Feyenoord 1 Chelsea 3

Chelsea outclassed Feyenoord in Rotterdam at the venue set to host the Euro 2000 final at the start of July.

By then Chelsea may have had some say in the destination of the Champions League title come May if this performance can be repeated in remaining away games.

The London club ensured their place in the quarter finals and results like this one make up for the damage done to the club in 1955 when as champions they were barred from the first ever European Cup by the English authorities.

For a change Chelsea saw two strikers hit the target.

Gianfranco Zola scored only his 4th goal of the season so far and Tore Andre Flo hit the net for the first time since January 4th to inspire a great win.

The win could have been greater as Frank Le Boeuf missed an 8th minute penalty after Flo had been clearly tripped by van Wonderen in the penalty area.

Polish international Jerzy Dudek had an easy save as the French defender slapped the ball too close to the goalkeeper as Chelsea gave early warnings that they could dominate the Dutch champions as they had Stamford Bridge last year in a very one sided game.

Poyet had a header cleared from the line in the 26th minute and Dudek needed to tip over a dipping shot from Dennis Wise a minute later as the Chelsea side took over the game.

They got their reward as Zola cut inside to bury a chance in the 39th minute after the ball had run loose after Flo was challenged in the air.

Zola celebrated gleefully. He has born the burden of a long spell of poor form in front of goal but this goal was vital as Chelsea cashed in on their supremacy.

Dudek was needed again in the last minute of the half as Poyet hit a low drive at an angle but Feyenord saved their real form for a short spell after the break.

Substitute Kalou was on hand in the 58th minute to tap the ball in as the Chelsea defence allowed a low cross to get to Ed de Goey who spent 11 years as a player with Feyenoord could only palm the ball into the path of the Ivory Coast international.

The goal was supposed to set up a storm of pressure on the Chelsea defence but Didier Deschamps forced a great save from Dudek in the 61st minute but two minutes later the Chelsea captain gave his side the lead.

Great work from Celestine Babayaro on the left wing allowed Dennis Wise to arrive at the far post and bury a header.

Tore Andre Flo put the gloss on a great night for his club with a mazy run in the 74th minute that saw the Norwegian star deliver a low drive past Dudek into the net.

Chelsea controlled the rest of the game with an easy passing pattern as Feyenoord conceded the match and their fans drifted away.

Argentine striker Julio Cruz produced the last piece of action with a 93rd minute volley that allowed Rotterdam old boy de Goey to show off a picture book save to delight the travelling fans.

Chelsea continue their European fantasy with a place in the last eight.

Who was the last club in blue to lift the European Cup ? Juventus in 1996 and Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli lifted the trophy for them. Tonight in Rotterdam blue was the colour of success again.