Chelsea 5-0 Genk: Fernando Torres Hits Form With Classy Double As Rampant Blues Extend Group E Lead

Chelsea continued their unbeaten streak in the Champions League with a 5-0 victory over Genk as Fernando Torres picked up a double.

Goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Miereles sealed a comfortable win for the Blues as they stay top of group E.

It was a match in which Torres silenced his critics as he played with a new found confidence, looking like the man who was once widely labeled as one of the best strikers in the world. 

Andre Villas-Boas made six changes to the team he fielded against Everton: captain John Terry and strikers Didier Drogba, Juan Mata and Daniel Strurridge were all rested. While David Luiz, Frank Lampard, Fernando Torres and Champions League debutant Oriol Romeu started.

Chelsea began the game confidently; dominating possession, playing intricate passes and leaving Genk with little hope from the get go.

After seven minutes, Miereles dinked a great ball into Torres, who controlled well but hit the post in what many thought would be another frustrating night for the Spaniard. But moments later, Miereles found himself completely unchallenged and hit a cleanly struck shot from 25-yards into the bottom left hand corner - leaving Genk goalkeeper Laszlo Koteles looking on helplessly.

A few minutes later, Torres finally ended his Champions League goal-drought for Chelsea after he was put through by Frank Lampard and finished calmly, slotting the ball to the keepers bottom left.

Genk's Kevin De Bruyne looked lively down the left flank for the Belgium charges, causing Chelsea problems with his creativity and flare. However the opportunities he created for the front men were of no avail.

Chelsea came agonizingly close to a third girl when Torres burst down the left flank into the box and set up Malouda, but the Frenchman failed to take advantage of the opportunity as he side passed the ball inches wide of the post.

The game was over by 30 minutes as Torres’ exceptional movement saw him clinically head the ball past Koteles for his second goal. Miereles’ cross was met with a confident Torres header, who guided the ball past the right hand side of the keeper.

Torres then looked as if he was going to turn provider as he crossed the ball with the outside of his boot to Lampard, but the standing captain headed wide.

Five minutes before half time, Torres released Lampard who fed the ball to Nicloas Anelka but the France international injected too much power into his shot which soared over the bar.

Genk’s misfortune was then accentuated as Daniel Pudil tripped up Anelka outside the box earning himself a yellow card and a one-match suspension. The Blues took advantage of the free kick outside the box as Maluda crossed a scintillating ball into the box and Ivanovic used his height to leap above his marker and head the ball past the keeper.

Chelsea continued where they left off after half time, dictating the play as Genk looked increasingly uncomfortable and evidently second best.

Malouda was the next Chelsea player to squander an opportunity as he shot straight at the keeper in a one on one while a host of his fellow team-mates were free inside the box unmarked.

Lampard was then tripped inside the box in what looked like a clear-cut penalty but, determined to score, quickly got up but was then dispossessed.

Genk’s 3,000 odd supporters continued to back their team despite not having much to cheer about as Chelsea continued to pile on the pressure in an evidently one sided encounter.

Soloman Kalou was eager to make an impression on the game, looking energetic skipping past the opposition defenders on different occasions.

Kalou then found the net to complete a resounding victory for Villas-Boas men. A Jose Bosingwa cross was met by Torres but blew his chance of a hatrick, luckily the lively substitute made it 5-0.