Last-gasp Moses header pinches Chelsea win
Reuters - Wednesday 07 November 2012, 21:56
European champions Chelsea, largely outplayed by impressive Shakhtar
Donetsk, scored an unlikely 3-2 Champions League victory when substitute
Victor Moses scored with a thumping header deep into stoppage time on
Wednesday.
The Ukrainian
champions, who had been unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions this
season, seemed set for a well-deserved point at Stamford Bridge when
Moses rose unmarked at a corner to score.
The
goal immediately transformed Chelsea's chances of qualifying for the
knockout round, moving the Londoners on to seven points in Group E - the
same as Shakhtar. Juventus (six) follow with FC Nordsjaelland on one
with two games remaining.
NEWS Last-gasp Moses header snatches Chelsea win
"I
think in terms of the timing of the goal you could agree there was an
element of luck because it was the last action of the game but when you
get a win against such a good team as them you deserve it," Chelsea
manager Roberto Di Matteo said.
"It
was a game we needed to win and we achieved that under a lot of
pressure. We need to get something out of our last games now."
Shakhtar
coach Mircea Lucescu said he did not think his team deserved to lose
and was angry with goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov for the mistakes that cost
them dearly.
"It was a pity that today we unfortunately had a goalkeeper who made some mistakes and that cost us.
"He
knew what to do on the last goal... he knew very well what I asked him
to do before the game. I told him to stay within the six metres.
"He forgot at the last moment. I am very angry it was a lack of concentration and lack of experience, something went there."
BETTER TEAM
Shakhtar
had looked the better team for long periods with midfielder Willian
running the match with an inspired performance as he scored both of
Shakhtar's goals and left Chelsea's players trailing in his wake.
Chelsea
started without the injured Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard and with John
Terry on the bench because Di Matteo did not think he was match fit
after his four-match domestic suspension.
Despite that, they got off to a good start when Fernando Torres scored after six minutes.
The
Spain striker profited from the first of the mistakes by Pyatov, who
dithered with a clearance and kicked the ball straight at Torres, who
charged it down sending the ball into the net.
Shakhtar
were level three minutes later when Willian side-footed home from close
range after Fernandinho made a powerful run through the fragile left
side of Chelsea's defence where youngster Ryan Bertrand had a torrid
time.
Fernandinho tore into the open space and cut back for Willian who slotted in from close range off goalkeeper Petr Cech.
SUPERB MOVE
Shakhtar
then took control with Willian, Henrik Mkhitaryan and Alex Teixeira
putting Chelsea under continuous pressure and they almost went ahead
with a superb move that ended in Teixeira firing narrowly wide.
However,
all their hard work was undone five minutes before half-time when Oscar
took advantage of another Pyatov error to score into an unguarded net
from long range.
The
goalkeeper, out of his penalty area, for some reason decided to head the
ball instead of kicking it. The header went straight to Oscar, who
fired a perfectly struck 35-metre shot over Pyatov's head and into the
net.
Shakhtar levelled again
two minutes after the break when Willian planted the ball home after
another excellent build-up involving Fernandinho and Darijo Srna, the
Shakhtar captain.
Razvan Rat
then hit the bar for Shakhtar but they escaped at the other end when
John Obi Mikel had a header disallowed when he drifted offside.
Di Matteo sent on Moses for Oscar with 10 minutes to play and with the last action of the game, his gamble paid off.
The
Shakhtar defenders took their eye off him for a second and Pyatov was
in the wrong place from the corner, but that was enough for Moses to
rise unmarked and thunder the ball in.