Rubin Kazan 3-1

Independent:

Chelsea 3 Rubin Kazan 1
Masked avenger Fernando Torres answers his critics with brace

By SAM WALLACE

As a man so superstitious he did not cut his hair on one goalscoring run, perhaps Fernando Torres will feel the need to persevere with that protective mask of his even when his broken nose has healed.
He scored two goals last night, the second of which was critical for Chelsea who had conceded a precious away goal to their Russian opponents and needed the comfort of a two-goal winning margin for the away leg of this quarter-final in Moscow next week. It does not mean, of course, that Torres will keep his place in the team for Sunday.
Torres is Chelsea’s striker for Europe, the man who was bought to give the club the edge in the Champions League but was on the bench the night they eventually won it. Now, with Demba Ba cup-tied for the Europa League, he is pretty much Rafael Benitez’s only option and last night he delivered.
Without wishing to disparage a man who had a rough old time of it in the last two years, it has been rare that one has been able to say that about Chelsea’s £50m striker. Last night he out-jumped the Rubin Kazan defence in the 70th minute and planted his header past the goalkeeper in the way Didier Drogba once did at Stamford Bridge.
That takes his total to 18 for the season, including the Community Shield, which puts him level with Juan Mata as joint top goalscorer at the club. It could be worse. As for Chelsea they will be frustrated at the goal they conceded, a soft penalty awarded against John Terry by the Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi.
For Benitez, it was obvious that Torres’ performance improved with the confidence that first goal brought. “It’s true, we always talk about strikers having to score goals so their confidence is there,” he said. “You could see that with Fernando. From the beginning I had no doubts with his work-rate or movement, but you could see his touch of the ball was much better after the goal because of the confidence he had.”
Of course that does not mean he will stay in the side for the visit of Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday. “You have to think about it, but the problem we have is that Demba Ba can’t play in the Europa League, so we have to manage both,” Benitez said. “Demba scored the other day, so it’s a tough decision.”
And will the mask stay on while Torres keeps on scoring? “He may have to do that anyway,” Benitez said. “Maybe he can score with or without the mask.”
The visit of Paolo Di Canio and Sunderland will be the third game at the stadium in the space of eight days. The fun never stops under Benitez and his three-pronged assault on the Champions League places, the FA Cup and the Europa League. Of the three English sides left in Europe it is Chelsea who are the best placed to make the semi-finals.
The interim first-team coach made six changes from the side that knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup on Sunday, with the likes of Terry and Frank Lampard returning to the team and a start for Yossi Benayoun, his first since 7 March and only his third of the season. Then there are those whom Benitez cannot afford to play without.
They include Mata, making his 45th start of the season, the most of any outfield player in the squad. Petr Cech, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ramires were the four others who kept their places in the side from Sunday. It was Torres who scored the first on 16 minutes.
It was a goal that just about told the story of his time at Chelsea with the difference that this particular episode had a happy ending. Luiz saw a hole in the Kazan back line and struck a nice ball through the gap which Torres ran on to ahead of Roman Sharonov before making a mess of his first touch. He and Sharonov went to ground, the ball broke free and Torres stuck out a leg to poke it in.
In the old days he would have taken the ball out of the air on his toe and needed one more touch to drill it past the goalkeeper. But those were the old days and these days he will take whatever he can get.
He did indeed look more confident after that, even essaying one of those crosses struck with the right foot coming round the back of the standing left foot to hit the ball. He had a part in the second goal too, retrieving the ball after the Rubin goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov had saved Victor Moses’ header from Azpilicueta’s cross. When Rubin twice failed to clear Torres’s shot it fell to Moses who chested it down and dispatched the ball into the top corner.
The 46 away fans – the official figure – finally had something to cheer five minutes before half-time. Terry was unfortunate to be judged to have handled Cristian Ansaldi’s shot even though his arms were low when it struck him. The Israeli international Bebras Natcho scored the penalty.
Eden Hazard and then Oscar came from the substitutes’ bench. Torres scored his second with 20 minutes left. It was Torres’s lay-off to Lampard which allowed the Englishman to play the ball out left to Mata and it was Mata who picked out Torres nicely for the header.
“People were saying he wasn’t scoring ... but he has scored goals, and I’m sure he will score some more,” Benitez said. Indeed, Torres has scored goals, 30 now in his Chelsea career which is, unfortunately, when all is said and done, still too few.

Booked: Chelsea Terry, Benayoun. Rubin Kazan Orbaiz.
Man of the match Torres.
Match rating 7/10.
Possession: Chelsea 55%. Rubin Kazan 45%.
Attempts on target: Chelsea 7. Rubin Kazan 5.
Referee G Rocchi (It).
Attendance 32,994.

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Guardian:

Fernando Torres strikes twice as Chelsea rub in superiority over Rubin

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

There had been the familiar murmurings of discontent from a minority of those in the stands when Fernando Torres' name was announced prior to kick-off here, though by the end Chelsea were delighted to have him. The Spaniard has enjoyed so few outings like this since his British record move from Merseyside but, with his face masked as if he had come incognito, Rubin Kazan found him unrecognisable from the player who has spluttered so often over the last two years. His team have a two-goal lead to take to Moscow, and Torres has a brace to savour.
How he must crave confronting opponents this defensively frail every week. The 29-year-old terrorised a brittle back-line here, all slippery movement across the turf to unsettle the full-backs and even upper body strength as he turned centre-halves. His scruffy, predatory opening goal had raised his confidence, his touch more assured in the exchanges that ensued. He purred at times, sprinting at a hapless Vitali Kaleshin, as he revelled in Rubin's shortcomings. The headed reward midway through the second period from Juan Mata's typically delicious delivery has given Chelsea breathing space.
That second, thumped beyond an exposed Sergei Ryzhikov, had actually been Torres' 18th goal in all competitions, a tally that, given the toils he has endured at times, reflects the cluttered nature of this team's schedule. This was the forward's 52nd club appearance of the campaign – Chelsea have now managed 56 – which, given the quality of the supply-line, was always likely to yield a respectable goals return. Yet to witness him collect on his instep and tease back-pedalling opponents, even beleaguered Russian journeymen like Kaleshin, was to be reminded of what he can achieve when his juices are flowing.
One visiting reporter jokingly asked Rafael Benítez if Torres should stick with the mask until the end of the season. "He may have to, anyway," came the response. The broken nose had been sustained against Steaua Bucharest in the previous round, a blow to the head that appears to have juddered the old Torres awake. He had excelled that night too, albeit also missing a penalty en route, but this was another step up. He had already out-muscled Roman Sharonov on the turn once when he stretched to reach David Luiz's wonderfully arced pass. Sharonov and Kaleshin were powerless to intercept and, even if the first touch was not perfect, the centre-back's tumble betrayed his desperation as Torres reacted quickest to prod the loose ball beyond Ryzhikov.
It was a mess of a goal for Rubin to surrender, particularly given they are a side prone to defensive stinginess. Kurban Berdyev's team have conceded only 19 in 22 domestic league games but they offered only panicked resistance when probed by Torres' darts and Mata's clever promptings. Chelsea swarmed all over them, sensing further gains. Victor Moses might have provided one only for Ryzhikov, initially confused by the lack of pace on a downward header, to push away the Nigerian's attempt unconvincingly. Yet Rubin never recovered their poise as Chelsea recycled the ball down their left and, after a series of ricochets and fluffed clearances, Moses dispatched a glorious half-volley into the top corner from just inside the penalty area with Ryzhikov helpless.
Chelsea should have had the tie settled there and then, their dominance so evident. "We were cruising," said John Terry, though that was perhaps their undoing. Concentration wavered briefly, the hosts retreating as they sensed the break. Cristian Ansaldi cut inside as half-time approached and spat a shot at goal which struck the home side's captain on his fluorescent armband, with the Italian official awarding a penalty. The attempt had been goalbound, even if Terry's arm had been by his side as the ball careered into his biceps. "When someone has a shot 10 yards away it's difficult to react," bemoaned the centre-back. "It's different when your arm's up but mine was by my side." Bebras Natcho cared little and dispatched the penalty beyond Petr Cech and, with José Rondon summoned from the bench for the second period to add bite and brawn to the visitors' front-line, the tie briefly hung in the balance.
Yet Rubin's vulnerability remained throughout. Ryzhikov was forced to save from Mata before the Spaniard's cross between Cesar Navas and Ansaldi was too tempting for Torres to pass up. A two-goal lead feels more comfortable, even with Chelsea fragile travellers at times. They will be thankful next week's return will be in Moscow's Luzhniki stadium – for all the nightmarish memories of penalty shoot-outs and 2008 – rather than at Rubin's own Tsentrainiy arena around 500 miles further east, where the locals are unbeaten in 18 Uefa games. Wherever they play, it is likely to be bitterly cold, though it is the Russians' riposte on the pitch rather than the climate that will prompt the main concern.
Should Rondon find his form after the lull of the international window, and Natcho his range from midfield, then it will still be an awkward occasion in the capital. "But we have confidence we can do it there," added Benítez. "They'll attack us and they have players of quality, but we can get through." The cluttered fixture schedule shows no sign of easing though Benítez, and a revitalised Torres, will not be complaining just yet.

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 3 Rubin Kazan 1:

Henry Winter

The way things are going for the English clubs, it could soon be only the blue flag flying high in Europe again.
With Tottenham Hostpur and Newcastle United enduring painful evenings on Thursday night, Chelsea look comfortably the Premier League’s best bet to reach the semi-finals of theEuropa League, particularly with Fernando Torres refinding his goalscoring touch. Torres’s second goal was a header of which a Chelsea No 9 from yesteryear, Kerry Dixon, would have been proud.
Rafa Benítez’s side travel to Moscow next week with a deserved quarter-final, first-leg lead but it could have been more. Against honest but limited opposition, Chelsea lacked ruthlessness, for all the good work of Torres and the typically elegant Juan Mata and a strong performance at left-back from Ryan Bertrand.
Victor Moses struck a fine half-volley in between Torres’s efforts but Chelsea were frustrated about allowing Rubin an away goal, a penalty from Bebras Natcho to make it 2-1 after John Terry handballed just before half-time. The menu was provided by Nando’s and Natcho’s last night.
“I’m happy but not 100 per cent,’’ Benítez said. “We conceded a goal when we were in control of the game. It was a shame we were a little bit relaxed at that stage.”
Understandably, Chelsea’s interim first-team coach took delight from Torres’s double, taking him to 18 for the season.
“I’m pleased for him, not just with the goals but with his contribution to the team,’’ Benítez said. “We always talk about strikers having to score goals so their confidence is there. You could see that with Fernando. From the beginning I had no doubts with his work-rate or movement, but you could see his touch of the ball was much better after the goal because of the confidence he had.”
As for the famous mask, Benítez admitted that Torres may have to wear it for the rest of the season to protect his nose, which he broke against Steaua Bucharest.
“Maybe he can score with or without the mask. People were saying he wasn’t scoring since this day or that day, but he has scored goals, and I’m sure he will score some more. We saw he can work hard, so physically he is fine. He will play well and score goals until the end of the season.” Yet he is unlikely to start against Sunderland on Sunday.
“The problem we have is that Demba Ba can’t play in the Europa League, so we have to manage both,’’ Benítez said. “Demba scored the other day, so it’s a tough decision.”
Until Torres struck after 17 minutes, it was a low-key opening, notable more for a few “Jose Mourinho” chants from the Chelsea fans mixed in with “Champions of Europe, we’ll sing it til May”. The crowd was a creditable 32,994, including scarcely 40 away supporters, admittedly with one resplendent in a Red Army uniform, well-decorated too.
But then David Luiz drifted to the right and lifted in a superb ball to Torres, who was racing past the penalty spot, hurtling into the six-yard box. His first touch was poor, but Roman Sharonov failed to clear.
Torres, lying on the ground, stabbed the loose ball past Sergei Ryzhikov.
Chelsea were playing well. Bertrand went on a sinewy run. Mata dribbled his way out of trouble in his own half. Petr Cech then hurtled from his line, flying into Vladimir Dyadyun, who lay on the ground. After treatment, Vlad the Impaled carried on for a while, during which time Chelsea added a second.
After 32 minutes, Cesar Azpilicueta crossed from the right, the ball met by a downward header from Moses, which was clawed away unimpressively by Ryzhikov. Torres was quickest to the loose ball, taking it wide, away from the pursuing Vitali Kaleshin. The Spaniard turned and crossed, Natcho eventually clearing. Having chested the ball down, Moses fired firmly past Ryzhikov.
Chelsea were within four minutes of half-time when they blotted the scoresheet. Terry’s arms were spread wide when Cristian Ansaldi shot goalwards. The ball crashed into Terry’s arm and the referee, Gianluca Rocchi, pointed to the spot and cautioned the Chelsea captain. Natcho added further to the punishment with a confident penalty past Cech.
Attacking the Matthew Harding end, Chelsea kept pushing for that third. Mata’s low left-footed shot was saved well by Ryzhikov. From a Mata corner, Terry climbed highest but headed over. Ramires dragged a shot wide. Terry then went on a charge upfield, lifting the ball wide to Mata but Rubin’s defence had regrouped.
The visitors could have equalised. Chelsea’s defence opened up alarmingly for Jose Rondon, Dyadyun’s half-time replacement, whose shot was gathered at the second attempt by Cech. Moments after Terry could have conceded another penalty for handball, Chelsea struck again after 69 minutes. Mata sent over a perfect cross from the left, picking out the rising Torres, who powered his header past Ryzhikov.
Frustration could be seen on the visitors’ faces; they should have been 2-2, with Chelsea down to 10 as Terry could easily have been cautioned again. Instead, they trailed 3-1.
“When someone has a shot 10 yards away it is difficult to get out of the way,” Terry said. “I had my arms down by my side. It’s different if my arms are up, but when your arms are down by your side, it’s difficult.”
Benítez had been shuffling his pack. Eden Hazard had already arrived, much to the relief of the Chelsea fans. Now Oscar came on for Mata, who earned a pat on the head from Torres as he departed and then an affectionate cradling of the face from Benítez. Mata off, Oscar on. Not a bad swap.
Hazard added some extra urgency to Chelsea’s play, dribbling at pace into the box after 80 minutes. Marko Marin came on for Yossi Benayoun but it was a Rubin substitute, Alan Kasaev, who most caught the eye, showing some trickery in guiding the ball into the box but Chelsea’s defence was too strong.

Match details

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Terry, Luiz, Bertrand; Ramires, Lampard; Moses (Hazard 65), Benayoun (Marin 83), Mata (Oscar 78); Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Mikel, Ferreira. Booked: Terry, Benayoun, Marin.

Rubin Kazan: Ryzhikov; Cesar Navas, Kuzmin (Kasaev 82), Kaleshin, Ansaldi; Sharonov, Orbaiz, R Eremenko, Karadeniz, Natcho; Dyadyun (Rondon 46).Subs: Arlauskis, Ryazantsev, Kisliak, Marcano, Tore. Booked: Orbaiz.

Referee: G Rocchi (Italy).

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Mail :

Chelsea 3 Rubin Kazan 1
Masked Torres at the double to put Blues in control of tie

By MATT BARLOW

The team from Tatarstan came to London amid flurries of snow and freezing temperatures blamed on the Russian winter but they discovered that Fernando Torres has found a warm glow in the Europa League.
Three weeks ago, Torres booked Chelsea into the last eight with the winner against Steaua Bucharest and last night the £50million man behind the protective mask  produced a sparkling display and two goals to put his team in control of this tie against Rubin Kazan.
He converted the first while  sitting on the ground and grabbed the vital third goal for his side with a firm header in the second half. It was vintage Torres.
Between the Spaniard’s 18th and 19th goals of the season, Victor Moses struck a wonderful half-volley and Rubin managed an away goal with a penalty awarded for handball by John Terry and fiercely disputed by the Chelsea captain.
It leaves Rafa Benitez’s team in a healthy position ahead of next week’s return to Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, scene of their penalty shoot-out despair against Manchester United in the Champions League final five years ago.
Further misery in Moscow should be spared. Rubin proved last night that they can be dangerous but the Blues have never failed to beat Russian opposition in five attempts and Benitez must be encouraged by the form of Torres.
It was not only the two goals but also his sharpness and intelligent movement. His touch was sure and supporters sang his name and demanded a wave.
Torres acknowledged their praise. He has rarely started in the Barclays Premier League since the arrival of Demba Ba and six of his last seven goals have now been scored in the knockout competitions. He has struck in seven different competitions this term.
It will be no surprise if Benitez has him back on the bench on Sunday when Sunderland come to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.
His opener in the 16th minute was far from sophisticated. David Luiz launched a long pass in his general direction on a slight angle and Torres displayed good strength in a tussle with muscular centre half Roman Sharonov.
The pair landed in a heap in front of goal with the ball, crucially, settling on Torres’ side of the heap. He reacted quickly and, while still sitting on the ground, stuck out his right leg and stabbed it into the net. In the last round against Steaua, Torres pounced late as extra-time loomed. That was the night he broke his nose and he has played in a protective mask since.
He wore it last night and, although he said in the match-day programme he found it uncomfortably tight, it did not harm his game. His mobility provided options for the creative midfielders and he constantly threatened the goal of  Sergei Ryzhikov.
The home fans recognised his contribution. They sang his name and demanded a wave. Torres also played an important role in the second, which was delightfully finished by Moses. Cesar Azpilicueta stormed down the right and supplied a cross which Moses turned on target with a header.
It was pawed away somewhat unconvincingly by Ryzhikov but Torres chased the loose ball, retrieved it and turned back into the area. He worked space for a shot which was blocked but the ball looped up invitingly at the edge of the penalty box.
Moses set himself and caught the half-volley sweetly with his right foot. It flashed into the top corner and Stamford Bridge relaxed, seeming to think the job was done.
Rubin Kazan had other ideas and responded well. First, a long hopeful ball to Vladimir Dyadyun caused confusion between Luiz and Petr Cech, who between them left the Russian striker in need of lengthy treatment and cotton wool plugs in his nostrils.
More damaging for the home team was a raid from Cristian Ansaidi five minutes before the break. The Argentina left-back cut inside and unleashed a fierce shot which struck Terry on the left-arm as he threw himself into the line of fire.
The penalty was debateable but a booking for Terry seemed very unfair and he  disputed the decision, claiming he had no chance of moving his arm. Bebras Natcho stepped up to send Cech the wrong way from the spot.
It cast an entirely different complexion on the game and, as Ansaidi poured forward and zipped another effort narrowly wide, anxiety  rippled around the arena, far from full with only 46 tickets having been sold to visiting supporters.
Until Torres made it 3-1 in the 70th minute, the tie teetered. Juan Mata forced an outstanding low save from Ryzhimov after linking up with Moses, and Terry went close with a header from a corner.
But there were nervous moments at the other end. Cech fumbled an effort from substitute Jose Rondon and there were set-piece scrambles but nerves were soothed when Mata danced down in from the left wing and clipped the ball on to the head of Torres, who applied a firm header.
A careless last few minutes enraged Benitez but the European champions remain on course for another trophy. If they are able to win this one, they will hold both UEFA trophies for 10 days. It would be a challenge, if nothing else, for the club photographer.

Stamford Bridge Match Zone:

Berdyev has firm grasp of faith
It must have been hard for Kazan boss Kurban Berdyev to keep the faith when his side slumped to a 2-0 deficit. But the rosary beads that he kept in his grasp throughout the game worked a treat when his side were awarded a debatable first-half penalty for John Terry’s handball.
Chelsea may need some divine intervention of their own to cope with the fixture build-up that could see their season reach 70 games.
Juan the new Superman
If Juan Mata isn’t leg-weary, then he is Superman. Last night was his 60th game of the season for club and country.
Add that to the matches he played for Spain in Euro 2012 and the London Olympics, and it’s a surprise his legs are even working. While others have been rotated, the Spaniard has been a constant cog in Chelsea’s season.
Fernando Torres has suffered a poor season, apparently.
Last night’s double took the Spaniard’s tally for  the season to 19. Is it worth £50million?
Maybe not — but there are plenty of strikers with worse goal tallies.
Spartan support
You could not quite count the number of away supporters on your hands and toes last night, but it was close. There were only 43 Rubin Kazan fans in Stamford Bridge last night. And the atmosphere, sadly, was poorer for it.
This visit to Stamford Bridge was not the first for Rubin Kazan manager Kurban Berdyev.
‘I have been to Chelsea before as a guest of Mr Abramovich and I remember looking at the stadium hoping that one day I could bring my team here,’ he said. ‘This game will create history for Rubin — and we’ve got used to not being favourites.’


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Mirror:

Chelsea 3-1 Rubin Kazan:
 Fernando Torres two good for Russians in Europa League quarter-final opener

Martin Lipton

There have been too many false dawns at Stamford Bridge for Fernando Torres, too many misleading moments, soon forgotten.
Indeed, for much of the two years he has been in SW6, the Spaniard has, with no little justification, been accused of robbing a living.
Despite all that, despite the criticism that has come his way - from the Chelsea fans, more than anyone - the statistics do not make that bad reading for the £50million man.
And here, wearing a Zorro mask, Torres held Rubin up at sword-point - and took Rafa Benitez' men within touching distance of the Europa League last four.
Torres' first was hardly a thing of beauty, making a mess of his first touch, ending up on his backside yet having the presence of mind to stick out a right leg and prod home.
Yet the one that gave the Blues breathing space for their trip to Moscow was from a different bracket altogether.
With 20 minutes to go, Chelsea were looking vulnerable, the strains of a third game in six days beginning to show despite Benitez making six changes.
The easy passage of the opening half-hour, which had seen a thumping strike from Victor Moses double their advantage, had been forgotten after skipper John Terry was harshly adjudged to have handled, allowing Bebras Natcho to score an away goal.
But Torres, who had reacted quickest to a loose ball to play a huge part in Moses' goal, was saving his best to last.
The initial hold-up play, when the ball was played to the edge of the Kazan box, was good enough.
Yet it was the incisive movement, as Frank Lampard teased on to Juan Mata on the left flank, that made all the difference, a perfect centre from one Spaniard met with a textbook headed finish from another.
It took Torres' tally for the season to 17 - 18 if you include the Community Shield - at a rate of one every three appearances.
Not quite what Roman Abramovich envisaged when he sanctioned that British record fee, but far from shoddy, and having scored the goal that took Chelsea past Steaua Bucharest in the last round, important strikes as well.
To be fair, Chelsea needed that spark of inspiration, although it had seemed so easy in the opening spell, Kazan doing little suggest the 50 fans who made the long trip had spent their money wisely.
Torres was sharp from the opening, not bothered by the broken nose that brought his facial covering, and before his opener he had created space to fire wide.
What he needed, though, was a goal - he had scored just two in 22 appearances since December 23 before this match - and while he may have been lucky to get a second chance after getting in onto David Luiz's long ball, the finish demonstrated the instincts of a pure striker.
Chelsea looked for more.
Ryan Bertrand, with a slalom run down the left, nearly provided, and Moses had his header clawed away by uncertain keeper Sergei Ryzhikov seconds before he did find the net.
Until five minutes from the break, all Kazan had offered was long-range strikes by Natcho - whose mis-hit clearance was punished by Moses - but suddenly they were handed a lifeline by Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi.
Cristian Ansaldi's shot hit Terry above the elbow but there was no movement towards the ball by the Chelsea skipper.
Signor Rocchi deemed otherwise, Natcho sent Petr Cech the wrong way, and while Ryzhikov denied Mata at the start of the second half, Rubin sensed they could get even more from the game.
Venezuelan striker Jose Rondon, on at the break, should have done better than roll at Cech from the edge of the box, Rubin skipper Roman Sharonov saw his effort loop onto the roof of the net when the Chelsea keeper failed to claim a corner.
But then Torres took centre-stage once again, the quality of his finish unarguable.
A fourth would surely have put it beyond Rubin, but that would not come.
Chelsea still have work to do when they return to the Luzhniki Stadium, the place where their Champions League dream was shattered so heartbreakingly in 2008.
The wind, though, is in their sails.
The momentum is with them.
And if - a big if - Torres can keep it going, there could yet be a glorious finish to the reign of the interim boss.
Maybe some of the fans might then even give Benitez a bit of credit.

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Sun:

Chelsea 3 Rubin Kazan 1
Rob Beasley

TWO-GOAL Fernando Torres ought to wear his mask all the time after this.
For there was no disguising the star of Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s £50million striker looked different, a real transformation — but not just his facial protection.
As a player he was alive, confident, even swaggering at times.
And a goal in each half saw the often-criticised Spaniard put classy Blues on the brink of a second semi-final this season.
On Easter Monday they sealed an FA Cup semi against Manchester City at Wembley by knocking out Manchester United.
And now, three nights later, they took a giant leap towards reaching the Europa League last four.
Senor Torres was the outstanding hero after bagging a brace for the first time since December.
But the excitement only exploded after a low-key opening in front of 10,000 empty seats.
Only a handful of Russian fans had made the trip and many Chelsea fans were missing too, hardly surprising as this was their third game in six days.
But after a sluggish start, Chelsea finally came alive and looked to be cruising to their second semi-final in four days.
They were 2-0 ahead inside 33 minutes and looked in control.
It was that man Torres who had broken the deadlock in Roberto Di Matteo time — the 16th minute.
But this time Chelsea fans were too busy celebrating a rare goal for the man in the mask to sing about their former boss.
He had done well, bursting forward to meet a raking, long ball from Brazilian centre-back David Luiz.
At first it seemed as if a stumble at the vital moment had robbed him and the Blues of a score.
But the goal-hungry Spaniard reacted well to prod home with his right foot while down on the deck.
Moments later he was showboating with a cross from the right, hooking his right foot behind his left leg to whip it in.
And suddenly it was infectious.
Full-back Ryan Bertrand, in for injured Ashley Cole, skipped through a couple of tackles before getting off an angled attempt that was cleared in front of goal by Vitali Kaleshin.
Juan Mata then got out of trouble deep in his own half with some great skill and clever feet as the Blues began to turn on the style.
Victor Moses, one of six changes to the team that beat United, was next on the show reel.
His firm, downward header bounced up off the turf and almost caught out Kazan keeper Sergey Ryzhikov. He went down far too soon yet somehow managed to claw the ball away at the last minute. But it was a temporary reprieve.
Torres retrieved the ball, saw a shot blocked but the ever-aware Mata intervened to prod it back to Moses, who this time smashed a right-foot shot into the top corner.
The grin on Moses’ face said it all, a fine goal for a player who has struggled to make an impact since his summer move from Wigan. It all seemed so easy, too good to be true against a side that had knocked out holders Atletico Madrid.
And we all know what Atletico did to Chelsea in the European Super Cup last summer, don’t we? They thrashed the Blues 4-1.
Cristian Ansaldi let fly from 25 yards and the ball crashed into the arm of skipper John Terry. A clear penalty but a harsh yellow card.
And Bebras Natcho sent Petr Cech the wrong way from the spot to halve the deficit and secure a valuable away goal.
Stamford Bridge was stunned. But the home fans were relieved moments later when Ansaldi whizzed another pile-driver just past a post.
Game on. Still Chelsea enjoyed the upper hand but the Londoners were more careful now, anxious not to allow the Russians another chance to hurt their hunt for silverware.
Four minutes after the break, in-form Mata must have thought he had scored when Moses teed him up for a left-foot shot across the keeper but Ryzhikov made a fine save.
It was another 21 minutes before the Blues carved out another quality chance but this time they buried it.
Again it was star of the show Torres who was the hero. He started the move with a charge forward but had to check back in search of support.
He laid it off to Frank Lampard. He swept it out to Mata, who pulled wide on the left.
And his cross was perfect for his compatriot to leap between the two centre-backs and steer home a towering header.
Great movement and a quality finish.
Game over on the night, although Chelsea must remember the job’s still only half done.

STAR MAN - TORRES (Chelsea)

CHELSEA: Cech 6, Azpilicueta 6, Terry 7, Luiz 7, Bertrand 7, Ramires 6, Lampard 6, Moses 6, Benayoun 7, Mata 8, Torres 8. Subs: Hazard (Moses 65) 5, Oscar (Mata 78) 8, Marin (Benayoun 81) 1. Not used: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Mikel, Ferreira. Booked: Terry, Benayoun, Marin.

RUBIN KAZAN: Ryzhikov 6, Kuzmin 5 (Kasaev 81, 1), Ansaldi 7, Navas 6, Orbaiz 6, Kaleshin 6, Dyadyun 3 (Rondon 45, 3), Eremenko 6, Karadeniz 6, Natcho 7, Sharonov 6. Subs not used: Arlauskis, Ryazantsev, Kislyak, Marcano, Tore. Booked: Orbaiz.

REFEREE: Gianluca Rocchi 5

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Star:

Chelsea 3 Rubin Kazan 1: Fernando Torres hits back
By Adrian Kajumba

RAFA BENITEZ played Russian roulette with his team selection – but Chelsea’s Europa League dream is still alive thanks to man-in-the-mask Fernando Torres.
Benitez changed half his side for the third game running for last night’s quarter-final first-leg tie.
And just like against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Monday, Rafa’s rotation gamble paid off.
Two of the players he recalled bagged the goals to give the Blues a two-goal cushion to take into next Thursday’s second leg in Moscow.
Torres continued his remarkable cup form this season with a double, which took his tally for the season to 18, either side of Victor Moses’s brilliant volley.
The Blues know it’s not game over though after Bebras Natcho’s first-half penalty gave the Russians a crucial away goal.
Benitez said: “I’m happy but not 100 per cent. We conceded a goal when we were in control of the game. It was a shame we were a little bit relaxed at that stage.”
However, Benitez was delighted with fellow countryman Torres.
He looked a different man last night – and not just because of the mask he was wearing after taking a whack to the face in the last round.
He was full of life and a constant menace, not the striker who has so often struggled in Chelsea blue.
Six of his last seven goals have been in knockout competitions and Benitez said: “I’m pleased for him, not just with the goals but with his ­contribution to the team.
“Maybe he doesn’t get enough credit. People were saying he wasn’t scoring since this day or that day.
“But he has scored goals, and I’m sure he will score some more.
“We always talk about strikers having to score goals so their ­confidence is there. You could see that with Fernando.
“From the beginning I had no doubts with his work-rate or ­movement, but you could see his touch of the ball was much better after the goal because of the ­confidence he had.”
Cup king Torres scored his first after 16 minutes. He looked to have blown his chance as he fell over after being picked out by David Luiz’s brilliant 60-yard pass.
But Torres stuck out a leg to cleverly poke the ball past Sergey Ryzhikov before the Rubin keeper had the chance to set himself.
Torres had a hand in the second too after Ryzhikov palmed away Moses’ header.
The Russians failed to clear when Torres returned a cross-shot and the Nigerian smashed a brilliant half-volley into the top corner.
Chelsea were cruising but stunned by a bolt out of the blue.
Terry was penalised for blocking Christian Ansaldi’s shot with his arm in the box and Natcho beat Petr Cech from the penalty to give all 50 of the Rubin fans something to cheer.
Terry survived another penalty scare in the second half when the ball bounced up off his knee and appeared to hit his hand again.
From that escape Chelsea broke to restore their two-goal cushion.
Yossi Benayoun, making only his third start this season, combined with Juan Mata, who crossed for Torres to head in his second as Chelsea put one foot in the semis.

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Express:

Fernando Torres does the trick for slick Blues

 Tony Banks

Fernando Torres looked back to his best with two goals last night
But it was enough for Chelsea to plant one foot in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Poor old Fernando has had a topsy turvy season even by his standards, but his double strike last night at Stamford Bridge proved one thing – the £50 million Spaniard may not be as prolific as Chelsea would like in the Premier League, but boy is he on fire in the cups.
Torres, with his mask still protecting his broken nose, stabbed home Chelsea’s opening goal in their quarter-final first leg last night while sitting down. That was superb goal-poaching. His second was a glorious header that took him to 18 for the season.
That, believe it or not, is more than either Carlos Tevez or Wayne Rooney have notched. Eleven of those goals, though, have come in cup competitions, including six of Torres’s last seven strikes.
Manager Rafa Benitez, who on Monday steered Chelsea into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, said: “I’m happy, but not 100 per cent. We conceded a goal when we were in control of the game. It was a shame that we relaxed at that stage.
“We did a good job. The penalty we conceded was harsh, but we cannot change these decisions. We had to carry on and score the third goal and we did that. We have confidence now that we can do it there. It will be more difficult as they will be on the attack and they have players of quality, but we can do it.”
Together with Victor Moses’ thumping first-half strike, Benitez’s side now take a healthy lead into the second leg in a surely even chillier Moscow next week and must be favourites for the last four now, though Bebras Natcho’s penalty after John Terry handled will be a worry.
This was Chelsea’s 56th game of this marathon slog of a season, and once again Benitez rang the changes, as back came skipper Terry, Frank Lampard, Torres and Yossi Benayoun, making only his third start of the campaign.
Having already despatched Sparta Prague and Steaua Bucharest, Chelsea were facing a decided jump in quality of opposition, with Kazan already having ousted holders Atletico Madrid and not lost away from home in the Europa League in five outings. Despite that, only about 50 hardy souls made the long journey from the Republic of Tatarstan for a disappointing night.
Torres scuffed one early chance wide, but it was he who gave Chelsea the lead in the 16th minute. David Luiz’s superb long ball dissected the Kazan defence. Torres first chested down the ball and the chance looked to have gone as he tumbled, but as goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov, came out, the Spaniard stabbed past him from a sitting position.
Kazan were punished again as Cesar Azpilicueta again got free down the right and Moses saw his header luckily pawed away by Ryzhikov. But Torres crossed the ball back in, and when Natcho horribly sliced his clearance, it fell to Moses who cracked his shot into the top corner. Suddenly though, out of nothing, Kazan were back in it. Cristian Ansaldi burst into the box and shot, and the ball struck Terry’s arm. Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi booked Terry, then gave the spot-kick and Natcho rammed it home confidently.
Ansaldi then cracked in a low drive from 30 yards that whistled just past a post and Chelsea were wobbling.
At that point, it could all have gone horribly wrong. Danger man Jose Rondon came on at the start of the second half as the Russians tried to force the game, but it was Chelsea who almost struck, as Juan Mata’s low shot was saved. Terry nodded over as Chelsea tried to crack up the pressure for the third goal, but Rondon had the crowd holding their breath as he shot straight at Petr Cech.
But then Torres struck again after Benayoun’s skill bamboozled the Kazan defence. Mata sent in a penetrating cross and Torres rose to thump his header home.
Moscow, here we come...

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Terry, Bertrand; Ramires, Lampard; Moses (Hazard 65), Mata (Oscar 78), Benayoun (Marin 83); Torres. Booked: Terry, Benayoun, Marin. Goals: Torres 16, 70, Moses 32.

Kazan (4-4-1-1): Ryzhikov; Kuzmin (Kasaev 82), Navas, Sharonov, Ansaidi; Ryazantsev, Orbaiz, Natcho, Karadeniz; Eremenko; Dyadyun (Rondon 46). Booked: Orbaiz .Goal: Natcho 41 pen.
Referee: G Rocchi (Italy)