Mourinho is the real winner

Chelsea 3 Porto 1

On a night when he had to endure the indignity of being spat upon by one bitter Porto supporter, he inflicted a notable defeat on his former club.

Not that Porto are anything more than a shadow of the side that Mourinho guided to success last season.

Indeed, with CSKA Moscow, with whom they drew their opening tie, having defeated Paris St Germain, to stand on four points, the Portuguese side - with just one from two games - are in deep trouble.

Not so Chelsea, who were ruthless in completing an assured 3-1 victory, putting them one win away from ensuring qualification for the knockout stages.

Russia international Alexei Smertin will have delighted compatriot Roman Abramovich with his first Chelsea goal after just six minutes.

And then the two goalscorers from the 3-0 victory away to PSG in the opening group tie - Didier Drogba and John Terry - struck again.

Porto were back in contention for all of two minutes when substitute Benni McCarthy briefly pulled the scoreline back to 2-1 but this is a Chelsea side who replicate many of the single-minded traits of last season’s winners.

Indeed, while they have scored just six times in six Barclays Premiership games - with James Beattie adding the other with an own goal - they have already scored just as many in two Champions League ties.

Their rearguard remains as sound as ever and Ricardo Carvalho, who moved to Chelsea with Paulo Ferreira this summer, was honoured before kick-off with UEFA’s award for the best defender in last season’s competition.

Mourinho, meanwhile, preferred to stay out of the limelight, postponing the chance to pick up his own award for leading Porto to the trophy until Chelsea’s next home European game against CSKA.

Mourinho’s commitment to a strong defence was evident in the match.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech did well to hold on to Luis Fabiano’s long-range shot on a rare counter-attack but Chelsea refused to be lured into an over-adventurous approach that might allow Porto back into the game.

Gudjohnsen took the game to the visitors and although one cross just eluded the far post, he almost put Duff through only for Baia to clutch the ball at the Irishman’s feet.

Porto finally started to mount some sustained pressure before the break.

However, Chelsea were 2-0 up just four minutes after the restart and the game was seemingly won.

Drogba headed the first of two almost identical free-kicks just over the bar from Lampard’s cross but then back-headed the ball past Baia from a left-footed delivery by Duff.

Porto responded with a double substitution that gave them renewed life, with Benni McCarthy looking especially dangerous up front.

While Cech made a smart reaction save from him, the Czech international could only parry a fierce drive by fellow substitute Carlos Alberto after seemingly being distracted by the ball brushing off Terry’s forehead.

It was only the second goal that Chelsea had conceded all season, but if that made a match of it, it was one that lasted all of two minutes before Terry dived to meet a free-kick by Lampard and headed forcefully past Baia.

Drogba’s header was ruled out for offside, while he also wasted a late chance to square the ball to substitute Mateja Kezman, but Mourinho’s work was done.

One fact about Mourinho is undeniable - the man has shown, so far at least, that he is a winner.

CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Smertin, Makelele, Lampard, Duff (Tiago 66), Gudjohnsen (Kezman 80), Drogba.

FC PORTO: Vitor Baia, Bosingwa, Pepe, Jorge Costa, Ricardo Costa, Derlei (Postiga 80), Maniche, Diego, Costinha, Quaresma (Carlos Alberto 58), Luis Fabiano (McCarthy 57).

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany).