Chelsea vs. FC Porto, Champions League: Half-time report

So far so good.  Intensity, passing, and a bit of luck, and Chelsea are up 1-0.

Chelsea started a bit nervously, but then settled down and created several good chances to score.  We did need a bit of luck to score one of those: Diego Costa's shot was saved by Casillas but the rebound bounced in anyway off the back of one of the defenders.  The goal was given by the 5th/6th official standing next to the goal, quite possibly the first ever useful contribution by those wand wavers.  Casillas got a bit luckier next time when Oscar's shot deflected off a defender and trickled just wide.

Elsewhere, Brahimi has threatened (mostly against Azpilicueta), but otherwise the defense has been solid enough with Courtois rarely called into action. Matic did pick up a yellow card, which will rule him out of our next European match.  Costa also has a yellow for a silly altercation with Casillas (not sneaky enough with leaving the foot in unnecessarily).  The Chelsea striker did get two others on Porto booked, so he is ahead in that ledger.

Now the trick is to keep this up for the next 45 minutes.  Chelsea played well enough against Porto in the first half last time, too, only to throw it away in the second.  We mustn't let that happen.  Keep up the intensity, the pressing (Oscar, Willian, Ramires doing very well), the tracking back (well done, Hazard in that regard!), and the runs forward and in behind (welcome back, Costa), etc.

Dynamo Kiev are leading against Maccabi at the half, which means that only one of these two will advance tonight.  Chelsea are good with a draw, too, but let's get a second goal instead.