Roberto Di Matteo delighted with late Chelsea victory over Shakhtar Donetsk

 

Manager Roberto Di Matteo is confident Chelsea's dramatic 3-2 win over over Shakhtar Donetsk at Stamford Bridge will change the dynamic of the remaining matches in Group E.

A stoppage-time header from substitute Victor Moses kept the Champions League holders on course for the knockout stages, after surviving waves of pressure from the impressive Ukrainians.

Earlier it looked as if those aspirations were to suffer a setback as one-time transfer target Willian struck in each half to cancel out goals from Fernando Torres and Oscar following howlers by Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov.

However, Moses, who had only come in for the final 10 minutes, got on the end of Juan Mata's corner deep in stoppage time to snatch victory which leaves Chelsea level on points with Group E leaders Shakhtar ahead of their final two games, which are away to Juventus, who are a point behind in third, and then at home to whipping boys Nordsjaelland.

"This is not going to make things easier, but it is going to give us a good chance to qualify because I think, like this, the last game will be crucial between Shakhtar and Juventus when they play each other," Di Matteo said.

"We need some points from our last two games, and to win the last game for sure."

Di Matteo accepted Chelsea had enjoyed some good fortune in snatching their stoppage-time win.

"In terms of the timing of the winning goal, you probably could agree that there was an element of luck. It was basically the last kick of the game," he said.

"We did a lot of good things, put them under pressure particularly in the first half, and that's how we scored the two goals.

"But it was always going to be a difficult game, they are a very good side and have shown that in all the games they have played."

Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu admitted the defeat was difficult to take, especially after dominating for such long periods, making the European champions look ordinary.

The Romanian said: "It is painful.

"Our goalkeeper made some incredible mistakes.

"The referee also made a mistake, because he said there was three minutes and not three minutes 30 seconds. There should not have been a corner, it would have been finished.

"But I am confident because I have seen my team play a very good match.

"We still have two games left to play and have the same number of points as Chelsea."

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Rose has the ammunition for Wentworth

McDowell did brilliantly to land the World Match Play title in Bulgaria last week, but it’s a format...

by Gareth Purnell

Brits on fire in the wet at Le Mans!

Wow - what a weekend for British Motorcycle racing!

by Luke Wilkins

iBet: Bale and Rooney transfer specials

The dust is barely settling on the Premier League season and the bookies are looking to persuade us ...

by Gareth Purnell

       
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again
Dylan Hartley: Northampton have spent the season proving all our critics wrong

Dylan Hartley talks tough

Northampton have spent the season proving all our critics wrong
Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

A meeting of global power brokers in a Hertfordshire hotel is exciting conspiracy theorists, but what are they really about?
'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system': Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console

'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system'

Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console
Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men

Plenty of sleaze

Dating website pulls intimate 'hook-up' section to curb harassment
Inferno author Dan Brown 'honoured' to be invited to join the Freemasons

The Freemasons’ Code

Dan Brown reveals the message that told him door to the lodge is open
Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Nick Buckles survived the Olympics débâcle and a £5bn bid fiasco but a profit warning finally triggered his downfall
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’: Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar

How to say ‘I’m a sellout’

Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar
Why clubs are keen to take a stand

Why clubs are keen to take a stand

There's a real desire around the grounds for safe standing. But will the authorities listen?
In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

Disillusion with a siege mentality and negative playing style made change inevitable
James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

British driver was fascinating man whose epic duel with Niki Lauda in 1976 was typical of an era of glamour and glory – but also the ever-present threat of death