Roman revolution is in motion

LONDON: From his yacht moored somewhere off Alaska where he is doing business, Roman Abramovich watched by special satellite the first competitive match involving Chelsea since he invested £215 million to buy the club, clear its debts, and buy fresh players. 

Chelsea did not let him or his US$356 million down. The team - half of it new, the rest there before Abramovich moved in on July 1 - did a thoroughly professional job in beating Zilina, 2-0, on Wednesday night in the shadow of the Carpathian mountains, in Slovakia. The contest isn't over, though the task of qualifying to play in the Champions League itself is more than half won ahead of the second leg at Chelsea's London home.