Chelsea 2 - Dynamo Kiev 1: Willian saves Jose Mourinho's blushes with stunning free-kick

Willian clinched the win for Chelsea with a late free-kick

JOSE MOURINHO should this morning get down and kiss Willian’s brilliant Brazilian boots.

 

Because the former Shakhtar Donetsk player last night quite probably saved his manager’s Chelsea career.

Mourinho was staring another bitter disappointment in the face at Stamford Bridge, his side having thrown yet another lead away, when Willian came to the rescue with seven minutes left.

He curled in a glorious free-kick to give Chelsea probably the most precious win of this troubled, desperate season – and how his team, and his manager, needed it.

 

Aleksandar Dragovic capitalised on Asmir Begovic's error to equalise

They had taken the lead when Aleksandar Dragovic headed Willian’s cross into his own net in the first half. But the nerves set in, and when goalkeeper Asmir Begovic flapped at a corner, Dragovic levelled. Thankfully for Mourinho, Willian, by far Chelsea’s best player this season, was there to save the day with that dramatic late winner.

Once again Mourinho showed how ruthless he can be as Eden Hazard, woeful in the defeat against Liverpool on Saturday, was dropped to the bench. The manager made two more changes as Gary Cahill and John Obi Mikel were axed and in came Baba Rahman, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas had been the man who protested on Tuesday that it was not he who issued the now infamous “I’d rather lose than win for him” anonymous quote aired by the BBC. But the Spaniard was, like Matic, due a big performance.

The goalless draw in Kiev a fortnight ago had been one of Chelsea’s better performances of late, but such is the nature of this dismal campaign that it was followed by three defeats and yet more controversy.

Skipper John Terry had given a rousing rallying call of support for Mourinho before the game, and Chelsea, with one win in eight games before kick-off, certainly needed it.

Defeat was unthinkable. So to say there was tension in the air and particularly on the increasingly tetchy Special One’s shoulders last night was putting it mildly. Never in his career had Mourinho had a run like this. Add to that a constant saga of troubles with the FA, rumours of player revolts, plus the ex-club doctor suing him, and it had not been a good week.

The fans, though, had stayed loyal to Mourinho through it all, and in the match programme last night he thanked them and promised that together they could pull through.

 

Willian's goal might have earned Jose Mourinho some breathing space

Chelsea started full of intent, as Ramires saw his deflected shot saved, and then Oscar went close. Sergei Rebrov’s side were defending in numbers, but again it was the Brazilians – Willian, Ramires and Oscar – who were leading the way. 

Chelsea had started well against Liverpool before it all went pear-shaped, but they look more focused, more determined, last night.

Diego Costa shot over when he should have done better, but the breakthrough came as Willian beat his man and crossed from the right, and Dragovic dived to head the ball past a helpless Oleksandr Shovkovskiy. It was the sort of luck Chelsea have not had lately, and it was welcome.

Remarkably, at that stage it made own-goals – all four of them – level top-scorer with Willian this season. That was how bad it had been.

 

The crowd, though, chanted Mourinho’s name, and he waved coolly back. Then Fabregas put Costa away down the middle and he fell under Dragovic’s tackle – but referee Pavel Kralovic waved away Chelsea’s appeals. Mourinho guffawed in amazement but replays showed minimal contact.

In the second period the  Ukrainians began to put pressure on Chelsea. Begovic had to pull off a fine save from substitute Junior Moraes as nerves jangled all around Stamford Bridge.

Kurt Zouma amazingly missed the target from six yards out and then Willian shot across the face of goal. It was nervy though, because Chelsea have not been good at holding on to leads this season. And that showed in the 77th minute.

From another corner Begovic, who had looked increasingly shaky, came and missed completely, and the ball came out to Dragovic,  who made up for his first-half blunder by rifling home.

But then Willian – yet again – came to the rescue by curling a glorious free-kick home from 25 yards. How they love him round SW6 and how grateful Mourinho is to him this morning.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Terry, Rahman; Ramires, Matic; Willian (Cahill 90), Fabregas (Hazard 79), Oscar (Pedro 79); Costa. Goals: Dragovic og 34, Willian 83.

Kiev (4-2-3-1): Shovkovskiy; Vida, Khacheridi, Dragovic, Antunes; Sydorchuk (Garmash 45), Rybalka; Yarmolenko, Buyalsky, Gonzalez; Kravets (Moraes 56). Booked: Gonzalez, Antunes, Buyalsky. Goal: Dragovic 77.

Referee: P?Kralovec (Czech Republic).