Thursday 17 September 2015 09:22, UK
Chelsea recorded their first win at Stamford Bridge this season after beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 in the Champions League.
Goals from Willian, Oscar, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas gave the hosts the perfect start in Group G, while Eden Hazard also missed an early penalty in a very one-sided clash.
Jose Mourinho made six changes to his team in a bid to arrest Chelsea's dismal start to the season, dropping John Terry among others, and he got the required response.
Chelsea end Matchday One top of the group after their next opponents Porto and Dynamo Kiev played out a 2-2 draw.
Mourinho was like a jack in the box in the early stages in his technical area, urging his team forward and they started in fine fashion.
Willian was brought down by visiting goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic inside the box on five minutes but Hazard looked a nervous man as he stepped up for the penalty and ballooned the ball over the crossbar.
That only intensified the edgy atmosphere inside the stadium, but the home fans could relax on 14 minutes when Willian gave his side the lead.
He whipped in a cross from the left flank that evaded everyone before skipping off the surface and beyond the grasp of Rajkovic into the far corner.
Along with Terry, Mourinho had decided to give Costa a taste of life on the bench after a lacklustre display in the 3-1 defeat at Everton but he was back into the action on 22 minutes when he replaced Willian, who came off with a hamstring problem.
Chelsea continued to press forward without ever really troubling the Maccabi Tel-Aviv defence, that was being marshalled by former Chelsea man Tal Ben Haim.
It looks as though the visitors would get into half-time just one goal down but Chelsea struck with the last kick of the half. Costa did the damage, bursting through the defence before being brought down in the area by Ben Haim.
Oscar replaced Hazard on penalty duties and he confidently stroked the ball into the bottom left corner from the spot.
Costa then got in on the act on 58 minutes.
Fabregas chipped a ball into the striker, who had his back to goal in the box. That didn't stop him hitting the ball first time on the turn with his instep, cushioning the ball elegantly into the top corner off the crossbar.
It was reminiscent of the way Chelsea attacked last season and the home fans serenaded the goal with a chant of "stand up for the Special One" in appreciation of their manager.
Fabregas wrapped up the scoring on 77 minutes when he finished off a counter attack spearheaded by Hazard and Loic Remy, whose shot was parried into the path of the midfielder.
Next up for Chelsea? Arsenal at home in the Premier League on Saturday.
