Slavia Prague 0-1 Chelsea: Marcos Alonso nets late winner in Europa League quarter-final

Chelsea players celebrate scoring their only goal against Slavia Prague in the Europa League [Courtesy]

Marcos Alonso struck late to give Chelsea one foot in the Europa League semi-finals.

On a chilly Prague evening, the Spaniard pounced just four minutes from time to settle a scrappy affair, with his third goal of the season.

Alonso has been a bit-part player in recent weeks after seeing a dip in form, but his header from Willian's cross ensures Maurizio Sarri's favourites for the competition are in the driving seat ahead of next week's home leg at Stamford Bridge.

Sarri left Eden Hazard on the bench early on, and Chelsea were lethargic before the break - save a Willian effort that thudded the crossbar.

After 58 minutes, Hazard was thrown into the fray and immediately livened things up.

The Belgian's arrival led to Chelsea almost instantly breaking through with Antonio Rudiger's low shot brilliantly turned over the bar by goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar’s foot.

Then Willian got away on the left himself, and his low angled shot skimmed an inch past the far post.

Jorginho had the ball in the net, but it was disallowed.

And it looked as though things would end goalless - before Loftus-Cheek, on as a sub, found Willian, and his centre was met by Alonso.