Hamburger SV pulled off a fine pre-season win over a Chelsea side who will rue the equaliser from the Germans.
Chelsea named a strong starting eleven for their freindly match against Bundesliga side Hamburg in their final match before Carlo Ancelotti's side prepare to face rivals Manchester United in the Community Shield on Sunday.
The Blues named England trio Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry in their team and Ancelotti decided to start with a 4-4-3 formation with Anelka, Kalou and Malouda operating as the front three.
Ross Turnball got the nod in goal as he continued to deputise for the injured Petr Cech, whilst Michael Essien continued his road back to full fitness.
Chelsea started the game well against the German side, dominating the lions share of possession at the Imtech Arena with some controlled passing movements, but the English champions never really created any clear cut chances.
Saloman Kalou had the first golden chance off the game when he had a free header from an unmarked position which he headed over.
Frank Lampard opened the scoring for Chelsea just after that however, when Hamburg defender Jonathan Pitroipa sold a back pass short to his goalkeeper and Michael Essien supplied the England midfileder who made no mistake in front of goal.
Pablo Guerrero nearly equilised for the home side on 35 minutes when he headed against the crossbar after darting in front of the Chelsea defence from a corner, it was a let off for Carlo Ancelotti's side who had began to let their opponents boss proceddings.
Chelsea were still causing Hamburg problems on the counter attack though and Ashley Cole was close to getting a second when delightfully put through, however he chose the wrong option in front of goal and the chance was wasted.
Ruud van Nistelrooy spurned a great opportunity to grab an equaliser for Hamburg on 53 minutes, when after picking up the ball on the edge of the box, tried a first-time effort, which flew harmlessly over the cross bar.
And the home side were almost punished immediately after. Some sloppy play from the Hamburg defence saw Mikel close down the play, and the ball trickled through to Lampard who fired an effort on goal, but unfortunately for the visitors, dragged the shot wide.
Drogba then spurned a glorious chance for the visitors. Having been played through on goal by Essien, the Ivorian cut inside his marker, but took too long on the ball, and Rost did well to smother the striker’s advances.
And wasted opportunities continued to fuel the plot of the second half, as Hamburg missed another gilt-edged opportunity, with Mladen Petric the culprit this time. Jarolim whipped in a corner, which evaded the Chelsea defence before reaching the Croatian’s head, but Petric was unable to direct his effort goalwards.
But the Croatian made amends on 71 minutes. Chelsea seemed comfortable, as Terry played a simple pass to Yuri Zhirkov, but the Russian played a suicide ball back to Ross Turnbull, and the goalkeeper was unable to reach the ball before Petric, who coolly lifted the ball over him, and into the net.
And with the match seemingly destined to end in a draw, up popped Heung Min Son to grab a winner for the home side with less than five minutes to go. The 18-year-old took he chance expertly, collecting the ball inside the Chelsea penalty area, before calmly slotting the ball underneath Turnball, and into the net.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Amsterdam Arena
July 23, 17:00
Ajax 3-1 Chelsea
Goal Scorers
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Ajax
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Bruma (og) 5
De Jong 26
Suk 90
Chelsea
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Sturridge 24
A young Chelsea side were soundly beaten by Martin Jol's Ajax 3-1 in the Amsterdam Arena, thanks largely to two howlers from defender Jeffrey Bruma and goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.
Bruma's early own goal put the home side ahead before Daniel Sturridge levelled the scores. However, just two minutes later a Turnbull error allowed Siem De Jong to put Ajax back ahead.
Chelsea dominated possession but Ajax always carried the greater goal threat and a late third from the talented Korean substitute Suk, gave them a deserved victory.
The Blues visited the Amsterdam Arena with John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien the only first-team regulars in their starting line-up.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti began with Ross Turnbull in goal, and the youthful duo of Franco Di Santo, who spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, and Sturridge up-front.
Ajax, fresh from the news that Jol wouldn't be leaving the club to take over at Fulham, began with Holland's World Cup keeper Maarten Stekelenburg in goal, and the highly-rated Christien Eriksen in midfield.
The young Chelsea side captained by Essien started the game brightly and had the first meaningful shot on goal inside three minutes as Sturridge drilled a 25-yard volley wide.
However, just two minutes later Ajax were in front. A cross swung over from the right-hand side to the near post should have been comfortably dealt with by Chelsea's young Dutch defender Bruma, however he made a mess of his clearance and headed into his own net past a hapless Turnbull.
The early goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the young Chelsea side who then struggled to get into any real rhythm as Ajax stroked the ball around, without creating any real chances themselves.
In the 24th minute though, Chelsea were level. Ajax midfielder Jeffrey Sarpong was shrugged off the ball in midfield by 17 year-old Josh McEachran, who fed Di Santo. The Argentine's pass fortuitously found its way to Sturridge who drilled a low first time shot past Stekelenburg from 25-yards.
Within two minutes, though, the hosts were back in front. A long clearance from Stekelenburg saw Turnbull come to the very edge of his penalty area to gather. However, under pressure from De Jong, Turnbull let the ball slip from his grasp, allowing the midfielder to roll the ball into an empty net.
Half Time: Ajax 2-1 Chelsea
Following three changes at half-time Chelsea started the second half by controlling possession, however the Blues were unable to create any meaningful chances, with Sturridge, Di Santo and Sinclair all struggling to get into the game.
And in the 58th minute, despite their possession they should have fallen further behind.
A long ball should have been routine for Bruma, who had continued to look shaky after his early error, but once again he made a rookie mistake allowing the young Ajax striker Zeegelaar a clear run on goal. However, the front-man dragged his shot wide of substitute Hilario's far post.
In the 67th minute, good footwork by De Jong saw him waltz past two challenges and allow the recently arrived Emanuelson a shot on Hilario's goal, but the Dutch international fired his 20-yard effort high over the crossbar.
Five minutes later and a strong run from Sarpong saw him reach the byline from where his cut-back, looking for Zeegelaar, was cut out at the last second by Bruma.
At the other end, Sturridge continued to cut a frustrated figure as he continued to be dominated by the Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen, and continued to lack any real service from his team-mates.
While Chelsea continued to have possession without threatening the Ajax goal, Ajax looked more threatening on the break and Emanuelson had a right-footed effort comfortably saved by Hilario in the 80th minute.
Four minutes later and the lively Emanuelson intercepted a loose pass from Lalkovic and fired another shot over Hilario's goal, this time from fully thirty yards out.
Ajax rounded off their win with an excellent team goal in the 90th minute. A clever pass from Bonevecia fed Blind, the son of Ajax legend Danny Blind, in behind the Chelsea defence and his low centre was turned in by the Korean substitute Suk with what was effectively the last kick of the game.
Ajax Starting Line-Up: Stekelenburg; Oleguer (Blind 64), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Anita (Emanuelson 64);Enoh (Bonevacia 73) , Eriksen (De Zeeuw 71), Lindgren; Sarpong, Siem De Jong (Suk 85), Zeegelaar.
Chelsea Starting Line-Up: Turnbull (Hilario HT), Billy Clifford (Chalobah HT), Bruma, Van Aanholt (Ince 64), Bertrand, Obi Mikel (Connor Clifford 83), Essien (Cork 73), Matic, McEachran (Sinclair HT), Di Santo (Lalkovic 64), Sturridge.