Sutton dismissal spoils Chelsea's smooth showing

Deschamps and Ferrer score first goals for Vialli's side to ease past Berlin and into the next round

Didier Deschamps and Albert Ferrer know what it takes to win a European Cup; it takes all the usual ingredients like ability, consistency and luck plus that little something unexpected.

Didier Deschamps and Albert Ferrer know what it takes to win a European Cup; it takes all the usual ingredients like ability, consistency and luck plus that little something unexpected.

Last night the pair delivered just that, scoring their first goals in Chelsea colours to ensure the West London club a smooth passage to the next stage of the Champions' League. However, their joy was tarnished by the late dismissal of Chris Sutton for two yellow cards.

Deschamps, a champion with Marseilles and Juventus, struck after 11 minutes to ease any early nerves. Ferrer, a winner with Barcelona, added a second almost on half-time.

Hertha were poor but still progress because of Milan's shock 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray in Istanbul last night.

Vialli, tactically out-foxed in Berlin, had Graham Rix alongside him in the Stamford Bridge dug-out for the first time since his return from jail. Between them they sprung a surprise by including three strikers with Gianfranco Zola and Tore Andre Flo playing behind Sutton. Chelsea, at least, were not going to be tarred with accusations that he sent his team out to draw a "fake match".

Berlin appeared to have more negative intent with Thomas Helmer, who sat on the Sunderland bench and watched Chelsea destroy his then-club 4-0 in the opening game of the season, recalled in defence. However, they began brightly with Tony Sanneh twice threatening in the opening five minutes.

Chelsea, who had left Franck Leboeuf on the bench nursing his ankle injury, had every incentive. Professional pride and desire were coupled with a pecuniary motive for player and club. Reaching the Champions' League had been worth £5m, making the next stage was worth another £5m. Of this £25,000-a-man was earmarked for the squad. A substantial part of the rest may well have been destined to service the £7m-a-year interest on borrowing for the still incomplete West Stand development.

There was one other incentive, and this will have mattered most to the players. Victory, and poor results elsewhere for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, would put Chelsea into the top seeding group in tomorrow's draw enabling them to avoid Lazio and Barcelona, the two favourites.

It was no surprise, therefore, that after riding the early storm from Hertha, Chelsea pushed forward. The pressure told after 11 minutes as Deschamps, seizing on a loose pass from Sanneh, won the ball in midfield then sent a rising shot into the net from 25 yards.

A minute later Flo could have doubled the lead but, after driving into the box and endlessly turning his defender, he shot across the face of the goal. "Are you watching Arsenal?" came the chant, a reference to the Gunners' failure to survive the opening round of the Champions' League.

A Zola free-kick brought a tumbling save from Gabor Kiraly, Marcel Desailly volleyed wide and Dan Petrescu shot over as Chelsea searched for the goal that would seal their progress.

Kai Michalke briefly raised the siege with a 25-yard shot but it typified the Germans' first-half performance being well over.

Dennis Wise, the game's outstanding player, then brought an excellent save from Kiraly before creating the second. Rescuing a poor pass from Zola he traded passes with Deschamps and Flo before finding Ferrer's run with a beautiful chip. The Spaniard scored with great coolness considering it being his first goal, in his 58th appearance, for Chelsea.

Berlin emerged for the second half with two changes in personnel and a significant one in attitude. They knew if Milan scored in Turkey - they were 1-1 at half-time - they would need two goals in London. Attack was required.

After 51 minutes Sebastian Deisler, showing a hint of the talent that has made him the great hope of German football, beat Ferrer on the left, cut in and hit the inside of the far post. Six minutes later, Kjetil Rekdal brought a good save from Ed de Goey - his first of the night - with a volley.

Not that Chelsea were sitting back. Flo, again, flashed a shot across the goal when he should have done better and Wise headed into Kiraly's arms. Deschamps then almost chipped the goalkeeper from 40 yards as Chelsea regained control.

Hertha kept pressing but they had no Kanu to snatch a 15-minute hat-trick and the game appeared to be drifting to a tame close when Sutton, who had already been booked, clattered Rekdal. The Swedish referee, a lord mayor in his home town, dismissed the £10m striker. Unlike his team-mates, he will not be playing when the Champions' League resumes.

Chelsea (4-3-1-2): De Goey; Ferrer, Hogh (Leboeuf, 65), Desailly (Lambourde, 84), Babayaro; Petrescu, Deschamps, Wise, Zola (Poyet, 63); Flo, Sutton. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Ambrosetti, Morris, Forssell.

Hertha Berlin (4-4-2): Kiraly; Rekdal, Van Burik, Wosz (Kostantinidis, h-t); Sanneh, Deisler, Helmer (Schmidt, 57), Sverrisson, Michalke; Daei, Preetz (Aracic, h-t). Substitutes not used: Fiedler (gk), Herzog, Neuendorf, Thom.

Referee: K Nilsson (Sweden).