Chelsea 5-0 Genk - Kalou on the thrashing | European Champion's League 2011-12
- 10 years ago
Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea hammered Genk to equal their biggest Champions League win.
Raul Meireles set the hosts on their way with a long-range effort before Torres took Frank Lampard's ball to notch the second with a cool finish.
Torres's angled header gave Chelsea their third, with Branislav Ivanovic heading in Florent Malouda's free-kick to put the Blues 4-0 up at half-time.
Substitute Salomon Kalou's second-half tap-in completed the rout.
The ease with which Chelsea strolled to victory bodes well for their trip to Belgium in early November, when a win will all but secure progression from Group E.
But more pleasing for the Blues will be the performance of Torres, who showed some of the ability that led to Chelsea paying Liverpool £50m for his services.
The striker, currently serving a three-match domestic ban and one of six changes from the Chelsea side that beat Everton on Saturday, may have thought he was in for another frustrating night in a blue shirt after poking an effort against the post when released by a delightful chip by Meireles.
But after Meireles - who was equally as influential as the Spaniard - took advantage of being unchallenged in a central position to fire a low long-range effort past Laszlo Koteles in the Genk goal, Torres took centre stage.
Fed by Lampard, another beneficiary of space in midfield, Torres moved through a gap in the Genk defence and finished past the on-rushing Koteles for his first Champions League goal since scoring against Chelsea for Liverpool in 2009.
Energised by that strike, Torres laid on a wasted chance for Malouda and shot over from a tight angle, then got a second that effectively killed the game as a contest midway through the first half.
Meireles was again involved, running down the right to meet Nicolas Anelka's pass, then whipping in a cross which Torres, who darted across the Genk defence, headed low into the far corner.
The Belgian visitors were offering little, bar three threatening
Raul Meireles set the hosts on their way with a long-range effort before Torres took Frank Lampard's ball to notch the second with a cool finish.
Torres's angled header gave Chelsea their third, with Branislav Ivanovic heading in Florent Malouda's free-kick to put the Blues 4-0 up at half-time.
Substitute Salomon Kalou's second-half tap-in completed the rout.
The ease with which Chelsea strolled to victory bodes well for their trip to Belgium in early November, when a win will all but secure progression from Group E.
But more pleasing for the Blues will be the performance of Torres, who showed some of the ability that led to Chelsea paying Liverpool £50m for his services.
The striker, currently serving a three-match domestic ban and one of six changes from the Chelsea side that beat Everton on Saturday, may have thought he was in for another frustrating night in a blue shirt after poking an effort against the post when released by a delightful chip by Meireles.
But after Meireles - who was equally as influential as the Spaniard - took advantage of being unchallenged in a central position to fire a low long-range effort past Laszlo Koteles in the Genk goal, Torres took centre stage.
Fed by Lampard, another beneficiary of space in midfield, Torres moved through a gap in the Genk defence and finished past the on-rushing Koteles for his first Champions League goal since scoring against Chelsea for Liverpool in 2009.
Energised by that strike, Torres laid on a wasted chance for Malouda and shot over from a tight angle, then got a second that effectively killed the game as a contest midway through the first half.
Meireles was again involved, running down the right to meet Nicolas Anelka's pass, then whipping in a cross which Torres, who darted across the Genk defence, headed low into the far corner.
The Belgian visitors were offering little, bar three threatening