Leeds 5-1

Independent:
Chelsea make class count against Leeds after riding out old foes’ storm in Capital One Cup
Leeds 1 Chelsea 5

By SAM WALLACE

There was rain and cold and Michael Brown trying to wind up any Chelsea player he could. There was a hostile crowd and a first-half Leeds goal and the whiff of a cup shock. And then last night cold reality came crashing in on Neil Warnock's side goal by goal.

The scoreline looked brutal by the time the European champions had finished with their old 1970s adversaries. There is something beguiling about the historic Leeds United v Chelsea rivalry but they have moved too far in opposite directions in the last 10 years for this to be anything but a mismatch once the Premier League side found their A-game on a grim Yorkshire night.
As the goals rained in on Leeds, and the home support became ever more disconsolate, the Chelsea fans goaded Warnock. He responded by pointing his backside in their direction, one last act of defiance against an opponent that was too strong, too accomplished and too damned good for Leeds.
It should take nothing away from Chelsea who stepped off their flight from Tokyo on Monday and acquitted themselves well after Luciano Becchio gave Leeds the lead eight minutes before half-time. It is never a pleasant experience having to confront Michael Brown and El-Hadji Diouf in the space of one evening, never mind when you are suffering from jetlag.
They will play Swansea City in the semi-final of the Capital One Cup, a trophy that is looking like it could fall nicely for Rafa Benitez after the failure of his side to win the Club World Cup. There could be no denying that last night his team were – in the modern parlance – up for it. They certainly had to be.
Frank Lampard led the way, particularly in the handling of Brown – a rare creature, the like of which Juan Mata and Oscar have probably not encountered before in their careers. Brown has a long-standing problem with Lampard. Or maybe Lampard has a long-standing problem with Brown. It can be difficult to tell at times but it is undeniably entertaining to watch.
Warnock said later that his 35-year-old midfielder had overcome a sickness bug to renew hostilities one more time with his old adversary. It took the pair roughly 30 seconds to commence snapping at one another. Lampard was booked in the first half for a foul on Diouf, surprisingly quiet, which meant that the Chelsea man had to be careful. It said much about his experience that he had such a great influence on the game nonetheless.
It might have been the proverbial cold December night that is supposed to find out fair-weather foreigners who "don't like it up 'em" but once again there was no doubting the quality of Mata. He was gifted the equaliser by Jamie Ashdown's poor effort to get down to his tame shot at the near post but overall the Spanish midfielder was a shining presence whom Leeds found impossible to pin down in the second half.
Leeds' support in a full house of 33,816, albeit with a restricted capacity, began with such gusto and finished disconsolate. When the opposition can bring on a £32m substitute, on this occasion Eden Hazard, then there really is not much that the team placed 12th in the Championship can do about it.
Leeds always looked dangerous from set-pieces in the first half. Chelsea had chances too and had a marginal penalty appeal when Brown laid a hand on Victor Moses' shoulder in the area. The first-half goal for Leeds, however, was beautifully worked.
David Luiz, playing at centre-back, sauntered forward with the ball and failed miserably to scoop it over Sam Byram. Leeds burst onto the counter-attack with Byram moving the ball forward to Michael Tonge who then found Jerome Thomas out on the left wing. His cross with the outside of his right foot was met in the centre by Becchio.
With Oscar and Lampard as holding midfielders there was no-one behind him to protect Luiz from his own worst instincts. Mata had a shot deflected wide and Ashdown did well to save a Lampard free-kick before half-time. A header from Tom Lees would have made it very difficult for Chelsea had it gone in.
The goals came quickly for the away side after half-time. Fernando Torres found Moses whose pass reached Mata on the edge of the box. His tame shot beat Ashdown. Warnock said later that his goalkeeper had needed a painkilling injection before the game which had then failed to have the desired effect.
Hazard came on and it was after his cross, put out by Byram, that Chelsea scored from the resulting corner. Ivanovic met Lampard's corner with a firm header for the second goal, having left his marker Jason Pearce in a crumpled heap. Just over a minute later, on 66 minutes, Torres won another header in the middle, Mata picked out Moses and he switched the ball to his right foot for a low drive that beat Ashdown.
It had been a great cup tie but it was over then. Warnock brought off Brown and Diouf in a double-substitution that removed much of the potential aggro at a stroke. It did nothing to improve the score. On 81 minutes, with Leeds stretched, Luiz released a beauty of a pass right through the heart of the home defence that Hazard ran on to and finished.
The fifth was a deserved goal for Torres, who rolled it in from six yards after Hazard had collected up Lampard's shot – saved by Ashdown – and squared it. Warnock offered a handshake to Benitez at the final whistle and the interim Chelsea manager went out on to the pitch to thanks his players, no doubt thanking his lucky stars for the conveniently sparse field that remains in the Capital One Cup.

Semi-final draw
Chelsea v Swansea City
Bradford City v Aston Villa

* Ties take place 8/9 & 22/23 Jan.
Booked: Chelsea Lampard, Bertrand.
Man of the match: Lampard.
Match rating: 7/10.
Possession: Leeds United 45% Chelsea 55%.
Attempts on target: Leeds United 5 Chelsea 16.  Referee A Marriner (West Midlands).
Attendance: 33,816.


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

Guardian:

Fernando Torres puts finishing touch to Chelsea's winning show at Leeds

Paul Wilson at Elland Road

The weather did its best on a filthy night in Leeds but West Yorkshire could not quite manage to rain on a second London parade in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup.
Following Arsenal's ignominious exit at the hands of League Two side Bradford City last week, another big upset was on the cards when Luciano Becchio gave Leeds United a half-time lead against the champions of Europe, but Chelsea stayed calm to win with five coolly taken second-half goals from five different players.
Both sides were at something close to full strength, give or take a couple of reserves, and if it was the introduction of Eden Hazard for the last half-hour that raised the quality bar just too high for Leeds, there was no doubt which goal took the individual honours. Rafael Benítez has had his critics for showing faith in Victor Moses, but the former Wigan forward's elegant strike was not only the game's decisive goal it was also the sign of a player brimming with confidence.
"Preparation is hard when you have eight games in 24 days, especially when you go all the way to Japan and back, but the reaction was excellent," Benítez said. "The first half was good, the second half amazing, but we can still improve in defence. Of course I would like to win this cup, all competitions are important, but my priority now is Aston Villa [in the league] at the weekend."
Moses brought the first save of the game from Jamie Ashdown after El Hadji Diouf went down theatrically in his own half but failed to win any sympathy from the referee, Andre Marriner, before Paul Green and Michael Brown injected some niggle into the proceedings by taking it in turn to foul David Luiz.
The two managers had set the right example by shaking hands before kick-off, despite their long-standing enmity, but Frank Lampard, surprisingly, was the first player to let the Leeds provocation get to him, the Chelsea captain finding himself in the book after only 14 minutes for a needlessly crude challenge from behind on Diouf.
Moses saw another shot saved midway through the first half after Ryan Bertrand had shown impressive control to bring down a raking cross-field ball from Branislav Ivanovic, then exquisite footwork from Juan Mata came to nothing when Jason Pearce stuck out his head to block his goal-bound attempt. Chelsea were producing most of the attacking ideas yet little clear-cut was being created and Fernando Torres was making no impact whatsoever.
That became much more of a worry eight minutes from the interval, when Leeds took the lead with a classic breakaway goal. David Luiz was caught in possession and out of position on halfway, Jerome Thomas galloped into yards of empty space on the left, and with the visitors undermanned in the middle an excellent cross was tucked away with relish by Becchio. The goal brought an already feisty crowd to life, and in addition to the familiar insults from his Liverpool days the home fans began to taunt Benítez with chants that he would be getting sacked in the morning.
On the restart Chelsea instantly spoiled their hosts' fun by equalising barely a minute in. Mata played a one-two with Moses and perhaps surprised Ashdown by squeezing out an accurate shot on the turn, yet even so the goalkeeper should have done better than allow an effort of only medium pace to squirm underneath him. Lampard sensibly kept testing Ashdown after that, even from distance, because there was always a chance the goalkeeper would misjudge a bounce or make a handling mistake in the slippery conditions.
In the event Chelsea took the lead in more prosaic fashion. From a routine corner Ivanovic met Lampard's cross decisively at the near post, though there was nothing prosaic or routine about the Moses goal that made the game safe just over a minute later.
With Leeds tiring and Hazard proving more effective at drawing defenders than Marko Marin, Moses skipped into space on the left and met the tireless Mata's first-time pass, cut inside Sam Byram and beat Ashdown handsomely with a drive from the edge of the area.
That confirmed the result, Hazard's well-taken goal 10 minutes from the end was mere decoration, and home fans were leaving in droves by the time Torres stabbed in a fifth from close range after Ashdown parried a shot.
"No complaints," the Leeds manager Neil Warnock said. "We shouldn't have conceded so early in the second half, but after that Chelsea took over. They were too good for us."
Benítez would like to win something in what appears likely to be a short stay at Chelsea, and now he has his chance. Even Bradford would hold no fears after this, never mind Swansea.
"We had a word with ourselves at half-time because we knew we had to up it," Lampard added. "With such a long trip to Japan our preparation wasn't great for this game, but it made a big difference when we began to play with pace."

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

Telegraph;

Leeds United 1 Chelsea 5

By John Percy, at Elland Road

Perhaps the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet is not in danger of gathering cobwebs after all, asChelsea overcame jetlag and the prospect of further turbulence against one of their oldest and most bitter rivals.
Neil Warnock may never get the chance to exact revenge on his nemesis Rafael Benítez again after a typically absorbing cup tie in one of English football’s most famous theatres, with five goals in the second half easing the pressure on Chelsea’s unpopular manager.
Days after defeat in the Fifa Club World Cup, exiting this competition to a Championship club would only have increased the levels of disdain towards Roberto Di Matteo’s unwanted successor but this was a welcome sign that their season may not be over yet.
Fernando Torres also claimed his sixth goal in five games to provide a hint that he could be approaching a new chapter in his troubled Chelsea career.
For 45 minutes, this was what Warnock had been patiently waiting for, five years after holding Benítez responsible for relegation at his beloved Sheffield United.
Warnock will have been clambering over rival managers in the queue to stick another knife into Benítez but class told in the second half as Chelsea quite simply ran away with it to claim a semi-final meeting with Swansea.
Enmity between the clubs runs deep, with their rivalry established on the muddy battlefields of the 1970s. It was, of course, the FA Cup final replay 42 years ago that ignited hostilities, and one of the more prominent protagonists in that gorefest, Ron Harris, was a guest last night.
Whereas skirmishes used to be frequent, this was their first date in more than eight years and time had done little to diminish the hatred.
Chelsea supporters on official coaches were picked up in Wakefield and then ferried to Elland Road, and both managers had been warned by West Yorkshire Police to put their fractious relationship aside and ensure their players did nothing to poison the atmosphere further.
Ken Bates was also in no mood to inflame the tension in his programme notes. His column is usually gripping and contentious agenda-driven reading and there were rumours that he would sling a shot across the bows of Roman Abramovich for his decision to sack Di Matteo, who Bates affectionately referred to as “his son” during his time at Stamford Bridge.
There was nothing of the sort, however, with Bates instead attacking Uefa and Fifa for opting to play the European Nations Cup at venues across Europe.
The much anticipated frosty handshake between Warnock and Benítez also failed to materialise, but this scrappy affair, on a mucky night, contained all the incident and was a reminder of those halcyon days of decades ago.
Chelsea only returned to the capital on Monday afternoon after an energy-sapping 6,000-mile flight from Japan and showed signs of fatigue in the first half. Victor Moses tested Jamie Ashdown with a low drive from just inside the area and again on 24 minutes but Leeds were clearly relishing the chance to add Chelsea to a list of prized scalps that included Everton and Southampton this season.
With the likes of El Hadji Diouf and Michael Brown, the hosts had players who have turned putting noses out of joint into an art form and, while they were both influential, it was Jerome Thomas who produced the telling contribution for the opening goal eight minutes before half-time.
Michael Tonge sent Thomas clear on the left and his cross into the area was exquisite, providing Luciano Becchio with the chance to wrongfoot Petr Cech by directing the ball into the bottom corner. Elland Road erupted.
Diouf almost created a second goal but Tom Lees was unable to keep his header down, while Frank Lampard was denied an equaliser when Ashdown saved superbly from the Chelsea captain’s 25-yard free kick.
There was a sense that Ashdown was going to hog the headlines but he was finally beaten 65 seconds into the second period. He was possibly at fault too, as he allowed Juan Mata’s low shot from 25 yards to squirt across the line.
For a short period the tie was pulsating until Chelsea’s superiority was rewarded on 65 minutes and paved the way for a resounding victory.
Lampard’s corner was typically precise and Branislav Ivanovic headed in at the near post, with Ashdown stranded. Moses then effectively ended any lingering Leeds hopes with a low drive from 20 yards to provide Benítez with his fourth victory.
Eden Hazard, a substitute, added another when he ambled clear before Torres rubbed Leeds’s noses in it with a finish from close range.
Silverware is still up for grabs.

Match details

Leeds (4-4-2): Ashdown 7; Byram 7, Lees 7, Pearce 7, Peltier 6; Green 6, Tonge 8, Brown 6 (Norris 72) Thomas 7 (White 68); Diouf 6 (McCormack 73), Becchio 6.
Subs (not used): Kenny (gk), Varney, Gray, Somma.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Azpilicueta 7, Ivanovic 7, Luiz 6, Bertrand 7 (Cole 74); Lampard 7, Oscar 7; Moses 7, Mata 8 (Ferreira 86), Marin 5 (Hazard 60 8); Torres 6.
Subs (not used): Turnbull (gk), Piazon, Saville, Ake.

Booked: Lampard.
Man of the Match: Juan Mata (Chelsea)


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

Mail;

Leeds 1 Chelsea 5: Five-star Blues hammer rivals to book semi-final spot in League Cup
By IAN LADYMAN

At full time, there was a wink to John Terry alongside him and a handshake for every one of the staff sitting on the bench at a sodden Elland Road.
Even in moments of great triumph, Rafa Benitez has rarely been a man for expansive gestures. Deep down, though, there must have been a sense of satisfaction and indeed vindication.
Satisfaction with a performance that will have convinced the Spaniard his players are improving and are beginning to buy into his steady, pragmatic style.
And vindication at a decision he took to play seven of the players who started Sunday’s Club World Cup final in Japan.
Yokohama is 12,000 miles from Yorkshire and jetlag is a debilitating condition, even if you have spent the entirety of the flight stretched out in bed. Last night, though, you would not have known it as Chelsea came back from the inconvenience of an opening goal from Leeds to sweep the Championship team aside and progress with purpose into a  semi-final against Swansea.
Despite the relative unimportance of this competition to the Premier League’s top clubs, Benitez will perhaps take more from this result than he has from any during his brief time at Chelsea.
Trailing at half-time, there was every chance for something to go wrong.
That it did not says much for the mental resilience that runs through this Chelsea team and the focus Benitez always instils in his teams.
His sides do not always play football that quickens the pulse but rarely do they lack for application and there was evidence of that here.
Certainly at half-time there were questions to answer. Chelsea had played well enough during the first 45 minutes and may have led had they made better decisions in possession.
As it was, Victor Moses twice brought saves from Leeds goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown while Juan Mata saw a shot deflected wide and could have had a penalty when Michael Brown appeared to lean on his shoulder.
Then Leeds — who had played their part at this point — broke to score a brilliant goal that gave the home team an unlikely lead and brought the game to life.
Brown then crumbled under what he claimed was a shoulder from Mata and the constant niggling started to dominate proceedings as, away from that, the action consisted of Ashdown shovelling behind a Moses shot.
It was another Moses effort, again pushed away by Ashdown, that got football back on the agenda, with Leeds restricted to trying to feed on the scaps of Becchio's knockdowns.
As has been the case before, Chelsea defender David Luiz made a crucial mistake that was born of over-confidence as his attempt to chip the ball over Sam Byram deep in Leeds territory only gave away possession cheaply.
Nevertheless, the way that Leeds broke to exploit a numerical advantage was terrific. Michael Tonge picked up possession in centre field and he in turn set the rapid Jerome Thomas away down the left.
The quality of the cross was going to be crucial and Thomas did not disappoint. His delivery with the outside of his right foot allowed Luciano Becchio to gallop in and convert the chance first time without having to break stride.
The roof almost came off Elland Road. Leeds manager Neil Warnock, meanwhile, celebrated on the touchline as though the cup was already won.
In the dressing rooms at half-time, the messages would have been simple. Chelsea needed a foothold while Leeds needed 10 minutes of calm. Sadly for Leeds and their goalkeeper Ashdown, the crucial contribution was to be his.
The 32-year-old had looked impressively secure in the first half but how he allowed Mata’s weak shot to trundle under his outstretched right arm 65 seconds into the second perhaps he himself may not really know.
His manager was admirably sanguine afterwards. ‘We won’t blame him,’ said Warnock. ‘If you are a goalkeeper you can’t get away with a single mistake.’
In the dressing rooms at half-time, the messages would have been simple. Chelsea needed a foothold while Leeds needed 10 minutes of calm. Sadly for Leeds and their goalkeeper Ashdown, the crucial contribution was to be his.
The 32-year-old had looked impressively secure in the first half but how he allowed Mata’s weak shot to trundle under his outstretched right arm 65 seconds into the second perhaps he himself may not really know.
His manager was admirably sanguine afterwards. ‘We won’t blame him,’ said Warnock. ‘If you are a goalkeeper you can’t get away with a single mistake.’
Nevertheless, the importance of Ashdown’s error cannot be overlooked. It changed the complexion of the game and within 15 minutes Chelsea had taken the tie away from their opponents.
A half-chance in the Chelsea goalmouth almost gave Leeds another fillip as a cross flashed across Petr Cech’s goal, but before long Warnock’s team were punished for slack defending at a corner as Branislav Ivanovic was able to head his team ahead at the near post.
With confidence restored, Chelsea galloped away and played some expressive football as Leeds tired and ran out of adrenaline.
Mata was Chelsea’s best player but Moses was impressive, too, and he exploited the space afforded him by his team-mate’s decoy run to move forward and drive a low shot past Ashdown with his right foot from 25 yards.
It was a finish of Premier League quality and, in the final 10 minutes, there was more to come.
Luiz, an impressive footballer when he has the time he needs, played a pass as perfect as the one in the first half had been stupid to release substitute Eden Hazard and the Belgium forward sprinted goalwards to score with some comfort.
Then, at the death, there was a goal for Fernando Torres, who picked up the pieces close to goal after Ashdown had parried a Frank Lampard shot. Benitez will note that Torres has now scored six goals in his last five games.
For Leeds, the night ended in anti-climax and it is sad that we will not be here for a big night again for quite a while. They are missed.
Warnock still has a major job to do at Elland Road, though. In west London, Benitez’s has grown  marginally easier.


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

Mirror:
Leeds 1-5 Chelsea match report Wide awake club: Jet-lagged Chelsea blow Leeds away with second half blitz
By Neil McLeman

Rafa Benitez's Chelsea needed 45 minutes to get back onto GMT last night to avoid a cup KO at Elland Road.
But the Blues then showed the DNA of winners to fight back for a stunning win against old rivals Leeds.
The European Champions only arrived back to the UK from the 12,000-round trip to the Club World Club in Japan on Monday afternoon.
And the Blues then flew up to West Yorkshire on Wednesday morning to prepare for Benitez's eighth game since taking over 25 days ago.
The hectic schedule and the jet-lag appeared to have taken its toll when Luciano Becchio caught Chelsea napping to give the Championship side the half-time lead.
Chelsea were then facing the same Capital One Cup humiliation as Arsenal suffered in nearby Bradford last week - and a second cup defeat in four days in times zone nine hours apart.
But the home goal and Benitez's half-time teamtalk provided a wake-up call as they were simply unstoppable after the break.
Goals from Juan Mata, Branislav Ivanovic, Victor Moses, Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres - all starters across the world in Yokohama on Sunday - gave the West London club a crushing win in a cracking cup tie.
Playing with pace and power after the break, the result and performance certainly proved the Chelsea squad want to play for their caretaker Spanish manager.
Frank Lampard, Mata and Moses were especially impressive in a great team display.
"The reaction in the second half was fantastic, especially with travelling back from Japan and having jet lag," Benitez said. "We were looking for character and the reaction was so good, we have to consider it for the future."
 The Blues extended their run of never losing a cup tie to Leeds to 12 matches, including the two duels in the infamous 1970 FA Cup final.
The emphatic nature of the the result against former Chelsea owner Ken Bates, now the Leeds chairman, would also have given Roman Abramovich no little reason to smile after these two great club's first meeting for eight years.
Although 13 points off the pace in the Premier League, Benitez can still triumph three cup competitions this season with the Europa League and FA Cup also to come after Christmas.
Warnock, Bates and Leeds can look forward to their takeover by Dubai-based investment firm GFH Capital - and then continuing their push to reach the Championship playoff spots or even better.
Playing like in the first half, they have got more than a chance under promotion specialist Warnock. And a sold-out Elland Road is certainly an arena worthy of top-flight football.
With seven starters from the Chelsea team which lost to Corinthians, Leeds had wanted to catch their visitors cold on a dank and dreary Yorkshire night.
In a frantic opening period, and a terrific atmosphere, referee Andre Marriner booked Blues captain Lampard when he scythed through El-Hadji Diouf.
And when another feisty challenge from Oscar gave Leeds a free-kick, Jason Pearce rose to flick the Senegalese's free kick wide.
Chelsea then enjoyed a spell of possession but just as the visitors seemed poised to take control, Leeds scored the crucial opening goal after 37 minutes on a classic counter-attack.
With centre-back David Luiz left stranded upfield, Sam Byram picked up the ball in midfield and fed Jerome Thomas down the left.
The London-born ex-Arsenal winger then clipped in a cross with his right foot wide of Branislav Ivanovic and into the path of Becchio who slid home his 15th goal of the season.
Chelsea made an immediate response before the break with Lampard drawing another save from reserve keeper Jamie Ashdown and firing a free-kick wide, while the dangerous Moses had a goal disallowed for offside.
 But the equaliser was to come just over a minute into the second half. Mata found his fellow Spaniard Torres who fed Moses. And the former Palace and Wigan winger laid a perfect pass back to Mata who swept home from the edge of the box with his left foot for his 12th goal of the season.
With the visitors now dominating, Ashdown made a juggling save from Torres and clasped a long-distance Lampard effort.
But the Leeds keeper was powerless to stop Ivanovic's near-post header from a Lampard corner after 64 minutes.
And a minute later the excellent Moses struck home a 25-yard shot with his right foot after more link-up play from Mata.
With Leeds now desperately pressing forward, David Luiz released sub Eden Hazard for the fourth after 81 minutes.
And Torres rounded off the scoring three minutes later with his sixth goal in five games under his former Liverpool boss when he diverted home Mata's cross after Ashdown had saved from Lampard.
Warnock said: "The crowd were fantastic. If Leeds sort themselves, it should be like that here every week. When we scored, I have never heard anything like it. But I have no complaints about the result."


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

Sun:

RAFA BENITEZ and his Chelsea team had touched down from Japan just 53 hours earlier.
Yet the troubled Stamford Bridge boss avoided flying into another storm and instead landed in the semis of the Capital One Cup.
And all thanks to a stunning second-half ambush.
There were fears of jet-lag after Chelsea’s players covered 12,000 miles in 11 days travelling to Sunderland and then Japan for the Club World Cup.
And they were back on the plane yesterday morning as they flew up to West Yorkshire.

But while Neil Warnock’s side were on their knees at the final whistle, Chelsea were on cloud nine and winging their way to a showdown with Swansea.

The signs, though, had not been good for Benitez as Luciano Becchio grabbed a fine 37th-minute opener for Leeds.

But Juan Mata, Branislav Ivanovic, Victor Moses, sub Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres all scored in a sizzling second period.

Leeds, of course, is the city which will host the start of the 2014 Tour de France — and after Becchio’s strike the home fans were dreaming of sending Benitez on his bike.

But they left disappointed against visitors who sorted themselves out with a polished second-half display.

Mata was excellent while sub Hazard was mightily impressive after arriving with the scores locked at 1-1.

Losing to Corinthians in the FIFA World Club Championship final on Sunday will not be considered as one of Chelsea’s worst defeats.

But losing this quarter-final, against a team from the Championship would have been a huge embarrassment.

Yet Chelsea’s players not only displayed class and a cutting edge — they also looked hungry despite presumably feeling exhausted after their return from the Far East.

There will be a few tired legs this morning and improving Aston Villa may well be the beneficiaries when they visit on Sunday. But Benitez will be relieved to have avoided last night’s banana skin, which threw together these great rivals from the 1960s and 70s.

In a game with numerous sub-plots, this was also a massive match for Ken Bates, the former Chelsea chairman, who has tried to revitalise Leeds. He remains chairman despite selling the club.

The relationship between Benitez and Warnock, whose feud dates back to the 2006-2007 season, added spice to this battle.

Yet Warnock came out of the tunnel seconds before kick-off and made a point of walking over to the visiting bench to shake Benitez’s hand.

The Spaniard stuck with seven of the team who started against Corinthians although the atmosphere for this game was very different as Elland Road was rocking.

Leeds keeper Jamie Ashdown had to be at his best early on as he saved from both Moses and Frank Lampard.

The visitors, looking full of energy, had taken a grip of the game only to be clobbered by a killer break.

David Luiz was guilty of losing possession with a cocky, lazy chip, Sam Byram made the interception and fed the ball to Michael Tonge. He picked out Jerome Thomas, who had been given far too much space by Cesar Azpilicueta, and the winger delivered a perfect cross for Becchio to score his 15th goal of the season.

Cue mayhem. The ground erupted. For one, glorious moment we were transported to the days when Leeds were a mighty team feared by all.

Despite the goal, Leeds were always going to be on the back foot in the second half.

And sure enough, Ashdown was picking the ball out of the net just 65 seconds after the restart, having allowed Mata’s shot from outside the box to squeeze under his right hand.

Ashdown redeemed himself with a great stop from Torres but another goal was inevitable.

Hazard came on just past the hour and within five minutes Chelsea were 3-1 up.

Ivanovic charged in to head home Lampard’s corner at the near post. And two minutes later Moses sent a nasty, low shot whizzing into the corner of the net with Mata again involved in the move.

Hazard had made his mark on the game and got his reward with a goal, delivering a smart finish from Luiz’s through ball.

And Torres completed the rout from close range after more good work from Hazard.

Swansea will certainly provide tougher opposition in the semi-finals, yet for Benitez that game is a long way off.

Even now, most Chelsea fans would prefer it if he took yet another flight out of London today — and never came back.

DREAM TEAM
SUN STAR MAN — HAZARD (CHELSEA)
LEEDS: Ashdown 5, Byram 6, Lees 6, Pearce 5, Peltier 5, Green 5, Brown 6, Tonge 5, Thomas 7, Diouf 6, Becchio 7. Subs: White (Thomas 68) 6, Norris (Brown 72) 5, McCormack (Diouf 72) 5. Not used: Kenny, Varney, Gray, Somma.
CHELSEA: Cech 6, Azpilicueta 6, Ivanovic 7, Luiz 6, Bertrand 6, Lampard 7, Oscar 7, Marin 6, Mata 7, Moses 7, Torres 7. Subs: Ferreira (Mata 86) 6, Hazard (Marin 61) 8, Cole (Bertrand 74) 6. Not used: Turnbull, Piazon, Saville, Ake. Booked: Lampard, Bertrand.


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

Express:

CHELSEA FIRE FIVE PAST LEEDS TO PROGRESS
Three days after losing the Club World Cup final to Corinthians in Japan, the last thing a Rafael Benitez team sporting just four changes could have done with was a trip to a rain-soaked Elland Road to meet a team with whom they share a bitter rivalry.
The omens were not looking good either when Luciano Becchio gave Leeds a first-half lead but, as if they had never been away, Chelsea ramped things up after the break. Three goals in a 20-minute spell from Juan Mata, Branislav Ivanovic and Victor Moses spun things in their favour, with Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres adding extra gloss late on.
Chelsea had home goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown to thank for the goal that got them level and, in the process, allowing Benitez to silence his opposite Neil Warnock, who is not the Spaniard's number one fan for what he feels was Benitez's part in his Sheffield United side's relegation in 2007.
Becchio broke the deadlock for Leeds in the 37th minute with a counter-attack goal.
After David Luiz made a hash of a foray forward, Michael Tonge picked the ball up in centre midfield and ran into Chelsea's half, releasing Jerome Thomas on the left. With Becchio clear and screaming for a pass, Thomas waited until the right moment and squared, with the Argentinean wrong-footing Petr Cech with his 15th goal of the season.
The goal had perhaps been harsh on Chelsea but they duly levelled things up just 62 seconds after the restart, with Mata's crisp, first-time hit off Moses' lay-off getting under Ashdown's outstretched hands and making a mockery of the better saves he had already made.
The former Portsmouth man went some way to redeeming himself as the hour approached, using all of his body to deny Torres and then Frank Lampard, but he could do nothing in the 64th minute as Ivanovic nipped in ahead of everyone at the near post to nod in a Lampard corner.
Moses then found the range he had lacked in the first half with a low edge-of-the-box shot which Ashdown got nowhere near and, if Leeds thought their punishment was over they were wrong as, with 10 minutes left, Luiz split their defence in half and Hazard easily tucked away a one-on-one.
There was still time for more, perhaps flatteringly, as Torres tucked into an open goal with seven minutes left from Hazard's pass after Ashdown had denied Lampard.


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

Star:

LEEDS 1 - CHELSEA 5: VICTOR MOSES LEADS BLUES COMEBACK AFTER BECCHIO STRIKE

By Jason Mellor

VICTOR MOSES capped a stunning display as Chelsea put Leeds to the sword.
The Blues shipped a first-half opener to Luciano Becchio but roared back in the second half to demolish their ­Championship opponents and book a semi-final place.
The home side struck the first blow in Leeds boss Neil Warnock’s grudge match with old rival Rafa Benitez.
Becchio’s 15th goal of the season came eight minutes before the break in a no-hold-barred cup tie.
But having taken the lead, any plans the Yorkshireman had of hanging on to their slender advantage to crank up the pressure on their Premier League visitors went up in smoke just 60 seconds ­after the restart.
It was the impressive Juan Mata who handed his side a way back into the ­contest with his 12th goal of the campaign to draw level.
Leeds were caught napping as neat ­interplay between the Spaniard, ­Fernando Torres and Moses released Mata to try his luck from 20-yards.
The winger’s scuffed shot lacked power, but on a greasy surface slipped under Jamie Ashdown’s hand to find the ­bottom corner.
It was a nightmare moment for the stand-in keeeper in only his second game of the season.
Ashdown’s howler was made even worse by the fact that had put up a one-man barrier to keep Leeds on level terms, before pulling off a couple of great saves to see them go into the break on top.
It was only the second goal shipped by Leeds in their cup run as they pulled out all the stops to make it three top-flight scalps, having already dumping out ­Everton and Southampton.
Ashdown was soon back to his best, ­reacting brilliantly to deny a point-blank Torres header as the striker latched onto a great cross from Cesar Azpilicueta.
And he was at it again to grab a Frank Lampard daisy-cutter as Chelsea poured forward in search of a second goal.
But Ashdown had no chance as Branislav Ivanovic and Moses put Chelsea in cruise control on the way to the last four.
Ivanovic stooped to conquer as the big Blues defender stole in at the near post to head home his fourth goal of the season from Lampard’s in-swinging corner ­after 64 minutes.
And within two minutes, Moses latched onto Mata’s pass from a Torres flick to fire into the bottom corner from 20 yards to leave Leeds with a mountain to climb.
Eden Hazard added the fourth calmly taking a long Luiz pass and finishing past Ashdown.
Hazard then set up Torres for a simple finish to complete the rout.
The managers put their well-publicised differences aside with a pre-match handshake to break the ice in their bitter five-year feud.
The fall-out was sparked by Warnock blaming Benitez for his part in his ­relegation from the top flight with ­Sheffield United.
But there was little love lost between the sides who went at each other straight from the start.
Moses twice went close in the first 20 minutes, shooting wide and forcing a fine near post save from Ashdown. The speedy winger also had an early penalty shout turned down after a clash with Michael Brown in a no-nonsense opening that saw Chelsea skipper Lampard clash with the veteran Leeds midfielder as tempers flared.
Becchio headed wide from an El-Hadji Diouf cross as things opened up.
Paul Green headed straight at Petr Cech so it came as a big surprise that it took 37 minutes for the first goal.
Leeds stunned their high-profile ­visitors with a length-of-the-field move to take the lead caused when David Luiz lost the ball out of position at the wrong end of the field.
Sam Byram cut out Luiz’s sloppy pass on the edge of the Leeds box, the ball running loose to Michael Tonge, who surged forward past halfway to feed Jerome ­Thomas down the left.
The on-loan West Brom winger took a touch before sending over a low cross with the outside of the right-foot that cut out the back-tracking Ivanovic to find a lurking Becchio, who did the rest with a first-time finish form 12 yards.
Stunned into action, Moses had the ball in the net soon afterwards for Chelsea with a cool close-range finish. But the effort was ruled out for offside against Torres in the four-man build-up.
Chances came thick and fast as half-time approached, Lampard’s 30-yard free-kick saved well by Ashdown low to the keeper’s right as the deflected effort headed for the bottom corner.
Leeds refused to sit back on their lead, and they should have doubled their ­advantage on the verge of first-half ­stoppage-time.
Tom Lees easily out-jumped his marker Azpilicueta to meet another tempting Diof centre, only to head narrowly over from six yards after Chelsea failed to deal with a corner.

Corinthians 0-1

Independent:

Chelsea add global humiliation to woes after loss to Corinthians in Club World Cup final

Corinthians 1 Chelsea 0: The Copa Libertadores champions joined Barcelona as the only teams to win the tournament twice, after their first title in 2000

Ben Rumsby

Chelsea added global humiliation to their European embarrassment today as they became the first Champions League holders to fail to win the Club World Cup for six years.

A week and a half after making the wrong sort of history by crashing out of the competition that means the most to them, the Blues were at it again in Japan as they surrendered a trophy for the fourth time already this season.
Despite being firm favourites to beat Corinthians in Yokohama, they were outplayed and - more worryingly - outfought by the South American champions, who sealed victory through Paolo Guerrero in front of a partisan crowd of die-hard supporters.
Fernando Torres had a golden chance to take the game to extra-time - as Didier Drogba managed so famously in the Champions League final - but the Spaniard missed an absolute sitter and saw a stoppage-time header ruled out for offside after Gary Cahill was sent off.
It all added to the feeling that Chelsea's £80million summer overhaul had left them with a team of also-rans, interim manager Rafael Benitez unable to instil a winning mentality.
Defender Branislav Ivanovic claimed yesterday today's match could be the defining game for the current generation but it was their opponents who were the history boys, their tens of thousands of fans took their seats in the Nissan Stadium as early as the third-placed play-off.
They gradually cranked up the volume and unfurled a succession of supportive banners in similar scenes to those the Blues faced before the Champions League final in Munich.
That resulted in the fewest jeers and protest placards of Benitez's short reign but today's defeat will surely only strengthen the ill-feeling towards him.
Corinthians outworked Chelsea from the first whistle but there was encouragement for Benitez's men when a goalmouth scramble from a corner saw Cahill narrowly fail to stab the ball past Cassio in what came close to being arguably the first high-profile test of goalline technology.
David Luiz, restored to centre-half, did well to outfox Emerson after Juan Mata uncharacteristically passed straight to the forward, Corinthians being given too much space in midfield.
And Luiz came to the rescue again after wasting a free-kick from which the Brazilians broke, while Guerrero appealed in vain for a penalty, having brilliantly nutmegging Cahill.
Cahill then got away with a major error just before the half-hour mark as Emerson panicked after the defender's slip and blazed over.
Corinthians continued to call the tune and Emerson just failed to squeeze home Guerrero's cross-shot.
Torres had offered little threat but that almost changed spectacularly eight minutes from the break when he superbly brought down Frank Lampard's ball over the top only to stab straight at Cassio.
But the goalkeeper then excelled himself as a lightning Chelsea breakaway saw Hazard feed Victor Moses - the pair having switched wings - and the latter's superb curling finish forcing a wonderful fingertip save.
Cassio also held Mata's volley as Benitez's side ended the first half on top, and they continued to probe after the restart.
Lampard saw a shot charged down, Hazard was denied by the legs of Cassio after bursting on to an inch-perfect Mata pass, and Moses's knockdown was just behind Torres.
Jorge Henrique picked up the game's first yellow card for tripping Mata but, roared on by an increasingly fervent crowd, Corinthians began to apply serious pressure of their own, Paulinho firing just wide.
In a game this tight, Torres' inability to hold up the ball was threatening to prove costly and so it proved as Corinthians took the lead in the 69th minute.
Chelsea's defence simply stood off as Henrique and Danilo danced across the box, Cahill's block simply teeing up Guerrero to head home.
Corinthians celebrated jubilantly and it was too much for Luiz, who soon got himself booked for a foul on Emerson before Moses was hauled off for Oscar.
Benitez's lack of attacking options became apparent when he withdrew Ivanovic for Cesar Azpilicueta.
And Torres's Drogba moment finally arrived five minutes from time when the ball broke perfectly for him to beat Cassio from six yards but he could only send his shot straight at the keeper.
Oscar's control also let him down after he got in behind and Chelsea's misery was complete when Cahill was sent off for an off-the-ball clash with Emerson, Torres' header was rightly ruled out, and Mata failed to poke home from a narrow angle.


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

Guardian:

Chelsea distraught after losing to Corinthians in Club World Cup final
• Paolo Guerrero scores winner in 1-0 victory for Brazilians
• Gary Cahill sent off for Chelsea in injury time

Dominic Fifield in Yokohama

Chelsea's trek to the other side of the world has ended in numbed disappointment. Corinthians reclaimed the Fifa Club World Cup for South America at the Londoners' expense here, wresting the trophy from Europe for the first time in six years, with this arena pounding to the beat of the Brazilian drums long into the night. It was as if São Paulo had upped sticks to Shin Yokohama, with Rafael Benítez and his players left defeated and deflated as the din pursued them from the turf.
Their number had been reduced to 10 by the end, Gary Cahill dismissed in stoppage time for kicking a grounded Emerson and departing the pitch with frustration etched across his brow. Fernando Torres had an equaliser denied in the seconds that still remained, an offside flag choking his own celebrations, but it was his inability to beat the outstanding Cassio moments earlier that had actually proved decisive. The goalkeeper had blocked the Spaniard's clearest sight of goal with his legs and with that chance went all hope of extra time. There was to be no Didier Drogba to bail the Premier League club out this time.
Defeat will hurt. The Club World Cup has followed the Community Shield and European Super Cup in eluding a team who have already exited the Champions League. Trophies are slipping through their fingers almost carelessly these days, though this still felt particularly crushing. Ramires, exhausted and distraught as he slumped to the turf, had to be consoled by team-mates and coaching staff. David Luiz, in floods of tears, sat alone and hardly able to watch his compatriots mass together before lifting the trophy. Those images rather summed up the mood in the aftermath, leaving Benítez with work to be done to lift this squad ahead of Wednesday's Capital One Cup quarter-final at Leeds.
A trip to Elland Road would once have had this club's blood pumping, but the flight home in the morning will be sombre. "It's a matter of trying to put them in the best mood possible," said Benítez. "That's all we can do. We start working on the positives. Today and the other day against Monterrey, we could see a lot of positives. Here we were playing against a very good team and we still had our chances. Four clear chances. And we have gained more experience, of playing a different style of football and against a good side." That felt clutching at straws; 6,000 miles is a long way to come to lose.
The only goal had been registered by the Peruvian Paolo Guerrero – a former Bayern Munich player, adding to the irony – as a tense encounter edged into its final quarter, both sides pointing to opponents' theatrics and Chelsea's Brazilian players, in particular, appearing to rile their opposite numbers. Had Chelsea prised out the opening goal then it could all have been very different, but Cahill, reacting after his initial header struck Chicao, had seen Cassio somehow stifle a close-range attempt by sitting on the loose ball. The centre-half's night never hinted at an improvement.
Cassio, in truth, was to stamp his own authority on the contest and claim Fifa's rather grand player of the tournament award. He mustered another grab at close range from Torres, and an eye-catching full-length dive and fingertip save to deny Victor Moses' curled attempt, a save that was all the more impressive given he had been unsighted by Alessandro in the buildup. Mata's volley moments later created the impression Chelsea were retiring at the interval a team on the up, the momentum apparently theirs, though that proved deceptive. Corinthians had been content to soak up pressure throughout, their own threat forever sprung on the break with the pace of Guerrero and Emerson discomforting.
Luiz, up against the club he had supported as a boy, had done well to crowd out Emerson on one barnstorming breakaway yet Cahill found it more of a struggle, the forward's slippery dart into space leaving him flummoxed only for the finish to sail high and wide. This is an impressive Corinthians side with Paulinho, a player coveted by Chelsea and a host of European clubs, a muscular presence in midfield. It was his fizzed shot that sent out a warning as the noise generated by the vast Brazilian support boomed round the arena.
As it was, their monotonous chorus was only interrupted in celebration. The Brazilians' lead, when it was chiselled out, was neatly created even if Chelsea will have cursed the sudden pang of sloppiness. Corinthians broke at pace down their right side, Jorge Henrique nodding down and Paulinho veering across the area with his heavy touch serving to supply Danilo sprinting into the penalty area. The winger, who had played for São Paulo against Benítez's Liverpool back in 2005, cut inside and saw his shot loop up invitingly from Cahill's block. Luiz and Ashley Cole were on the goalline, with Ramires also between the striker and his target, but no Chelsea player reacted quickly enough to prevent Guerrero heading the loose ball in off the underside of the bar.
Aside from Torres' close-range attempt, stemming from confusion at a César Azpilicueta throw, Chelsea rather ran aground thereafter. Cahill's dismissal after a tangle with Emerson – the Brazilian appeared to fling an arm with the centre-half reacting, his shin making contact to prompt the forward to roll on the turf clutching his head – sapped the last of their conviction. Cahill grumbled beyond Benítez as he trudged down the tunnel. The interim first-team manager has been left with a daunting task to revive his troops in the hours ahead. This has ended up feeling like a damaging experience.

Man of the match: Cassio (Corinthians).

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic (Azpilicueta, 83), Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Ramires, Lampard; Moses (Oscar, 71), Mata, Hazard (Marin, 87); Torres.
Subs not used: Mikel, Ferreira, Turnbull, Bertrand, Piazon, Hilario, Saville.
Booked: Luiz.
Sent off: Cahill.

Corinthians (4-2-3-1): Cassio; Alessandro, Chicao, Paulo Andre, Fabio Santos; Ralf, Paulinho; Jorge Henrique, Emerson (Wallace, 90), Danilo; Guerrero (Martinez, 87).
Subs not used: Julio Cesar, Douglas, Anderson Polga, Willian Arao, Edenilson, Danilo Fernandes, Guilherme Andrare, Felipe, Giovanni, Romarinho.
Booked: Jorge Henrique.

Attendance: 68,275.
Referee: C Cakir (Turkey).

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

Telegraph:

Chelsea 0 Corinthians 1: Club World Cup Final

Jet-lagged, heavy-legged and outfought, Chelsea deservedly lost the final of the Fifa Club World Cup to a Corinthians side who showed more desire and cutting edge. Out of the Champions League and now of the world. This is the season of many miseries.

By Henry Winter

Defeat will focus attention on Roman Abramovich’s controversial decision to dismiss Roberto di Matteo. Rafa Benitez was brought in to revive Fernando Torres, who was largely lifeless here. Benitez was brought in because the club felt that Di Matteo lacked the tactical expertise to take Chelsea on but they were outwitted by a far more organized Brazilian side.
Benitez must now rally his players, who have a delayed return to Heathrow because of night-time flight restrictions at Narita airport.
He must lift them for Wednesday’s Capital One Cup challenge at Leeds United where the noise will match the decibels here. Corinthians fans cheered when Paolo Guerrero struck, they crowed when Gary Cahill was dismissed.
Chelsea had known what a test this would be. Even before he scored after 68 minutes, Guerrero had caused frequent palpitations in Chelsea’s defence.
Aware of the substantial threat coming Chelsea’s way, Benitez had changed his team, introducing Frank Lampard into central midfield with Ramires. He omitted John Obi Mikel and withdred David Luiz back into central defence. Luiz was outstanding for an hour at the heart of Chelsea’s back-four. Branislav Ivanovic shifted to right-back in place of Cesar Azpilicueta while Victor Moses replaced Oscar in attack, although the Brazilian came on after Guerrero’s goal as Chelsea craved more creativity.
The semi-final had been no preparation for this. There was a change of mood, of tempo, of menace. Corinthians, a totally different proposition to Monterrey, counterattacked with pace and power, often through the much-coveted Paulinho, an attacking midfielder who would grace any Premier League side.
Guerrero was a chunky, mobile target-man, soon engaged in a real duel with the excellent Luiz. Guerrero stayed close to Luiz when Chelsea were working the ball out of defence, preferring to leave possession to the less technical Gary Cahill. Danilo flitted about, looking to find a path past Cahill, who made a series of blocks as the decibel level rose.
Corinthians fans had turned Shin Yokohama into Sao Paulo for the day, waving their flags, banging their drums and utterly outnumbering and silencing the 1,000 Chelsea fans. Many Japanese wore blue, supporting the Premier League side but otherwise this must have felt to like a home game at their Pacaembu passion pit for Corinthians.
Chelsea had moments of hope in an absorbing first half. Fernando Torres saw a shot blocked. Cahill twice went close from the wreckage of a Juan Mata corner. His second effort was six yards out was a wonderful opportunity, the type of scrap that Cahill has feasted on before. Unfortunately for Chelsea, Cassio was able to fall on Cahill’s shot. These were promising times but Corinthians’ cutting edge always gleamed under the floodlights.
Along with Luiz, Cahill had his work cut out defensively. Luiz showed composure to guide Emerson down a cul de sac. Petr Cech, a figure of calm, clutched a deflected Jorge Henrique strike. Back the game went down the other end, bringing a good opportunity. Eden Hazard was fouled on the edge of the box and the free-kick was in Suzanne Vega territory, left of centre. Lampard wanted to take charge of the dead-ball but Luiz grabbed the ball. Lampard’s mood hardly improved when Luiz drove the free-kick straight into the wall.
Cahill was caught out occasionally but he made some vital blocks from Guerrero twice, although the warning wasn’t heeded in the second half. Chelsea then sprung forward, Hazard lifting in a ball that Moses controlled well but Paulo Andre intercepted. Chelsea kept looking to release Torres over the top, first by Mata and then by Lampard but he was unable to trouble Cassio.
Cahill continued to throw himself in the way of Corinthian shots, repelling a Fabio Santos strike and Chelsea broke well. Moses had switched flanks with Hazard and so nearly gave the European champions the lead. Cutting in from the left, letting fly with a right-footed strike that seemed heading inexorably for the top corner but Cassio flung himself to his left to tip the danger away.
Corinthians were out late for the second half, and Chelsea started the quicker. Hazard cut the ball back to Lampard, who unleashed a left-footed shot that flew into a wall of white shirts. Hazard then darted through, danger rising with every strike, but Cassio was equal to the task. Belief must have drained from the knot of Chelsea fans.
Corinthians took control. Paulinho shot wide. Then Danilo’s shot was blocked by Cahill but the ball looped up and there was Guerrero heading in with three Chelsea players on the line. It was poor defending.
And then came even poorer finishing down the other end. Torres was presented with a gift of a chance, the ball bouncing his way with only Cassio to beat. Here was a moment of nirvana, a chance for Torres to force extra time and prove he is worth persisting with.
He could have stayed calm, placing the ball into the inviting gaps either side of Cassio but he went for power and the Corinthians keeper saved. Deepening Chelsea’s woes was a red card for Cahill. As if to rub it in, Torres had a header ruled out for offside.


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

Mail:

Chelsea 0 Corinthians 1: Yoko oh no! Blues' dream of conquering the world in tatters after losing to the boys from Brazil

By Matt Barlow


Chelsea’s bid to conquer the world failed at the final hurdle in Yokohama and Corinthians became the first South American world champions for six years.

Paulo Guerrero scored the only goal of the game with a header in the 69th minute and the European champions finished the game with 10 men after Gary Cahill was sent off for a kick on Emerson.

Fernando Torres had a header ruled out for offside in stoppage time and the Brazilians celebrated in style in front of the thousands of fans who travelled to support them in Japan.

Chelsea’s South Americans took the defeat hard. Ramires and David Luiz were in tears and had to be consoled by interim manager Rafa Benitez at the final whistle.

For the Blues, this is a fourth possible trophy which has already escaped them this season, after the FA Community Shield, the UEFA Super Cup and the Champions League.

For Benitez it was a second defeat in his third Club World Cup final but few can begrudge Corinthians their title or their extravagant celebrations.

They performed with power and passion, their support was incredible and goalkeeper Cassio made a series of important saves, starting in the 38th minute, when Frank Lampard’s vision and long-range passing ability unlocked the Brazilian defence.

Lampard’s long, early pass was well taken by the Spaniard. His shot was tame and easily smothered by Corinthians goalkeeper but the flash gave the Londoners some momentum.

Within a minute, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard launched another quick break out of defence. Hazard, who has shown signs of being revived under Benitez, jinked inside from the right and released Victor Moses on the opposite wing.

Moses turned onto his right foot and aimed the ball towards the far corner. It was perfectly placed, curling just inside the post, but it was at a comfortable height for the ‘keeper.

Cassio made an acrobatic leap to his left and turned the effort wide with his fingertips. He smothered a low drive from Mata as Chelsea ended the first half on top.

For the first half-hour, it had been an absorbing and even contest. Both teams were committed and compact and defended solidly. Corinthians shaded the best of the early chances.

Petr Cech barely had a save to make although Luiz, back in his more familiar central defensive role after his brief midfield cameo against Monterrey, was impressive.

Emerson seized on a slip by Gary Cahill but shot wildly over the bar from the edge of the box. Cahill produced a good block to thwart Paolo Guerrero and the rebound spun across goal to Emerson but he hit the outside of the post as he tried to squeeze the ball in from a narrow angle.

By the interval, even the fanatical Corinthians support had, by its own standards, become a little subdued but the volume was turned up again for the restart.

Mata released Hazard, sliding a pass between right-back and centre-half. No-one was fast enough to catch the Belgian, but Cassio dashed off his line to make it difficult and blocked his shot.


The first chance of the second-half for Corinthians fell to Paulinho after composed hold-up play from Guerrero, who accepted a pass on his chest and eased the ball to Paulinho who connected well on the half-volley.

It zipped across the surface, about a yard wide of Cech’s left-hand post. Soon afterwards, the European champions were behind and it was Paulinho who did much of the damage, with a powerful crossfield run which dragged the Chelsea back-four out of position.

Danilo’s shot was charged down by Cahill but Cech had been lured from his line in the panic and the rebound lurched up in the air with the Czech keeper out of position.

Guerrero’s predatory instincts kicked in and the Peruvian international sprang high to nod into the opening goal from close range. Cue bedlam in Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium.

In Munich, Thomas Muller scored with seven minutes to play and thought he had won the game. He did not bargain for Didier Drogba. In Yokohama, Chelsea had 21 minutes to salvage something.

Benitez reacted instantly, sending on Oscar for Moses. Chelsea summoned a late rally and Torres squandered a glorious chance to take the game into extra-time five minutes from time.

Corinthians failed to clear a long throw from sub Cesar Azpilicueta and the ball ricocheted to Torres, eight yards out. He prodded it towards goal but he could not beat Cassio.

To complete the misery for the Blues, Cahill was dismissed in the closing seconds for kicking out at Emerson after a tangle on half-way.

Torres had a goal ruled out for offside in stoppage time and Mata hit the post with the final kick of the game. Manchester United remained the only English club to rule the world.


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

Mirror:

Chelsea 0-1 Corinthians
End of the world: Corinthians beat Chelsea to lift Cup after two Torres howlers

With time running out in Club World Cup Final and Blues trailing 1-0, the Spaniard fluffs a one-on-one with the keeper, then nets but was offside

From Martin Lipton in Yokohama

The world was not turned Blue in Yokohama.
And Rafa Benitez might have to think again about his prediction that Chelsea are good enough to come from 13 points behind and win the Premier League.
Benitez hoped that presenting some silverware to the Chelsea fans might start to earn his some capital in the bank of Blues goodwill.
Instead, the Spaniard – just as he did when his Liverpool side lost to Corinthians' city rivals Sao Paulo in 2005 – was left to rue one that got away.
A dreadful miss by Fernando Torres – who also thought he had equalised in stoppage time only for the flag to be raised – and a red card for Gary Cahill made this one to forget.
Chelsea had enough chances to win a host of games, four of them in particular either side of the break, and three more at the death - including Juan Mata hitting the outside of the post with the very last kick of the night.
But none of them were taken and when Paolo Guerrero was the only man to react as the ball flew off Cahill's block 21 minutes from time, it meant Chelsea have missed out on four trophies already this season, before the end of December.
Benitez will know his side did not perform, even though, just like Munich last May, this was essentially an away game.
The Yokohama International Stadium reverberated to the rhythms of Sao Paulo and the party back home will be an all-nighter.
Not so for Chelsea, who have an extra unwanted evening in Japan before heading home to Wednesday night's League Cup quarter-final away to their old friends Leeds.
This was a game they could have won - should have won - but did not, in truth, deserve to win.
Even with Frank Lampard back as skipper - the midfielder's first start since limping off in Donetsk two months ago - Chelsea were listless for long periods.
A sublime touch by Lampard, instantly releasing Torres, kick-started the Blues after Corinthians had settled more swiftly, although the Spaniard's touch was poor.

From the resulting Juan Mata corner, a rebound fell for Cahill, who thought he had forced past watchful keeper Cassio from eight yards.
In fact, the ball clearly stayed the right side of the line – from a Brazilian perspective, that is – and there was no need to call on the GoalRef technology being used in official games for the first time here in Japan.
Corinthians' plan was simple: defend in numbers, with a high line, crunch into every tackle - and hit on the counter.
Benitez' horses for courses policy saw not just Lampard but also the hustle and bustle of Ramires and direct pace of Victor Moses - in at the expense of Oscar – starting.
But there were moments of concern throughout, first when a rare misplaced pass by Mata allowed Emerson to surge forward, while Petr Cech saved Jorge Henrique's deflected effort.
Cahill, though, was looking less secure, anxiously staring at the referee when Peruvian Guerrero fell under his challenge inside the box – no penalty – and then relieved when he let the ball run through to Emerson, who snatched at his effort.
While Eden Hazard was prominent, Chelsea had escape when Guerrero twisted away from David Luiz.
Cahill blocked his first effort but the former Bayern Munich man screwed his second across the face of goal, with Emerson, the angle against him as Branislav Ivanovic covered the target, firing against the outside of the post.
But Chelsea finished the half much the stronger, Corinthians increasingly resorting to outrageous theatricality.
Torres' finish failed to match his earlier control from Lampard's perfectly-judged long ball, Moses, fed on the left by Hazard, was denied by Cassio's finger-tips as the ball looked destined for the top corner and then Mata's searing drive was held by the keeper.
The start of the second period saw Hazard, played in by a clever Torres pass, taking more time than he had to get his shot away.
Chelsea, though, lost their impetus, allowing Corinthians back into the game, midfielder Emerson – on the Blues' list of potential targets – drilling narrowly wide just after the hour.
And, with 21 minutes left, they paid for their profligacy, conceding a goal which Benitez will not be happy with.

Paulinho looked to have run the ball too far as he came over to the left but Danilo stepped inside and when his right-footer deflected off Cahill, with Cech on the ground, none of the three on the line reacted before Guerrero nodded home.
Benitez acted, sending on Oscar – not before four rolls by Emerson induced a booking for Luiz – but Chelsea were running out of time.
They had one last chance, a hopeful ball into the box falling for Torres, the miss more reminiscent of the incarnation we had become used to in Chelsea Blue than the version sighted in the past week.
It was a poor miss, before the stoppage-time madness:
Cahill, to utter disbelief, was shown a straight red as Emerson hit the deck and stayed there, Torres thought he had scored from Oscar's diagonal ball, before Mata went round the keeper but ran too wide, striking the woodwork just as the referee decided enough was enough.

CHELSEA Cech; Ivanovic (Azpilicueta, 83), Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Ramires, Lampard; Moses (Oscar, 73), Mata, Hazard (Marin, 87); Torres

CORINTHIANS Cassio; Alessandro, Chicao , Paulo Andre, Fabio Santos; Paulinho, Ralf; Jorge Henrique, Danilo, Emerson (Wallace, 90); Guerrero (Martinez, 87)

Referee: Cuynet Cakir (Turkey)

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

Sun:

Corinthians 1 Chelsea 0

PAOLO GUERRERO'S second-half header settled matters as Chelsea failed to rule the world.
Having beaten Monterrey earlier in the week to cruise into the final, the Blues fancied their chances of lifting the Club World Cup in Japan.
But Corinthians had other ideas and Guerrero's effort proved enough to send the European champions on the long journey home empty-handed.
The game started at a frantic pace as both sides knocked the ball around crisply until reaching the final third.
Chelsea, with Frank Lampard back in the starting line-up and installed as captain, threatened when Fernando Torres looked to break free.
Torres latched on to a fine pass from Lampard and did well to win a corner after Victor Moses saw his shot blocked.
Gary Cahill’s effort from the resulting set-piece originally looked to have crossed the line but referee Cuneyt Cakir waved play on as FIFA’s experimental goal-line technology did not register a goal.
With 17 minutes on the clock, Corinthians were gifted possession in a dangerous position when Juan Mata gave the ball away.
But David Luiz, back in defence after his run in midfield against Monterrey, remained calm to lean into Emerson and see the ball behind for a goalkick.
Luiz then wasted a good opportunity for the Blues by scuffing a free-kick into the wall before racing back to snuff out a swift Corinthians break.
The Brazilian side threatened again moments later when Guerrero wriggled free from Cahill.
But the Chelsea defender and match official Cakir were less than impressed when the Corinthians star theatrically threw himself to the ground in the hope of winning a penalty.
Corinthians came close in the 33rd minute when Emerson twisted and turned before dragging his effort across goal and Guerrero turned the ball against the outside of the post from a tight angle.
At the other end, Ashley Cole ventured forward before firing tamely wide with Torres in a good position to be played in on goal.
Torres then raced on to another lovely ball from Lampard but the Spaniard’s fine control was left down by his strike, which was easily gathered by Cassio.
Moses came desperately close to opening the scoring seconds later when Cassio did well to get his fingertips to a curling effort.
And in what proved to be Chelsea’s last chance of the first half, Mata also tested the keeper with a powerful shot.
Chelsea started the second half brightly and Lampard had a shot charged down after being teed up by Eden Hazard.
Hazard broke through in the 54th minute but was forced slightly wide before Cassio smothered his shot.
Corinthians continued to look lively as the game became stretched and Emerson saw his effort blocked as the Brazilian champions pushed forward.
With Chelsea struggling to make inroads up front, Paulinho drilled just wide of Petr Cech's goal after 64 minutes.
And the Blues came unstuck five minutes later when Cahill's block sent the ball spinning up into the air and on to the head of Guerrero for a simple finish.
In a bid to get his side back into the game, Rafa Benitez immediately sent on Oscar for Moses.
But he could only stand and stare in disbelief as Torres fired the ball straight at Cassio when it appeared easier to score five minutes from time.

And it got worse for Benitez in the 89th minute when Cahill was red-carded, while Torres saw a headed goal ruled out for offside in added time.

Corinthians: Cassio, Alessandro, Chicao, Paulo Andre, Fabio Santos, Ralf, Paulinho, Emerson (Wallace 90), Danilo, Jorge Henrique, Guerrero (Martinez 86). Subs not used: Julio Cesar, Douglas, Anderson Polga, Willian Arao, Edenilson,Fernandes, Guilherme Andrade, Felipe Monteiro, Giovanni, Romarinho. Booked: Jorge Henrique.
Goals: Guerrero 69.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic (Azpilicueta 83), Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Moses (Oscar 72), Mata, Hazard (Marin 87),Torres. Subs not used: Turnbull, Mikel, Ferreira, Sturridge, Terry, Bertrand, Piazon, Saville, Hilario. Sent off: Cahill (90). Booked: Luiz.
Att: 70,000
Ref: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).

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

Monterrey 3-1

Independent:

Chelsea reach Club World Cup final after beating Monterrey
European champions play South American champions Corinthians on Sunday

James Wrigley

Judging by this sparkling performance, Rafa Benitez’s rising sons have the world at their feet and they can go into Sunday’s Yokohama final against Corinthians with every chance of adding to the Champions League and FA Cup they won in May. 
It may be another chaotic season at Stamford Bridge, but here it was Monterrey in disarray. The CONCACAF champions were run ragged in every department as Juan Mata, Fernando Torres and an own-goal by Darvin Chavez, one of Mexico’s Olympic champions at Wembley last summer, sealed an emphatic Chelsea success.
A late consolation by striker Aldo De Nigris gave the scoreline a respectability Monterrey scarcely deserved. 
Interim Chelsea manager Benitez received further abuse from the thousand or so Chelsea fans who had made the 6,000-mile trip from London, a distance that entitles them to voice their opinions, but they may change their tune if the Spaniard continues to shape their fortunes in this vein.  
“We played with a high tempo, scored great goals and showed some good movement, so it was a great performance,” said Benitez, who can now look forward to his third Club World Cup final after guiding Liverpool to the showpiece in 2005 and Internazionale two years ago.
Japan’s second favourite English side were well supported here by the locals, as they have been since their arrival last weekend. The streets around this vast concrete bowl were littered with traders, many from London, selling blue scarves and shirts.
Inside there were echoes of west London too – plenty of echoes in a stadium barely a third full - with a rendition of “Stand up if you hate Tottenham” from a section of the ground temporarily transformed into the Shed.
Bentitez was jeered as soon as his face appeared on the big screen, to help him feel at home.
But his team played with a panache that even his most ardent critic must have admired, notwithstanding the fact Monterrey were such a disappointment.
The manager tinkered with the side that had beaten Sunderland last Saturday, this time with Oscar slotting into an attacking triumvirate behind Torres that also featured Mata and the irresistible Eden Hazard.
It was a combination that bewitched the Mexicans, who were also unsure what to do with David Luiz, at his fluid best alongside John Obi Mikel in an unfamiliar midfield role. Benitez hinted afterwards that he may be deployed there again. “It’s an option for the future, but it was mainly for this game,” he said.  “We knew they were good between the lines and had an option with their player coming inside from the left. We needed some energy in there, and David Luiz is a good passer with good energy, so he did well.”
Torres, buoyed by four goals in his previous two games under the tutelage of his old Liverpool manager, sent an early header over the bar and soon Luiz went close after nice work by Oscar.
The deep lying Severo Meza’s slip let in Oscar to win a corner and then Branislav Ivanovic was allowed to power in a header from Mata’s corner that narrowly missed the target.
As the blue tide continued to overwhelm Monterrey, Corinthians` players, fresh from their success in Nagoya, filed past us into their seats, where they huddled under blankets on a chilly evening. What they were seeing was a side capable of stopping them from adding to the Club World Cup they won on home soil in 2000.
And when the first goal arrived after 17 minutes – it was a wonder it took so long – it was fashioned by a Brazilian. Oscar and Ashley Cole exchanged passes, the England man running on to an exquisite backheel that will have earned nods of approval from his countrymen. Cole capitalised by crossing for Mata, who was able to take a touch before slotting past Jonathan Orozco with his left foot.
Mata, as if to underline the new-found spirit Benitez has talked about recently, held up six fingers in celebration – that being the number worn by Oriol Romeu, who was ruled out for the rest of the season following the knee injury he suffered at the Stadium of Light.   
Monterrey, competing here for the second year in succession, did change things around – as predicted by Benitez, a fan of the wily Victor Vucetich in the opposite dug-out. Jesus Corona switched over to the left side and was quick to torment Cesar Azpilicueta before crossing for Nigris to head over.
The striker’s prowess in the air was expected to be one of their chief weapons but he rarely troubled Gary Cahill or Ivanovic at the back and they went into the break having failed to register a single shot on target.
If that wasn’t demoralising enough, the game was put to bed within three minutes of the restart with a brace of goals that came gift-wrapped by the Mexicans.
Torres, fed by the brilliant Hazard, fired home with the aid of a heavy deflection for his 12th goal of the campaign - which is more than he managed in the whole of last season. It was also the first time he has scored in three successive games since his 50m pound move from Liverpool two years ago.
Monterrey had hardly had time to draw breath before Torres raced in from the left full of purpose, fed his Spanish compatriot Mata on the opposite side and his mis-hit shot was played beyond the keeper by Chavez.
Vucetich had predicted Chelsea would be a handful and how right he was. What he had hoped for, though, was that his team would meet the challenge. Alas, they may have been easy on the eye going forward but were calamitous at the back. 
Petr Cech wasn’t tested in Chelsea`s goal until he was forced into a smart save from a De Nigris shot midway through the second half.
He is sure to be busier on Sunday, but then his opposite number is unlikely to sleep easy after this.

Teams...
Monterrey (4-1-4-1)
Orozcol; Perez (Osorio 58), Mier, Basanta, Chavez; Meza (Solis 80); Corona, Delgado (Carreno 82), Ayovi, Cardoza; De Nigris.
Subs not used: Lopez, Morales, Moreno, Madrigal, Dautt, Garcia, Ibarra.
Goal: De Nigris, 90.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1)
Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole;
Mikel, Luiz (Lampard 62); Mata (Ferreira 74), Oscar, Hazard; Torres (Moses 79). Subs not used: Ramires, Marin, Turnbull, Bertrand, Piazon, Hilario, Saville.
Goals: Mata 17, Torres 46, Chavez og 48.


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


Guardian:


Club World Cup: Chelsea cruise in to final with 3-1 win over Monterrey
• Chelsea to face Corinthians in Club World Cup final
• Fernando Torres scores again in comfortable victory

Dominic Fifield at Yokohama International Stadium

In many ways this was a glimpse of what awaits Chelsea in the new year: Thursday night football played to a murmur of noise and in front swathes of empty seats, and against opponents who appeared cowed by the whole experience. Yet, if the prospect of the Europa League fails to stir the senses as yet, a final in the Fifa Club World Cup on Sunday and the sight of Fernando Torres as a regular goalscorer should have the juices flowing.
This proved a stroll against Monterrey, the Mexican opposition deflated by the opening exchanges of the second period and pedestrian throughout, such a comfortable victory probably as therapeutic as their trip to the bowling alley to drive any lingering jet lag from the system. The Brazilian champions, Corinthians, will provide a sterner test in the final though they will confront a team whose conviction is rapidly returning. Those who booed whenever his image flickered across the big screens would shudder at the suggestion, and this was a mismatch that made judgment far from easy, but Rafael Benítez may slowly be having an effect.
Torres confirmed as much in the aftermath here. The striker has reason to be supportive of his compatriot's involvement at Stamford Bridge given their association from their Liverpool days, but the reality is the forward is looking spritely again. Fed with regular opportunities, he has scored five in his last three matches, his best scoring sequence since joining the club almost two years ago.
"As a team we're getting better and, individually, I feel much better now, scoring consistently," said Torres. "We're working better both defensively and offensively. It's about the team. We have had a hard time this season but, since Rafa Benítez came in as a coach, it is coming together and we are showing more determination."
That could be perceived as unfair on Roberto Di Matteo, whose name was chanted as normal around this arena in the 16th minute, but the reality is none of Torres's previous Chelsea managers‚ Carlo Ancelotti, André Villas-Boas or Di Matteo‚ has managed to coax consistency from the £50m striker. Benítez felt like Roman Abramovich's last throw of the dice and, albeit still early on and not yet against real pedigree, there are signs of progress.
The forward's reward here came within 19 seconds of the restart, a deflected finish over Jonathan Orozco doubling Chelsea's lead. As impressive was his dart and centre moments later, Juan Mata gathering at the far post to fire back across goal with Dárvin Chávez putting into his own net.
"That [improvement] is down to him and his team-mates, not me," said Benítez. "He's doing well. He's a bit sharper, has more confidence and the team's playing well. It's a run, and that's good for him and good for us. Hopefully it will continue. If we continue creating chances, he'll carry on scoring. We haven't done too much differently with him. We've analysed his movement and fitness, but it's more that he has more confidence so it's easier for him when the team creates a chance to score. And the team is creating more chances, which means he'll have more opportunities to score."
They generated plenty here, their lead established relatively early on when Oscar's clever backheel sent Ashley Cole scurrying into space, the full-back glancing up and then slipping a fine pass infield for the excellent Mata. The Spaniard was unmarked and took a touch before finishing classily beyond Orozco, his celebration a six-fingered salute to the absent No6, Oriol Romeu, who will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Thereafter, Chelsea stifled Monterrey's ability to respond with David Luiz restored to his childhood role in central midfield, presence disrupted the Mexicans' rhythm.
The Brazilian was dominant, his deployment at the base of midfield apparently a one-off, though Benítez will have been offered food for thought given Romeu's prolonged absence ahead of the transfer window next month. Frank Lampard replaced Luiz for the latter stages and was a reassuring presence against outclassed opposition, even if Aldo de Nigris's consolation did have Benítez chuntering his disapproval in the post-match assessment.
"When I talk about a winning mentality, always I talk about little details making the difference," he added. "The team has to think about winning, winning in style and not conceding because the goalkeeper likes clean sheets. They have to keep their concentration right to the end of the 90 minutes."
Such craving for perfection is forged partly on his memories of losing this competition with Liverpool back in 2005, when his team dominated São Paulo in the final, had three goals disallowed, struck the crossbar and ended up succumbing 1-0. Lessons must be learned from that disappointment, but the chance to claim a trophy beckons this weekend.

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

Telegraph:

Monterrey 1 Chelsea 3 - Club World Cup semi-final
By Henry Winter, in Yokohama

Of the many significant elements to this appealing Club World Cup semi-final, ranging from an exquisite Oscar back-heel to another reminder of Juan Mata’s elegant enterprise, one of the most important came just before the end, bringing a negative that could prove a positive. A consolation goal for modest Monterrey screamed a warning to Chelsea of the need to concentrate against far more substantial opposition, Corinthians, if they are to become champions of the world.
Oscar, Mata and company can win this competition on Sunday. Corinthians are good, defensively tight, highly capable on the counter, but they are not the most formidable of teams to leave the shores of Brazil. If Chelsea are to prevail, they will simply need to take their chances and keep an eye on the movement of the likes of Paulinho and Paolo Guerrero. Careless concentration costs goals.
Like here. Chelsea had the game won, had the comforting cushion of goals from Mata, Fernando Torres and a Darvin Chavez aberration when they, and particularly Ashley Cole, dozed off and Aldo De Nigris swooped. An English side drilled by a former Liverpool manager should not need a lesson in the danger of a striker called Aldo.
“I’m not very happy with the goal we conceded,” said Rafael Benítez, Chelsea’s interim first-team coach. “When I talk about a winning mentality, always I talk about little details making the difference. They have to keep their concentration right to the end of the 90 minutes.”
Until then, Chelsea excelled. A few anxiety pains stained their game in the middle of the first half. Jesus Corona had clearly come to bury Cesar Azpilicueta and the Chelsea right-back endured some worrying moments. Otherwise, Benítez’s side were largely in control. His decision to start David Luiz in midfield, roaming upfield with John Obi Mikel diligently guarding the back door, was a success.
There was much in the buccaneering work of Luiz, the passing of Oscar and the finishing of Mata to delight the curious mix of fans in the Chelsea end where salary-men sat and celery-men stood. Around 900 fans had travelled from England, singing about Tottenham, Leicester and Leeds while the locals beamed benignly.
There was much to smile about. Shortly after the usual tribute to the dismissed Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea fans celebrated taking the lead. Oscar released Cole and the left-back was off before delivering the ball perfectly for Mata to score.
Chelsea fans were loving it. The banners in blue indicated that their owners had journeyed from Adelaide, Melbourne, Indonesia, New York and Dorset. They certainly got good value for their air-miles, especially at the start of the second half with two goals in three minutes. First Eden Hazard found Torres, whose shot took a heavy deflection and beat Jonathan Orozco. “We have had a hard time this season but since Rafa Benítez came in as a coach it is coming together and we are showing more determination,” Torres later said.
Torres cut in from the left and bent the ball with the outside of his right boot across to the unmarked Mata. The rest was a blur of Mata’s ball back in, Chavez’s legs in a tangle and the ball nestling in the net.
Sunday will be “a football party”, according to Mata, but Chelsea must beware showing any bonhomie to Corinthians.

Match details
Monterrey (4-4-2): Orozco; Meza (Solis 82), Chavez, Basanta, Mier; Perez (Osorio 57), Ayovi, Corona, Cardozo; Delgado (Carreno 82), De Nigris.
Subs: Dautt (g), Lopez, Morales, Moreno, Madrigal, Garcia, Suazo, Jasso, Ibarra (g).
Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole; Mikel, Luiz (Lampard 63), Mata (Ferreira 74), Oscar; Hazard, Torres (Moses 79).
Subs: Turnbull (g), Ramires, Marin, Bertrand, Piazon, Sturridge, Terry, Saville, Hilario (g).
Referee: C Vera (Ecuador).


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


Mail:

Monterrey 1 Chelsea 3: Blues cruise into final thanks to Torres and Mata... shame about the empty seats (and those who bothered to turn up STILL abused Benitez)


By Matt Barlow


It will be England against Brazil in the Club World Cup final on Sunday after Chelsea brushed aside the somewhat flimsy challenge of  Monterrey.

At least there will be some sort of atmosphere inside the 72,000-seater Yokohama Stadium to see Corinthians. The Brazilians have brought an estimated 20,000 fans from South America and will generate some noise and passion.

Chelsea’s semi-final against their Mexican opponents unfolded in a cold, still and often silent arena. Officially, there were 36,648 there, and they were removed from the pitch by the running track covered by green carpets.

Still, the European champions dealt well with the surreal surroundings in their tournament debut, starting at a healthy tempo, stealing an early lead through Juan Mata and crushing any thought of an unlikely comeback with two more three minutes after the interval.

Fernando Torres claimed the second, scoring for the third successive game, played a vital part in the third, an own goal, and there were other areas of encouragement for interim manager Rafa Benitez.

David Luiz looked comfortable in an unfamiliar midfield role, albeit it against tame opposition and Frank Lampard continued his recovery from injury with a substitute appearance shortly after an hour.

There was also a little discouragement for Benitez. About 900 Chelsea fans made the long trip from London and they still jeered the manager, sang, 'we don’t want you here' and climbed to their feet in the 16th minute for a burst of the now-familiar Roberto di Matteo song.

Japanese fans looked on somewhat bewildered, especially as, no sooner had they all finished singing, than their team went ahead.

Mata scored the goal, the chance created and served up on a plate by Ashley Cole, who was becoming used to this role. He lost at ten-pin bowling in Yokohama on Tuesday and his forfeit was to wait on his team-mates during dinner at the hotel.

Cole’s service did not impress in the dining room but he produced the perfect assist for Mata’s 11th goal in 25 games this season. The Spain international has scored in his last four games.

This put Chelsea in control and they could have scored more before the break had they not started to coast.

Monterrey were disappointing as a creative force. They failed the threaten Petr Cech’s goal until a glancing header from Aldo de Nigris flashed over in the 28th minute and did not force a save from the goalkeeper until the 70th minute.

The Mexicans – champions of North and Central America - were lacklustre at the back and easily sliced open. Luiz, relishing the freedom of a midfield role, managed to do it twice in the opening six minutes.

First, he burst down the middle of the pitch, traded passes with Oscar and curled a shot which dropped narrowly over from 25 yards. Then, he split the back-four with a wonderful pass to Eden Hazard, who was under absolutely no pressure but managed to miss the target.

His team drifted through to the break but Benitez was able to retrain focus at half-time and Chelsea emerged to kill the tie within three minutes of the restart. Torres struck inside 17 seconds. It came with the help of a huge deflection but it was his fifth in three games and went down well with the Japanese.

There was no doubting the technique involved in the third goal as Torres swerved a pass from left to right with the outside of his right boot to the feet of Mata. Oddly, Mata opted against shooting but as he searched for the return to Torres, the ball was diverted into the net by hapless left-back Darvin Chavez.

Lampard came on for Luiz and went close with virtually his first touch, clipping a right-footer wide from the edge of the penalty box.

There were no contentious calls for the goalline technology and the GoalRef ball which some of the Chelsea player thought felt hard and heavy in training did not cause the Londoners too many problems.

De Nigris pulled one back in stoppage time but it will be England against Brazil in the Club World Cup final, a decade after the nations met in Shizuoka in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.


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

Mirror:

World Club Cup Blues cruise: Chelsea ease past Monterrey into Club World Cup final

Blues were barely tested by the Mexicans but will face stiffer competition from Corinthians on Sunday

From Martin Lipton in Yokohama

You know a manager is happy when he starts nit-picking.
And even if the Chelsea fans seem to think Rafa Benitez is footballing poison, the Spaniard himself is becoming happier and happier.
Putting hapless Monterrey to the sword in Yokohama was always just a warm-up act for the showdown with Corinthians.
It was, after all, the champions of Europe against the team currently seventh in Mexico.
Yet 12 goals in three games, vibrant football including five strikes - unless FIFA take this one off him - for Fernando Torres have taken Chelsea back to where they were before the winter crisis that cost Roberto Di Matteo his job.
 "I think it was a difficult time when I came in," said Benitez, whose reign teetered on the brink of a premature end as three games without a win came against the background of the fan unrest that has still not abated.
"It's not easy with a new manager, six days and two games. But now the team knows what we want to do. They have more confidence and are enjoying their football a bit. 
"We still need more time to keep improving. I'm not very happy with the goal we conceded: we won, which is fine, but still these little things can make a difference in a final, for example."
That gripe, over the sloppiness that affected his side with the game long since won, was the key sign that Benitez believes his messages are getting across.
Juan Mata's terrific execution at the end of a move of real quality involving Oscar and Ashley Cole was followed by two in three minutes at the start of the second period, Torres claiming the first despite a big deflection before Mata's cross was turned into his own net by Darvin Chavez.
It rendered Aldo Di Nigris' injury-time goal meaningless, but Benitez insisted: "When I talk about a winning mentality, I always talk about little details making the difference.
"The team has to think about winning, winning in style and not conceding because the goalkeeper likes clean sheets. They have to keep their concentration right to the end of the 90 minutes."
These are the kind of criticisms a manager can make when he knows things are moving in the right direction.
In truth, Monterrey were opponents in name only, never close to the Blues physically or technically, bewildered and befuddled by the movement of Mata, Torres, Oscar, Eden Hazard and David Luiz, who again operated impressively in midfield.
"I know David from Benfica, where he was playing centre-back, left full-back, right full-back, defensive midfielder," the manager explained. "I wanted to put someone between the lines who could stop them."
Luiz responded and the scoreline could have been more, Chelsea doing only what they needed to, although the watching Corinthians players, huddled under their blankets in the third-full arena, will know Benitez' side are here with a purpose.
Whether or not he keeps the goal, Torres looks a man revitalised and reborn under the manager for whom he prospered at Liverpool.
"If you create chances, he will score goals," said Benitez. "The last week or so is down to him and his team-mates, not me. He's sharper, has more confidence and the team's playing well."
Torres said: "We have had a hard time this season but since Rafa Benitez came in it is coming together and we are showing more determination.
"As a team we're getting better and coming together as one unit, working better both defensively and offensively. It's about the team but individually I feel much better now, scoring consistently."
If that continues, Roman Abramovich will pat himself on the back for the big call he made last month.
But Benitez knows Chelsea have to be about devouring trophies - even one as maligned as this one remains in Europe - or they are nothing.
Seven years ago, he was in charge of a Liverpool team that was in total command of the Club World Cup Final against Corinthians' bitter city rivals Sao Paulo, yet lost the match.
Benitez recalled: "We dominated. We scored three and all of them were disallowed. We hit the crossbar, too.
"You have to take your chances.
""So you can never be confident when you play a final, because anything can happen. A final is a final, so we have to be aware and ready."

Chelsea Cech 7; Azpilicueta 6, Ivanovic 6, Cahill 7, Cole 7; Luiz 7 (Lampard, 63, 6), Mikel 6; Mata 8 (Ferreira, 74, 5), Oscar 6, Hazard 7; Torres 7
Monterrey Orozco 6; Perez 4 (Osorio, 56, 5), Mier 6, Basanta 6, Chavez 5; Meza 6; Corona 6, Ayovi 6, Cardozo 6, Delgado 5; de Nigris 6
Referee: Carlos Vera (Ecuador)
Man of the match Mata - the matador has sharpened his blade and now fancies some Brazilian beef

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

Sun:

Monterrey 1 Chelsea 3

WORLD AT JUAN ... Mata gets the ball rolling in Yokohama

FERNANDO TORRES scored his fifth goal in three games as Chelsea eased into the Club World Cup final.
Juan Mata gave the Blues a first-half lead against Mexican giants Monterrey before the in-form Torres made it two after the break.
A Darvin Chavez own goal then put Rafa Benitez's men further ahead before Aldo de Nigris pulled back a late consolation for the CONCACAF Champions League winners.
Chelsea will now face Brazil's Corinthians in Sunday's final in Yokohama.
And victory for the European champions will give interim boss Benitez his first piece of silverware less than four weeks after landing the job.
Goal hero Mata said: “For us it is a very important tournament, we want to win this trophy, to be world champions and on Sunday we will try our best to win.
“We have confidence but we know that Corinthians are a really good team, one of the best in South America.
“They have a lot of supporters here with them but we have our supporters as well and it will be a football party and hopefully we will win.”

Goalline technology was in place for the first time in a match involving a Premier League team.
But it was not to be needed in a semi-final clash as one-sided as most predicted at a half-empty Nissan Stadium.
Benitez fielded a strong side although surprised many by starting David Luiz in midfield.
The Brazilian, though, looked comfortable in his new position and nearly set up an early opener but Eden Hazard was wasteful from six yards.
Oscar and Branislav Ivanovic then both had chances to break the deadlock before Mata made his mark.
Ashley Cole put the ball on a plate for the Spaniard who sidefooted home.
Ivanovic could have made it two from a corner but his header cleared the bar.
And then the Mexicans nearly equalised out of nothing when De Nigris got in front of Petr Cech to nod narrowly over.
Torres had a poor first half but it took less than 20 seconds after the break for him to add to his recent goalscoring tally.
Hazard got round the back before squaring for the former Liverpool star to score via a huge deflection.
It was the first time Torres had netted in three successive games since his £50million move from the Reds.
The Blues sealed victory two minutes later when Torres’ low cross found Mata, whose ball back across goal hit the unfortunate Chavez and trickled in.
Chelsea were now rampant and Hazard weaved his way through but shot too close to Jonathan Orozco.
The travelling Blues faithful still had time to abuse Benitez — reacting with bile each time his face was shown on the big screen.
But jeers turned to cheers when Frank Lampard came off the bench to replace Luiz.
Monterrey did pull one back — Di Nigris beating Cech in stoppage time from a narrow angle.
But it had been a comfortable run-out for Benitez’s team who will be in confident of lifting the trophy on Sunday night.


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