LONDON – Didier Drogba scored his first goal since returning to Chelsea as Jose Mourinho’s side took control of Champions League Group G with a crushing 6-0 victory over Maribor at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Drogba’s last goal for the Blues was the decisive penalty that saw Bayern Munich beaten in the 2012 Champions League final.
And, having returned to west London during the last transfer window, the Ivory Coast striker again scored from the spot to put his side 2-0 up —— although it meant ignoring Mourinho, who had said Eden Hazard would be Chelsea’s penalty-taker.
“To finish (my time at Chelsea) with a penalty and start again with a penalty was nice symmetry,” Drogba told Sky Sports.
“I am really happy because of the way we played today. We scored one, then two and didn’t stop, we continued to play.”
Loic Remy opened the scoring in the 13th minute before John Terry put Chelsea in total control with a 31st-minute goal.
A second-half own goal from Mitja Viler followed by two goals from Eden Hazard, one a penalty, confirmed a win that extended Chelsea’s outstanding start to the season.
The only blow suffered by Premier League leaders Chelsea was a groin injury to Remy which forced him to be replaced by Drogba on 16 minutes.
Mourinho had warned Drogba was unable to complete 90 minutes after the 37-year-old had struggled to make an impact in Chelsea’s opening Champions League group game against Schalke.
On this occasion, however, it took the striker just seven minutes to register his presence.
Maribor midfielder Ales Mertelj conceded a penalty after using his hand to block Willian’s attempted pass and Drogba finished emphatically.
