ChelseaFCSW6: 23 Jul 2008

Wednesday 23 July 2008

Guangzhou Pharmaceutical 0 Chelsea 4

Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea reign began with a comfortable win over Guangzhou Pharmaceutical as Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Argentinian teenager Franco Di Santo and Shaun Wright-Phillips scored to secure the win over the Chinese Super League side, reports the Daily Mail.
The Blues dominated the first game of their five-game pre-season tour of Asia and Russia at Guangzhou Olympic Stadium, with the only concern for Scolari seeing new signing Jose Bosingwa substituted after 20 minutes with a slight thigh injury after a brief but impressive debut in the right-back position.
Scolari fielded a strong starting side, with Deco making his debut in midfield alongside Lampard, who played the entire game, with Joe Cole and Andriy Shevchenko sitting the game out because of minor injuries.
Lampard and Deco pulled shots wide in the first few minutes as Chelsea completely took control with the Portugal international dominating midfield and international team mate Bosingwa looking lively pushing forward down the right flank.
Michael Essien also drilled a shot just over the bar after 14 minutes.
The Blues were rewarded as they opened the scoring six minutes later when Mikel Jon Obi's defence-splitting through-ball caught the home side flat-footed, allowing Kalou to coast in unmarked to fire into the bottom corner across Guangzhou goalkeeper Li Shuai.
Guangzhou came into the game as the game progressed, to the delight of the passionate 35,000 crowd, but Chelsea's chances continued to come as Essien was denied from close range before the Ghanaian saw a snap shot from outside the area saved by Li.
As half-time approached, Nicolas Anelka hit the post from inside the area, while at the other end Petr Cech turned a free-kick from Xu Liang onto his upright.
Following five half-time changes, substitute Wayne Bridge saw his deflected shot hit the post before Lampard showed brilliant vision to double the lead by chipping Li from 30 yards, the 'keeper only just outside his six-yard area.
Half-time substitute Florent Malouda shot wide twice in quick succession before Di Santo, a second-half substitute, struck the upright after threading his way through on the edge of the area. With 12 minutes left Frenchman Malouda broke down the Guangzhou left and pulled a low cross across the face of the goal for a sliding Di Santo to convert.
Wright-Phillips sealed the win in the closing minutes with a shot on the turn from inside the area.