ChelseaFCSW6: 18 Aug 2009

Tuesday, 18 August 2009

Blues Claw Their Way Back Against Black Cats Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3

Chelsea hit back with three goals in 18 minutes from Michael Ballack, a Frank Lampard penalty and a great goal from Deco to beat Sunderland 3-1 at the Stadium of Light after the Black Cats had taken a half-time lead through Darren Bent.
The Blues' Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti had maintained his controversial midfield diamond, albeit with a different balance of players, but it was the hosts who sparkled the more in the opening exchanges. The nearest Chelsea came was when Germany captain Ballack had a shot cleared off the goal-line.
Bent put Sunderland ahead after Kenwyne Jones had a shot blocked and the ball luckily broke to him in an almost identical situation as the disliked Steven Hunt's opener against us on Saturday. It was the England striker's second goal in two games since his arrival from Tottenham but after hios goal Chelsea totally dominated the game till the final whistle, with fullbacks Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole making dangerous inroads up the wings.
Ballack levelled seven minutes into the second half after a corner then Lampard converted a penalty after George McCartney had tripped Didier Drogba. Deco, playing a more positive attacking role, wrapped up Chelsea's second win in two games with a sweet angled drive in the 70th minute.

Bremen Sign Pizarro Permanently

Claudio Pizarro has rejoined Werder Bremen on a permanent basis.
The Peru international spent last season on loan at Bremen but on his return to Stamford Bridge was told by new Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti that his services were not required.
Having already played for Bremen from 1999 to 2001, Pizarro looks set for another return and the Peru star has plenty of Bundesliga experience having also spent six seasons at Bayern Munich.
Pizarro scored 17 league goals for Bremen while on loan last season, impressing Bremen director of sport Klaus Allofs, who is reported to have contacted Chelsea on Sunday to express an interest in signing the 30-year-old.
Pizarro, who was left out of Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Hull City at the weekend, managed just two goals during his only season at Stamford Bridge.

Matic On Board

Chelsea have signed midfielder Nemanja Matic from MFK Kosice, according to the Slovakian club.
The 20-year-old, who has played youth football for Serbia, completed a switch to Stamford Bridge for £1.5m on Monday, a statement said on the club's official website.
MSK president Blazej Podolak said: "At around five o'clock in the evening we signed the contract on the transfer. Matic goes for 1.75 million euros.
"The success was down to the the fact that the money does not come in instalments, but immediately.''

£50m Bid For Aguero In The Offing?

Chelsea have been given 24 hours to meet the £50million get-out clause for Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero, reports tribalfootball.com.
The Spanish club are preparing for a Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos on Wednesday and if no deal is done, Aguero will play meaning he will be ineligible to play for the Blues in Europe, suggesting a deal would be extremely unlikely.
Atletico will be loathe to lose the Argentine striker but Carlo Ancelotti would hate to miss out on another potential target.