Apoel Nicosia 0 Chelsea 1

MY HERO... Juliano Belletti hugs Nicolas Anelka



CHELSEA won their stroll in Cyprus but were far from convincing.
Nicolas Anelka set the Blues on their way with a first-half goal, looping a long-range shot over the Apoel keeper after good approach work on the right wing from Juliano Belletti.

The French striker had scored the only goal of their opening Champions League group game at home to Porto and looked capable of scoring more here.

It was hardly the resounding return to form that boss Carlo Ancelotti was looking for after the weekend defeat at Wigan. But a win's a win.

The Blues could and should have had more goals to show for their relatively comfortable first-half stroll.

Apoel had drawn their opening Group D game at Atletico Madrid but never posed much of a threat to Petr Cech's goal.

But despite a bright opening period, Chelsea's first clear-cut chance came after nine minutes, Michael Essien sending his 20-yard drive wide of the right-hand post.

A few minutes later it was Frank Lampard's turn to be wasteful, putting no weight into his shot from distance after a slip up by Chrysostomos Michail.

Florent Malouda was the next Chelsea player to be shaking his head in disbelief after failing to respond in any meaningful manner after the ball fell to him in the penalty area.

It was left to Anelka to break the deadlock in the 18th minute.

Belletti burst down the right flank before cutting inside. While most Chelsea players had sprinted into the box, Anelka had checked his run and lurked at the edge of the penalty area.

Belletti spotted the France international and laid back a perfect pass for Anelka to sidefoot a crisp, high drive into the far side of the goal.

It was Anelka's fourth goal of the season but sparked a period of tepid football.

Much as Apoel couldn't keep possession, Chelsea failed to do much with it although they dominated right up to half-time.

Lampard did provide a moment of quality on 41 minutes, a reverse pass finding a sprinting Ashley Cole but the full-back failed to pick out Anelka with his cross.

Just before the break a little frustration spilled over and Salomon Kalou was booked for clattering into Nectarious Alexandrou.

Although Apoel were a bit more sprightly in the second half, it wasn't until the 65th minute that Cech was called on to make his first real save.

Midfielder Savvas Poursaitides swept up Malouda's poor defensive header and burst into the Chelsea area, but Cech used his feet to stifle the threat.

Ashley Cole was called on to head a dangerous cross away for a corner before Blues chief Ancelotti decided to bring on Deco for Belletti.

Although Apoel rallied late, Chelsea held on to seal their second win in two group games.