Zilina, Aug 14: Chelsea's new multi-million pound team failed to sparkle but did enough to secure a 2-0 first-leg lead in their Champions League third round qualifying match against Slovakia's MSK Zilina on Wednesday. The Londoners, featuring five new faces from the 74 million-pounds' worth ($118.7 million) of new talent bought since the arrival of Roman Abramovich six weeks ago, avoided any repeat of their recent UEFA Cup embarrassments by comfortably easing past the Slovakian champions. Icelandic international striker Eidur Gudjohnsen slid in the opening goal three minutes before halftime and then forced defender Michael Drahno into an own goal 14 minutes from time. Midfielder Damien Duff, signed from Blackburn Rovers for 17 million pounds, was the provider for both goals as Chelsea made most of the running against the defensively-minded hosts. Five of Chelsea's nine new signings including club record buy Damien Duff, Juan Sebastian Veron and Geremi made their competitive debuts, meaning Chelsea had almost 52 million pounds ($83.38 million) of new talent on display.


Duff joined the English premier league side for 17.0 million pounds from Blackburn, Veron cost 15.0 million from Manchester United and Geremi 6.9 million from Real Madrid.


Wayne Bridge, who joined for seven million from Southampton, and Glen Johnson (West Ham, six million) are the two other new players starting for the first time in a competitive game following the club's 74.0 million pounds ($119 million) spending spree under new owner Russian Roman Abramovich. Joe Cole, another newcomer, came on as substitute for Duff.


The only survivors from last season were goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, defenders Marcel Desailly and John Terry, midfielder Frank Lampard and striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.


Striker Mikael Forssell, who spent last season on loan at Borussia Moechengladbach, also started but there was no place for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.


Line-ups: MSK Zilina: 18-Ivan Trabalik; 4-Martin Konecny, 5-Martin Durica, 6-Zdeno Strba, 7-Branislav Labant, 8-Radoslav Zabavnik, 10-Miroslav Barcik, 11-Marek Bazik, 12-Vladimir Stas, 20-Dusan Sninsky, 26-Richard Varadin



Chelsea: 23-Carlo Cudicini; 2-Glen Johnson, 6-Marcel Desailly, 26-John Terry, 18-Wayne Bridge, 14-Geremi, 20-Juan Sebastian Veron, 8-Frank Lampard, 11-Damien Duff, 32-Mikael Forssell, 22-Eidur Gudjohnsen. Referee: Rene Temmink, Netherlands


Bureau Report