11/08/1999  Skonto Riga 0 Chelsea 3 

There must be something about leaving it perilously late in 
vital Champions' League matches that masochistically appeals 
to English sides.

But even though they struck well before Manchester United 
had done in the Nou Camp, Chelsea still followed their 
domestic rivals' example in reaping the rewards of an 
incredible late flourish against Skonto Riga at Stamford 
Bridge.

Having frustratingly missed chance after chance as they 
struggled to break down a determined Latvian side reduced to 
10 men before half-time, the Blues were reinvigorated by a 
double substitution made by boss Gianluca Vialli.

The manager certainly raised a few eyebrows when he threw 
on Tore Andre Flo and Celestine Babayaro for Gianfranco Zola 
and Didier Deschamps.

However, shortly after their introduction, Babayaro gave 
the Blues the lead with just 14 minutes left and then - less 
than 90 seconds later - Poyet, who had moved infield in a 
tactical switch, doubled the advantage.

The final flourish was fittingly left to record signing 
Chris Sutton, who had laboured hard all evening before finally 
making up for his two misses against Sunderland last weekend 
by striking his first goal for his new club.

The importance of the result in the first leg of this final 
Champions League qualifying tie should not be underestimated, 
even if the game was played in front of just 22,043 fans 
against one of the supposed minnows of European football.

For the prize on offer for the winners is entry into the 
group stages of the Champions League, a guarantee of at least 
six more games and the prospect of many more, with a financial 
windfall of several million pounds in revenue.

Chelsea had waited 44 years for this night, having seen the 
Football Association block their entry into the European Cup 
in the inaugural year of the competition - and they were 
determined not to waste it.

Skonto, winners of their domestic title for the past seven 
years, were certainly no pushovers though, having knocked 
Aberdeen, Dynamo Minsk and Rapid Bucharest out of Europe in 
recent history.

And, in their middle of their own season, they threatened 
for long periods to ensure that Chelsea endured yet another 
frustrating European night at Stamford Bridge - just like last 
season against Helsingborgs, Copenhagen and Real Mallorca.

Openings came and went for the home side with abandon in 
the first-half, while keeper Aleksandrs Kolinko was in 
inspired form.

And Sutton's agonies in front of goal looked set to 
continue as he swivelled with his back to goal just three 
yards out to capitalise on Poyet's header only to miss the 
ball completely.

Sutton, who was linking play adeptly up front, was by no 
means the only guilty party though as Poyet headed and shot 
wide, Dennis Wise struck the post and the keeper fortuitously 
knocked Poyet's shot against the turf and over the bar.

Skonto, with just 50 or so fans cheering them on, 
themselves threatened on the break, with Imants Bleidelis 
finding himself unmarked at the far post and skimming the bar 
with his shot.

Then keeper Ed De Goey had to save with his legs at the 
near post after Mihails Miholaps cut inside from the left wing 
on the overlap.

However, the complexion of the game changed after 33 
minutes when Andrejs Tereskinas stupidly kicked Frank Leboeuf 
from behind as the players waited for a corner to arrive in 
the Skonto penalty area and was duly sent off.

The visitors understandably concentrated even more on 
holding on for a draw from then on and Chelsea's openings were 
largely restricted to half-chances until the double 
substitution.

Keeper Kolinko denied both Poyet and Dan Petrescu with 
stunning reaction saves but he could do nothing to keep out a 
firmly-struck shot from Babayaro into the far corner after 
Sutton had teed him up.

Relief soon turned to joy as Poyet struck again within two 
minutes of the restart and Chelsea were by now showing the 
rampant form they had displayed against Sunderland four days 
before.

Flo headed against the post from a cross by fellow 
replacement Bjarne Goldbaek yet it was Sutton who left his 
side with the comfort of a three-goal lead for the second leg 
in Latvia as he swivelled on a cross before shooting home.

Chelsea had struck a decisive blow and the Champions League 
group stages now await them, barring an unlikely upset of 
seismic proportions in Riga.

Crucially, the Blues never gave up or panicked, even when 
it seemed as if it was just going to be one of those 
nights.

But remember that even United encountered some problems in 
making it through the qualifying stage last season against LKS 
Lodz - and look what happened to them.