Fernando Torres scored two goals to lead Chelsea to a 3-1 win over Rubin Kazan in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.
Victor Moses chipped in with a goal to ensure the English club takes a healthy cushion into the return leg next week.
The Blues opened up the scoring 15 minutes into the game courtesy of Torres, who neatly controlled a long pass before tucking the ball over the line.
It was the spark that Chelsea needed, and it almost doubled its lead just moments later. Ryan Bertrand beat three defenders and then the goalkeeper only to have the ball cleared off the line.
Chelsea scored the second goal that it truly deserved when the Rubin defence failed to properly clear away Torres’ header and Victor Moses unleashed a drive that found the top corner.
It was 2-0 for the hosts and it looked like the rout was on, but the Russian Premier League team showed some grit and cut the deficit in half.
John Terry was whistled for a handball in his own penalty area, and Bebars Natcho made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-1 just before the half-time interval.
Chelsea came out of the break swinging and thought it had restored its two-goal lead in the 49th minute, but Juan Mata’s low drive was expertly kept out by Rubin keeper Sergey Ryzhikov.
Terry then had a chance to atone for his previous error, but his header just went inches over the bar as the English outfit really turned on the heat.
The Blues were rewarded for their attacking ambition when Mata played in a pinpoint cross that Torres headed home with aplomb.
The home side was back in the driver’s seat and Torres almost had his hat-trick but the offside flag went up just as he went in all alone.
Fernando Torres was the difference as Chelsea head to Russia with a 3-1 lead thanks to today’s solid showing.