Chelsea overwhelm Besiktas

Besiktas 0-2 Chelsea

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Late goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Wayne Bridge gave Chelsea a comfortable win over Besiktas and confirmed Claudio Ranieri's side as Group G winners.

The match had been switched to Germany because of security concerns in the wake of the bombings in Istanbul.

But Chelsea still faced an intimidating atmosphere after 51,000 Besiktas fans crammed into the Aufschalke Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

Hasselbaink eventually silenced the 'home' supporters when he found the net on 77 minutes before Wayne Bridge doubled the lead with five minutes left.

Hasselbaink, restored to the Chelsea line-up in the absence of the injured Hernan Crespo, was subjected to some rugged defending.

Besiktas forward Ilhan Mansiz was also in the wars, needing running repairs for a head wound after jumping for the ball with John Terry.

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Terry was part of Chelsea's three-man central defensive unit along with William Gallas and Marcel Desailly.

And they kept a tight rein on Mansiz whenever the ball reached the Chelsea box.

Besiktas were restricted to just one chance in the opening half, Daniel Pancu escaping his markers only to blast the ball over the bar.

At the other end, Chelsea's best chances fell to Celestine Babayaro and Frank Lampard.

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Babayaro was denied by Oscar Cordoba's point-blank save, while a trademark Lampard shot went narrowly over.

The start of the second half was held up when Beskitas fans threw toilet rolls onto the pitch.

But the delay seemed to unsettle the Turkish side more than it did Chelsea.

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Geremi had a shot pushed over by Cordoba following a neat run and cross from Jesper Gronkjaer, who was substituted shortly afterwards.

His replacement, Damian Duff, wasted little time making an impact, providing the pass from which Hasselbaink broke the deadlock.

Hasselbaink then set up Bridge as Chelsea fired another warning to the Champions League rivals.

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Besiktas: Cordoba, Asik, Guiaro, Zago, Havutcu, Sulun (Hassan 81), Dobra (Koc 69), Pancu, Uzulmez, Yalcin (Metin 74), Mansiz.
Subs not Used: Kursunlu, Yildirim, Aydin, Topraktepe.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Johnson, Gallas, Desailly, Terry, Babayaro (Bridge 83), Geremi, Makelele, Lampard, Gronkjaer (Duff 72), Hasselbaink.
Subs not Used: Ambrosio, Mutu, Cole, Stanic, Melchiot.

Booked: Gronkjaer.

Attendance: 55,350.

Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden).