Latest: Chelsea 4 Maribor 0 – Blues heading for resounding victory

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Didier Drogba’s penalty – his first goal since returning to Chelsea – helped put them in a commanding position in the Champions League Group G clash.

Drogba scored eight minutes after coming on for Loic Remy, who injured himself while scoring the opening goal to put the Blues in control, and John Terry’s breakaway strike and an own goal by Mitja Viler made it 4-0.

Remy collected Terry’s pass and shifted the ball on to his left foot before firing into the far corner of the net to put the Blues ahead.

However, the France striker, who appeared to pick up a groin strain early on, seemed to aggravate the problem as he struck the ball and after limping on for a couple of minutes he was replaced by Drogba on the quarter-hour mark.

Drogba had last netted for Chelsea when he scored the Champions League-winning penalty in the shoot-out against Bayern Munich in 2012, having also got their all-important equaliser.

And he made no mistake from the spot after Ales Mertelj handled as he attempted to block Willian’s ball into the box.

Terry’s was a nicely worked goal, Eden Hazard cleverly finding Cesc Fabregas whose low cross teed up the skipper for a simple close-range finish.

Chelsea continued to dominate after the interval and went further ahead courtesy of some good fortune on 54 minutes.

Hazard retrieved Filipe Luis’ cross at the far post and when the Belgian steered the ball back towards the goalmouth it was diverted into the net by the unlucky Viler.

Maribor were then awarded a penalty and a chance to pull a goal back when Agim Ibraimi was bundled over by Nemana Matic.

But Ibraimi thumped his spot-kick against Petr Cech’s left-hand post.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Filipe Luis; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy (Drogba 15)
Subs: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ake, Salah, Solanke.

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