| Nicolas Anelka proved Chelsea can survive and prosper without
banned Didier Drogba as the France international settled their opening
Champions League qualifying game against Porto with a second half
winner.
Anelka, given the task of filling a lone role in attack in the
absence of the suspended Ivory Coast international, struck three
minutes after the interval to dispel any lingering doubts that Chelsea
cannot cope without the talismanic Drogba.
Drogba is banned for the first three Group D games following his
foul-mouthed rant after the semi-final defeat to Barcelona last
season, but Anelka, as he has so often done in the past, made the
most of his opportunity to shine.
Chelsea were good value for their victory despite the marginal
scoreline and turned on the style when torrential rain threatened
to make quality football something of an impossibility.
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