Drogba double gives PSG the blues

A fine double by Didier Drogba handed Chelsea a convincing 3-0 victory over French side Paris Saint Germain in their opening Champions League Group H encounter here.

His strikes - one apiece in each half - made a nonsense of PSG coach Vahid Halilhodzic's refusal to have a specific plan to stop the Ivory Coast star and left PSG without a win this season.

Drogba added his two to the opener from Chelsea skipper John Terry's 29th minute header which was helped hugely by a blunder from PSG goalkeeper Lionel Letizi.

"The goals are a bonus for me as it gives me confidence for the matches coming up but the result was more important," said Drogba, who signed from UEFA Cup finalists Marseille in the summer.

"Once we got into the match there was only going to be one winner."

"As for me making hay out of scoring it was because they were booing me as I am a former Marseille player and they don't like that one bit."

Mourinho was ecstatic at the display.

"I am delighted as the team dominated from the word go and every single player was outstanding," he purred.

"As for Drogba it was great that he could come back to a French stadium and score two goals."

"I think the way we played tonight no other team could have lived with us so it is no shame for PSG."

Halilhodzic disagreed and said he was disgusted with the performance.

"I am ashamed, the supporters deserved more than that," said the Bosnian.

"To lose is fine but to do so without showing any pride is unpardonable."

"There is a sickness at the heart of this team and I must cure it."

The second half started with a fierce freekick by Frank Lampard fly high and wide and then PSG's Helder's header from Jerome Rothen's freekick flick tamely past the Chelsea goal.

Joe Cole was unable to take advantage of Lampard's beautifully flighted chip over the defence as Letizi came out and gathered from his feet while at the other end Nigerian striker Bartholomew Ogbeche put in a good shot that Chelsea 'keeper Petr Cech did well to get down to.

Portuguese striker Pauleta then got on target for the hosts but again his rasping shot was well stopped by Cech.

However their failure to take their chances proved costly as Drogba's coolly taken freekick sped past a static Letizi in the PSG goal with 15 minutes remaining.

His striker partner Mateja Kezman almost made it 4-0 three minutes later as his sharp turn and shot took a deflection off Helder and was well turned round his post by Letizi.

PSG had the first real chance of the match in the eighth minute as Charles Eduard Coridon went on a mazy run from the halfway line and rounded Terry, who was knocked on his backside, but his attempted chip sailed wide.

Both sides lost a player apiece in the same minute as Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jose Pierre Fanfan were forced off after a clash of heads but only the PSG player was able to retake his place as the Icelandic striker was replaced by Kezman.

Chelsea had their first chance in the 24th minute as Drogba's superbly flighted cross fell towards Tiago but just as he shaped to shoot Bernard Mendy intervened to clear the danger.

Drogba then managed to get a header in on target but it was safely gathered by Letizi, but the signs were there that Chelsea were not long away from a goal and after FanFan had diverted a Cole shot for a corner, Terry was on hand thanks to Letizi's misjudged rush from goal to head them into the lead in the 29th minute.

PSG replied spiritedly with Cameroon midfielder Modeste M'Bami forcing Cech into his first save of the match on the half hour mark as his fierce drive was palmed away for a corner.

However the match was virtually sealed in the dying minute of the first-half as Kezman broke the offside trap but his shot was blocked by the advancing Letizi only for the ball to fall to Drogba, who made no mistake from just inside the penalty area.