Goalie's blunder helps Blues

LONDON - CHELSEA were finally served a slice of luck on Tuesday.

A terrible blunder by Porto's goalkeeper Helton helped them to a 2-1 win and a quarter-final spot in the Champions League.

Not that Jose Mourinho was willing to admit it. Not after spending much of the season bemoaning Chelsea's injuries and Manchester United's good fortune with late goals, kind referees and even kinder penalties.

'A great goalkeeper made a mistake. But if we had not scored in the 48th minute, we would have scored in the 49th. I was always cool,' he said.

With charismatic arrogance, he claimed the credit.

He said it was his half-time talk in the dressing room, with Chelsea trailing 0-1, that turned defeat into progress at Stamford Bridge.

'Psychologically, I told my team to think that at that moment we are out of the competition. We could either enjoy it or be scared of it,' he said.

'I said that if we were scared, we would go out. I said, let's enjoy being under pressure. This is possible sometimes, to show quality and personality.

'Our reaction was very positive. And, when we came out to score in minute three of the second half, it gave extra confidence. We were very, very strong mentally.'

Chelsea were anything but that in a first-half dominated by Mourinho's former team, the stylish Ricardo Quaresma and the tactics of coach Jesualdo Ferreira, reported The Independent.

The visitors, starting without a central striker, had Quaresma and Lisandro Lopez running down the flanks, prompted brilliantly by Lucho Gonzalez.

All three were involved in Porto's 15th-minute goal. Lopez was caught by a late tackle from the disappointing Claude Makelele, but still slipped a pass through to Gonzalez.

The angle of the Argentinian's instant pass allowed Quaresma to sprint through, crack Chelsea's off-side trap and poke the ball past goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The Blues missed John Terry's defensive qualities and calming influence.

Then came Mourinho's team talk.

But no one could have planned for Helton's amateurish goalkeeping three minutes after the re-start.

Arjen Robben's shot from outside the area bobbled, before Helton helped it into the net.

'I made a mistake,' the goalkeeper admitted. 'The ball bounced in front of me and I didn't react correctly. I take full responsibility.'

Chelsea's winning strike came 11 minutes from time.

Jon Obi Mikel, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba were involved in the build up, but Michael Ballack took the plaudits when he volleyed home from Andriy Shevchenko's knock down.

Chelsea, winning 3-2 on aggregate, progressed further than they did last season, when they were knocked out at this stage by Barcelona.

The Special One was, for once, the Lucky One.

Not that he will admit it.