CHELSEA have qualified for the Champions League knockout stages with two games to spare after Olivier Giroud’s last-minute winner at Rennes.
The Blues needed Krasnodar to lose and to grab all three points to get through — and they did so in thrilling style after Giroud’s 91st-minute header.
Callum Hudson-Odoi had earlier given Frank Lampard’s side the lead with a cool finish from Mason Mount’s lovely through ball, before Sehrou Girassy headed in what appeared to be a body blow for the Blues.
THAT’S A WRAP
That’s all from me this evening, but there’s a match report courtesy of Andy Dillon for you to read.
There are other Champions League blogs on the go too; Manchester United v Basaksehir, Juve v Ferencvaros and Dynamo Kiev v Barca.
TO BE FRANK
Frank Lampard said he had been thinking of his side’s upcoming meeting with Tottenham for the last few days.
But that won’t be their only difficult game.
Chelsea top Group E on goal difference but have showdown in Sevilla next week.
NICE PROBLEM TO HAVE
Lampard was asked what he can do to keep Olivier Giroud at Chelsea when the striker is keen for minutes.
The Chelsea boss says: “He does things like he did tonight, which is great for him. His hold up play and his physicality when he came on was great.
“I have a problem because Tammy is playing well, and we know what he did last year, and there’s also Oli who always plays that way and is incredible.
“So I have two players in a similar position that are fighting for a place- that’s a good problem to have.
“Oli will get his minutes as we have plenty of games, we play every few days, I made plenty of changes today to keep freshness in the team.
“I think the reason you see such a reaction after he scored the goal is not just because it was a late minute winner but also it shows what Oli means to the team.”
BOSS SPEAKS
Speaking on BT Sport Frank Lampard says “I’m very happy to qualify with two games to spare.
“It was a really tough match for us to come here, they’re probably an underrated team with their recent result and we found that out tonight.
“But we also played well for big spells of the game ourselves, it was a tough, hard fought win.”
ALL IN A NIGHT’S WORK
Safe to say Mason Mount had a good night….
CALLUM SPEAKS
Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi have played together since their academy days.
Speaking of their good football relationship that resulted in the first goal, Hudson-Odoi says: “I know Mason and he works so hard and presses well in the middle.
“As soon as he got to the ball I knew to take off as I was in front of the fullback and that he would find me,
“His vision is amazing so I got in there and he found me straight away, which I was happy about and then of course I scored which I was happy about too.”
HEADING IT HOME
Here’s the goal the gifted Chelsea a spot in the knockout round..
FRENCH FANCY
That’s ten matches now that Chelsea have gone unbeaten across all competitions.
Tonight’s result books them a spot in the knockout stages and it’s all thanks to this man…
FT: RENNES 1-2 CHELSEA
RENNES 1-2 CHELSEA
91. Now they will qualify with two games to spare…
RENNES 1-2 CHELSEA
90. Three extra minutes..
90. Lovely run by Ziyech who lays it to Werner on the left, who fires it low but it’s straight at the keeper.
As Gomis clears it, the ball spins out of control towards Giroud on the right of the box.
The Frenchman reacts quickly and jumps high to header it into the back of the net – an athletic leap from Gomis still can’t stop it.
RENNES 1-2 CHELSEA
GOOOOOAL
Giroud picks up the pieces and gives Chelsea two
RENNES 1-1 CHELSEA
89. Chelsea won’t qualify with two games to spare if it stays like this..
RENNES 1-1 CHELSEA
88. Substitution for Rennes; Maouassa replaces Truffert .
RENNES 1-1 CHELSEA
87. Freekick to Chelsea.
Ziyech plays it in behind the wall as Chilwell makes a brilliant run, around the wall, to jump to greet it.
It’s not a great header from Chilwell who nods it down with little power allowing Gomis to collect with relative ease.
RENNES 1-1 CHELSEA
85. Substitution for Rennes; Guirassy is replaced by Niang (just after scoring!)
It was a long time coming!
Another corner for Rennes is sent in to the centre of the six-yard box.
Guirassy peels off as he’s given too much space and leaps impressively high.
He nods it over Mendy’s head into the roof of the net.
RENNES 1-1 CHELSEA
RENNES 0-1 CHELSEA
84. Thiago Silva once again puts out the fire as he pokes the ball away from Nzonzi’s feet on the byline.
RENNES 0-1 CHELSEA
83. Traore tries to whip the ball in from the right, but Thiago Silva gets up to greet it and heads it clear.
RENNES 0-1 CHELSEA
82. The clearance from Rennes was right at Azpilicueta’s crotch – he’s down on the floor grimacing.
RENNES 0-1 CHELSEA
81. Ziyech is dispossessed on the edge of the area, just as he tries to whip the ball in.
RENNES 0-1 CHELSEA
79. Kante races forward and tries to slip the ball through Giroud, but he can’t get onto the end of the pass, it’s too quick and too far for him.
Giroud frustrated.
RENNES 0-1 CHELSEA
76. Substitution for Rennes; Camavinga is replaced by Grenier.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
