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Match Report

Torres responds to Mourinho criticism by scoring in Chelsea draw

The Spanish striker tapped in a Cesar Azpilicueta cut-back to put the Londoners 1-0 up on Galatasaray.

Chelsea 1

Galatasaray 1

CHELSEA SQUANDERED AN early Fernando Torres goal to draw 1-1 with Galatasaray in their Champions League last 16 clash. Jose Mourinho’s men could not hold onto their first-half lead as Cameroon international Aurelien Chedjou swept the ball home following a Wesley Sneijder corner-kick.

The Londoners were a goal to the good after Torres slotted home the game’s opener on nine minutes. Cesar Azpilicueta took a pass from Andre Schurrle on the run and made it to the byline before cutting back for his compatriot. Torres, despite the desperate lunges of two defenders, tapped the chance home for his third Champions League goal of the season.

The Spanish international’s goal was a perfect response to claims from Jose Mourinho, his boss, that Chelsea have ‘no strikers’ at present.

Torres

Credit: 101greatgoals

The visitors were almost in front as early as the third minute as Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was caught miles from his own goal-line. Willian tried to lob him from 30 yards out but Muslera managed to head the ball over his bar.

With two minutes left in the half, Galatasaray’s Burak Yilmaz thought he had equalised with a drilled shot that went in off Petr Cech’s post. Play was called back, however, as John Terry was holding onto a second ball as he retreated into his box to defend a throw. When it was taken quickly, Terry dropped his ball and the referee whistled for a stop. The England defender earned a yellow card for causing much confusion and consternation.

The home side had the lion’s share of possession and goal-scoring chances in the second-half and deserved to draw level. Former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba nodded down a free-kick for Selcuk Inan, on 62 minutes, but the Galatasaray captain hit the post from three yards out.

Two minutes later, however, and Roberto Mancini’s side were back on terms with Chelsea. Sneijder whipped in a dangerous corner that Chelsea failed to clear and Chedjou scored from five yards. Cech was needed, in the visiting goal, to make a sprawling save in the closing stages. Mourinho will be satisfied that his side hold the advantage with a second leg at Stamford bridge to follow.

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