Sparta Prague 0-1 Chelsea: Oscar shines, as Chelsea grab late winner

Having been knocked out of the Champions League, and sitting 16 points behind leaders Manchester United in the league, the only real hope of silverware in a season that started out with the possibility of winning 7 was cut down to the Europa League and the FA Cup. Rafa Benitez, John Terry and Petr Cech had all previously spoken about how important it was for Chelsea to win a title this season and were heading into this game knowing that a positive result would be expected against a team that hadn’t played competitively since December.

In the end, it wasn’t a Valentine’s Day classic, but an away victory with a clean sheet to boast would be something Benitez, whose love affair with the club hasn’t got off to the greatest of beginnings, would take gladly to the 2nd leg a week away at Stamford Bridge. However, it took 82 lacklustre minutes, in which both sides harried and scrapped, for Chelsea to finally snatch a winner thanks to an inspired substitution by Benitez, as Oscar slotted home his 6th goal in Europe this season. There wasn’t much of a late siege on the Chelsea goal from Sparta, who have now failed to score in their last 7 encounters against English opposition and will have their work cut out in the 2nd leg in London.

The freezing conditions saw Chelsea start off brightly, with Marin and Hazard interchanging well without really troubling the Sparta goal. Frank Lampard, making his 100th European appearance for Chelsea, shot typically from the edge of the box and drew a comfortable save from Tomáš Vaclík , and moments later Hazard breezed a shot wide.

The first real chance of the night came against the run of play, as Lafata was put through on goal by a clever cross from Ladislav Krej?í’s, but the striker’s shot left a lot to desire. The striker got a better opportunity to make amends, but scuffed a shot 6 yards out when he should’ve really scored.

Fernando Torres, on the other end, wasn’t having the greatest nights either. The Chelsea striker was poor with his first touch on a few occasions, and was slow to get to the ball when put through on goal. Sparta grew in confidence as half time approached, attempting a few long range efforts. Cahill was booked for a sliding tackle before the whistle came, and looked hardly assured through the rest of the game along with his defense partner Ivanovic.

The 2nd half progressed with both teams happy to sit back and let the opposition have possession in front of their goal, and chances were few and far between the sides. Apart from a few long distance effort that tested Cech, Sparta barely threatened the returning Czech international. Chelsea were still finding their feet, as Lampard went close with an header, and Torres scurried an effort wide, as both teams looked to have settled for a draw.

Marin’s presence was starting to wear out as he was replaced by the ineffective Benayoun, but Benitez struck gold with his other substitute, as just on the 80th minute mark he replaced the surprisingly poor Mata for Oscar, and it instantly paid dividends. Oscar breezed across the tired Sparta midfield and received a wonderful backheel pass from Hazard, before slotting it coolly past the keeper into the bottom corner to give the Blues the lead and the vital away goal.

With the returning Nigerian contingent, as well as Luiz and Terry returning from suspension and injury respectively, Chelsea will finally have more options for rotation in the second leg, which is preceded by the FA Cup replay against Brentford.