Torres gets a brace as Blues hammer Belgian side Genk

Fernando Torres scored twice during Chelsea’s comfortable 5-0 victory on Wednesday, a win that matched the club’s biggest ever in the Champions League.

The night’s first goal came from Raul Meireles in the eighth minute when he made the most of being left alone outside the box, he struck a hard, low shot into the bottom left-hand corner past the stranded Genk keeper Lazzlo Koteles. 

Torres had a good chance to score early on, but saw his shot bounce off the post. In the 11th minute, the Spaniard scored his first Champions League goal for club – He collected Frank Lampard’s pass and neatly finished past the approaching Koteles. 

In the 27th minute, Torres doubled his personal tally when the impressive Meireles received a Nicolas Anelka pass, and then sent in a dangerous ball which was met by El Nino’s head after the lively striker had made an excellent run across the box to make space for himself.

Branislav Ivanovic made it four just before half-time when he connected with Florent Malouda’s free-kick leaving Andre Villas-Boas with very little to do at half-time, other than asking the players to carry on what they were doing.

Midway through the second-half Malouda broke free down the left and shot rather than laying the ball off to an unmarked Anelka. 

The Chelsea number nine almost completed his hat-trick when Koteles managed to block his late header, but the ball did fall to Kalou who finished off from close range. 

That goal gave Chelsea their biggest Champions League success since 1999, when they beat Galatasaray 5-0. 

Torres still has one game to go of his domestic suspension, but is looking very fresh and much better than he did last season. He will be keen to get back playing and scoring in the Premiership.

Chelsea’s next Champions League game will be in Belgium against Genk, a win should be enough to take the Blues through.

By Scott Balaam

Twitter @AStamBridge2Far