(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-29 10:04

TRONDHEIM - Two goals by Didier Drogba and strikes by Alex and Joe Cole propelled Chelsea into the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday after a 4-0 win over Rosenborg Trondheim.

Chelsea's Alex (3) is congratulated by John Terry (to his right) and teammates after he scored the third goal against Rosenborg during their Champions League Group B soccer match at Lerkendal Stadium in Trondheim November 28, 2007. [Agencies]

Drogba scored twice from close range in the first 20 minutes after powerful runs by Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips through a porous Rosenborg defence.

Alex added a third near the end of the first half with a powerful freekick from distance before Cole completed the rout in the 73rd minute, pouncing on a badly cleared save by Rosenborg keeper Lars Hirschfeld.

Chelsea, with a match to play, are guaranteed to go through as winners of Group B. The Premier League side have 11 points, followed by Rosenborg on seven, Schalke 04 on five and Valencia prop up the group on four points.

"We are a big club. We want to go to finals We hope to do it this year," Chelsea coach Avram Grant told reporters. "We play happy football, better from game to game and we will continue this process."

Playing with Drogba as the lone striker, Chelsea penetrated Rosenborg's backline with ease in frigid conditions in Norway.

Chelsea could have easily added to their total with a short-range effort from Wright-Phillips, which hit the post. Substitutes Andriy Shevchenko and Salomon Kalou also missed scoring chances late in the match.

Rosenborg need to avoid defeat when they travel to Schalke on December 11 to reach the last 16.

"We lost all the passes that we got (to) in Valencia," Rosenborg coach Trond Henriksen said, referring to his squad's 2-0 victory in Spain. "Maybe we had too much respect for Drogba but he is a good player, and tough to stop physically."