Europa League: Fernando Torres strikes sends Chelsea in quarter finals

Fernando Torres was Chelsea’s match-winner as he struck the Blues’ third in their 3-1 win over Steaua Bucharest – sealing the clubs pass into the quarter finals of the Europa League.

A goal after half an hour from Juan Mata looked as though it would send the Blues on their way, but an equaliser on the stroke of half-time from Vlad Chiriches meant the reigning European champions had to up their game after the break and required goals from captain John Terry and Torres to see off Steaua.

Mata – Chelsea’s top scorer in all competitions this term – put the hosts a goal up to cancel out their first-leg defeat last week.

The Spaniard played a neat interchange with Ramires before Mata’s shot crept over the line.

And it looked as though Chelsea would take firm control of the game from there on in, but suspect defending was again at fault as the Blues were masters of their own downfall just before half time.

Iasmin Latovlevici’s corner was not dealt with by the home defence and Chiriches was on hand to fire the ball past Petr Cech to give Steaua what could have proved a vital away goal.

But the Blues came out all guns blazing after the break and Terry, returning to side, put his team back in front 13 minutes into the second half, as he produced a bullet header from a Mata corner.

And Chelsea’s third goal came from an unlikely source with Torres, playing with a rare confidence and conviction, finished a neat move involving Mata and Eden Hazard.

But it wasn’t the perfect night for the Spaniard, who saw a spot kick hammer against the crossbar after Hazard had been brought down in the dying stages.