Willian scored a sensational goal, but it was not enough as the Blues went down 2-1 in Porto this evening in the second Champions League Group G match in Portugal.
Chelsea's inability to manage the early part of recent matches seems to have been safely negotiated until six minutes before the break when they went behind to a volley from Andre Andre.
But, with the last kick of the first period, Willian stepped up to smash home a sensational free kick to equalise.
But barely six minutes into the restart and the Blues were caught with a sucker punch from a corner when Maicon stooped to glance how near-post header past Asmir Begovic.
Diego Costa returned to the side, as his domestic suspension does not affect European matches but skipper John Terry was on again on the bench and did not feature at all.
Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic were dropped but both came on as substitutes, but never made a sufficient impact.
Chelsea face Southampton at the Bridge on Saturday in a return to league action.
Teams: Porto (4-4-1-1): Casillas, Maxi Pereira, Maicon, Marcano, Martins Indi; André (Layun 80), Danilo, Rúben Neves (Evandro 78), Imbula; Brahimi (Osvaldo 86); Aboubakar.
Unused subs: Helton, Corona, Tello, Bueno.
Booked Martins Indi 19, Marcano 25
Goals Andre 39, Maicon 52
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Ivanovic (c), Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Mikel (Hazard 62), Fabregas; Ramires (Matic 73), Willian, Pedro (Kenedy 73); Diego Costa.
Unused subs: Blackman, Terry , Baba, Loftus-Cheek.
Booked Cahill 41, Azpilicueta 66, Matic 79
Goals Willian 45
Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)