Porto 0-2 Chelsea: Mason Mount scores his first Champions League goal

Mason Mount scored with Chelsea's first attempt on target for his maiden Champions League goal

Chelsea bounced back from a testing few days to earn a commanding first-leg quarter-final away win over Porto in the Champions League.

Mason Mount's clever turn and finish in the first half helped bring some welcome relief to Blues manager Thomas Tuchel after his side's heavy defeat to West Brom on Saturday, which was followed by a training ground incident between team-mates Kepa Arrizabalaga and Antonio Rudiger.

Ben Chilwell added a late second after a mistake by Corona, moments after substitute Christian Pulisic had hit the bar.

Having conceded five goals against West Brom, Chelsea produced a dogged defensive performance to earn a seventh clean sheet in nine European games this season.

Skipper Cesar Azpilicueta's vital block denied Corona before Edouard Mendy kept out Pepe's header.

With both legs of this tie in Spain at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium because of coronavirus travel restrictions between Portugal and the UK, this was Porto's 'home' game, meaning Chelsea's two away goals put them in pole position before next Tuesday's second leg.

Mount has made 'big step' – TuchelReaction from Wednesday's Champions League games

Resilient Chelsea show grit

This was the perfect response by Chelsea after last weekend's embarrassment – a resilient, determined and professional performance against a team that had eliminated Juventus in the previous round.

Tuchel reacted to the West Brom shambles by making five changes, with Rudiger among those recalled despite his 'heated' row with Arrizabalaga.

Rudiger played his part in an impressive Chelsea rearguard display, Porto carving out several chances without managing to find a way through.

Ben Chilwell scored his first goal since 7 November 2020

Mendy used his legs to keep out Moussa Marega while Luis Diaz, who scored against Manchester City in the group stage, went close from outside the penalty area.

At the other end, Timo Werner and Azpilicueta missed headed chances to extend the lead after Mount scored before Chilwell's crucial second – a composed finish after bursting into the penalty area and taking it past the keeper – gave his side a handsome win.

Mount impresses again

Mount continues to flourish, his goal the highlight in what was for long spells a closely-fought contest.

Having received a pass from Jorginho following a patient build-up, the midfielder turned sharply and beat Agustin Marchesin with an instinctive low finish from an angle.

Mount has scored more goals in all competitions than any other Chelsea player since Tuchel was appointed in January.

Mason Mount has scored three goals in his past four games for Chelsea and England

In 2020-21, he has found the net for club and country in the Premier League, Nations League, FA Cup, World Cup qualifying and now Champions League.

Having dropped out of the top four, Chelsea will hope this result can propel them to a strong finish to the season.

The winners of this tie face Real Madrid or Liverpool in the semi-finals – Real lead 3-1 after the first leg – and the Blues also have an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on 17 April.

Mendy's impressive clean sheet record – the stats

Having won at Atletico Madrid in February, Chelsea have won consecutive away knockout games in the Champions League for the first time since April 2004 under Claudio Ranieri.No side has conceded fewer goals (2) or kept more clean sheets (7) in this season's Champions League than Chelsea (level with Man City on both counts).Since Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge of Chelsea in January, no goalkeeper playing for a top five European league side has kept more clean sheets in all competitions than Edouard Mendy (10).For the first time since March 2012 against Napoli (John Terry & Frank Lampard), Chelsea have had two different English players score for them in the same Champions League match (Mason Mount & Ben Chilwell).Porto defender Pepe (38 years 40 days) became the oldest outfield player to appear in a Champions League quarter-final since Manchester United's Ryan Giggs (40 years 123 days) back in April 2014.

What's next?

Chelsea have a London derby at Crystal Palace on Saturday (17:30 BST) to negotiate before the return leg with Porto next Tuesday (20:00).

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510 commentsShowLatestOldestHighest RatedMost RepliedA

Comment posted by adam, at 21:59 7 Apradam

21:59 7 AprPorto players go in aggressively in challenges and then fall over when the slightest breeze hits them1249H

Reply posted by Have a nice day, at 22:01 7 AprHave a nice day

22:01 7 Aprto adam"Porto players go in aggressively in challenges and then fall over when the slightest breeze hits them"Have a nice day replied: That’s foreign teams for you!5844More replies (26)downA

Comment posted by Adam Raggett, at 21:56 7 AprAdam Raggett

21:56 7 AprMason Mount proving once again he’s the first name on the Chelsea and England teamsheet12126S

Reply posted by Simple Simon Met A Pieman, at 22:03 7 AprSimple Simon Met A Pieman

22:03 7 Aprto Adam Raggett"Mason Mount proving once again he’s the first name on the Chelsea and England teamsheet"Simple Simon Met A Pieman replied: After Foden3696More replies (27)downM

Comment posted by Matthew White , at 22:05 7 AprMatthew White

22:05 7 AprNot a Chelsea fan but a professional performance & the debate on Arnold & James
Well judging by the last couple of nights James for me973M

Reply posted by Mark, at 22:08 7 AprMark

22:08 7 Aprto Matthew White "Not a Chelsea fan but a professional performance & the debate on Arnold & JamesWell judging by the last couple of nights James for me"Mark replied: James,Walker, trippier, all capable of forward and defensive play, TAA never a capable defender483More replies (9)downH

Comment posted by Have a nice day, at 21:59 7 AprHave a nice day

21:59 7 AprGreat to see an English side on the up in Europe.

Tuchel seems to be doing something right at the moment too, well done Chelsea!781B

Reply posted by bushwacker, at 22:44 7 Aprbushwacker

22:44 7 Aprto Have a nice day"Great to see an English side on the up in Europe.Tuchel seems to be doing something right at the moment too, well done Chelsea!"bushwacker replied: Prefer Lampard to a German.779More replies (11)downK

Comment posted by kbcfc1965, at 21:56 7 Aprkbcfc1965

21:56 7 AprSurely FC Porto need a good dietician..They clearly fall over when breathed on.683O

Reply posted by Oahu, at 22:27 7 AprOahu

22:27 7 Aprto kbcfc1965"Surely FC Porto need a good dietician..They clearly fall over when breathed on."Oahu replied: Could have been the pregame garlic chips Chelsea were seen eating…171More replies (2)downS

Comment posted by stevieshoes, at 21:55 7 Aprstevieshoes

21:55 7 AprChelsea record away in the CL incredible534S

Reply posted by Simple Simon Met A Pieman, at 22:10 7 AprSimple Simon Met A Pieman

22:10 7 Aprto stevieshoes"Chelsea record away in the CL incredible"Simple Simon Met A Pieman replied: Home or away, it’s the same thing nowadays.182More replies (1)downC

Comment posted by CWBA2017, at 22:04 7 AprCWBA2017

22:04 7 AprDon’t EVER discount Chelsea. After the knives were drawn, they did what they’re capable of doing to ANY team. They’ll be a few, less critical opinions tonight.559K

Reply posted by kopite1892, at 22:17 7 Aprkopite1892

22:17 7 Aprto CWBA2017"Don’t EVER discount Chelsea. After the knives were drawn, they did what they’re capable of doing to ANY team. They’ll be a few, less critical opinions tonight."kopite1892 replied: good result tonight looks like madrid in semi unless162More replies (2)downD

Comment posted by Dutch, at 22:01 7 AprDutch

22:01 7 AprCongrats Chelsea. Not a sparkling game but a solid game.401L

Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 22:37 7 AprLondonsFinestClub

22:37 7 Aprto Dutch"Congrats Chelsea. Not a sparkling game but a solid game."LondonsFinestClub replied: That’ll do me at 2-0. Have to say though, Mount is now becoming a master of the turn. That was a worldy212More replies (2)downI

Comment posted by Inthepot, at 22:00 7 AprInthepot

22:00 7 AprThat actually wasn’t agony to watch, relatively comfortable for the blues. Tie only half done but looking good.382L

Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 22:34 7 AprLondonsFinestClub

22:34 7 Aprto Inthepot"That actually wasn’t agony to watch, relatively comfortable for the blues. Tie only half done but looking good."LondonsFinestClub replied: Exactly! Job half done at best. Chelsea looked more decisive in defence and should keep it that way. This team is only coming together. No point being loose and fancy free and thinking about semis.101B

Comment posted by Blue view, at 21:55 7 AprBlue view

21:55 7 AprExcellent result, good way to come back after the disaster on Saturday.322M

Comment posted by mark, at 21:56 7 Aprmark

21:56 7 AprI love the Champions League but my God it is so nerve-wracking ! After losing 2-5 at home to West Brom i feared the worst here.304T

Reply posted by tea bar, at 22:15 7 Aprtea bar

22:15 7 Aprto mark"I love the Champions League but my God it is so nerve-wracking ! After losing 2-5 at home to West Brom i feared the worst here."tea bar replied: Know what you mean Mark but keep the faith153More replies (2)downA

Comment posted by awjfk, at 22:12 7 Aprawjfk

22:12 7 AprGood result for Chelsea, Mount has come on in leaps and bounds since his loan spell.
All credit to Lampard.283T

Reply posted by tea bar, at 22:17 7 Aprtea bar

22:17 7 Aprto awjfk"Good result for Chelsea, Mount has come on in leaps and bounds since his loan spell.All credit to Lampard."tea bar replied: spot on Awjfk61T

Comment posted by t1realism, at 21:57 7 Aprt1realism

21:57 7 AprChelsea were unbelieveable they have huge chance of UCL title3712B

Reply posted by bushwacker, at 22:45 7 Aprbushwacker

22:45 7 Aprto t1realism"Chelsea were unbelieveable they have huge chance of UCL title"bushwacker replied: Admire your humour.322More replies (2)downH

Comment posted by HarryJsAllstar, at 21:55 7 AprHarryJsAllstar

21:55 7 AprChelsea did not play ‘well’ but they scored twice, could have had three, and did not look like conceding.
Porto were very good, but spoiled it with so much play-acting.297C

Reply posted by ChelseaLakers, at 22:33 7 AprChelseaLakers

22:33 7 Aprto HarryJsAllstar"Chelsea did not play ‘well’ but they scored twice, could have had three, and did not look like conceding. Porto were very good, but spoiled it with so much play-acting."ChelseaLakers replied: What the heck happened to the style and panache displayed against Atleti.20C

Comment posted by Christopher L, at 21:56 7 AprChristopher L

21:56 7 AprEuropean Masterclass 💙💙276B

Reply posted by bushwacker, at 22:46 7 Aprbushwacker

22:46 7 Aprto Christopher L"European Masterclass 💙💙"bushwacker replied: By WBA?220B

Comment posted by BlueGuy, at 22:12 7 AprBlueGuy

22:12 7 AprGreat result eventually but this team does nothing for my blood pressure. Only felt better when Tuchel finally got Werner and Havertz off and Kante and Giroud on. They have to start next week. Need a target man up front and control in midfield.211L

Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 22:46 7 AprLondonsFinestClub

22:46 7 Aprto BlueGuy"Great result eventually but this team does nothing for my blood pressure. Only felt better when Tuchel finally got Werner and Havertz off and Kante and Giroud on. They have to start next week. Need a target man up front and control in midfield."LondonsFinestClub replied: Might be an idea to start pulisic and Kante instead to use a high press and still keep a goal threat with Mount.80More replies (2)downW

Comment posted by WhathaveTottenhamwon, at 21:55 7 AprWhathaveTottenhamwon

21:55 7 AprExcellent match from the Blues. Obviously the real test comes in that second 90 when Porto are back at full strength, but there are worse positions to be in going in to a second leg.244L

Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 22:40 7 AprLondonsFinestClub

22:40 7 Aprto WhathaveTottenhamwon"Excellent match from the Blues. Obviously the real test comes in that second 90 when Porto are back at full strength, but there are worse positions to be in going in to a second leg."LondonsFinestClub replied: Very true! Hopefully, Kante and Pulisic will be fully match fit. No disrespect to Porto but as organised as they are they carry far less goal threat than anyone else in the competition.52More replies (1)downA

Comment posted by Avi, at 21:54 7 AprAvi

21:54 7 AprWell played Chelsea 👌 good performance from the lads away from home.213W

Reply posted by Wengerout, at 22:53 7 AprWengerout

22:53 7 Aprto Avi"Well played Chelsea 👌 good performance from the lads away from home."Wengerout replied: So next week will you be home or away? Rather a pointless comment.09More replies (2)downJ

Comment posted by Junction 8 M27, at 22:04 7 AprJunction 8 M27

22:04 7 AprGreat to see The Blues are not The Reds of last night. Onward s 👍👍👍👍👍204T

Reply posted by tea bar, at 22:09 7 Aprtea bar

22:09 7 Aprto Junction 8 M27"Great to see The Blues are not The Reds of last night. Onward s 👍👍👍👍👍"tea bar replied: nice junction62More replies (3)downG

Comment posted by Geoff, at 22:26 7 AprGeoff

22:26 7 AprChelsea played very well,a real threat in CL.But once again Chelsea and Man City will have the money myth thrown at them.When infact 17 Premier League Clubs have billionaire owners.Its just that those 2 clubs have upset what was considered to be the “natural order” of things.Liverpool and Man Utd out spent everyone else for years.But things have changed and they don’t like it.205O

Reply posted by Oddbod, at 22:37 7 AprOddbod

22:37 7 Aprto Geoff"Chelsea played very well,a real threat in CL.But once again Chelsea and Man City will have the money myth thrown at them.When infact 17 Premier League Clubs have billionaire owners.Its just that those 2 clubs have upset what was considered to be the “natural order” of things.Liverpool and Man Utd out spent everyone else for years.But things have changed and they don’t like it."Oddbod replied: Unbelievable Geoff43More replies (1)downMore commentsBack to topunknown
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