23/11/2005  Anderlecht 0 Chelsea 2
 
Chelsea rediscovered their ruthless streak as they qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League with their first away win in Europe for more thana year.

Manager Jose Mourinho had been perplexed by his side's recent inability to show the same passion and desire as their opponents in recent games and ordered them to put an end to their sloppy attitude against Anderlecht.

They did so in a fashion that would have delighted the Portuguese master with two goals inside the first 15 minutes from Hernan Crespo and defender Ricardo Carvalho.

The win was also was enough to see the Blues progress to the next phase - just as Mourinho had predicted.

The Belgian side, without a goal in Europe this season or a victory in the Champions League for 12 games now, had nothing in their armoury to trouble Mourinho's men who were in control from the first whistle.

Chelsea, even without their injured midfield talisman Claude Makelele, demonstrated a purpose and desire that had been sadly lacking during their 1-0 reverse against Real Betis last time out.

Mourinho have been delighted when Crespo, preferred in attack to Didier Drogba after scoring against Newcastle on Saturday, put the Blues in front after only seven minutes.

It came just seconds after Anderlecht's Mbo Mpenza had screwed a shot wide from six yards following good work on the right flank by Christian Wilhelmsson.

Chelsea regrouped and immediately attacked down the left wing where Frank Lampard enjoyed plenty of time and space to deliver a pinpoint cross for Crespo.

The Argentinian, who recently shrugged off speculation about his Stamford Bridge future, gave Silvio Proto no chance by volleying the ball into the net.

It was the perfect start for the Barclays Premiership champions against a side that has yet to score in the competition this season.

But Mourinho's side had not finished and in the 15th minute they doubled their advantage through Carvalho.

A corner on the right from Lampard was knocked on by Crespo for the Portuguese international to despatch a vicious volley into the top right-hand corner of the Anderlecht net. It was Carvalho's second goal in the competition and put Chelsea in absolute control.

The rest of the first half saw Chelsea continue to dominate proceedings without adding to the scoreline although Crespo saw a looping volley go just over the target and Joe Cole was unlucky with a chip that Proto just managed to collect from under the crossbar.

Chelsea continued to enjoy the sort of space and possession they are rarely afforded back in England and no doubt Mourinho had asked for a repeat performance at the start of the second half.

A clever run by Damien Duff almost opened up the Anderlecht defence once more but this time the Belgians managed to scramble the ball to safety.

Carvalho found himself through on goal in the 50th minute after Duff had put him clear but he did not have the legs to finish off the run and settled for a corner.

That resulted in Duff chancing his luck from 20 yards with a fierce shot that Proto did well to punch clear in a crowded goalmouth.

In the 59th minute Asier del Horno was booked for a foul on Anderlecht substitute Oleg Iachtchouk and the Belgian side then replaced striker Mpenza with Par Zetterberg.

Anderlecht finally managed to get a shot on target in the 66th minute when Petr Cech was forced to dive low to his right to prevent Serhat Akin's effort from creeping into the net at the near post.

However, Chelsea almost added a third in the 84th minute when Lampard's left-foot effort from just outside was pushed on to the foot of the post by Proto.

Seconds later Crespo should have done better with a right-foot shot that he place wide of the upright from six yards. It was to be his last contribution of the night as Mourinho replaced him with Carlton Cole.

Liverpool's goalless draw with Betis at Anfield ensured that both English teams qualified from Group G.