A second-half Cluj goal pegged Chelsea back after Salomon Kalou's opener but then entered substitute Didier Drogba.

His impact was swift, scoring just minutes after coming on to ensure the Blues were through regardless of the score in Rome. In Italy it ended with a home win to give Roma top spot in the group.

Drogba was back on the bench in a selection that saw just one change to the starting line-up, Joe Cole coming in for suspended Frank Lampard and playing wide on the right with Deco moving inside.

The first save of the game was by Petr Cech, only managing to push away a 30-yard grasscutter from advanced full-back Pereira. John Terry tidied up.

If anything, Cluj enjoyed the territorial advantage in the first 10 minutes but then Chelsea began to settle. Deco lobbed a cross towards the penalty spot from the right which the keeper claimed above the head of Ballack and then Alex leapt from a Deco free-kick but his downward header bounced off the turf and over the bar.

But then on 17 minutes Cluj themselves went close, Mikel, under high pressure from Juan Culio, clearing athletically from Alcantara's attempt. There were signs this was going to be no cruise against an already eliminated side.

On 25 minutes came the best Chelsea attack yet, Ballack crossing low to Joe Cole who drifted to the right of goal before smashing a shot a couple of yards wide.

Seven minutes later, Kalou worked himself space 20 yards out but his well-struck shot deflected up off a Cluj defender and over the target.

The game's first yellow card was the result of a foul on Ballack, not the first time the German had been felled. Trica was the offender.

From the free-kick, Chelsea took a pressure-lifting lead. It was Deco who initially took charge, his ball from deep allowed all the way through to Kalou just eight yards out. Terry was tumbling under a challenge nearby but any penalty debate was soon quelled as Kalou took one touch then smashed his shot home.

Suddenly, the Chelsea dressing room at half-time was to be a much calmer place.

It took until seven minutes after the restart for Scolari's men to threaten the Cluj goal again, Joe Cole given two bites of the cherry by a Pereira mistake after his control had initially deserted him. The eventual shot was straight at Nuno Claro who minutes later was charging down a close-range effort from Anelka.

It was a positive start but on 54 minutes, Cluj advanced down the Chelsea left and a cross found Kone beyond Alex at the far post. The Ivorian's header was perfectly-placed beyond Cech's reach and into the top corner.

Roma at this point in the evening scored against Bordeaux, placing Chelsea less at peril, but Scolari still decided it was time to send for Drogba, Kalou removed with 64 minutes gone with the team not looking right.

It took just six minutes for our returning front man to find the net and ease a few nerves, with a big helping hand from Mikel's surging run and Joe Cole's clever ball over the defence. Drogba's finish was low and emphatic.

Belletti was a 73rd minute sub for Joe Cole and within two minutes was in the book for a late challenge on Pereira. Mikel later followed for a lunge on Dani.

Belletti made a more positive impact on 81 minutes, his long, low drive drawing a messy save from Nuno Claro. There was a better stop from the Cluj keeper soon after from a stinging Ballack drive.

Anelka drew another, more comfortable stop in injury time but the Blues had not pushed hard for a third. The win was welcome even if the performance was rarely smooth, no player able to say he was at the top of his game.

However it was at least back to winning ways at Stamford Bridge. We enter the draw a week on Friday knowing we will face a team finishing top in their group.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel (Bridge 87); J Cole (Belletti 73), Ballack, Deco, Kalou (Drogba 64); Anelka.
Scorers Kalou 39, Drogba 70.
Booked Belletti 75, Mikel 80.

Cluj (4-2-3-1): Nuno Claro; Panin, Cadu (c), Alcantara, Alvaro Pereira; Dani, Muresan; Dubarbier (E Koné 59), Trica (Peralta 71), Juan Culio; Y Koné.
Scorer Koné 54
Booked Trica 39, Juan Culio 90.