Eden Hazard struck in the second minute of stoppage time to send Chelsea through against Sparta Prague in the Europa League.

The substitute broke into the box and drilled an unstoppable shot past Tomas Vaclik to equalise on the night and preserve the Blues' one-goal advantage from the first leg.

The visitors had levelled the tie when David Lafata struck in the 17th minute.

Fernando Torres missed a host of chances before Hazard's late winner.

Having seen the Blues secure a 1-0 advantage in the away leg, Chelsea fans might have hoped their side had done the hard part of securing their place in the last 16, where they will now face Steaua Bucharest after the Romanian side beat Ajax on penalties.

Not so happy hunting ground

  • Sparta Prague's win over Watford in 1983 remains their only win in England in nine attempts.

It proved to be anything but the case for a side shorn of Frank Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic, as manager Rafael Benitez shuffled his pack before Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Torres endured another night he would want to forget, missing two good chances before the Czech side took the lead. A side-footed shot after only four minutes shaped wide, and the Spaniard touched a Juan Mata cross over from inside the six-yard box as Chelsea began promisingly.

But a piece of quick thinking at a free-kick on 17 minutes levelled the tie and changed the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. With Chelsea back-pedalling, the ball was moved rapidly to Vaclav Kadlec who eluded Cahill to pull the ball back to Lafata, who shot high into the net from eight yards out.

The goal stung Chelsea into greater urgency, but for all their possession they could not threaten the Sparta goal. Mata controlled a Ramires pass with great skill, flicking the ball over his head before sending in a bouncing shot that Vaclik did well to tip over.

Torres then completed a trio of first-half misses with a flying header over the bar after he had slipped in between two Sparta defenders.

Ramires struck the post with a deflected shot less than a minute into the second half, but Chelsea took inspiration for a while and stepped up the pressure. John Terry came close to an equaliser in unlikely fashion, forcing Vaclik into a save with a flick while facing away from goal at a free-kick.

But as the game wore on the visitors took heart from Chelsea's inability to turn pressure into chances. The Czech side were swift on the break, and Matejovsky went close after Terry was caught in possession in the Sparta half. Kadlec allowed a tense home crowd to breathe again when he shot wide with Lafata in space inside the Chelsea area.

Torres's frustrating night continued when Ramires's on-target volley hit him square in the chest. Shortly afterwards Benitez replaced Oscar with Hazard, the substitution drawing a few boos from the home crowd.

The fans' tension seemed to transfer to the home side, and Sparta went close to taking the tie in the closing stages. Gary Cahill made a crucial block to stop a Kadlec shot, and as extra time loomed the Czech striker dragged another shot wide.

The missed chances proved to be crucial, though.

With less than a minute of injury time remaining, Hazard found enough space to move into the area and drill the ball past Vaclik.

Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez on striker Fernando Torres's record of only one goal in his last 14 appearances:

"He didn't play badly tonight, you can analyse a striker for the number of goals he scores. He did a great job for the team tonight.

"It's not easy against a team playing deep, but he was winning the ball in the air, bringing options for those around him.

"I thought he was playing well. I disagree he was playing badly. But of course we want him to take the chances that come his way.

"If he continues working like today and playing like he did today, he will score goals. I'm convinced about that."

Sparta Prague coach Vitezslav Lavicka:

"We played a great match.

"We came with a 1-0 deficit but we did the maximum to qualify. In the end we just didn't make it, but such is football.

"We were helped by the fans who were just amazing. It was a great trip for them to come to Stamford Bridge and we hope they enjoyed it."

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (3)

Chelsea

  • 01 Cech
  • 24 Cahill
  • 26 Terry
  • 28 Azpilicueta
  • 34 Bertrand Booked
  • 07 Ramires
  • 10 Mata
  • 11 Oscar (Hazard - 67' )
  • 12 Mikel
  • 13 Moses
  • 09 Torres

Substitutes

  • 22 Turnbull
  • 03 Cole
  • 04 David Luiz
  • 19 Ferreira
  • 17 Hazard
  • 21 Marin
  • 30 Benayoun

Sparta Prague

  • 31 Vaclik
  • 04 Svejdik
  • 19 Hybs Booked
  • 20 Zapotocny
  • 08 Matejovsky Booked
  • 23 Krejci
  • 25 Mario Holek
  • 33 Vacha
  • 06 Prikryl Booked
  • 10 Lafata Booked (Leonard Kweuke - 82' Booked )
  • 14 Kadlec (Bednar - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Cech
  • 24 Vidlicka
  • 27 Polom
  • 32 Janos
  • 03 Pamic
  • 11 Leonard Kweuke
  • 29 Bednar
Ref: Stavrev
Att: 38,642

Match Stats

Shots

18 10

On target

7 4

Corners

7 3

Fouls

11 20

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:14 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +2:47 Substitution

Substitution Vaclav Kadlec goes off and Roman Bednar comes on.

90:00 +1:31 Goal scored

Goal - Eden Hazard - Chelsea 1 - 1 Sp Prague Eden Hazard gets on the score sheet with a goal from just inside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Chelsea 1 (2)-(1) 1 Sparta Prague.

90:00 +1:05

Direct free kick taken by John Terry.

90:00 +1:05 Booking

Booking Leonard Kweuke receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +1:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Leonard Kweuke on Nascimento Ramires.

90:00 +0:08

Effort on goal by Vaclav Kadlec from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

89:13

Vaclav Kadlec gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Cahill. Free kick taken by Gary Cahill.

88:17

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Juan Mata played to the near post, Shot from inside the six-yard box by Nascimento Ramires goes wide right of the goal.

87:17

Shot from just outside the box by Cesar Azpilicueta misses to the right of the target.

86:39

Juan Mata crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, Mario Holek makes a clearance.

86:39 Booking

Booking Marek Matejovsky goes into the referee's book.

86:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Eden Hazard by Marek Matejovsky.

85:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marek Matejovsky by Nascimento Ramires. Free kick crossed by Lukas Vacha, save by Petr Cech.

85:12

Direct free kick taken by Ondrej Svejdik.

85:12 Booking

Booking Caution for Ryan Bertrand.

85:09

Foul by Ryan Bertrand on Vaclav Kadlec, free kick awarded.

84:41

Strike on goal comes in from Juan Mata from the free kick, Tomas Vaclik makes a save.

84:41 Booking

Booking Tomas Prikryl booked.

84:41

Handball decision goes against Tomas Prikryl.

82:54

Mikel fouled by Leonard Kweuke, the ref awards a free kick. Shot comes in from Juan Mata from the free kick.

82:37

The ball is sent over by Ryan Bertrand.

81:12 Substitution

Substitution Leonard Kweuke replaces David Lafata.

81:12

Foul by Cesar Azpilicueta on Matej Hybs, free kick awarded.

81:12

Direct free kick taken by Tomas Vaclik.

81:12 Substitution

Substitution Leonard Kweuke replaces David Lafata.

81:12

awarded for a foul by Cesar Azpilicueta on Matej Hybs.

80:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Eden Hazard by Tomas Zapotocny. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Eden Hazard, save by Tomas Vaclik.

79:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matej Hybs on Victor Moses. Juan Mata takes the free kick.

77:34

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Tomas Vaclik.

77:02

Ladislav Krejci sends in a cross, save made by Petr Cech.

75:46

Tomas Prikryl gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Juan Mata. Juan Mata delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, Marek Matejovsky manages to make a clearance.

74:26

Tomas Zapotocny has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

73:51

Nascimento Ramires gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Vaclav Kadlec. Lukas Vacha takes the free kick.

73:01

Shot by Nascimento Ramires from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

71:23

Vaclav Kadlec takes a shot. Gary Cahill gets a block in.

70:54

Juan Mata produces a cross, Tomas Prikryl manages to make a clearance.

70:15

The referee blows for offside. Gary Cahill restarts play with the free kick.

69:05

Unfair challenge on Nascimento Ramires by Ondrej Svejdik results in a free kick. Eden Hazard crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, save by Tomas Vaclik.

68:59

Juan Mata crosses the ball.

68:48

Short corner taken by Juan Mata.

68:36

Victor Moses takes a shot. Save made by Tomas Vaclik.

68:04

The ball is swung over by Cesar Azpilicueta.

66:43 Substitution

Substitution Eden Hazard on for Emboaba Oscar.

66:24

Centre by Ryan Bertrand, clearance made by Ondrej Svejdik.

65:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nascimento Ramires by David Lafata. Mikel takes the free kick.

64:32

Marek Matejovsky produces a right-footed shot from outside the box and misses left.

62:16

Nascimento Ramires delivers the ball, Lukas Vacha manages to make a clearance.

61:23

Marek Matejovsky challenges Emboaba Oscar unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Emboaba Oscar.

60:21

The ball is swung over by Tomas Zapotocny, save by Petr Cech.

58:20

John Terry takes a shot. Save by Tomas Vaclik.

57:49

Unfair challenge on Emboaba Oscar by Marek Matejovsky results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Juan Mata from right channel.

55:02

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Juan Mata, Marek Matejovsky makes a clearance.

55:02 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Matej Hybs for unsporting behaviour.

54:53

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matej Hybs on Cesar Azpilicueta.

54:07

Foul by Ladislav Krejci on Victor Moses, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Cesar Azpilicueta.

52:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Lafata on John Terry. John Terry restarts play with the free kick.

51:54

Fernando Torres takes a shot. Save made by Tomas Vaclik.

51:10

Long range shot by Victor Moses goes wide right of the goal.

49:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mario Holek on Fernando Torres. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Juan Mata, Tomas Zapotocny makes a clearance.

48:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ladislav Krejci by Victor Moses. Tomas Vaclik restarts play with the free kick.

46:17

Nascimento Ramires produces a right-footed shot from just inside the penalty box and strikes the post.

45:32

Emboaba Oscar challenges Lukas Vacha unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tomas Zapotocny takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +2:09 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +1:16

Mikel sends in a cross, Close range header by Fernando Torres goes over the bar.

45:00 +0:19

Tomas Zapotocny challenges Ryan Bertrand unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Juan Mata.

44:48

David Lafata is caught offside. Gary Cahill takes the direct free kick.

44:16

Foul by Juan Mata on Mario Holek, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Lukas Vacha.

43:37

John Terry restarts play with the free kick.

43:37 Booking

Booking The referee shows David Lafata a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

43:29

David Lafata gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nascimento Ramires.

43:07

The ball is sent over by Tomas Prikryl, Petr Cech makes a save.

42:55

Centre by Emboaba Oscar, clearance made by Ondrej Svejdik.

42:39

The ball is swung over by Nascimento Ramires.

42:30

A cross is delivered by Nascimento Ramires, Ondrej Svejdik makes a clearance.

41:53

Juan Mata takes a inswinging corner to the near post.

41:09

Centre by Marek Matejovsky.

40:54

The referee penalises Ryan Bertrand for handball. Free kick taken by Ladislav Krejci.

39:40

Victor Moses is adjudged to have handled the ball. Mario Holek restarts play with the free kick.

38:43

The ball is sent over by Juan Mata, Ladislav Krejci manages to make a clearance.

38:24

Corner from right by-line taken by Juan Mata.

38:08

Juan Mata takes a shot. Fantastic save by Tomas Vaclik.

37:26

Marek Matejovsky takes a shot. Save made by Petr Cech.

36:51

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Emboaba Oscar, save made by Tomas Vaclik.

36:35

Cesar Azpilicueta produces a cross, clearance made by Tomas Zapotocny.

36:09

Centre by Cesar Azpilicueta, Ondrej Svejdik makes a clearance.

35:54

Ladislav Krejci challenges Juan Mata unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Juan Mata.

35:17

Shot from a long way out by David Lafata goes wide of the left-hand post.

29:45

Effort on goal by Marek Matejovsky from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

29:31

Corner taken by Ladislav Krejci from the right by-line, Gary Cahill makes a clearance.

29:03

Tomas Prikryl takes a shot. Save by Petr Cech.

27:43

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ladislav Krejci from the right by-line.

27:21

Centre by Ladislav Krejci, Gary Cahill manages to make a clearance.

27:07

Inswinging corner taken by Ladislav Krejci, Gary Cahill makes a clearance.

24:38

Nascimento Ramires fouled by David Lafata, the ref awards a free kick. Strike comes in from Juan Mata from the free kick.

22:37

Effort from just outside the box by David Lafata goes over the bar.

21:21

Centre by Cesar Azpilicueta, clearance made by Ondrej Svejdik.

21:10

A cross is delivered by Nascimento Ramires, Ondrej Svejdik manages to make a clearance.

20:19

The ball is swung over by Vaclav Kadlec, Victor Moses makes a clearance.

16:09

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tomas Prikryl by Nascimento Ramires. Direct free kick taken by Tomas Prikryl.

19:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Vaclav Kadlec by John Terry. Direct free kick taken by Lukas Vacha.

16:21

Assist by Vaclav Kadlec.

16:21 Goal scored

Goal - David Lafata - Chelsea 0 - 1 Sp Prague David Lafata grabs a goal from close in high into the middle of the goal. Chelsea 0 (1)-(1) 1 Sparta Prague.

16:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nascimento Ramires on Tomas Prikryl. Free kick taken by Lukas Vacha.

14:23

Corner taken left-footed by Juan Mata from the right by-line to the near post, Close range headed effort by Fernando Torres goes wide of the left-hand post.

13:29

The offside flag is raised against Vaclav Kadlec. Free kick taken by Petr Cech.

12:26

Centre by Ryan Bertrand, save by Tomas Vaclik.

10:36

Close range strike by Fernando Torres goes over the bar.

10:11

Matej Hybs crosses the ball, save made by Petr Cech.

8:24

Ladislav Krejci is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Petr Cech.

8:12

Nascimento Ramires concedes a free kick for a foul on Marek Matejovsky. Direct free kick taken by Ondrej Svejdik.

6:46

The ball is crossed by Fernando Torres, clearance by Lukas Vacha.

5:39

Corner taken left-footed by Juan Mata to the near post, clearance by Tomas Zapotocny.

5:21

Emboaba Oscar produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.

4:39

Unfair challenge on Juan Mata by Tomas Zapotocny results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mikel.

3:43

Fernando Torres produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

1:08

Emboaba Oscar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lukas Vacha. Free kick taken by Ondrej Svejdik.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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