Chelsea cruised into the Europa League quarterfinals as Olivier Giroud's hat-trick helped secure a resounding 5-0 win over Dynamo Kiev at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday.
The Blues travelled to Ukraine with a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg in London a week ago and any faint hopes that Alyaksandr Khatskevich's side had of clawing its way back into the tie were extinguished by Giroud's fifth-minute opener.
The Frenchman added a second shortly after the half-hour mark before Marcos Alonso tapped in a third just before the interval.
Giroud completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute and Callum Hudson-Odoi added a fifth 12 minutes from time as Maurizio Sarri's side made it four wins from its last five games in all competitions.
Fresh from his call-up to the France squad earlier on Thursday, Giroud got Chelsea up and running when Willian's corner was deflected into his path six yards out and the 32-year-old had the simple task of steering home.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was denied by a fine Denys Boyko save soon after before Giroud grabbed his second in the 33rd minute by applying a superb finishing touch to Alonso's cross from 12 yards.
Provider then turned scorer on the stroke of half-time when Alonso prodded in from close-range after smart play down the right by Hudson-Odoi.
Serhiy Sydorchuk was denied by Kepa Arrizabalaga and the post in quick succession after the restart before Giroud brought up his hat-trick just before the hour with a neat header from Willian's free-kick.
Not long after Alonso crashed a free-kick against the crossbar, the impressive Hudson-Odoi sealed a memorable away day by collecting Giroud's pass and clipping past Boyko.
Key Opta Facts:
- Chelsea's 8-0 aggregate win over Dynamo Kyiv is its second biggest European victory over two legs, the other being a 21-0 aggregate win over Jeunesse Hautcharage in the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1971-72.
- It took Dynamo Kiev 140 minutes to direct a shot on target against Chelsea in the Europa League this season, managing none in the first leg and its first in 49 minutes in the second leg.
- Olivier Giroud has netted nine goals in European competition for Chelsea this season, the most for the club in a single season since Fernando Torres in 2012-13 (9).
- Courtesy of his left foot, right foot and headed goals, Olivier Giroud scored the first 'perfect' hat-trick in any competition for Chelsea since Didier Drogba in May 2010 in the Premier League against Wigan Athletic.
What's next?
Chelsea returns to Premier League action on Sunday with a trip to Everton, while Dynamo travels to Olimpik Donetsk on the same day in the Ukrainian Premier League.
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