Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park in a game that failed to take off until well into the second have, with both goals coming within 30 minutes of the full-time whistle.
Louis Saha kept up appearances against Chelsea once again scoring against the London outfit, but substitute Soloman Kalou equalised for the visitors with a great strike from just inside the Everton area.
The first-half was a drab affair with neither team posing any danger to each other. Marouanne Fellaini began the first real threat of the match relieving the ball from Ashley Cole and putting Seamus Coleman through onto Petr Cech, but the Chelsea keeper did well to stop the young Irishman’s shot. Both teams were passing well, but couldn’t finish off their moves and led to a frustrating 45 minutes for the spectators who were possibly expected a more clinical display of football.
The lacking in spectacle carried on from the start of the second-half with neither team finding any consistency. However, the fans were treated to a goal on the 62nd minute when a Leighton Baines corner from the right met Louis Saha’s head who carried on with his haunting of Chelsea with his 11th goal against the club. Just over 10 minutes later the visitors struck back with an exceptional counter-attack from an Everton chance that should have made it 2-0 to the home side. The ball was played out of the Chelsea area and was played up-field eventually finding substitute Soloman Kalou, who blasted the ball past Tim Howard and into the corner of the net. Both teams had efforts that could have brought them winners, but neither could penetrate each other’s defences with both goalkeepers staying strong till the end.
It took until the 11th minute for the action to heat up with Everton playing some attractive passing football, Baines found Diniyar Bilyaletiniov on the left side of the Chelsea box who lofted the ball towards goal, but Seamus Coleman couldn’t head it on target.
The Russian midfielder was in the mix again just minutes later as he was found in the box with no man on him, but his shot was too weak to test Petr Cech properly.
John Terry was the first visitor to scare Everton when a Florent Malouda corner came in and Terry met it with his head with the ball just going over and out for a goal-kick.
The first real chance of the game went o Everton when Marouanne Fellaini caught Ashley Cole out in possession and quickly put Coleman through on Cech, but the goalkeeper did well to save the young midfielder’s shot.
Bilyaletiniov had another chance with a free header in the box, however the Everton man couldn’t challenge the visitor’s ‘keeper, nodding it straight into his hands.
Chelsea had an honest chance in the 31st minute after Ramires placed a through ball in for Nicolas Anelka whose powerful shot bulleted off of Tim Howard.
Malouda got himself in the action again with a shot far out that tested Everton’s American ‘keeper, who put it out for a corner with a strong save.
As the first-half drew to a close, it was evident that both teams had played an even game in the first 45 minutes, which was reflected in the possession count. Neither side had finished many moves and it had made for inconsistent phases of play.However, before the teams went in for their half-time break, Mikel Arteta had time to scare Cech and Chelsea with a long range effort that scampered past the outside of the post.
Everton were also there to kick-start the second-half when Coleman took the ball from a stray pass from Chelsea captain John Terry, leading to the young Irishman to put the ball in the away side’s box for Lois Saha stood at the far post to volley the ball into the oncoming Ramires who blocked it out for a corner.
Fellaini got close soon after with a powerful header from an Arteta free-kick which Petr Cech managed to get a hand to and put it behind.
The Lois Saha curse on Chelsea continued in this game with the Frenchman scoring his 11th goal against the West London club. An in swinging corner from Leighton Baines found the striker in the middle of the box who darted away from his marker John Terry to create a free header that Cech was powerless to save.
After a great chance for Coleman was wasted from close range, Chelsea were immediately on the counter-attack when they got their equalising goal. The ball was quickly out of the visitor’s box and a succession of perfect passes through across the pitch led to recently brought on Soloman Kalou who struck it well from the angle and into the corner of Howard’s net.
Ramires could have made it 2-1 for Ancelotti’s side with a cracking effort with his right-foot that seemed to be heading in the opposite corner of Kalou’s goal, but the swerving shot smashed against the post and out for a goal-kick to the relief of the home fans.Jermain Beckford was brought on in the dying minutes and was immediately contributing to the action with a excellent volley after Ivanovic misjudged the ball into the path of the former Leeds man, the shot came quickly toward Cech’s top corner, but the ‘keeper was able to make a great save, turning the ball out for a corner.
The score-line remained the same till the end and now both will have to stick it out again back at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.
Showing posts with label FA Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FA Cup. Show all posts
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Title holders Chelsea are finally back in track after the worst ever run in the club history for the past few months. They thrashed Ipswich for 7-0 at Stamfordbridge with the midfield mastero Lampard and budding striker Daniel Sturridge claiming a brace each. Anelka and Kalou filled the rest along with an own goal by Carlos Edwards.
Ofcourse Ipswich is a relatively weak side when compared to Chelsean standards though when considering the recent form , everyone expected it to be a close game. Manager Ancelotti can have a bit of releif now as his Chair has been under fire for quite some time now. Hope The CHampions carry this form into other leagues also.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti created history as Didier Drogba's second-half winner sank Portsmouth and sealed the London club's first Premier League and FA Cup double.
Drogba's precise free-kick just before the hour mark was the decisive moment of an incident-packed FA Cup final in which Chelsea hit the woodwork five times in the first half and both sides also missed from the penalty spot.
Chelsea - who become only the seventh club to win the coveted domestic Double - were again grateful to the prolific Drogba, who kept up his remarkable record of scoring in each of his six games at Wembley with his 37th goal of the season.
He scored only minutes after Pompey's Kevin-Prince Boateng saw his half-hit penalty saved by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech - and in that moment Pompey's chances of repeating their victory of two years ago effectively disappeared.
Chelsea were even able to survive a rare penalty miss by Frank Lampard in the closing minutes when he shot wide from the spot after he had been brought down by Michael Brown.
The margin of victory belied Chelsea's superiority, especially in a remarkable first half when Lampard, John Terry, Salomon Kalou and Drogba, on two occasions, all struck the frame of the goal.
606: DEBATE
One of the most open FA cup finals. Credit to Pompey for playing attacking football all season
assoosse
Portsmouth bravely held on but wasted their own big chances in the shape of Boateng's penalty miss and a Frederic Piquionne effort from six yards that was scrambled away by Cech before the break.
It is a victory that caps a remarkable campaign for Ancelotti - and there was a personal honour for defender Ashley Cole, who became the most decorated player in FA Cup history by picking up his sixth winner's medal.
Pompey battled with the resolve that has taken them to Wembley against a background of financial meltdown and relegation to the Championship under manager Avram Grant.
But Chelsea had the extra weaponry when it mattered to deprive the Fratton Park club of any consolation at the end of a troubled campaign.
And Ancelotti, the modest and dignified Italian, took another step towards banishing the ghost of Jose Mourinho from Stamford Bridge by writing a new chapter in the club's record books.
Lampard was first to feel the woodwork frustration when, after shooting inches wide, he glanced the outside of the post with a swerving effort from 20 yards that left James helpless.
Pompey had performed with great heart throughout a Cup run that had salvaged something from the wreckage of their season and they should have gone ahead after 21 minutes.
Boateng volleyed Aruna Dindane's cross into the six-yard area and Piqiuonne's instinctive finish was met with equally sharp reflexes from Cech, who clawed away the ball.
The rest of the opening period was a tale of sustained Chelsea pressure, with Pompey hanging on via a mixture of brave defence and outrageous good fortune.
Kalou was guilty of a dreadful miss after 26 minutes, hitting the bar from almost on the line after Cole delivered a cross that seemed impossible to miss.
Chelsea captain Terry rose in towering fashion to head Florent Malouda's free-kick against the bar before Drogba then thought he had finally given Chelsea the lead.
The Ivorian's 30-yard free-kick took Portsmouth by surprise but James - the oldest goalkeeper to play in an FA Cup final at 39 years and 287 days - reacted to turn it on to the bar and down on to the goalline. The officials remained unmoved as Chelsea appealed for a goal but replays showed the ball did not fully cross the line.
There was still time for Drogba to hit the post again, this time from an acute angle, as Portsmouth somehow remained on terms at the interval.
And their spirits soared after 54 minutes when Juliano Belletti, on as a first-half substitute for Michael Ballack, who suffered an ankle injury, brought down Boateng as he raced into the area.
Referee Chris Foy had an easy decision to point to the spot - but Cech's save was just as easy from Boateng's woeful penalty.
And the dire consequences of the miss were emphasised five minutes later when Drogba ended the charmed life the Pompey goal had led. The positioning of keeper James may be questioned but Drogba's placement was perfect, scoring low in the corner via the upright.
Kalou then dragged a finish wide from a good position, his final contribution as he was replaced by Joe Cole with 20 minutes left. Cole received a huge ovation from the Chelsea fans amid growing speculation this could be his final game for the club before quitting on a free transfer.
And he almost scored with his first touch after Drogba saw his shot saved by James at the near post. Drogba then teed up Cole - but he miscued his effort and the chance was gone.
Chelsea were given the opportunity to give the scoreline a more convincing appearance when Lampard was fouled inside the area by Brown but he contributed to the seemingly endless drama by kicking wide.
Pompey, however, were unable to profit from the reprieve and Chelsea added the FA Cup to the Premier League crown they clinched last Sunday.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
In a game largely ruined by the latest incarnation of the much-maligned Wembley pitch, Didier Drogba broke the deadlock midway through the second half before late goals by Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard made the scoreline look more emphatic than was deserved.
Villa responded to losing 7-1 to the Premier League leaders a fortnight earlier with a performance of industry and desire and their manager Martin O'Neill will also believe his side should have had a first-half penalty when Jon Mikel Obi clumsily felled Gabriel Agbonlahor inside the area.
O'Neill was hoping for his first FA Cup final in 40 years as a player and manager but instead it will be Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, in his first season in the English game, who will lead his side out against Tottenham or Portsmouth on 22 May.
Hopefully, that game will take place on a different surface after the Wembley pitch, which was re-laid for the 10th time after England's win over Egypt in last month's friendly, again proved hopelessly inadequate for a showpiece match.
Players from both sides struggled to stay on their feet in the opening stages and it seemed to particularly affect Chelsea, whose usual fluid style was nowhere to be seen in the first half hour, save for an individual effort by Joe Cole that saw him cut in from the left and fire narrowly wide.
As well as the turf, Villa were also doing their best to stop the Blues from hitting their stride by working hard to limit any space for Lampard in midfield and chasing back when Cole or Malouda tried to attack down the wings.
O'Neill's men were also growing in confidence coming forward and, after 15 minutes, they threatened for the first time when the industrious James Milner was unlucky to see his low shot skid inches wide.
That was the cue for a spell of concerted Villa pressure but it was Chelsea's turn to show resilience at the back, admittedly assisted by referee Howard Webb.
To most observers at Wembley, it looked a stonewall spot-kick when Agbonlahor turned Obi in the box before being bundled over but Webb, despite being perfectly placed, waved play on.
It was the second major decision to go against Villa at Wembley this season, following the incident in their Carling Cup final defeat at the hands of Manchester United that saw Nemanja Vidic avoid a red card when he conceded a penalty - and understandably O'Neill reacted furiously on the touchline after being denied again.
But, on the pitch, his players kept their focus and Chelsea were lucky to escape again when Petr Cech missed Stewart Downing's cross and only a flick from Terry diverted the ball out of John Carew's path at the far post.
The Blues did improve before the break and it took a brave block by Stephen Warnock to deny Drogba when he met Florent Malouda's pull-back from the left.
Defeat is hard to take - O'Neill
But, aside from a Cole snap-shot on the turn on the stroke of half-time, Ancelotti's men looked blunt going forward and were a shadow of the side that had plundered 14 goals in their three preious matches.
The chances had dried up for Villa too, however, and although Carew headed wide from Downing's corner in the first minute of the second-half, the game degenerated into a midfield scrap that was badly in need of a goal.
The breakthrough duly came after 67 minutes, with Drogba - as he has been so many times this season - in the right place at the right time to find the net.
Richard Dunne did brilliantly to deny the big Ivory Coast striker when he skipped inside James Collins and made for goal, but did rather less well from the resulting corner.
Dunne's headed clearance only reached John Terry on the edge of the area, and his first-time shot was turned in by Drogba, who was lurking inside the six-yard box.
That was not quite the end for Villa, who continued to come forward, but the balls they were hoisting into the box were laced more with hope than any real menace.
They might have had more hope had Webb chosen to send Terry off for his dreadful challenge on his England team-mate Milner, but the official decided a yellow card would suffice.
Instead, with O'Neill committing more and more men forward, Chelsea were left to exploit the gaps left at the back - which they did in ruthless fashion in the closing minutes.
Malouda rounded off a fine passing move with a sweet back-post finish to make it 2-0 and Lampard practically walked the ball into the net when he met substitute Nicolas Anelka's pass from another swift breakaway.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
John Terry will grab the headlines for all the right reasons after scoring Chelsea's second goal to help them sink Stoke and reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
The home skipper has been the subject of a host of allegations about his private life of late, but headed in a Frank Lampard corner to seal the win.
Lampard himself opened the scoring when his 20-yard drive was deflected in.
Stoke rarely threatened, and only then from set pieces, as holders Chelsea set up a last-four clash with Aston Villa.
And it was perhaps fitting that Terry - so revered by the Chelsea supporters - should have grabbed the hosts' all important second goal as the 29-year-old ended another difficult week on a high.
The centre-half has undoubtedly been off colour in recent weeks during the fallout of the newspaper revelations, but this was a determined return to his best from the Chelsea captain, both in defence and attack.
And while he may have been barracked by a small section of England fans during the midweek friendly defeat of Egypt, there is no doubting the regard he is held in by the Stamford Bridge faithful.
There is little argument that recent weeks have seen Chelsea endure the most difficult period of their season so far.
The Terry saga has been well documented, injuries to Petr Cech and Ashley Cole, among others, have uncovered something of a soft centre to their squad, and consecutive defeats to Inter Milan and Manchester City have all seen their campaign stutter of late.
But this might prove something of a turning point for the Londoners following a performance that saw them grow in stature and confidence the longer the game went on.
This was always likely to be a match-up of Chelsea's guile and Stoke's physicality - and so it proved.
Cech's absence has meant a run in the Blues goal for Hilario, but the Portuguese keeper is simply not in the Czech's class and he looked vulnerable throughout against the visitors' barrage at set pieces.
As early as the fifth minute Stoke could have made the most of a Rory Delap throw, Mamady Sidibe flicking over from Robert Huth's header, before the same player forced a good close-range block from Alex.
Neither came as close as Whitehead, though, who latched on to a tame Hilario punch clear to lash goalwards, forcing Jon Obi Mikel into a fine clearance on the line.
However, that was about as close to a goal as Stoke came to a goal, although Ricardo Fuller forced a smart stop from Hilario in injury time with the game all but done and dusted.
In between, Chelsea were in complete control.
Nicolas Anelka should have opened the scoring when he forced an error from Whitehead on the edge of the area only to lash wide of the far post.
But five minutes later, the hosts were ahead. A Florent Malouda corner caused problems in the Stoke defence, Terry laid it back to Lampard and the England midfielder lashed in from 20 yards via a deflection off Abdoulaye Faye.
It could have been 2-0 before the break but Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen got down well to keep out Didier Drogba's volley, while the visitors then had Andy Wilkinson to thank for two fantastic blocks in quick succession, from an Anelka header and then an Alex header.
Chelsea's deserved second was not too long in coming, though, with Terry muscling his way among the Stoke defence to head in Lampard's corner.
Only a string of saves from Sorensen kept the score down thereafter, Lampard denied from range and Salomon Kalou and Anelka both stinging the Stoke keeper's palms from inside the area.
As it was those misses did not prove crucial and Chelsea, clear favourites to win the tournament for a sixth time now, eased their way into the last four for the fourth time in the last five years
Stoke, on the other hand, will turn their attention back to the Premier League as their wait to reach a first FA Cup final goes on.
Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins:
"(The barracking from away supporters) is happening and John's just getting on with the situation.
"I'm not too happy about it, but there's nothing I can do. He's dealing with the situation in the only way he can - committing himself to the cause, and that was another superb performance from him.
"He's an exceptional captain and we're delighted to have him on board. He leads these players on the pitch in fantastic fashion and scored a great second goal."
Stoke manager Tony Pulis:
"Our fans are brilliant, different class. John will have to accept he'll take stick. He took stick from England supporters the other night.
"If John does well in the World Cup and wins it, he'll come back a hero.
"As for the game, we've knocked Arsenal and Man City out of the FA Cup and to pull Chelsea out of the hat at Stamford Bridge was a difficult tie.
"The players were first class, though, we gave everything and had a right go."
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Didier Drogba inspired FA Cup holders Chelsea to a comfortable win over 2008 finalists Cardiff City. The Ivory Coast striker opened the scoring inside two minutes before setting up two more as favourites Chelsea cruised into the quarter-finals.
Michael Chopra gave Cardiff brief hope with a first-half leveller before Michael Ballack restored Chelsea's lead.Daniel Strurridge and Salomon Kalou sealed Championship Cardiff's fate.Chelsea remain the team to beat in this competition with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool already eliminated.And few would bet against Carlo Ancelotti 's European and domestic title challengers completing a treble this season as Chelsea bid to become only the fifth post-war team to successfully defend the FA Cup.
Chelsea's line-up may have been minus high-profile absentees John Terry, Ashley Cole and Michael Essien - for differing reasons - but Ancelotti was still able to name £105m of talent in a star-studded team.Cardiff's injury crisis was eased slightly as Dave Jones risked striker Jay Bothroyd and holding midfielder Gavin Rae, who had been suffering ankle and hamstring injuries respectively, but Stephen McPhail, Joe Ledley and skipper Mark Hudson missed out.
Chelsea were already British football's top scorers at home before this rout while Cardiff are the most clinical on the road - and within two minutes the holders were in front in the easiest possible fashion.
Cardiff's defence was caught standing by a straight-forward John Obi Mikel long ball and Drogba left Gabor Gyepes standing to fire home his 23rd goal of the season.
It was the worst possible start for Cardiff and the inquest into the defensive debacle raged until Gyepes himself almost made amends at the other end within minutes.
Anthony Gerrard, Cardiff's other centre-back, was not immune from blame in Drogba's stroll to goal and he almost headed Cardiff level in the 10th minute from Peter Whittingham's left-wing cross.
The unmarked defender, younger cousin of England star Steven, thought he had scored until Chelsea's keeper Hilario tipped the ball around his right-hand-post.
Within a minute, Gerrard had wriggled free in the box again to head another Whittingham corner goalwards but Chopra, five yards from goal, could not divert the ball in.
Drogba tested David Marshall with an elaborate overhead kick before more nerve-jangling moments in the visiting box when a lack of communication between the Cardiff keeper and Gyepes resulted in a mid-air collision and the ball spilling free before Gerrard cleared the danger.
Chelsea, too, were looking susceptible to crosses and indeed that proved to be the hosts' undoing in the 33rd minute.
Influential targetman Borthroyd linked up with Chris Burke and Chopra headed in the Scottish winger's cross to shock the Premier League leaders.
Chelsea defender Alex stood and watched his man stoop to convert his 17th goal of the season and give Jones' Championship side hope.
Michael Ballack, a colossus alongside Frank Lampard in Chelsea's midfield, extinguished any glimpses of an upset within six minutes of the restart as the German midfielder capitalised on yet more lacklustre Cardiff defending.
Drogba dropped deep and chipped the ball over the Bluebirds backline as Ballack flicked the ball over Marshall for his fifth of the season.
And if it wasn't for Mark Kennedy's last-ditch block, Alex would have extended Chelsea's lead just after the hour but the Irishman made a timely clearance.
But Drogba was in sizzling form and the Ivorian played a key role Chelsea's crucial third with 20 minutes remaining.
Daniel Sturridge's give-and-go sucked in three Cardiff defenders which allowed the England under-21 star to slide the ball through the legs of the helpless Marshall for his fourth goal in three Cup games this season.
Chelsea's seven-year unbeaten FA Cup run at Stamford Bridge never looked in danger.
And their vice-like grip on this tie was complete when Salomon Kalou found yet more space in the Cardiff box to head Paulo Ferreira's inviting cross past Marshall with four minutes remaining as the Blues strengthen their push for a third FA Cup triumph in four years.
Cardiff's FA Cup adventure has ended in London by a Premier League team for the fifth successive season, but for a club with financial difficulties, the £1m injection from their run is a welcome boost.
Chelsea assistant boss Ray Wilkins:
"It was tougher than we thought. We anticipated having a hard game. Cardiff played exceptionally well and gave us a lot of problems in the first half.
"But thankfully we managed to up the tempo in the second half and it became a tad easier for us. But we have got to give Cardiff credit as well. For an hour they gave us a tough old game.
"Our team was changed but we took quality out and quality came back in. It is the professionalism of our players that shines through.
"Some people might have thought this was going to be a bit of an easy game for us but those guys took it by the throat and pulled us through when we were not playing particularly well."
Cardiff boss David Jones:
"I cannot fault my players in anything they have done, they were magnificent. It looks like a drubbing but it was far from that.
"For over an hour we gave a good account of ourselves and showed great character after going a goal down after a couple of minutes.
"I decided to come here and have a go. Every player today deserved a lot of plaudits because they worked their socks off.
"We regrouped after conceding an early goal and stuck to our game plan when they were in possession.
"We grew in confidence and their keeper pulled off some fantastic saves. But as the game went on they imposed their quality.
"It gives us some credit that Ancelotti brought on his big guns."
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