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Marcos Alonso\u2019s late header dragged a lackluster Chelsea to a 1-0 Europa League win at Slavia Prague.<\/p>\nMarcos Alonso\u2019s late header dragged a lackluster Chelsea to a 1-0 Europa League win at Slavia Prague.<\/p>\n
The Spain full-back ghosted clear in the box to nod home Willian\u2019s teasing far-post cross, to hand the Blues the slender advantage midway through their quarter-final.<\/p>\n
Chelsea came very close drawing their last-eight first leg tie at the Sinobo Stadium, the Blues struggling for fluency throughout a niggly night in Prague.<\/p>\n
Replacement Ruben Loftus-Cheek\u2019s smart spin and break turned Slavia\u2019s defense at the death however, before Willian served up the perfect cross.<\/p>\n
Alonso\u2019s third goal of the season and second in the Europa League proved just enough for Chelsea then, but the Stamford Bridge men will hardly be happy with their performance.<\/p>\n
Chelsea will now expect to complete the job and move through to the semi-finals when hosting Slavia in the return leg next Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Blues were relieved to prevail on the pitch, in another night where racism hit the headlines.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s security team identified and barred entry to the stadium for three supporters, who had taken part in a video on social media where Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah appeared to be racially abused.<\/p>\n
Three other supporters in the video did not attempt to enter the Sinobo Stadium.<\/p>\n
The best Chelsea could muster in a piecemeal first-half was Willian\u2019s curled effort that struck the crossbar.<\/p>\n
Slavia captain Simon Deli wasted a fine early chance by nodding wide. Then Vladimir Coufal failed to connect fully with a skewed header of his own.<\/p>\n
Miroslav Stoch stung Kepa\u2019s palms, but his strike was never likely to beat the Chelsea stopper.<\/p>\n
If Chelsea\u2019s first-half was flat, the opening to the second was little short of tetchy.<\/p>\n
The Blues\u2019 glowering looks and gesticulations escalated amid increasingly raucous home support.<\/p>\n
Lukas Masopust turned last man Andreas Christensen only to slip, letting Chelsea hugely off the hook.<\/p>\n
Not even an hour had elapsed when Sarri threw on talisman Eden Hazard in place of Pedro, the Stamford Bridge boss itching for an injection of impetus.<\/p>\n
Antonio Rudiger saw his low effort rebuffed by Ondrej Kolar, and then Willian dragged wide from a promising position.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim-Benjamin Traore raced clear for Slavia, only to see his fine long-range effort tipped round the post by Kepa.<\/p>\n
N\u2019Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were also sent into the fray as Chelsea chased a breakthrough.<\/p>\n
Jorginho had the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was chalked off with Olivier Giroud offside.<\/p>\n
A poor punch by Kepa gifted an opening to Jan Boril, but the Chelsea keeper conjured a solid stop to deny the full-back, immediately sparing his own blushes.<\/p>\n
Just when Chelsea looked like laboring to the draw however, the visitors conjured the move of the match even capped with a smart finish.<\/p>\n
Loftus-Cheek powered through midfield on the turn, before spreading out right to Willian.<\/p>\n
The Brazilian steadied himself and whipped in a far-post cross, that Alonso nodded into the corner of the net.<\/p>\n