Nemanja Matic scored the goal to give Chelsea three Champions League Group points as the Londoners won in Lisbon against Sporting 1-0 this evening.
In truth, the Blues should have won much more easily but were Neglect in goal and were faced with an inspired goalkeeper in Rui Patricio.
Nine minutes from the break former Benfica midfielder Matic was unchallenged at the far post and his looping header was too good for Patricio.
Nani, for the home side was the best player for Sporting, but the in-loan Manchester United winger could not force a worthwhile save from Thiabaut Courtois.
Diego Costa had a golden chance to open his Champions League scoring account for the Blues after just two minutes when he was sent clear. The Spain striker who has already scored eight goals in six league matches but opened to side foot the ball. Sporting goalkeeper Patricio stuck out his left leg and defected the ball away for a corner.
Andre Schurrle had a great chance on 15 minutes when, after excellent one-two play with Costa , saw the German dance around Rui Patricio but the stopper recovered well and smothered his angled effort.
The home side's wide man Adrien Silva whipped in a viscous left wing cross on 19 minutes. The ball was too high for John Terry and fell invitingly to the head of Slimani, but the striker could not get too much power on the header and Thiabout Courtois easily plucked the ball out of the air.
Live wire Schurrle definitely should have put the Blues ahead three minutes later, but he somehow managed to shoot wide of goal after excellent set-up play on the right by Eden Hazard.
Sporting's full back Carvalho entered ref Mateu Lahoz's book for hauling down Hazard on 25 minutes.
Inevitably the Blues' pressure paid off on 34 minutes and The goal came from an unlikely source in the shape of Nemanja Matic. The former Benfica midfielder found himself free at the far post from a deep Cesc Fabregas free-kick And his looping header went back across the path of Patricio and into his far corner of the net.
Joao Mario was next in the Spanish referee's book for what looked like dissent with two minutes of the half remaining.
Neither manager made any changes at halftime but it was Nani, a loanee from Manchester United who had the first effort of the restart when he saw his curling right-foot inch wide of Courtois's left upright two minutes in.
A period of end-to-end football ensured with Nani looking the most likely to do the most damage To Chelsea and Costa and Oscar having excellent chances to extend the visitors' lead.
Jose Mourinho decided to replace Schurrle with Willian on 57 minutes. The German not having the best of luck with his chances and suffering the consequences.
Branislav Ivanovic then upended Carrillo and received a yellow card as Sporting sensed that a goal was beckoning.
The yellow card was brandished again, this time for Sporting's Mauricio as he hacked down Costa as the striker was bearing down on goal. The centre-back in fact got the worst of the challenge and he was carried off to be replaced by Paulo Oliveira.
With Sporting pushing forward, Mourinho replaced Oscar with defensive-minded Mikel on 70 minutes. Hazard was next in the book for tripping Nani following a typical country-attack by Sporting.
Cedric then scythed down Hazard for a yellow and then Luis entered the book for a foul. The ref was throwing around yellow cards like confetti, but to be fair, each was deserved.
With Costa supposedly suffering from a hamstring problem, it did not seem to worry him as he sprinted 50 yards before blasting the ball into Sporting's side-netting as the clock ticked down to 81 minutes.
Mohamed Salah entered the fray on 86 minutes as Mourinho took of a clearly frustrated but already booked Hazard.
A nice break by the Blues, keeping possession well, saw Willian set up Luis on the left but the full-back screwed the ball across but wide of goal.
Substitute Montero had a fine chance with seconds to go bit his powerful header zipped just over Courtois's goal.
Salah, deep into added time, then forced Patricio into a brilliant save after Fabregas bisected the Sporting defence with a clever ball.
Fabregas was then the fourth Chelsea player to get a yellow card for a foul.
That was the last action of the game and three points was in the bag.
Teams: Chelsea, Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Luis, Hazard, Matic, Fabregas, Schurrle, Oscar, Costa
Substitutes: Cech, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Mikel, Salah, Willian, Remy
Sporting Lisbon, Rui Patricio (c); 41.Cedric, 29.Sarr, 3.Mauricio, 33.Silva; 14.Carvalho; 18.Carrillo, 17.Joao Mario, 23.Adrien Silva, 77.Nani; 9.Slimani
Substitutes: 22.Marcelo, 4.Jefferson, 26.Paulo Oliveira, 8.Andre Martins, 24.Oriol Rossel, 10.Montero, 11.Capel
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)