02/11/2004  CSKA Moscow 0 Chelsea 1
 
Chelsea made sure of a place in the knockout stages of this season's Champions League thanks to a first-half winner from Arjen Robben.

The Dutchman struck his first goal for the club with a crisp left-foot shot in the 23rd minute to cap his European debut for the Blues, who now remain unbeaten at the top of Group H.

CSKA wasted a great chance to earn a share of the spoils when they missed a penalty in the opening stages of the second half.

Glen Johnson brought down Yiry Zhirkov but Vagner Love sent his spot-kick high over the bar.

Robben's goal arrived after Chelsea had weathered an early spell of frantic yet fruitless pressure from CSKA.

Full-back Johnson, making only his second start of the season, conceded an early corner with a challenge on Zhirkov and Scott Parker did the same moments later when Vagner Love tried to engineer an opening.

Cech had to palm the corner away as the Moscow side pressed for a breakthrough in the opening five minutes.

CSKA were forced to defend when Frank Lampard found Eidur Gudjohnsen free on the left and the Icelandic striker won a free-kick for his efforts.

Robben's subsequent cross gave the home defence some anxious moments before they were able to clear their lines.

Chelsea caused more consternation in the home defence in the 14th minute when Robben's low cross found its way into the danger area and when the Dutchman switched to right flank in the 20th minute it brought the Londoners an immediate reward.

Robben first fired a warning shot when he unleashed a 30-yard drive that went high and wide but in the 23rd minute he silenced the home crowd when he finished off a sweet Chelsea move by firing a low left-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Gudjohnsen, Damien Duff and Robben had all combined to create the opening and Robben kept his composure to place a clever shot beyond the reach of Akinfeev for his first Chelsea goal.

CSKA naturally went on the offensive and Sergei Semak's shot was deflected off William Gallas for a corner which Terry had to head clear at the second attempt.

Robben was proving to be the scourge of the CSKA defence and was unlucky not to go clean through on goal with another mazy run after 28 minutes. Three minutes later Robben almost conjured up a second for Chelsea when he put Gudjohnsen clear of the home defence.

Gudjohnsen seemed certain to score after rounding Akinfeev but his shot, from an acute angle, was cleared off the line by the retreating Semak.

CSKA were being outplayed in the midfield where Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele controlled proceedings without fuss.

But the home side finally managed to carve out an opening for Vagner Love seven minutes before the break but his right-foot shot was tipped round the upright by Cech to keep Chelsea's slim advantage into the second period.

CSKA wasted the perfect chance to equalise within one minute of the restart. Johnson clearly felled Zhirkov in the penalty area and the referee pointed straight to the spot.

But Brazilian striker Love blazed the penalty high over the bar to the Chelsea defender's relief.

Chelsea were now well and truly on the rack with Love causing all kinds of problems for the Blues rearguard.

In the 53rd minute Chelsea replaced William Gallas with Paulo Ferreira as they attempted to stem the red tide.

Love looked to have got clear of the defence but then went down in the hope ofa free-kick. The referee waved away his appeals much to the fury of Moscow coach Gazzaev.

In the 59th minute the unhappy Gazzaev was ordered back into his dugout by the Italian official and seconds later Jarosik forced Cech into another outstanding save as the pressure increased on Chelsea's defence.

Despite continued pressure from CSKA, Chelsea were in no mood to surrender and the eager Kezman was yellow-carded in the 74th minute for a late challenge on Akinfeev in the Moscow goal.

The best the home side could muster in the closing stages was a long-range overhead kick from Jarosik that went well wide of the target.