Chelsea waltzed into the Champions League for the first time in the club's history with an assured and ultimately professional performance in Latvia to dismiss the weak challenge of Skonto Riga.
Holding an unassailable 3-0 lead from the first leg at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago, Gianluca Vialli's side were never seriously troubled during the entire 90 minutes.
The only possible criticism could be that they failed to make the most of a handful of chances to score but then again, with no bookings or injuries and a clean sheet, little more was required of the side on the night. It was a no-frills performance that led to a match which was hardly compulsive viewing. Achieving victory was all that mattered, given not only the pride but also the potentially lucrative financial bonanza on offer at stake to join the elite of European football in the group stages of the competition.
The job still had to be done and with Marcel Desailly and Jes Hogh assured at the back, Jody Morris and Dennis Wise adeptly controlled the game from midfield with their industry, simple passes and determination to constantly make themselves available.
The visitors had all of three pot-shots on goal in the opening period, when Chelsea should have easily taken the lead on the rare occasions that they raised the tempo above walking pace.
Tore Andre Flo was only denied by an outstanding reflex save by keeper Aleksandrs Kolinko, while Hogh headed the ensuing corner narrowly wide.
With Chris Sutton and Gianfranco Zola both rested, Mikael Forssell was Flo's strike partner and the young Finnish forward bustled around up front and put a glancing header just inches wide.
Even a flurry of late corners for the home side came to nothing and Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli was able to give experience to fringe players Carlo Cudicini, Jon Harley and Mark Nicholls as his side assured their Champions League place.
Skonto Riga: Kolinko, Silagadze, Zemlinskis, Blagonabezdins, Rekhviashvili, Bleidelis (Menteshashvili 75), Rubins, Miholaps, Laizans (Kolesnicenko 87), Astafjevs, Chaladze (Babichev 63). Subs Not Used: Stephnous, Piedels, Korgalidze, Olsanskis. Booked: Laizans.
Chelsea: De Goey (Cudicini 79), Petrescu, Babayaro, Hogh, Desailly, Poyet (Nicholls 64), Wise, Goldbaek (Harley 83), Flo, Morris, Forssell. Subs Not Used: Leboeuf, Sutton, Zola, Clement.
Referee: G Veissiere (France).
