a fortnight ago in the Donbass Arena.
With Didier Drogba now gone, Frank Lampard missing, the absence of a third element of the Abramovich spell spine, leaving just Petr Cech, looked like a genuinely significant decision.
Terry, it seems, is no longer an "untouchable", now just another squad member.
Not that David Luiz, an accident waiting to happen all night, did much to bolster Di Matteo's call, especially with Ryan Bertrand being destroyed by Srna all night.
Even when Pyatov's comedy act gave Chelsea the lead twice, Shakhtar simply girded their loins and played, played and played again.
The goals were shockers, too, for the Ukraine goalkeeper.
Six minutes in, after showing thumble-fingers from a Luiz free-kick, he allowed Fernando Torres to close him down, stick out his right foot and block a clearance back into the Shakhtar net.
Not that Torres, a man in desperate need of a lucky break, was too bothered how the goal came.
Yet instead of being a springboard for the Blue, it was the launchpad for the Ukrainina champions.
Within three minutes, Shakhtar were level, Willian providing the finish after Fernandinho breezed past Ramires, Bertrand, Eden Hazard and Luiz.
For most of the rest of the first period - some bright moments from Oscar and Torres, far more penetrative, aside - it was all Shakhtar, the best move of the match ending with Alex Teixeira firing inches wide.
Yet, somehow, courtesy of another Pyatov howler, Chelsea went into the dressing room a goal to the good.
Juan Mata, who schemes with the devilish intricacy to match his piratical beard, slightly over-hit his ball for Torres.
Pyatov, needlessly, rushed outside his box, headed a panicked clearance straight to Oscar, and then trudged forlornly back as the Brazilian chested down and showed glorious technique to claim his fourth Champions League goal in as many games from 40 yards.
Relief, which lasted only 90 seconds beyond the restart as Shakhtar, deservedly, were back on terms.
Willian came in off the left and kept running as Fernandinho spread right where Srna was again too good for Bertrand.
The low cross found Willian steering back past the wrong-footed Cech and with Chelsea at sixes and sevens - some home fans bawling out Luiz and calling for Terry - only the upright denied Ratzan Rat from 25 yards.
Chelsea were staring humiliation in the face.
They knew it too, digging deep to finally force the Ukrainian champions - unbeaten, with 19 wins out of 20 this season, until last night - back into their own half, although there were still narrow escapes.
When Srna's clip on Ramires, after Hazard played him in, went unpunished, the anxiety levels rose yet further, the balls pinging through the Donetsk box without them being able to expose Pyatov's deficiencies.
Mata's corner was a Hail Mary as the Bridge muttered prayers for salvation.
Moses answered them, rising six yards out to claim his first European goal in the moment of greatest need, changing everything with what was Chelsea's final touch of the ball.
Now, a draw at Juventus, coupled with a win over Nordsjaelland, will take them through. Once again, the Champions League gods were with Di Matteo.

=======================

Sun:

Chelsea 3 Shakhtar 2

By SHAUN CUSTIS

LOOK up Moses on the internet this morning and it is not just the parting of the Red Sea and the delivery of the Ten Commandments you will find against the name.

Newly added to the list is a miracle header in the fourth minute of injury time which clinched a stunning win for Chelsea with the last touch of the match.

Victor Moses became the Blues supersub after replacing Oscar and transformed the holders’ chances of qualifying for the Promised Land of the knockout phase.

Before Moses struck, it seemed Chelsea would have to win their next match against Juventus in Turin to keep their hopes alive.

Now they are in control of their own destiny in Group E.

It was a killer for Shakhtar who had made a fine contribution to an outstanding match in which Willian was a shining star.

The Brazilian midfielder has long been under the microscope of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea who had a £16million bid rejected.

Spurs are hoping to get him in January and here, again, he showed just why he is attracting so much attention.

Twice the Blues were ahead, first through Fernando Torres and again after another special strike from Oscar.

But both times Willian equalised to keep Shakhtar in it.

At the back Chelsea were a mess. Ryan Bertrand, in for the injured Ashley Cole, was destroyed down the flank.

In central defence, manager Roberto Di Matteo had gambled on leaving John Terry on the bench went with David Luiz and Gary Cahill.

But the duo are not a match made in heaven. They conceded four against Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup defeat in Monaco and in their last four matches together they have let in 11 goals.

Luiz went wandering all over the place which must be unsettling for a rather more orthodox defender like Cahill.

The Blues were easily beaten on their visit to Donetsk a fortnight ago and enormously flattered by the 2-1 scoreline.

Shakhtar were a side full of confidence, having won 19 and drawn one of their 20 games in all competitions this season before arriving in London.

So it was a real boost for Chelsea to take the lead inside six minutes through Fernando Torres.

The Spaniard was presented with his golden boot for being top scorer at the Euros before kick-off and it must have inspired him.

He chased down a sloppy backpass and keeper Andriy Pyatov had to come out sharply to try and clear his lines.

But he smashed the ball straight at the striker and it bounced back into the goal.

Chelsea’s advantage, however, was short-lived as Willian equalised three minutes later.

Bertrand, who had not made a great start, slipped as Fernandinho raced into the box and the Shakhtar man went past Luiz.

He cut the ball back for Willian, who was free 10 yards out, and his shot went in off Petr Cech.

The men from Ukraine were looking very dangerous and Chelsea were rocking.
And, just to emphasise the point, the visitors fashioned another opening with a lovely sweeping move which finished with Alex Teixeira shooting just wide.

It was the cue for Terry to begin warming up and as he jogged down the touchline he was met with rapturous applause and chants of “one England captain”.
For Blues fans, Terry can do no wrong.

Neither can Oscar, who properly signalled his arrival at Chelsea with a stunner in the 2-2 draw against Juventus at the Bridge in September and did it again last night.

Juan Mata’s cross from the left was over-hit and Pyatov came racing out to head away.

But his clearance was chested down by the Chelsea star, who took a quick look before launching a 40-yard volley over the stranded keeper.

Oscar came close to making it three just before the break as his turn and shot was flicked over by the embattled Pyatov.

Yet two minutes after the re-start, Shakhtar were on level terms — again through Willian.

The midfielder started the move and made his way into the area as Darijo Srna collected on the right from Fernandinho’s pass.

The low cross was not dealt with and Willian stuck out a leg to side-foot beyond Cech.

The game flowed from end to end but when John Obi Mikel whistled a 20-yard volley past the post it seemed the winner would not come.

That was until Moses settled this basket case of a match.

DREAM TEAM

SUN STAR MAN — FERNANDINHO (SHAKHTAR)

CHELSEA: Cech 5, Ivanovic 7, Luiz 5, Cahill 6, Bertrand 4, Ramires 5, Mikel 5, Hazard 6, Mata 7, Oscar 7, Torres 6. Subs: Moses (Oscar 80) 5, Sturridge (Torres 90) 4. Not used: Turnbull, Romeu, Marin, Terry, Azpilicueta. Booked: Luiz.

========================

Express:

CHELSEA 3 - SHAKHTAR 2: VICTOR MOSES GIVES CHELSEA LATE SALVATION

By Tony Banks

HERE they go again, the team that simply cannot do things the easy way in the Champions League. You want a Continental cliffhanger? Come and watch Chelsea.
They won the Champions League last year with a series of improbable victories that left footballing giants of the ilk of Napoli, Barcelona and Bayern Munich scratching their heads and wondering how they had been defeated. Shakhtar Donetsk joined that elite club last night.
Having beaten Chelsea 2-1 in Ukraine two weeks ago and plunged the holders’ entire campaign into doubt, they arrived at Stamford Bridge and proceeded to hand out another footballing lesson.
But in an enthralling contest, the Ukrainians lost. Because in this competition you simply cannot write off Chelsea. You can outplay them, outwit them, batter them, bewilder them even. But you will find it very hard to beat them.
Twice Roberto Di Matteo’s men threw away the lead, as his decision to leave skipper John Terry on the bench looked to have spectacularly backfired and their defence wilted under Shakhtar’s accurate, quick and clever football.

But then, in the fourth minute of injury time, up rose substitute Victor Moses at the near post to thump in a header from Juan Mata’s pinpoint corner. And somehow, Chelsea had conjured the win they needed, from the depths of despair.
Now, if Chelsea can take a point from their trip to Turin to face Juventus in a fortnight’s time – and do not bet against that – they are as good as through to the knockout stages, with only a home game against Group E whipping boys Nordsjaelland remaining.
It must be something about this competition. For so long it was a source of such pain to Chelsea. But along came Di Matteo and suddenly the conundrum is solved, the Gods smile.

Leaving out his captain – and in particular an inspirational figure like Terry – was a huge gamble by the Italian. The reason given was match fitness, with Terry only having played once in the last three weeks, and that in the defeat at Shakhtar.
The problem was, though, that in the four games Terry missed before yesterday, Chelsea had conceded 10 goals. If it had blown up in his face, Di Matteo knew he would face some tough questions. But it didn’t. Once again Di Matteo emerged from the mire smiling. Somehow.
Shakhtar should have won by more than 2-1 in Ukraine and they arrived unbeaten in 18 games this season.
To say Chelsea started nervously was putting it mildly – Ryan Bertrand giving away a corner in the first minute with a wayward back pass.
But then Shakhtar inexplicably handed them the lead just five minutes into the game. Yaroslav Rakitskiy’s back-pass was disastrously short. Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov galloped out to boot the ball clear, but only succeeded in hitting it straight into Fernando Torres – and it flew straight back past him off the Spaniard and into the net.
But if Shakhtar were rocked they did not show it. Three minutes later Fernandinho skipped away, crossed low, and Willian rammed in the equaliser from 10 yards. The Ukrainians were committing men forward with abandon – and as Tomas Hubschman missed a chance and Alex Teixeira shot a fraction wide, it looked ominous.
But then Pyatov had another nightmare moment. Chelsea broke from a corner, Mata floated the ball across but too far ahead, and the goalkeeper dashed out to head clear. This time the ball dropped onto the chest of Oscar. The young Brazilian had a bit more to do than Torres, but his volley from 40 yards was perfect – and a great goal.
A minute into the second half and the Ukrainians were level again. Fernandinho’s superb ball caught Bertrand out of position. Darijo Srna crossed, and there was Willian again to drive home.
At this stage there looked to be only one winner, one team putting together incisive attacks and moving the ball with pace. And it wasn’t Chelsea. The crowd held its breath. But Di Matteo’s men hung in there – as they do. John Obi Mikel saw his header ruled out for offside, and then Chelsea were left fuming when Ramires was brought down and referee Carlos Carballo waved away their claims.
So it looked as though a win would be needed in Turin as the game petered out. Shakhtar, the superb Fernandinho still driving them forward, still broke with deadly intent.
But then Di Matteo threw on Moses and Daniel Sturridge as a desperate last throw. And it paid off. Napoleon said he wanted his generals to be lucky – and the Italian certainly has something.
A final corner, Mata pings the ball in as accurate as ever. Moses rises and heads in. Forgotten what this rollercoaster was like?

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Ramires, Mikel; Mata, Oscar (Moses 80), Hazard; Torres (Sturridge 90). Booked: Luiz. Goals: Torres 6, Oscar 40, Moses 90.
Shakhtar DONETSK (4-2-3-1): Pyatov; Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Rat; Fernandinho, Hubschmann; Teixeira (Ilsinho 78), Mkhitaryan, Willian; Adriano. Booked: Teixeira. Goals: Willian 9, 47.
Referee: C  Carballo (Spain).


=========================

Star:

VICTOR MOSES ANSWERS CHELSEA PRAYERS AS ROBERTO DI MATTEO'S MEN CLINCH UNLIKELY WIN

Chelsea 3 Shakhtar Donetsk 2

By Adrian Kajumba

SOMETIMES you’d think Chelsea enjoy doing things the hard way in the Champions League.

The Blues ground their way to Champions League glory last season after a string of nail-biting nights and backs to the wall displays.
 And last night it looked increasingly like their Champions League dream was turning into the nightmare they feared as they clung on for dear life against Shakhtar Donetsk.
 But out of nowhere, sub Victor Moses leapt to head in a dramatic injury-time winner and answer Chelsea’s Champions League prayers.
 They didn’t deserve it. They were totally outclassed by super Ukranians Shakhtar and their sensational Samba stars Fernandinho and two-goal Willian.
But few inside Stamford Bridge cared at full-time after Chelsea somehow clinched the unlikeliest of wins.
 Before Moses struck, just 10 minutes after coming on, the Blues were staring at a historic humiliation.
 Never before have the Champions League holders failed to make the knockout stages.
 But the Blues were on their way to dropping two more points against slick Shakhtar that would have left Roberto Di Matteo’s men on the brink of an embarrasing early exit.
 If Shakhtar had held on Chelsea were facing the daunting task of having to win in Juventus just to stand any chance of reaching the knockout stages.
 But Moses struck with the last act of the night meaning a win and a draw from their last two games will now be enough to see Chelsea go through.
 It’s no foregone conclusion they’ll get those four points, especially if they play like they did last night when they head to Italian champions Juventus in two weeks.
 But at least Moses’ goal has given the Blues a bit more hope than they had before his last-gasp intervention.
 Moses’ introduction was also turned out to be an inspired move by Di Matteo after it appeared his big gamble of the night was going to backfire.
 The Blues couldn't cope with Shakhtar’s pace and movement and at times they made it look like Stamford Bridge was their home ground as they sprayed the ball around with ease.
 What Chelsea needed last night, for a game boss Roberto Di Matteo labelled a “must win”, was leaders and experienced heads.
 But, even though Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard were out injured, Di Matteo surprisingly left out John Terry, even though he was fit and available again after his four-match domestic ban.
 As the Blues’ baffled backline were pulled apart time and time again, with Cole’s stand-in Ryan Bertrand having a particularly torrid time, Terry might have been grateful he was left on the bench.
 But how he would have loved to be on the pitch and at the heart of the incredible celebrations when Moses struck to get Di Matteo off the hook – and, most importantly, keep Chelsea’s hopes alive.
 It certainly looked like it was going to be the Blues’ night when they were gifted the opener after just six minutes.
 Shakhtar nervous keeper Andriy Pyatov had already spilled an early David Luiz free-kick and made a meal of an Oscar cross.
 So it was not that surprising when he blundered again, smashing an attempted clearance against Fernando Torres which ricocheted into his net.
 But the Blues lead lasted just four minutes as long-term Blues-target Willian fired past Cech after fine work down the right by Fernandinho. who danced past four tame Chelsea challenges.
 Buoyed by the goal, Shakhtar started showing exactly why they hadn’t lost in any competition for almost a year, were already running away with the Ukranian league and had beaten Chelsea 2-1 a fortnight earlier.
 Henrik Mkhitaryan went close twice, Tomas Hubschman fired over and Alex Teixiera, who was on target two weeks ago, was inches away from capping a sensational Shakhtar move but fired just wide.
 But out of the blue, the Blues struck. And it was another Champions League stunner from brilliant Brazilian Oscar, who marked his first Blues start with a wonder goal against Juventus.
 Again Pyatov gave Chelsea a helping hand – or, this time, head – when he raced rashly out of his box tried to nod Juan Mata’s attempted pass clear.
 But it only went as far as Oscar, 40 yards out, who chested the ball down and volleyed his fourth of the competition into the empty net.
 Chelsea held on until half-time but not for much longer.
 Two minutes into the second-half, Fernandinho picked out the impressive captain Dario Srna with an inch-perfect through ball in behind the day dreaming Bertrand and his cut back was swept home by Willian.
 Chelsea had a couple more lucky escapes when Razvan Rat hit the post and Hubschman fired into the side-netting as they clung on, though the Blues were denied a penalty when Srna appeared to trip Ramires in the box.
 Despite that decision not going their way, the Blues would still have been grateful to escape with a point.
 But somehow, they managed to bag a winner when Moses rose to head home Mata’s corner with the last attempt of the game.