Champions League Group Stage, NSC Olimpiyskiy - Dinamo Kiev 0 Chelsea 0
A solid Chelsea performance earned them a 0-0 draw with Dinamo Kiev at the NSC Olimpiyskiy.
Chelsea had the best chances of the first half, with Nemanja Matic and Willian both sending efforts wide of the post, andEden Hazard hit the woodwork early on.
Dinamo weren't without attempts, and Vitaliy Buyalskyi sent a shot just wide of the top corner, though John Terry might have got a touch on it with his desperate sliding tackle.
Chelsea almost went ahead after the restart when Willian's free kick hit the crossbar, and Cesc Fabregas had a good chance saved shortly after.
At the other end, Gonzalez had a shot from a tight angle that Asmir Begovic beat away, but there were few great chances in the match, and a late flurry from either side could not break the deadlock.
Chelsea will be happy with the result, as it means Dinamo are still just a point behind them with three games to catch them. It was also a much more defensively sturdy performance than they have put in this season. Finally, JoseMourinho has reasons for optimism.
KEY EVENTS
9' - HAZARD SHOT - The ball runs to Hazard in the box. He steadies himself, and with little backlift he curls a shot against the post. Very close for Chelsea.
17' - PENALTY APPEAL - Fabregas drives in from the left hand side, shapes to shoot in the box, and he goes down in the box, but the referee waves away appeals. It's an obvious penalty, Rybalka tripping him.
21' - MATIC SHOT - Matic bursts from midfield and into the box, with four players chasing him, and he pokes his shot just wide of the post.
27' - BUYALSKYI CHANCE - Buyalskyi has the ball in the D, a chance to shoot, and Terry's sliding tackle sends it just wide of the top corner.
47' - WILLIAN FREE KICK - Willian curls his free kick towards the top corner of the goal, and it crashes against the crossbar.
62' - GONZALEZ SHOT - From Willian's set piece, Dinamo break down the left wing, Gonzalez takes the ball into the box, and he drives a shot at goal that Begovic beats away.
90+1' WILLIAN SHOT - Oscar lets Hazard's pass roll to Willian, and he curls a shot just wide of goal.
KEY STATS
This was Chelsea's second consecutive Champions League clean sheet.
This was the third time in the history of the competition that Dinamo Kiev are undefeated in their first three Champions League group matches.
TALKING POINT
Have Chelsea done enough? After an important but easy victory over Aston Villa at the weekend, this was a tougher test. They had the better chances, and were improved defensively, but they still were vulnerable to Dinamo's attacks. They must take advantage of being at home against the same opponents in their next Champions League round, but it depends on their continued improvements.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Willian (Chelsea): Perhaps the only Chelsea player having a good season, he was again their best player tonight. His free kicks were almosts always dangerous, with one that should have been converted by Diego Costa, and one that hit the crossbar. He was also a reliable outlet on the left wing when Chelsea found themselves under pressure, but his efforts weren't match in effetiveness by those around him.
PLAYER RATINGS
Dinamo Kiev: Shovkovskiy 6, Danilo Silva 6, Khacheridi 6, Dragovic 6, Vida 7, Sydorchuk 6, Rybalka 6, Yarmolenko 6, Buyalsky 6, Gonzalez 5, Kravets 5. Subs: Junior Moraes 6, Garmash 6.
Chelsea: Begovic 6, Zouma 6, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6,Ramires 6, Matic 6, Willian 8, Fabregas 6, Hazard 6, Diego Costa 6. Subs: Oscar 6.
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