Blues cruise into quarters - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Blues cruise into quarters

Chelsea cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Olympiacos at Stamford Bridge.

Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard grabbed goals in the first half, before Salomon Kalou weighed in with another just after the interval.

The only negative aspect of the evening was the news of goalkeeper Petr Cech picking up an injury and missing the game.

The hosts had already offered an early warning when Kalou slipped Ashley Cole through and the full-back drove in the a low cross that had to be cleared by Julio Cesar.

It mattered little, though, as Ballack grabbed the fifth-minute opener from the throw. Lampard took a touch on the flank to steady himself for a cross then found Ballack at the near post, who planted his header beyond Antonios Nikopolidis.

Didier Drogba could have doubled the lead after midfielder Cole skipped down the left and found the Ivory Coast striker, but the finish was too high.

Chelsea's second came in the 25th minute, with the role of provider and goalscorer reversed from the opener.

Makelele won a header on the edge of the area after a corner was not cleared, Terry then nodded towards Ballack beyond the Olympiacos defence. Ballack's finish was parried by Nikopolidis and Lampard tapped in the rebound.

The hosts started the second half as they had the first, with Lampard getting a shot blocked two minutes after the restart.

From the corner, taken by Lampard, Kalou stabbed in from close range after Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho failed to get contact on their efforts.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking