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Chelsea took an enormous step in direction of the Champions League final 16 on Tuesday with a 2-0 win at AC Milan, which took them prime of Group E and left the Italians questioning what might need been.
Graham Potter’s aspect took management at a packed San Siro towards a Milan crew who needed to play many of the match with 10 males after Fikayo Tomori was controversially handed an early straight pink card.
The choice to ship off Blues man Tomori for fouling Mason Mount within the space within the 18th minute turned the match on its head, as Milan had matched Chelsea within the opening levels.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli saved a relaxed manner after a painful defeat, however later informed reporters: “I positively don’t suppose the referee has had one among his higher evenings.”
Italy midfielder Jorginho slotted house the ensuing penalty, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s cool end 11 minutes earlier than the break ended Milan’s resistance and put Chelsea one level forward of Salzburg on the head of the group.
“It modifications the sport when it comes to what Milan wish to do, however for us we nonetheless wanted to make that rely. It’s by no means straight-forward to play towards 10-men, particularly right here,” Potter stated.
“It was an enormous second, we nonetheless felt that we might do sufficient with 11 v 11 however the referee decided and we’ve got to get on with it.”
Pioli’s aspect is barely two factors away from the qualification locations and a visit to Dinamo Zagreb and a go to to Salzburg will determine their destiny within the competitors.
“I don’t suppose there’s any query that I might want to encourage my gamers,” stated Pioli afterwards.
“We’ll have to organize as finest as attainable for the match in Zagreb and I’ll do my finest to do this.”
– Tomori fury –
An already scrappy, bad-tempered affair exploded when referee Daniel Siebert dismissed Tomori and gave a penalty to Chelsea after the England defender pulled again Mount who Reece James had brilliantly put by way of.
Tomori might barely consider his eyes when he was despatched off and each Mount and Olivier Giroud have been booked within the shoving that adopted, amid deafening jeers from the house supporters.
With an offended cacophony vibrating across the San Siro Jorginho opened the scoring three minutes later, additional irritating Italy followers after his spot-kick misses costing their nationwide crew certified for the upcoming World Cup.
Giroud practically levelled towards his outdated membership with a header that whistled simply previous the publish within the twenty seventh minute, however Aubameyang quickly made certain Chelsea had an iron grip on the match.
Mount was once more concerned as he performed by way of each Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling, but it surely was the Gabon striker who acquired their first and calmly completed at Ciprian Tatarusanu’s close to publish.
The Blues’ second, Aubameyang’s third in as many matches, fully took the wind out of Milan’s sails however to their credit score, they did attempt to pressure the problem within the second half, pushed on by their magnificent house help.
Sergino Dest might have pulled one again for the hosts on the hour mark, however he slashed an terrible effort into the stands when Rafael Leao shot down the left flank and despatched over an inviting cross with which the American ought to have accomplished higher.
From there, Chelsea was content material to maintain the ball and take the sting out of a match which had lengthy since been determined.
Learn extra about Chelsea within the Champions League right here.
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