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Pompey Placated : Chelsea 1 Portsmouth 0

2010-05-17T12:42:00.005+01:00

Didier Drogba won the double for Chelsea with the only goal in a quite remarkable FA Cup final.
Drogba's 37th goal of the season was a free-kick just before the hour that found the net with tracer-bullet precision from 20 yards.
It maintained Drogba's impressive record of scoring in all six competitive games he has played at the new Wembley and confirmed Chelsea as only the seventh club to complete the league and FA Cup double, a pretty significant achievement in Carlo Ancelotti's first season in charge.
But that does not even come close to telling the story of a game that saw Chelsea hit the woodwork five times before the interval, including a terrible miss from Salomon Kalou, Kevin-Prince Boateng fail to convert a penalty shortly before Drogba's winner that could have set up a fairytale finish to a shambolic season of turmoil at Portsmouth, and even Frank Lampard fired wide from the spot three minutes from time.
Given the financial straightjacket they find themselves in, this was likely to be Pompey's last major final for quite some time.
That certainty, at the end of a campaign where you are 135 million pounds in debt, in administration, have had nine points deducted, been relegated, not been paid your wages on time on numerous occasions and seen players sold at a moment's notice, probably generated a devil-may-care attitude within the Portsmouth squad.
Frederic Piquionne brought a staggering reaction save out of Petr Cech during the first half and Aruna Dindane failed to make clean contact as he tried to turn home Piquionne's cut-back a few minutes later.
By any standards, these were glorious openings which Portsmouth might have had cause to regret if it were not for the fact that Chelsea were enduring such great frustrations of their own that Drogba ended the half slapping a post in total irritation at his side's inability to get the ball past it.
Within this flurry of activity came a contender for the best save ever seen in a cup final, and that miss.
Chelsea's victory will save Kalou extreme ridicule, but he knows his own contribution is going to be replayed so often he will never escape.
Frank Lampard had already flashed a 14th-minute shot against a post and Chelsea were on top when Ashley Cole, the first man to win the famous old trophy six times, drove deep into the Pompey box, completely outpacing Aaron Mokoena.
Fabio Capello would not have been the only one to admire his sublime cross, which completely took David James out of the game and presented Kalou with a four-yard tap-in.
The Chelsea fans were already on their feet, arms aloft in triumph, when Kalou's shinned effort soared skywards and thudded against the bar.
For a moment or two, the stadium was completely silent, as if unable to comprehend what it had just witnessed. The eruption of noise from the Portsmouth end confirmed the reality.
Within a couple of minutes, John Terry had glided a header against the bar, but that was nothing compared to the free-kick Drogba curled towards the top corner later on.
Somehow, James managed to reach it. His touch was only faint but it was enough to push the ball onto the bar and down, smack bang onto the goal-line.
So, when Drogba fired a low effort against the post four minutes from half-time, little wonder the offending upright suffered the backlash.
For once, a half had been completed with no one mentioning the pitch.
An odd colour it might have looked but it was not restricting the entertainment value, which included a penalty 10 minutes after the restart.
Introduced for Michael Ballack, who had been the subject of a vicious first-half tackle from Boateng, Juliano Belletti had not quite got his bearings.
And when Dindane nipped past him, the Brazilian lunged in and sent him sprawling.
After all that had gone before, the entire stadium had the sense this was the moment that would give the underdogs the trophy. Except Boateng had not read the script.
So bad was his effort that Cech, having gone down early, had time to make the readjustment required and boot it clear.
Within three minutes, Drogba converted his magnificent free-kick and the dream was over.
Had Lampard scored when he was bundled over in the box by Michael Brown three minutes from time, Chelsea would have deserved it.
He did not. It was that type of extraordinary game.

In the end it didn't matter, The Blues achieving the double for the first, but hopefully not the last, time in their history.

(sportal.co.nz)

Championes Championes Ole Ole Ole Athletic Annihilated : Chelsea 8 Wigan 0

2010-05-11T12:49:00.003+01:00

Chelsea clinched the Premier League title and set a new goalscoring record with a sensational destruction of 10-man Wigan at Stamford Bridge.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti guided the Blues to their first Championship success since 2006 in his debut season in England as Chelsea took their tally to 103 goals - the highest in the Premier League since Manchester United in 2000 and the first to achieve the century since Tottenham in 1962/3.
United's victory over Stoke at Old Trafford was irrelevant as the Blues finished the season one point clear of their rivals.
Ancelotti's side smashed home seven or more goals for the fourth time this season as Wigan, who had defender Gary Caldwell sent-off on the half-hour, simply capitulated.
A hat-trick from Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba, who finished the season with 29 league goals, two from Nicolas Anelka, a Frank Lampard penalty and others from Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole, left Chelsea champions and on the brink of a League and FA Cup Double.
Only Portsmouth now stand in their way of a history-making season for Ancelotti and his team.
The Blues will become only the seventh team in the history of the game to win both competitions if they can overcome Avram Grant's side at Wembley next week.
The Blues were given the best possible start by France international Nicolas Anelka.
The striker, expected to sign a new two-year contract once the season is over, collected a knock down from Florent Malouda to fire past Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez caused a stir by playing three in defence and for the next 25 minutes they gave Chelsea and their fans some anxious moments.
But the game changed on a pivotal penalty on the half-hour when Lampard was clearly brought down by Wigan defender Caldwell.
Referee Martin Atkinson then produced the red-card for the unfortunate centre-half.
Drogba, chasing the Premier League Golden Boot and level on 26 goals with United's Wayne Rooney, asked Lampard to let him take the spot-kick but the England international rejected his request.
Drogba was distinctly unhappy with Lampard's answer and had to be calmed down by other members of the Chelsea side.
Lampard duly put the penalty into the bottom corner to leave Chelsea in control of their own destiny at half-time.
In the 54th minute the title was sealed as Lampard and Kalou combined for the Ivory Coast international to almost walk the ball into the net.
Two minutes later Chelsea's fans were in dreamland when a cross from Branislav Ivanovic was volleyed home at the far post by Anelka.
With the title now Chelsea's, the only remaining issue to be settled was Drogba and his hunt for the Golden Boot.
That was settled in the 63rd minute when the Ivorian rose highest at the far post to head Lampard's cross into the net and make it 5-0.
It got better for Drogba five minutes later when Cole was brought down and Lampard tossed the ball to Drogba so he could take the penalty.
The Ivorian's spot-kick went in off the post but it mattered little to Drogba who had taken his tally for the season in the league to 28.
Ancelotti was hailed by the home fans and for the first time in the game the Italian responded by waving to the supporters chanting his name.
Drogba completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from the end of the game as Chelsea made it seven in a game for the fourth time this season.
Substitute Joe Cole's shot was parried by Pollitt but the ball fell kindly to the lurking Drogba who tucked it home for his 29th league strike of the season.
The goal sparked more cheering of Ancelotti but Wigan, who had not tested Petr Cech at all during the one-side contest, finally forced him into action when the Czech international tipped a goalbound shot from substitute Victor Moses over the bar in the 87th minute.
Cole completed the rout when he volleyed home in the final minute to make it 8-0 and as the champagne was sprayed over Ancelotti, the Italian had clearly banished the ghost of Jose Mourinho.
The day belonged to Ancelotti and his attacking side as Chelsea was crowned deserved champions for the fourth time in their history.
(sportal.co.nz)

Subdued Scousers : Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2

2010-05-05T12:52:00.002+01:00

Chelsea edged closer to the Premier League title with a crucial 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
An error by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard handed Didier Drogba a simple opening goal in the first half and Frank Lampard added a second after the break.
The result ensured Chelsea remained in pole position to win their first championship for four years but also finally put paid to the Merseysiders' hopes of securing Champions League football next season.
With Manchester United a point behind before kick-off and playing later in the day, Carlo Ancelotti's side knew anything less than a win would hand the initiative to their rival.
And with next week's final weekend seeing United host Stoke - Chelsea are at home to Wigan - there was no margin for error.
Chelsea were undoubtedly the better side but the match may have turned out differently had they not been gifted a 33rd-minute lead.
The conspiracy theorists would certainly have had a field day.
Some fans had been suggesting all week they would rather Chelsea win an Anfield than beat the Stamford Bridge side and hand United the chance to eclipse the club's tally of 18 league titles.
However, even they could not have prophesied the manner of Chelsea's goal.
Gerrard failed to notice Drogba when he passed back to Jose Reina and the Ivory Coast international nipped in to round the goalkeeper and tuck the ball home.
Prior to that, the early exchanges had been open. Lampard shot wide and Nicolas Anelka forced Reina into a low save while Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano, standing in at right-back because of Glen Johnson's calf injury, saw shots deflected wide.
There were also three penalty claims in what was a bustling first half.
Two for Chelsea involved Salomon Kalou. His first was an ambitious dive in the ninth minute under Mascherano's challenge but referee Alan Wiley allowed that to go unpunished.
In added time at the end of the first half the same player was through on goal - with Lucas Leiva in close attendance - and managed to trip himself up.
Despite fierce Chelsea protests Wiley again made the correct decision.
Whether he got Alberto Aquilani's 26th-minute penalty shout right was open to debate after the Italy international went down under Branislav Ivanovic's challenge. As he raced on to Rodriguez's chipped pass the defender's contact with the ball was inconclusive.
The loss of Rodriguez to injury just before half-time, when he was replaced by Ryan Babel, was a blow to Liverpool.
Six minutes into the second half Kalou muscled his way past Mascherano to drill a cross into the six-yard area, where Anelka failed to get the touch which would certainly have brought a second Chelsea goal.
But the Frenchman played a more influential role in the 54th minute when his cross picked out Lampard who bundled home from close range.
If that was not bad enough for Liverpool, they then lost Carragher to injury which meant 19-year-old Daniel Ayala was thrust into the action.
A forlorn-looking Fernando Torres, whose season was prematurely ended by a second knee operation in three months, could only watch on despondently from the stands.
It would have been 3-0 in the 67th minute had it not been for Reina's one-handed save from Florent Malouda's low shot.
David Ngog replaced Aquilani for the final 15 minutes but Liverpool were a spent force with only Reina keeping Chelsea at bay, punching away Michael Ballack's 25-yard free-kick and then producing a smart double save from Anelka and then Kalou.
The defeat meant Liverpool will finish the season with their lowest points total in five years, since accruing 58 in Rafael Benitez's first campaign in charge back in 2004-05.
Whether the Spaniard, strongly linked with Juventus, is around next season to rectify that remains in doubt.

Potters Punished : Chelsea 7 Stoke City 0

2010-04-26T12:41:00.004+01:00

Chelsea sent a defiant title message to Manchester United as they went back to the top of the Premier League with a stunning 7-0 demolition of Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.
Carlo Ancelotti's side was asked to respond to United's 3-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday and the Blues, minus suspended captain John Terry, did so in some style.
A hat-trick from Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou, a brace from Frank Lampard, including a penalty, and late goals from substitute Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda maintained Chelsea's dream of winning a League and FA Cup double this season.
The win restored Chelsea's place at the summit by a single point and victories over Liverpool at Anfield and against Wigan in the final home game will deliver the title for the first time since 2006.
Stoke were expected to put up some stiff resistance but Chelsea's mood from the kick-off dictated otherwise.
The Blues, so often criticised for failing to start well, were determined to reclaim top spot.
The visitors were not helped by a serious injury to goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and the loss of captain Abdoulaye Faye through injury early on.
Faye had been struggling with a thigh problem all week and he was replaced by Ryan Shawcross after just eight minutes.
It was Shawcross's first game since his tackle on Aaron Ramsey left the Arsenal midfielder with a badly broken leg at the end of February.
Chelsea should have taken the lead in the 12th minute when Lampard's shot was palmed into the path of Ashley Cole by Sorensen.
But Cole, playing his first game since fracturing an ankle against Everton in February, smashed his shot straight at the Denmark international.
In the 18th minute Drogba sent a speculative effort over the cross bar but two minutes later the Ivorian forced a superb save from Sorensen.
Full-back Paulo Ferreira found Drogba unmarked at the near post but his powerful header was brilliantly tipped away by the Stoke stopper.
In the 22nd minute Drogba latched on to a superb ball from Malouda, rounded Sorensen and then inexplicably smashed his volley high into the crowd. It should have been Chelsea's opener.
But he made up for it a minute later when he controlled a sweeping pass from Malouda by lifting his left leg up behind him and crossed for Kalou to head home from close range.
Lampard almost made it two in the 26th minute but his volley was collected safely at the near post by Sorensen.
But it was 2-0 in the 31st minute with another superb move. Nicolas Anelka's pass was cleverly played into the path of Lampard by Drogba.
The England midfielder drilled a first-time shot which Sorensen saved but Kalou poked home the rebound.
But Sorensen was injured trying to prevent Kalou from scoring and is understood to have dislocated his elbow - an injury which will keep him out for the rest of the season but he should recover in time for the World Cup finals. He was carried off on a stretcher after undergoing lengthy treatment.
He required oxygen as he left the pitch and was replaced by Asmir Begovic.
Chelsea made it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute when Robert Huth brought down Kalou and Lampard stroked home the spot-kick.
In the 52nd minute Kalou, clearly looking to a hat-trick, sent a curling shot just over the angle of the post and crossbar.
Stoke made a change in the 59th minute when Tuncay Sanli replaced Dave Kitson. The departing Kitson was clearly not happy with the decision and gestured to the bench before going straight down the tunnel.
Kalou completed his first hat-trick for the club in the 68th minute to make it 4-0.
The Ivorian striker cut in from the right flank and although his first effort was saved by Begovic, Kalou slammed home the rebound.
It was the last action for the striker who was replaced by Joe Cole to a standing ovation from the home fans.
Malouda failed to score from a yard out when Anelka's cross eluded the Stoke defence and the France international was thwarted by a great save from Begovic in the 78th minute.
Chelsea made it 5-0 in the 81st minute when substitute Sam Hutchinson crossed for Lampard to score his 25th of the season with a clever volley.
In the 87th minute, Drogba set-up substitute Sturridge who rounded Begovic to make it 6-0.
Two minutes later Malouda made it 7-0 as Stoke capitulated under the constant pressure.
(sportal.co.nz)

Smooth Spurs : Tottenham 2 Chelsea 1

2010-04-19T12:45:00.004+01:00

Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale blew the Premier League title race open with goals in Tottenham's 2-1 win over Chelsea - and also put Tottenham back in the Champions League places.
Defoe tucked away from the penalty spot for his 24th of the season after John Terry handled in the area, then Bale followed up his midweek goal against Arsenal with another before the break at White Hart Lane.
Terry's miserable evening, after being involved in a verbal spat with a supporter at half-time, was capped off with a sending off for two bookings.
Frank Lampard pulled one back but it was too late for Chelsea.
Television scheduling meant the match kicked off with Manchester United only a point behind Carlo Ancelotti's leaders, having defeated their rivals City with a last-gasp winner.
That result also favoured Spurs in their hunt for fourth place as they knew a victory would take them back above City - and within a quarter of an hour they were ahead.
Florent Malouda's powerful drive from 30 yards may have been parried by Heurelho Gomes in the early stages but it was Spurs who were applying the pressure before the deadlock was broken.
Roman Pavlyuchenko fired over from the edge of the area and also had an effort blocked by Alex - but Harry Redknapp's men were not made to wait long for their opener.
They were denied penalties when Defoe appeared to get his shirt pulled by Terry and when Bale went over John Mikel Obi's challenge, then Phil Dowd pointed to the spot after the third appeal. Pavlyuchenko stepped over Bale's cross from the left and Terry headed the ball onto his arm, enough for Dowd to award a penalty, a very soft one in my opinion.
Terry was accused of getting away with a penalty following a similar incident against Bolton in midweek but the former England skipper's luck looked to have run out on this occasion.
There was still a chance of a reprieve as Defoe had missed his previous two penalties this season and was asked to step down from spot-kick duties, but Tom Huddlestone then missed against Bolton so the England striker volunteered again and this time sent Petr Cech the wrong way.
Redknapp's men looked for a second and Cech was called into action when Pavlyuchenko spun on the edge of the area and curled a shot that needed tipping over. Then Luka Modric went on a mazy run that led to David Bentley getting a volley deflected wide by Terry.
It got worse for Chelsea as Mikel picked up an injury and headed straight down the tunnel when he was replaced by Michael Ballack in the 34th minute.
They did have the ball in the net shortly after, but the flag had gone up for offside when Yury Zhirkov slipped Malouda through to finish past Gomes.
Bale doubled the lead just before the break when he cut inside Paulo Ferreira and used his unfavoured right foot to beat Cech at the near post.
Lampard almost pulled one back immediately but Gomes pulled off a save at full stretch to block the volley, replicating his performance against Arsenal on Wednesday when he was at his best to protect Spurs' lead.
There was drama at half-time, starting with Terry's spat with a fan by the tunnel.
Ancelotti's response was to use his remaining substitutes at the break, with Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic coming on for Joe Cole and Ferreira, but Didier Drogba then pulled up injured just before the restart. With all of Chelsea's substitutes used, Drogba hobbled back on to prevent his team playing with 10 men.
Defoe had a chance to extend the lead in the 50th minute when Pavlyuchenko poked his strike partner through, but Cech was down sharply to save the one-on-one opportunity.
The feisty atmosphere went up a notch when Lampard and Huddlestone crashed into a tackle, leading to the Spurs player getting booked and Deco also being cautioned for his role in the aftermath.
Terry was also cautioned midway through the second half for bringing down Pavlyuchenko from behind when the Russian was running at goal.
He got his marching orders 23 minutes from full-time, with his second foul on Bale.
"Twice I got the ball," he told his bench as he headed down the tunnel.
Bentley almost added another but his cheeky lob was tipped over by Cech and there was also time for Gomes to deny Drogba from close range and for Lampard to pull one back in stoppage time.

Let's hope Spurs put on this kind of performance against Manure next weekend.

(Nod to sportal.co.nz)

Wily Wanderers : Chelsea 1 Bolton 0

2010-04-15T08:11:00.005+01:00

A first-half strike from Nicolas Anelka gave jittery Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Bolton and sent them four points clear at the top of the English Premier League.
But it was evident from the laboured performance by Carlo Ancelotti's side that the title nerves are beginning to take hold.
The Blues had to wait until the 43rd minute to break down a stubborn Bolton side that almost snatched a draw in the closing stages.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists the title is Chelsea's to throw away and, judging by the anxiety on show at Stamford Bridge, the run-in promises to be a thrilling affair.
There was little evidence that Chelsea would struggle to overcome Owen Coyle's side when left-back Yury Zhirkov created a chance for the home side in the fifth minute.
The Russian pulled the ball back for Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba who sent his curling shot over the crossbar.
Bolton's defence was almost caught out again moments later but Drogba was given offside as he tried to beat Jussi Jaaskelainen.
In the seventh minute, Chelsea had a scare when captain John Terry required lengthy treatment on his ankle following a collision with Matthew Taylor.
But the England defender was able to continue without any ill effects.
The Blues had lost their early impetus, though, and Bolton caused problems for the home side when Petr Cech failed to collect a cross from Chung-yong Lee.
Taylor almost profited from Cech's hesitation but the Czech Republic international quickly regained control of the ball before the Bolton midfielder could strike.
Zhirkov was in the wars in the 18th minute when he went down following a collision with Bolton striker Kevin Davies.
The left-back required a hefty bandage on his head to stem the flow of blood before being allowed to continue.
Chelsea almost went in front in the 25th minute when Jaaskelainen punched Drogba's free-kick straight at Salomon Kalou. But, luckily for Bolton, it bounced off his head and wide.
The hosts were becoming more and more frustrated by Bolton's battling rearguard and that increased in the 37th minute when Drogba sent another free-kick wide of the target from 20 yards.
Zhirkov was asked to leave the pitch in the 39th minute by referee Lee Probert because he was still losing blood from his head wound.
It was clear the Russian defender's injury required stitches and Chelsea continued with 10 men - Frank Lampard taking over Zhirkov's position until he re-appeared in the 41st minute.
The breakthrough came in the 43rd minute when Drogba's cross was headed home from inside the six-yard box by Anelka.
It was the France international's first goal in 14 games for the Blues in a barren spell lasting just over two months.
Moments later Kalou tried to increase Chelsea's lead but his 20-yard shot was well wide of the target.
Chelsea's opening goal failed to liven up their performance as the second half began.
Bolton enjoyed much of the possession and the home side looked decidedly subdued.
Chelsea had even resorted to lumping high balls in the general direction of Drogba but it was a fruitless tactic.
Kalou wasted a great chance to put the game beyond Bolton in the 54th minute when Drogba put his Ivory Coast team-mate through on goal.
Kalou only had Jaaskelainen to beat but his shot was saved by the Bolton goalkeeper.
But it was a rare chance for the home side, who then survived a penalty appeal when Terry appeared to use his arm to divert a cross from Lee into Cech's hands.
Zhirkov forced Jaaskelainen into another fine save when he collected a return ball from Lampard and thumped a volley straight at the Bolton keeper.
Anelka was replaced by Florent Malouda midway through the second half.
A superb 40-yard pass from Alex in the 75th minute allowed Kalou to get free of the Bolton defence yet again but his angled drive was well saved by Jaaskelainen.
Three minutes later Lampard almost sealed victory when his 20-yard drive cannoned back off the inside of the post.
Six minutes from time Bolton substitute Johan Elmander was inches away from equalising when he headed a cross from Taylor just wide.
It was, though, the last nervy moment for the hosts, who hung on to move a step closer to achieving the league and FA Cup double.
(sportal.co.nz)

Semi Sewn Up : Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 3

2010-04-12T12:59:00.003+01:00

Chelsea kept themselves on course for a League and FA Cup double with a 3-0 semi-final victory against Aston Villa at Wembley.
Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba pounced in the 67th minute to put Chelsea in front and late goals from Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard ensured they remain in the hunt to become only the seventh English team to win both competitions in the same season.
It was Drogba's 32nd goal of the season but until he struck with typically clinical efficiency, the FA Cup holders had laboured against a side they hammered 7-1 in the league at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago.
Carlo Ancelotti's side looked lethargic and out of sorts in a largely forgettable opening half.
The state of the Wembley pitch was the biggest factor as the semi-final got underway, with players from both sides failing to keep their feet.
Villa, still smarting from that heavy drubbing, settled much quicker than Chelsea.
But Chelsea had their isolated moments. Joe Cole, attempting to persuade watching England boss Fabio Capello that he is worth a place in his squad for the World Cup finals, sent an angled drive just wide from 20 yards in the 11th minute.
But Villa had more intensity about their game and, although the players continued to be hampered by the greasy surface, they possessed more menace.
James Milner almost put them in front in the 14th minute when his 25-yard drive flashed inches wide of Petr Cech's right-hand post.
But the biggest talking point of the opening half, even eclipsing the state of the pitch, was a Villa penalty appeal that was firmly rejected by Howard Webb.
Gabriel Agbonlahor looked to have pulled the shirt of John Obi Mikel before the Villa striker went down under his challenge.
Referee Webb dismissed their appeals, much to the chagrin of coach Martin O'Neill in the Villa technical area.
Villa's high-tempo game was causing Chelsea all kinds of problems and the league leaders needed a last-gasp header from captain John Terry to prevent John Carew from finishing off a fine cross by Stewart Downing.
But in the 34th minute, Villa were thankful for a superb block by Stephen Warnock as Florent Malouda's cross provided Drogba with an opening.
Chelsea countered through the lively Cole who forced Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel into a fine save at his near post when Warnock's poor header fell to the Chelsea winger.
Villa striker John Carew, who had been marshalled superbly by Terry for much of the game, was just wide from a corner by Downing in the 46th minute.
But Villa's game fell away, just as it had done in the league game a fortnight ago, and Chelsea, buoyed by a half-time pep-talk from Ancelotti, set about their opponents for the first time in the game.
Deco sent a half-volley wide of the target in the 50th minute and moments later Cole just failed to get on the end of a Drogba cross at the near post.
Cole made way for Salomon Kalou in the 64th minute and two minutes later the substitute played a part in Chelsea's opener.
Kalou found the rampaging Drogba with a clever through-ball but he was foiled by a challenge from Richard Dunne.
But Chelsea made Villa pay from Malouda's corner. Dunne could only head the ball straight to Terry and his mis-hit shot fell to the unmarked Drogba, who steered it home from six yards.
It was his fifth goal in competitive matches at Wembley and broke Villa's resistance completely.
O'Neill's side, faced with lifting themselves in the final 20 minutes, huffed and puffed without troubling Cech in the Chelsea goal.
It was Chelsea who finished the stronger and they booked a place in their third FA Cup final in four years through Malouda in the 89th minute.
Frank Lampard fed substitute Michael Ballack on the right wing and the German crossed superbly for Malouda to sweep the ball home at the far post.
Lampard scored a third from close range in added time but by then it was all academic, with Chelsea's double dream still very much alive.
(soccernet.espn.go.com)

United Usurped : Manchester United 1 Chelsea 2

2010-04-06T13:24:00.004+01:00

Didier Drogba's controversial winner allowed Chelsea to shrug Manchester United aside 2-1 and put themselves back in pole position in the Premier League title race.
Sir Alex Ferguson and his team will feel hard done by as Drogba was clearly offside as he collected Salomon Kalou's pass and drove home 12 minutes from time.
The significance of the error only became clear once Federico Macheda had pulled a goal back, with his arm, for the hosts to set up a pulsating finish.
But Ferguson would be aware that the first hour had been completely one-sided in Chelsea's favour and that the visitors should have had a greater advantage than the one goal Joe Cole provided in the first half.
Without Wayne Rooney, there was no real bite in United's attack. And although the 34-goal striker is only out for a fortnight, by the time he returns his side's dreams of glory might be over, considering Chelsea now have a two-point advantage and a superior goal difference.
Since his recovery from a long-term knee injury, Cole has struggled to get back into the swing of things.
Fabio Capello claimed he was not the same player when he left the midfielder out of his England squad to face Egypt last month, raising extreme doubt over Cole's chances of making the World Cup.
Cole's admission that contract talks had broken down was a statement in itself, given it is hard to imagine Carlo Ancelotti allowing a pivotal player to find himself in such a position so close to him being allowed to leave on a free transfer.
Old Trafford has been mentioned as a potential destination should Cole leave Stamford Bridge this summer, so it was an opportunity to impress Sir Alex Ferguson, not that the United chief would have found the 18th-minute opener even vaguely admirable.
Having put his side's obvious failings in possession down to a one-off in Munich last week, Ferguson must have been worried to see the same fault reappearing quite so often, quite so soon.
There is no doubt the ankle injury Rooney suffered in Germany had a negative effect on United.
But the fault lay much deeper, their play too ponderous to have any impact.
All across the midfield, United were wasteful in possession. And with Florent Malouda giving Gary Neville a right old runaround, Chelsea took complete command.
The disappointment for Ancelotti must have been that his team did not make the most of their possession.
Edwin van der Sar denied Cole on one occasion and Nicolas Anelka had a couple of shots blocked but clear-cut chances were rare.
Even Chelsea's opening goal was not a golden opportunity in that sense.
Malouda was invited to run into the home box and although Darren Fletcher eventually reacted, the Chelsea midfielder had the strength to hold him off and cut the ball back to the near post, where Cole got in front of Patrice Evra and found the net with a neat back flick.
It took United a long time to respond. And when the rally eventually came, it took the form of a couple of debatable penalty appeals and referee Mike Dean was not impressed either when Yury Zhirkov chopped down Park Ji-sung and Dimitar Berbatov tried to con him after Frank Lampard's perfectly legal challenge.

The Blues also had a valid penalty claim when the clumsy Gary Neville barged Nicolas Anelka off the ball in the area with no attempt to win the ball.
Had Paulo Ferreira shown more conviction when he raced to meet Cole's excellent through-ball at the start of the second half, the contest would have been over.
Instead, the full-back failed to find either the far corner, or Anelka, and United, who at least sped up a little, remained alive.
The escape certainly seemed to galvanise the hosts, who for the first time made Chelsea's defence creak.
Berbatov, the man of whom so much was expected in Rooney's absence, was just off target with a couple of headers and, off balance, Park was unable to keep his shot on target after a forceful Fletcher run had carved Chelsea open.
The introduction of Drogba midway through the second half emphasised the Blues' strength in depth compared to their hosts, who were forced to rely on the talents of teenager Macheda when Ferguson needed to reinvigorate his side.
Predictably, Drogba had an immediate impact, even if he was offside as he collected Kalou's pass before drilling his shot past Van der Sar.
Down, and almost out, United responded instantly as Cech pushed Nani's cross onto the on-rushing Macheda, which he pushed into the net with his arm, thereby negating any complaints they could have about Drogba's goal, thereby setting up a dramatic ending.
But the Blues were worthy winners in the end.

Villa Vanquished : Chelsea 7 Aston Villa 1

2010-03-29T12:51:00.002+01:00

Frank Lampard grabbed four as Chelsea demolished Aston Villa 7-1 to soar back to the top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours.
Lampard's quartet made him third-highest scorer in the club's history, eclipsing legends Roy Bentley and Peter Osgood, with 151 goals.
Lampard was assisted by a double from Florent Malouda and another from substitute Salomon Kalou as Carlo Ancelotti's side smashed in 12 goals in four days.
The Blues have now scored 82 goals so far this season and apart from John Carew's first-half equaliser, were in cruise control for long periods.
Chelsea, who left 30-goal top scorer Didier Drogba on the bench, started brightly enough with Deco finding Nicolas Anelka inside the Villa penalty area in the third minute.
But the France international, given the task of leading the attack in place of Drogba, shot into the arms of Brad Friedel at his near post.
Drogba, who scored twice in the 5-0 midweek demolition of Portsmouth, was rested according to Ray Wilkins.
Lampard tried to surprise Friedel in the 14th minute with a low drive from 30 yards but the American goalkeeper was untroubled by the bounce.
But Chelsea went ahead a minute later when Malouda's low cross was turned home at the far post by Lampard.
It was the England midfielder's 18th goal of the season in all competitions.
Villa's Stephen Warnock required treatment to a head injury after a collision with Joe Cole in the 23rd minute.
Controversy erupted in the 27th minute when John Mikel Obi appeared to elbow James Milner.
But referee Peter Walton booked Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov for protesting about Mikel's challenge and took no action against the Chelsea midfielder.
However, Villa were jubilant in the 29th minute when they equalised through Carew.
He converted a superb curling cross from Ashley Young at the far post to score his ninth goal in eight games.
Moments later Yuri Zhirkov, who was clearly at fault for allowing Carew to ghost into space at the far post for Villa's goal, was booked for a foul Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Deco followed his Chelsea team-mate in the book moments later for a foul on Milner in the 40th minute.
But Chelsea restored their lead in the 44th minute through a Lampard penalty.
Referee Walton adjudged Zhirkov had been fouled by Villa defender James Collins as he burst into the penalty area and Lampard converted the spot-kick with ease.
Chelsea went 3-1 up in the 57th minute when Malouda finished off a sweeping move by the hosts.
Deco's clever ball inside the full-back found Zhirkov in space and his cross was met perfectly by Malouda for the France international to score his 12th of the season.
Chelsea gave away a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the penalty area seconds later when Paulo Ferreira fouled Agbonlahor.
But Milner's effort was straight into the defensive wall much to the dismay of the Villa fans.
Chelsea made Villa pay in the 62nd minute when Lampard grabbed his hat-trick, and his 20th of the season, with his second penalty of the game.
Zhirkov was again fouled, this time by Richard Dunne, and Lampard beat Friedel to become the joint third-highest scorer in the club's history.
It was a game of landmarks for the Blues with John Terry becoming the club's all-time record captain. His 325th appearance eclipsed former great Ron Harris and it was also Terry's 450th outing for the club.
In the 68th minute, rampant Chelsea made it 5-1 when Ferreira and Lampard combined to set-up Malouda for his second of the game and his 13th of the season.
In the 82nd minute substitute Kalou sent a curling shot around Friedel's right-hand post but he found the target a minute later when he drilled the ball past Friedel from 18 yards after an unselfish pass from Anelka.
Lampard then made it 7-1 with his fourth of the game in added time as Villa's 10-match unbeaten run came to a crashing halt.
It also made the midfielder the third-highest scorer in the club's history with 151 goals - only Kerry Dixon and Bobby Tambling are now ahead of him.

(sportal.co.nz)

Pompey Pacified : Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 5

2010-03-25T12:55:00.004Z

The Blues cut Manchester United's lead at the top of the Premier League to one point with an impressive 5-0 hammering of crisis club Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
A David James howler allowed Didier Drogba to tap into an empty net for Chelsea's opener before Florent Malouda grabbed two second-half goals in 10 minutes.
Drogba's neat finish and Lampard's late goal sealed the win against a Portsmouth side now one step closer to almost certain relegation.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti handed Daniel Sturridge a surprise start as the Blues looked to close the gap on United and atone for their Champions League exit to Inter Milan last week.
Sturridge replaced Nicolas Anelka in Ancelotti's starting XI, which also included Petr Cech and Ricardo Carvalho, who have both been out through injury for a month. Deco was handed his first start since February 2 while Yury Zhirkov came in for the injured Branislav Ivanovic.
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant replaced Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Nadir Belhadj with Steve Finnan and Richard Hughes, while there was no place for Aruna Dindane due to a clause in his loan agreement which would require Pompey to pay 4million pounds to Lens if he played another game for the club.
Ancelotti described the match as a ‘must win’ against Grant, who spent eight months at the helm at Stamford Bridge in the 2007-08 season.
Financially-stricken Portsmouth, who learned before kickoff they would be allowed to sell players outside the transfer window, lined up in a defensive 4-3-2-1 formation at a rain-soaked Fratton Park.
Chelsea were the most dominant team in the early exchanges and Deco combined well with Drogba before the Ivory Coast striker fired a weak shot wide.
Drogba was in the thick of the action again soon after but he wasted a good chance by volleying well over the bar from inside the box.
Lampard thought he had put Chelsea ahead in the 10th minute but James scrambled across his line to tip the midfielder's 30-yard strike around the post.
James was once again on hand to save another Lampard shot moments later from a similar distance.
Pompey started to get a foothold on the game as the pitch cut up under the rain but found themselves 1-0 down thanks to a James howler in the 32nd minute.
The England keeper raced out of his box to make a routine clearance after Deco tried to play Drogba through but James completely missed the ball, leaving the Ivory Coast man to tap into an empty net.
James was left with his hands on his hips as the Chelsea fans ridiculed the stopper for his mistake.
Ancelotti was forced into a change soon after when he brought on Alex for Carvalho, who went off clutching his ankle.
The game came close to boiling point soon after when Pompey full back Ricardo Rocha had to be carried off after colliding with Malouda.
Malouda then squared up to Hermann Hreidarsson, who claimed the Frenchman had used his elbow in the challenge, before being booked by referee Lee Mason.
Rocha, meanwhile, was carried off on a stretcher after a four-minute stoppage while wearing an oxygen mask.
Pompey's troubles worsened when Tommy Smith hobbled off after the half-time whistle.
Smith failed to emerge after half time and was replaced by Quincy, whose clever ball into the box failed to find a team-mate soon after the break.
After his booking, Malouda was booed every time he touched the ball but he soon plunged the Pompey fans into further misery when he picked up Lampard's pass and beat James from a tight angle to make it 2-0.
Joe Cole, who had voiced his frustration at his lack of first-team action earlier this week, replaced the ineffective Sturridge in the 53rd minute.
The midfielder made an immediate impact, drawing a good save from James after a clever through ball from Lampard.
Malouda then scored his second of the night when he reacted first to James' save from Lampard's shot to coolly slot the ball home to make it 3-0.
James then pulled off a flying save to deny Lampard from 20 yards as Chelsea looked to turn the screw.
Kanu replaced Mokoena with 15 minutes left in a desperate attempt to inject some life into the Pompey attack, who were being well marshalled by John Terry and Alex.
Drogba was then played in by John Obi Mikel and the striker held his nerve to slot past James from inside the box to make it 4-0.
Portsmouth then had a golden chance to pull one back but Hughes somehow put a free header from five yards out wide.
Frederic Piquionne then beat two Chelsea defenders down the right but Kanu blazed over from eight yards out.
Second half substitute Patrick Van Aanholt then squared the ball to Drogba but he just missed out on his third by firing over.
Lampard completed Pompey's misery when he finished from Drogba's knock down in the third minute of injury time to make it 5-0. (sportal.co.nz)

Rovers Resilient : Blackburn Rovers 1 Chelsea 1

2010-03-25T12:46:00.005Z

Chelsea suffered a stumble in the title race that could yet prove fatal to their chances of taking the Premier League crown to round off a week of bitter disappointment for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
A match that seemed there for the taking after Didier Drogba's early goal somehow drifted out of Chelsea's grasp.
El Hadji Diouf headed a superb equaliser as Blackburn put in such a powerful second-half performance that keeper Jason Brown was barely tested.
For Chelsea, whose record in its past nine matches is now four wins, four defeats and one draw, this was hardly a display of title-winning credentials and they are now four points behind Manchester United and two behind Arsenal, though with a game in hand.
This was underlined by the fact that the clear man of the match was none other than Rovers' 18-year-old central defender Phil Jones, making his league debut and up against Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce had gambled on him in the absence of Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet.
That gamble may have lookrd rash as Drogba carved out an early chance for himself, dinking a neat curling shot just wide of the post despite being surrounded by a posse of defenders.
That was just a foretaste of what was to come as the Ivory Coast striker opened the scoring in the sixth minute with almost effortless simplicity.
Anelka burst down the right, cut inside Jones and laid the ball back for Drogba to wrong-foot the entire Rovers defence and keeper Jason Brown with a neat left-footed finish back into the opposite corner.
Kalou threatened to further emphasise Chelsea's early dominance with a header from a corner that flew over the crossbar but from then on it was downhill for the visitors.
David Dunn won a free-kick in Morten Gamst Pedersen range after being halted by an agricultural challenge by Alex, but although the Norwegian was on target Chelsea keeper Ross Turnbull turned his effort behind.
Pedersen had another sight of goal but was wildly off-target with his volley, while Jones drew the loudest cheers from the Rovers fans so far with a series of crunching - but legal - challenges as Blackburn did their best to out-power the visitors.
Florent Malouda let fly from 20 yards out with a stinging drive but Brown managed to parry the shot, if somewhat unconvincingly.
Ancelotti was then forced to make a change just before the break with Branislav Ivanovic, who appeared to have been stood on unintentionally by El Hadji Diouf, limped off to be replaced by Zhirkov.
Blackburn, as if scenting that Chelsea may have missed a trick by scoring just a single goal in the first half, upped the tempo in the second.
Zhirkov's first involvement for Chelsea, right at the start of the second half was to head off the line after Chris Samba had beaten the flapping Turnbull to Pedersen's long throw.
Pedersen was then left cursing again when given space to shoot from 25 yards out but missing the target by some margin.
Frank Lampard, who had been having a quiet game by his standards, was much closer with a rising effort from the same range that was a whisker away from the top right-hand corner.
The suspicion that Chelsea had seemed over-confident in settling for a 1-0 win had been growing the longer the second half went on, and in the 70th minute Diouf made them pay.
The Senegal international hung in the air above Ferreira to meet Michel Salgado's cross with a superb header down into the corner.
Chelsea, stung into action, became more direct themselves and Alex struck a piledriver from a 30-yard free-kick over the bar.
With time running down, Drogba was denied a fine winner by a good block, then Jones crowned a magnificent debut with an intercepting header to keep out John Terry.
Rovers celebrated as though they had won the Premier League. Chelsea looked as though they had just lost it. (sportal.co.nz)

Sorry to keep banging on about referee's decisions but while watching this game there were several occasions when we didn't get decisions that I feel sure the likes of Man. Utd. and Arsenal would have.

You only have to look at the penalty Man. Utd. got against Liverpool the day before.

It's difficult enough for us to get a penalty when the offence is comitted inside the box let alone 10 yards outside.

We always seem to get results in spite of the officials, not because of them.

Blues Brushed Aside : Chelsea 0 Internazionale 1

2010-03-25T08:20:00.005Z

Jose Mourinho enjoyed a triumphant return to Stamford Bridge as his Inter Milan side sent Chelsea spinning out of the Champions League by repeating their first-leg victory with another win at Stamford Bridge.
The former Chelsea coach had, prior to the match, promised to forego any personal celebrations as a mark of respect to his old club, but was nevertheless left filled with pride as Inter did a very professional job in west London.
After efficiently soaking up a barrage of Chelsea pressure in the first half, Inter became increasingly menacing as the second half unfolded, and in truth deserved their victory, sealed by a brilliant finish by Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o 11 minutes from time.
Worse was to follow for deflated Chelsea when Didier Drogba was shown a straight red card after 87 minutes.Mourinho's public celebrations were muted as he disappeared quietly down the tunnel just as the referee blew for full-time, but he admitted he did allow himself to enjoy the result behind closed doors. He said: "I celebrated a lot in the dressing-room when the game was over. It was a big victory for my team."Mourinho felt his team were better than Chelsea in every aspect on the night. "I think everything was superior," he added. "I don't think it was tactics, it was attitude on the pitch."
They had reactions of frustration, of a team that felt the opposition was superior. Our team started the second half in an incredible way. We were the best team by far."
Mourinho set out his stall to be positive from the start, picking three forwards. Rather than 'parking the bus' in front of goal, as he once accused a Premier League manager of doing against his old club, Mourinho chose Eto'o, Diego Milito and Goran Pandev as Inter looked to protect their 2-1 lead from the first leg. Pandev coming in for Dejan Stankovic was the only change from the Milan leg for Mourinho, who signed autographs near the dug-out before kick-off.
With the pleasantries out of the way, Inter looked to extend their advantage, with Wesley Sneijder having a shot blocked by Alex, while Maicon raided down the right and fired over. Florent Malouda led the charge for the hosts. One of his mazy runs was stopped by Lucio in the penalty area and referee Wolfgang Stark deemed the tackle fair. Drogba, always first on the scene when trouble flared, then had his first sight of goal when the ball broke for him 20 yards out – but Maicon blocked bravely.
The crucial blow came with 12 minutes to go and it was Sneijder who provided the chance. His ball over the top went over Ivanovic's head and landed perfectly for Eto'o, who took the pass in his stride and stroked his finish past Ross Turnbull.
Drogba was given a red card after a clash that had Motta clutching his shin and Inter players accusing the Chelsea striker of kicking out. (thescotsman.com)
Again, after their winning goal went in, a lot of people left their seats and exited the stadium. I commented on this in the Man. City report. These people aren't supporters, they're just paying guests (prats).
I know I'm biased, but there really does seem to be some sort of directive to stop a) too many English teams progressing in this competition or b) Chelsea progressing in this competition.
There was one nailed on penalty decision in the first leg and three in the second that we didn't get. Add to this the debacle of the semi-final second leg last season and you can see why most Chelsea supporters believe that something smells fishy.

Hammers Hammered : Chelsea 4 West Ham 1

2010-03-15T12:48:00.004Z

Chelsea went back to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 4-1 win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge.
Brazilian defender Alex headed Chelsea in front in the 15th minute but Scott Parker levelled with a stunning volley on the half-hour mark.
Didier Drogba rose unmarked to restore Chelsea's lead in the 55th minute before Florent Malouda's 20-yard effort in the 76th minute and Drogba's second put Carlo Ancelotti's side one point clear of Manchester United at the summit.
Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull made his league debut for the club and looked confident enough ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League last-16 return leg against Inter Milan.
The keeper, third choice all season, will be asked to play against Inter, who lead 2-1 from the first leg, due to injuries to Petr Cech and Hilario.
Chelsea were given a sterner test than they would have wanted by a West Ham side that went in 1-1 at the interval.
Ancelotti's side had the better of the early exchanges but West Ham should have been ahead in the 13th minute.
Mido's low cross from the byline found Araujo Ilan unmarked just eight yards out but the West Ham striker blazed his effort over the crossbar.
The miss proved costly for West Ham as Chelsea went ahead two minutes later through Brazilian defender Alex.
The Hammers failed to clear a corner from Malouda and when the ball was returned to the France winger, his cross was headed home by the unmarked Alex.
It was the defender's first goal of the season but it could have been worse for the Hammers seconds later.
Another cross from Malouda caused panic in the West Ham defence and a deflection off Matthew Upson looked to be heading for his own net until goalkeeper Robert Green just managed to palm it away to safety.
In the 27th minute, Chelsea carved West Ham open again and Frank Lampard's curling cross found Drogba at the far post only for the Ivorian to miss the target.
But West Ham were level in the 29th minute when former Chelsea midfielder Parker sent a 25-yard volley over Turnbull and into the top corner.
Turnbull could do nothing about Parker's effort but once again Chelsea were guilty of failing to defend a throw-in.
The goal stunned Chelsea and their response was predictable and rapid. In the 35th minute, Green had to dive full-stretch to keep out a 20-yard low drive from Lampard.
Two minutes later, Nicolas Anelka tried his luck from 20 yards out but the ball was comfortably collected by Green.
Malouda was a constant threat to West Ham and five minutes before the break he sent over another dangerous cross but Paulo Ferreira could only direct his header into the arms of Green.
Chelsea almost restored their advantage when a 53rd minute cross from Malouda just eluded Michael Ballack at the far post.
But the home side was ahead again in the 55th minute and the driving force was captain John Terry.
The Chelsea defender surged forward to the edge of West Ham penalty area and allowed Drogba to lay the ball off to Malouda on the left wing.
The France winger delivered another pinpoint cross into the six-yard box and this time Drogba headed home from point-blank range for his 26th goal of the season - his 20th in the league.
The Chelsea fans began chanting 'There's only one England captain' as England coach Fabio Capello watched on from the West stand.
Moments later Chelsea were denied a third by a great save from Green who dived to his right to tip away a header from Alex.
In the 65th minute, Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole was given a chance to shine before Capello when he replaced Anelka.
Moments later there was a double substitution for the Hammers - Junior Stanislas replaced Kieron Dyer and Mido made way for Carlton Cole.
Malouda made it 3-1 to Chelsea in the 76th minute with a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.
It was a fitting reward for the France winger who had set up both of Chelsea's earlier goals.
Chelsea were then denied a fourth in the 85th minute when Lampard's glancing shot hit the far post.
Drogba completed the scoring in the 89th minute with his 27th goal of the season - finishing off from close range after Green had palmed a Lampard shot into his path.
As a footnote I was very impressed with the West Ham fans who hardly stopped singing and chanting the whole 90 minutes, even when our fourth went in they were cheering and dancing about as if they had scored themselves.
Pity our fans in the East and West stands can't get behind the team in the same way.

Potters Sent Packing : Chelsea 2 Stoke City 0

2010-03-09T13:50:00.004Z

Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins described controversial captain John Terry's contribution as "superb" after his side overcame stubborn Stoke in their FA Cup quarter-final.
Goals from Frank Lampard and Terry gave Chelsea a place in the last four where they will meet Aston Villa at Wembley.

Lampard's opener came in the 35th minute when he fired a rising 20-yard shot into the net and Terry sealed victory 22 minutes from time with a firm header.

Terry was booed and abused all afternoon by Stoke fans who lambasted the defender for his alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the former girlfriend of one-time Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge. Terry, stripped of the England captaincy by Fabio Capello because of the lurid headlines concerning his private life, celebrated his second half goal by running to the corner flag and pointing at his captain's armband.

When asked about the abuse, Wilkins replied: "It's 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. That was a 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.

"Terry paid tribute to the club for their support during a difficult period.

"The armband means a lot, of course," said Terry. "Chelsea have been very supportive, the players as well, but we wanted to show the fans how much it meant to us.

"We had a couple of days to work on their set plays but they can play as well. On a dodgy pitch I thought we played well and bounced back from last week," added Terry, in reference to the 4-2 defeat by Manchester City which opened up the Premiership title race once again.

Chelsea certainly did not have it all their own way, and in the 14th minute it required a clearance off the line from John Obi Mikel to prevent Stoke going ahead. Delap's long throw was punched clear by Hilario but only to Dean Whitehead on the edge of the penalty area. The Stoke midfielder's drilled shot was heading for the bottom corner until Mikel's timely intervention.

Chelsea squandered a great chance in the 29th minute when Whitehead was caught in possession inside the penalty area but Nicolas Anelka fired beyond the far post from six yards.

However, Chelsea won a succession of corners and one of them paid off in the 35th minute when Lampard fired them in front with the 18th FA Cup goal of his Stamford Bridge career. Florent Malouda's corner found Terry at the far post and the Chelsea captain laid the ball into the path of Lampard for the England midfielder to send a well-hit drive into the net for his 16th of the season. It was also his 146th career goal for the club and pushed him closer to Peter Osgood's tally of 150.

After Terry had made the game all but safe after 68 minutes, heading home another Malouda corner, Lampard almost grabbed a second in the 75th minute but his dipping 20-yard effort was well saved by Sorensen.

Wilkins said: "Stoke put you under a lot of pressure from dead balls and long throws but our concentration was fantastic." Of Chelsea's semi-final chances, he said: "Aston Villa are a very strong side and beat us earlier in the season. It will be another tough game in the semi-final."

England midfielder Joe Cole was again left out of the starting line-up by Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti, but Wilkins insists the player will get his chance."We have a superb squad of players and Carlo has a very difficult task in picking a side," he added. "Everyone merits a place in our team, but that was the side today. Joe's had a very traumatic time with his knee, and you get highs and lows. He'll play plenty of games for Chelsea."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis defended his supporters over their treatment of Terry and claimed that the Chelsea captain will come home a hero if England win the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

"Our fans are brilliant, different class," said Pulis. "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."

Pulis was sorry to see his side's cup run come to an end, but said: "We've knocked Arsenal and Man City out. To pull Chelsea out of the hat at Stamford Bridge was a difficult tie. The players were first class, we gave everything and had a right go

Chelsea 2 Man. City 4

2010-03-04T08:23:00.001Z

Wayne Bridge made a point, then left with all three as Manchester City blew the Premier League title race wide open once more by hammering nine-man Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
All kinds of conspiracy theories had been raised about the pre-match handshake following revelations about John Terry's alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of Bridge's young son.
In the end, there was no mass boycott of the traditional pre-match handshake by City players, just an icy stare from Bridge as he refused to shake Terry's hand.
It was perhaps the most predictable part of a truly astonishing afternoon that exploded into life once Frank Lampard had put the hosts in front just before the break.
At about that point, Chelsea's world imploded.
Henrique Hilario gifted City goals either side of the interval, failing to make saves Petr Cech would regard as routine to keep out shots from Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy either side of the interval.
Then Juliano Belletti was red carded for a foul on Gareth Barry that allowed Tevez to fire home a third from the spot.
And the drama did not finish there as Michael Ballack was also sent off for two yellow cards before Bellamy added another.
A stoppage time Lampard penalty at least raised a cheer from a team whose lead over Manchester United remains a precarious single point.
The intrigue concerning Terry and Bridge had completely overshadowed what was a key encounter for both clubs.
After their midweek loss in Milan, Chelsea were eager to re-establish their four-point lead over Manchester United whilst for City, it was an opportunity to reinforce their top four credentials after a disappointing FA Cup exit at Stoke.
Indeed, it could be argued the Bridge issue has taken quite a lot of heat away from Roberto Mancini, who, after that short post-Christmas honeymoon period, has found his position already coming under scrutiny.
The Italian cannot have been too impressed with his side's early efforts either.
Although Chelsea were not at their best, they monopolised possession and could have been in front when Didier Drogba turned onto an off-target Lampard effort and fired a first-time shot over the bar from six yards.
An overworked Vincent Kompany also sliced a shot over his own bar, while, for their part, City barely emerged from their own half.
Given that backdrop, Chelsea could have been forgiven for thinking it was 'job done' when Lampard struck.
Joe Cole had cut a frustrated figure during the opening period and clearly remains some way below his best.
But he spotted Lampard's perfectly-timed run in a flash and once through, there was never any real doubt the midfielder would beat Given, which he did with a precise shot into the corner.
The home fans breathed a sigh of relief and went off to grab their half-time snacks, only for Tevez to jolt them out of their complacency and shine the light of responsibility on Hilario.
With Petr Cech out for a month with an calf injury, Chelsea are relying on Hilario at a crucial stage of the season and there could only be concerned frowns on the home bench as Tevez's shot rolled in.
It looked bad in real time. Replays were no kinder to Hilario after Tevez had turned Terry, then scuffed a shot that incredibly turned into his 20th goal of the season.
Within four minutes of the re-start, City had scored again, with Hilario again placed in the role of accused.
Although Chelsea had plenty of men forward when Craig Bellamy broke from halfway, John Obi Mikel appeared to do everything right.
He did not dive in and kept the Welshman to his outside, ensuring the angle was as tight as possible when the shot eventually came.
But yet again Hilario was not up to the task as Bellamy's shot flew under his body and into the far corner.
For a team that had not scored on this ground since 2000 and had offered so little in the opening 40 minutes, it was a quite astonishing change of fortunes.
But more was to come as the red cards started flying.
Belletti was shown his for a foul on Gareth Barry that allowed Tevez to tuck home a penalty.
Ballack followed for a tackle on Tevez that could easily have been a dismissal in itself. A second yellow was produced and he was gone too.
Bellamy took advantage of the huge holes now apparent in the Chelsea rearguard with his second of the game.
And while Lampard rounded off the scoring, it was City, and Bridge, who were laughing all the way back to Manchester.

I was at the game as usual and I hope the people who left when we went 3-1 down with 15 minutes to go are suitably ashamed of themselves. You know who you are.

Typical of the Johnnie come lateleys that have arrived at the Bridge over the last few years, these are the people who regularly turn up five minutes after kick off, disappear downstairs five minutes before half-time, reappear five minutes after the second half has kicked off and then sod off home ten minutes before the final whistle to 'avoid the crush', each time disturbing the people who want to see the game.

They should be stopped on the way out, have their season tickets confiscated and given to people on the waiting list who actually want to support the club.

Effective Inter : Internazionale 2 Chelsea 1

2010-03-04T08:22:00.002Z

Chelsea grabbed a vital away goal as former manager Jose Mourinho and his Inter Milan side came out on top in a pulsating Champions League first leg at the San Siro.
Chelsea, whose defeat was compounded by the loss of goalkeeper Petr Cech with a calf injury in the second half, were a goal down inside three minutes when striker Diego Milito put Inter ahead. Salomon Kalou equalised in the 51st minute but Mourinho's men restored their advantage four minutes later when Esteban Cambiasso drilled in the winner.

Kalou's goal may yet prove to be the pivotal moment of the tie when the two teams meet again in the return leg at Stamford Bridge next month.

A match that had been built-up as a contest between the two coaches – Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti was returning to his former home – was sparked into life inside three minutes. Thiago Motta's through ball found Milito inside the Chelsea area and when captain John Terry half-heartedly attempted to block Milito's progress, the Inter striker slammed the ball beyond Cech at the near post. Mourinho greeted the goal with an approving nod from his seat in the Inter dugout.

Chelsea won a free-kick some 35 yards out when Dejan Stankovic fouled Michael Ballack in the 15th minute and they were unlucky not to equalise. Didier Drogba's fierce attempt on goal cannoned back off the crossbar with Julio Cesar well beaten. In the 22nd minute goalscorer Milito was booked for diving after going down from an imaginary challenge by Ricardo Carvalho and Kalou followed him after a foul on Wesley Sneijder.

Apart from Milito's goal, Chelsea had looked untroubled in defence and had dominated possession. John Obi Mikel sent a rising drive into the arms of Cesar in the 29th minute as Chelsea continued to press for a leveller.

But Inter spurned a gilt-edged chance to increase the lead in the 34th minute when Sneijder's cross found Samuel Eto'o unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. But instead of planting the ball past Cech, Eto'o missed his kick.

Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty seconds before the interval when Kalou went down under a challenge from Walter Samuel. But their claims were denied by referee Manuel Gonzalez. But in the 51st minute Chelsea were level through Kalou. Branislav Ivanovic created the opportunity when he ran unchallenged to the edge of the Inter area. The Chelsea right-back looked to have over-run the ball but managed to turn it into the path of Kalou, who curled it in from the edge of the box. Kalou and the rest of the Chelsea squad then ran to the dugout in a clear show of support for Ancelotti.

It took Inter just four minutes to re-establish their lead. Ivanovic blocked Cambiasso's first attempt but there was little anyone could do about the follow-up shot which flashed into the bottom corner beyond Cech from 18 yards.It got worse for Chelsea on the hour when goalkeeper Cech had to be stretchered off after rolling the ball out. There was nobody around the Czech Republic international when the incident occurred and Chelsea later confirmed Cech had suffered a calf injury, which will be monitored over the coming days, and he was replaced by Hilario.

Chelsea should have levelled in the 64th minute when Frank Lampard collected a cross from Anelka but saw his eight-yard shot saved by Cesar. Mikel summed up a night of frustration for the Blues when he sent a 20-yard shot into the stands in the 88th minute

Wolves Wobbling : Wolverhampton W. 0 Chelsea 2

2010-02-22T13:59:00.004Z

Didier Drogba's double enabled Chelsea to move four points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League as they overcame Wolves at Molineux, reports sportal.co.nz.
Drogba ensured the Blues took advantage of United's 3-1 lunchtime reversal against Everton at Goodison Park with a goal in each half.
It took his tally for the campaign to 25 in all competitions and earned Carlo Ancelotti's side only its second away win in its last seven league games.
Chelsea barely moved out of second gear for long periods ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Inter Milan.
But the quality finishing of Drogba was the difference between the sides and means the Blues are now favourites to take the Premier League crown with only 11 games remaining.
Petr Cech was the busier of the two keepers and made two crucial saves early in the second half when Chelsea held only a single-goal advantage.
But Wolves' problem all season have been failure to take their chances, as demonstrated by their meagre goal tally of 21 - although Kevin Doyle again impressed as a lone striker.
Chelsea were quickly in the ascendancy and the first half-chance fell to Michael Ballack.
Yury Zhirkov sent over a threatening cross from the left flank and Ballack got up well in the danger area but directed his header wide.
Doyle produced the first save of the game out of Cech after 15 minutes.
The Republic of Ireland international made space for himself after a diagonal run and Cech had to go down to his right to save his 20-yard drive.
Doyle then flicked the ball into the path of the overlapping Kevin Foley but his shot from a narrow angle flew into the side netting.
Doyle was causing problems for Chelsea and he was alert to a quick throw from Foley and forced Cech to parry his shot around the post.
Ballack was only just too high with a rasping volley after a corner from Florent Malouda was only half-cleared.
Jones, who had scored the winner against Tottenham 10 days ago, curled a free-kick just wide as Wolves started to grow in confidence.
But five minutes before the interval, Chelsea took the lead through Drogba.
Zhirkov played a one-two with Ballack before squaring a low ball across the six-yard box and Drogba had the easiest of tap-ins.
Cech produced a superb reflex save to protect Chelsea's lead after 55 minutes.
Adlene Guedioura timed his run perfectly to connect with a far-post cross from Jarvis but his fierce volley was somehow kept out by the Chelsea keeper.
Ancelotti made his first change a minute later with Zhirkov replaced by Jeffrey Bruma.
The home side tried to get a foothold in the game and Cech produced another splendid stop to deny Foley an equaliser.
Terry miskicked when attempting to clear and Foley found himself with only Cech to beat but he managed to block his fierce shot.
Ballack became the first player to be yellow-carded for dissent as the Blues looked rattled.
But then Drogba doubled Chelsea's lead as Wolves were caught napping by a long clearance from Cech.
Drogba was the first to react and took the ball away from Christophe Berra before clipping the ball wide of Marcus Hahnemann.
McCarthy made a triple substitution with Jarvis, Foley and Jones making way for Geoffrey Mujangi Bia, Greg Halford and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
Doyle was only just off target for Wolves with a shot on the turn after some typical aggression.
But it needed a good tackle from Ronald Zubar to deny Anelka a third goal as he bore down on the Wolves goal.
Terry cleared the ball off the line in a late Wolves rally after Cech had failed to gather a long throw from Halford.

Bluebirds Breached : Chelsea 4 Cardiff City 1

2010-02-15T12:50:00.003Z

Holders Chelsea reached the FA Cup quarter-finals after Cardiff had briefly threatened to cause a massive shock.

Didier Drogba put Chelsea in front in the second minute but Michael Chopra stunned the home side with an equaliser before half-time.

But second-half goals from Michael Ballack, Daniel Sturridge and substitute Salomon Kalou put Carlo Ancelotti’s side into the last eight.

Chelsea got off to a great start when John Obi Mikel’s long ball put Drogba in the clear and the Ivory Coast striker ran on to fire past the static David Marshall.

It was Drogba’s fourth goal in three games since his return from the African Nations Cup and his 23rd of the season.

Cardiff almost equalised when Peter Whittingham’s free-kick was sent towards the top corner by Anthony Gerrard.

But with City ready to celebrate an equaliser, Hilario somehow managed to get across and tip the ball over the bar.

In the 25th minute, Drogba was unlucky with an overhead kick from six yards when a cross from Michael Ballack had found him ahead of his marker.

Fortunately for Marshall in the City goal, Drogba’s effort went straight to him.

Chelsea remained in control of the game with Cardiff restricted to rare counter-attacks.

But one of them paid off in stunning fashion in the 34th minute when they equalised through Chopra.

The Cardiff striker shocked the home side with his 17th goal of the season.

Chopra got clear of Alex to head Chris Burke’s cross into the net beyond the helpless Hilario, to the delight of the 6,000 travelling City fans.

The Cardiff equaliser had certainly livened the game up but Chelsea gradually managed to get on top once more.

Chelsea’s passing began to go astray as the half wore on and Cardiff were able to end the first half on level terms.

Chelsea replaced the ineffective Joe Cole with Kalou at half-time.

Drogba, the only Chelsea player really on his game, found Marshall alert when he tried to send a 25-yard free-kick inside the near post just seconds after the restart.

But Chelsea were back in front in the 51st minute when Drogba’s pass evaded Mark Kennedy to put Michael Ballack through on goal. The Germany captain kept his cool to volley the ball over Marshall and make it 2-1.

Chelsea defender Alex was unlucky to see a header cleared by the Cardiff rearguard on the hour as the home side pressed for a third goal.

The home side were again in control with Drogba at the heart of all their best moves.

The Ivory Coast striker was unlucky not to get on the end of a through-ball from Paulo Ferreira while Sturridge shot well wide from 20 yards in the 67th minute.

Chelsea finally got a third in the 69th minute when a scrappy build-up allowed the ball to run loose to Sturridge, who slipped it beyond Marshall.

It was his fourth goal in the competition – and his last contribution before being replaced by Florent Malouda.

Cardiff continued to make sporadic forays into the Chelsea half and on one such attack, Kevin McNaughton was a yard wide with a 20-yard angled drive.

Whittingham then brought a fine save out of Hilario with a low drive from 25 yards as Chelsea rested on their two-goal lead.

However, Kalou made it 4-1 in the 86th minute when he superbly headed home a cross from Ferreira.

The Ivory Coast striker twisted his body in mid-air to send the header over Marshall’s reach and into the top corner of the net.

Malouda was way off target in the 90th minute when he tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area – but Chelsea had done enough to go through to the last eight.

Ashley Ankle Blow

2010-02-12T11:41:00.004Z

Ashley Cole faces a fight to be fit in time for the World Cup finals in South Africa after fracturing his ankle in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Goodison on Wednesday night, reports gazettelive.co.uk.
The England left-back is almost certainly out for the remainder of the domestic season and his place in Fabio Capello’s squad for the finals in South Africa will depend on his rehabilitation programme.
England open their campaign in South Africa on June 12 with a match against the United States, but Cole will have to convince Capello he is back to full fitness before the Italian names his 23-man squad.
Ironically, Cole’s injury will provide former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge with the chance to become Capello’s first-choice left-back. Chelsea are fortunate they have enough cover to cope with Cole’s absence.
Russia international Yury Zhirkov is comfortable at left-back and Portugal international Paulo Ferreira can also play in the same position despite being signed by former boss Jose Mourinho as a right-back.
Speaking about Cole, Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “We are very disappointed because he’s a very important player for us.
“Now we have to do our best to get him recovered quickly, although we have Yury, who is a fantastic full-back, so we can use him.”
Asked about Cole’s prospects of playing in the World Cup, the Italian added: “I don’t know - I hope so for him and for the England team.”

Toffees Triumphant : Everton 2 Chelsea 1

2010-02-12T08:28:00.004Z

Louis Saha celebrated his new contract with Everton with a stunning double to sink Premier League leaders Chelsea 2-1,reports sportal.co.nz.
The Frenchman, who signed a two-year deal last week, first exposed Chelsea's weakness at set-pieces with a headed equaliser and then fired a brilliant 75th-minute winner at Goodison Park.
Chelsea had shaded the early stages and taken the lead through Florent Malouda but Saha, who also missed a penalty, secured Everton's first victory over the Londoners since 2000.
With Manchester United held by Aston Villa, victory could have taken Chelsea four points clear at the top but Everton's greater industry merited victory.
Sacked England captain John Terry escaped lightly in terms of crowd abuse following recent media revelations but the Chelsea stalwart was caught out for Saha's winner.
And of further concern for manager Carlo Ancelotti was the nature of the equaliser - the 16th of 22 goals this season Chelsea have conceded from set-pieces.
Everton scored all its goals from similar situations when the sides played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge two months ago.
This time the Toffees were without key midfielders Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar through injury and suspension respectively.
Mikel Arteta, having recovered from a knee injury, made his first start in almost a year while Chelsea replaced Michael Ballack with Yury Zhirkov.
Everton stretched Chelsea within the opening minutes as Landon Donovan broke clear but the American overhit his cross for Saha.
After that Chelsea began to take control with Frank Lampard shooting wide after a Nicolas Anelka dummy and Didier Drogba heading over from a Malouda cross.
Branislav Ivanovic then volleyed wide but Chelsea broke through after 17 minutes from a route-one ball.
Peter Cech's long clearance was headed on by Drogba and Malouda brushed off the challenge of Phil Neville to drill a left-footed shot low past Tim Howard.
Chelsea threatened again when Richardo Carvalho leapt above Terry to meet a Lampard corner but Howard saved comfortably.
Everton then launched a counter-attack with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov breaking down the left to cross for Leighton Baines but the left-back caught his volley awkwardly and Cech saved.
But the Toffees grew in confidence and pulled level after winning a corner in the 33rd minute.
Donovan's cross dropped over Lampard and Saha rushed in to power a header past Cech for his 12th goal of the season and his first in five games.
Everton almost added an immediate second as Tim Cahill set up Leon Osman on the edge of the area but his shot flew wide.
Drogba pulled the ball back from the byline as Chelsea responded but Anelka stabbed wide from six yards.
Lampard tried his luck from a 30-yard free-kick but shot over and Drogba then curled one wide.
But Everton finished the half with a flourish and Saha should twice have given the hosts the lead.
First he was picked out in front of goal by Donovan but his first touch bought Cech time and the keeper rushed forward to save from point-blank range.
The former Manchester United forward had an immediate chance to make amends after Donovan was felled in the area by Carvalho but Cech guessed right and saved the resulting spot-kick to his left.
Everton did not let the miss affect them and started the second half well with a dangerous Bilyaletdinov cross palmed over the bar by Cech.
Saha then showed brilliant control to turn and create another shooting opportunity in the box but Carvalho just did enough to force him to fire wide.
Everton also started winning the 50-50 balls and Drogba showed a growing Chelsea frustration when he fired wildly at goal from more than 40 yards.
Bilyaletdinov showed good control in the area but his shot was blocked and a Donovan cross was just too high for Cahill.
Everton appealed for handball against Terry on the edge of the area but referee Alan Wiley's decision to play on was vindicated as replays showed the ball catching the face.
Pressure finally paid off as Everton deservedly went ahead through Saha after 75 minutes.
Terry missed the chance to cut out a long ball from Sylvain Distin and Saha brilliantly chested the ball down before turning and firing home powerfully with his left foot.
Chelsea, having been subdued for most of the second half, finally sparked into life but the crossbar came to Everton's rescue as Drogba met a Lampard corner with a good header.
Lampard then got in a shot at the end of a flowing move but Howard saved to his right.

Gunners Grounded : Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0

2010-02-12T08:19:00.004Z

John Terry's life may be in turmoil off the pitch but the former England captain remains as inspirational as ever in a Chelsea shirt as his side put an end to Arsenal's remaining title dreams at Stamford Bridge, reports sport.scotsman.com.
Stripped of the England captaincy by Fabio Capello 48 hours earlier and the subject of more lurid headlines about his private life, Terry responded in a typically defiant manner as two first-half goals from Didier Drogba put Chelsea back on top of the Barclays Premier League – Drogba's first goal in the eighth minute arrived courtesy of a glancing header from Terry.

Taunted by Arsenal fans throughout for his alleged affair with French lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel, the former girlfriend of Terry's one-time team-mate Wayne Bridge, the Chelsea captain produced a commanding performance at the heart of the defence and, in coach Carlo Ancelotti's eyes, vindicated his decision not to switch skippers.

"John is the perfect captain for Chelsea," said Ancelotti. "My captain has a fantastic attitude. He is doing very well in every game."It is very important for the team to have this leadership. He was always in control of the game. He has a strong mentality."He is working for his club and we are happy to have this performance from him in this moment."

The victory restored Chelsea's two-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table and, more significantly, increased the gap over third-placed Arsenal to nine. Despite the imposing gap, Ancelotti was not willing to rule his London rivals out of the title race just yet.

"Arsenal still have a possibility because they are a good team," added the Italian."It depends on the performances of Manchester United and Chelsea. I am not sure it will be a race with two horses."

The outcome was never in doubt once Chelsea's other talismanic figure had put them in front with a simple volley at the far post. Drogba's 21st goal of the season was the perfect start for Carlo Ancelotti's side and with their confidence sufficiently rocked, Arsenal failed to respond before the Ivory Coast striker added his second.

When Arsenal did manage to get past the imposing Terry, they were woefully wasteful with Andrey Arshavin the main culprit.

In the 20th minute, a delightful chip from Cesc Fabregas found the Russian unmarked inside the penalty area but he volleyed straight at Petr Cech.

Two minutes later Arsenal were handed a lesson in textbook finishing which was to ultimately leave their title dreams in tatters as Drogba notched his 22nd goal of the season.

Frank Lampard was given the freedom of Stamford Bridge to run 30 yards before supplying the Ivory Coast striker with a simple pass. The Arsenal defence continued to back-pedal and that was the invitation Drogba required to cut inside from the right and fire a left-foot volley beyond Manuel Almunia.

Chelsea could have increased their advantage shortly afterwards but Ashley Cole was denied by Almunia after Lampard's incisive pass had put him clear.

Arsenal were a different side in the second-half but the task was just too much for them.

Terry was forced to play much of the second period with his thigh heavily strapped after a muscle injury but there was little chance he would desert his post with all eyes upon him.

Theo Walcott should have done better when clean through but got caught in two minds and Chelsea's defence cleared.

Cech, who had preserved Chelsea's lead in the first half, was in outstanding form and pulled off another great save to keep out a goal-bound Fabregas free-kick.

But as Arsenal overstretched themselves, Chelsea looked for a third.Michael Ballack went close with an angled drive which flashed beyond the far post on the hour but Cech rescued Chelsea again 11 minutes from time by whipping the ball off the toes of Arsenal substitute Nicklas Bendtner – on for Walcott.

Drogba came close to completing a fine hat-trick but his 83rd minute free-kick from 20 yards cannoned back off the crossbar.

In the end, it was of little consequence, leaving Terry to enjoy a welcome moment of elation in front of his adoring fans as Chelsea climbed back to the Premier League summit.

Afterwards, Drogba confirmed the Chelsea squad were united behind Terry.

The Ivorian admitted it had been a tough week for the club but he stressed Terry had the players' full support.

"It has been a difficult week for us, for Chelsea, for all the club," Drogba said. "We tried to stay together and focus on the game. It is a matter of time but we will stick together and keep looking forward. We have offered him as much support as we can. The best thing for him is to play. All his team-mates have to do everything for him."Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted his side are now outsiders for the title."It is difficult to swallow a defeat like that when we felt we were the better team," said Wenger. "Chelsea defended well until the last minute so you have got to give them credit. We are outsiders but we will fight until the last day of the season. I believe everyone can drop points. Let's come back to win our next game first and then see where we stand."

Tigers Untamed : Hull City 1 Chelsea 1

2010-02-08T13:25:00.003Z

Didier Drogba celebrated his return from African Nations Cup duty by notching his 20th goal of the season to spare Chelsea's blushes against lowly Hull to draw 1-1, reports sportal.co.nz.
All eyes were, inevitably, on John Terry in his second match since allegations over his private life were made public but it was Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo who grabbed the limelight by heading the Premier League strugglers in front.
Drogba, in his first Blues match for a month, snared a point for the table-toppers when he drilled home a contested free-kick just before the interval.
Hull started confidently, winning corners on the left and right inside two minutes.
Chelsea repelled them safely but Stephen Hunt's delivery looked dangerous and the home side was assured in the opening minutes.
Terry started solidly and did not appear outwardly affected by the expected round of boos and chants.
In the ninth minute Frank Lampard had the first chance of the match, capping a nice passing move with a swerving shot at goal. Boaz Myhill could only parry it to Nicolas Anelka 10 yards out but the Frenchman fluffed his finish.
Drogba was also off-target as he blazed wide soon after.
Hunt was looking dangerous down the left for Hull and Branislav Ivanovic appeared unsettled by the bustling Irishman.
Chelsea should have taken the lead 25 minutes in when Deco's crossfield ball set Ivanovic free on the right and he arrowed a cross into the Hull area. Michael Ballack timed his run perfectly but headed tamely and straight at Myhill from close range.
Hull continued to give as good as they got, though, with crosses from Hunt and George Boateng both causing problems.
It was, then, no great surprise when Mouyokolo outjumped a number of Chelsea defenders, Terry included, to head home Hunt's 29th-minute corner.
Anelka and Deco failed to beat Myhill with low drives as Chelsea fought back and Anthony Gardner made good ground to dispossess Drogba as he shaped to shoot.
With three minutes to go before the break the Ivorian striker lashed home the equaliser with a disputed free-kick from just outside the penalty area.
Gardner missed a glorious chance to restore the lead before the break when he headed Tom Cairney's flighted free-kick over from just a couple of yards.
Terry was booked a minute after the restart for an ungainly leap with Jozy Altidore and it was almost a costly foul.
Hunt again sent in the cross and Altidore was left free in the box six yards out. He stooped to head goalwards but it looped up softly off the back of his head.
Ivanovic forced another parried save from Myhill in the 50th minute but when the loose ball was cut back across goal Lampard skied his shot.
Hull was furious when Mark Clattenburg deemed Ricardo Carvalho's risky challenge on Altidore legal, but there was more to worry about at the other end as the hour-mark approached. First Drogba and then Terry drew Myhill into action with strong headed efforts as the hosts failed to clear a corner.
Five minutes later Amr Zaki came off the bench for his second Tigers appearance and immediately had some joy as he got the better of Yury Zhirkov to reach the byline.
Ancelotti introduced a fresh playmaker of his own with 19 minutes to play, Joe Cole replacing the off-colour Ballack.
Chelsea's defending at set-pieces continued to falter as Hunt and Mouyokolo combined again with a near-post corner, though this time the defender headed wide.
Drogba was also off-target in the 77th minute, heading over Ivanovic's curling delivery as last man Myhill charged off his line.
Drogba was booked late on for a frustrated flick at Paul McShane and Myhill ensured the Tigers held on to a valuable point as he stretched to save Daniel Sturridge's late strike.

Clarets Conquered : Burnley 1 Chelsea 2

2010-02-01T13:23:00.006Z

John Terry grabbed a late winner for Chelsea to cement their place at the top of the Premier League after deciding to play on despite allegations about his private life, reports sportal.co.nz.
The club captain headed home a corner from Florent Malouda in the 83rd minute but his celebration was muted.
It was a cruel blow for Burnley, who had drawn level through Steven Fletcher after Nicolas Anelka had opened the scoring.
Chelsea were looking to kick on after the victory over Birmingham and coach Carlo Ancelotti made two changes.
Alex and Yury Zhirkov were back in the side with Deco and Ricardo Carvalho stepping down.
Burnley manager Brian Laws gave a debut to Leon Cort after his 1.5million pound arrival from Stoke in midweek.
It was Laws' first home game in charge and a daunting one at that, especially after three straight defeats under his stewardship.
Terry was under the spotlight and his first touch saw him head the ball out of play.

Cort had to be on his toes in the seventh minute following a swift counter-attack by Chelsea. Joe Cole picked out Nicolas Anelka and his cross was turned away by the new signing from Stoke.
Chelsea maintained the momentum and Anelka played the ball back to Frank Lampard a minute later but he skied his shot over the crossbar.
Then Anelka fluffed his effort inside the area to the amusement of the Burnley fans, after good work by Joe Cole.
The home team responded and Robbie Blake thumped a free-kick into the wall in the 17th minute after Michael Ballack had been penalised for a challenge on Chris Eagles.
Back came Chelsea and Florent Malouda delivered the ball into the area only for goalkeeper Brian Jensen to make a comfortable save.
While the visitors were knocking the ball about well, Burnley were holding their own at this stage of the game.
Chelsea made the breakthrough in the 27th minute through Anelka's 12th goal of the season.
It was a sweeping move that caught Burnley flat-footed. Joe Cole delivered a cross to the back post and Malouda chased what looked like a lost cause.
He managed to steer the ball back into the area from the left, and Anelka lost two defenders to coolly finish things off.
It was just the boost Ancelotti was looking for on a ground where Manchester United lost earlier in the season.
It was proving a difficult spell for Burnley but Andre Bikey then rattled a shot over the bar as Terry tried to close him down.
Terry was then booked in the 35th minute for barging over Blake as he tried to burst forward.
The crowd was incensed with the Chelsea defender's challenge and let him know.
Chelsea, though, were playing with confidence and Jensen did well to head clear as Anelka tried to get on the end of a good ball from Branislav Ivanovic.
Blake then sent a free-kick into the Chelsea area after 43 minutes but Anelka showed his defensive qualities by heading clear.
Chelsea started the second half brightly with Malouda advancing and smacking a shot wide of the post in the 47th minute.
However they were stunned three minutes later when Burnley equalised after clever work by Blake.
He put Alex under pressure with a ball into the area and Fletcher got the better of the defender to score his 10th goal of the season with a deft finish.
Chelsea hit back and Joe Cole found the net in the 56th minute but his effort was ruled offside shortly after a shot from Lampard was blocked.
Laws decided to boost his attacking options three minutes later when Martin Paterson replaced Kevin McDonald.
It was bold move against the league leaders by the former Sheffield Wednesday manager.
Chelsea almost regained their lead in the 64th minute but Jensen got down quickly to parry Lampard's driven free-kick from 25 yards.
The visitors kept up the pressure and the goalkeeper then made a comfortable save from Alex after Malouda and Anelka had linked up.
The crowd was willing their team on though, and could sense another surprise result.
Chelsea boss Ancelotti decided to switch things around in the 73rd minute and brought on Daniel Sturridge for Joe Cole.
Sturridge then saw a header parried by Jensen before Terry silenced the home crowd in the 83rd minute.
Terry peeled away from his marker and got on the end of a corner from Malouda to head home.
However it proved to be Chelsea's winner and takes them four points clear of Manchester United.

Brummies Battered : Chelsea 3 Birmingham City 0

2010-02-01T13:16:00.003Z

Chelsea returned to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge, reports sportal.co.nz.
Carlo Ancelotti's side brought an end to Birmingham's 15-game unbeaten run thanks to an opening goal by Florent Malouda and a brace from Frank Lampard.
The win put Chelsea one point clear of Manchester United at the top of the table with a game in hand on their rivals.
The home side went ahead in the fifth minute when they opened their account through Malouda. The goal was engineered by England midfielder Joe Cole, who burst into the City penalty area from the right flank before crossing for the unmarked Malouda to head past Joe Hart from six yards.
City had been the only team in the league to prevent Chelsea from scoring when the two teams met at St. Andrews on Boxing Day but Ancelotti's side is a different animal at home.
But City managed to stave off the expected Chelsea onslaught by stifling the midfield.
The home side had to wait until the 20th minute for another meaningful attack.
Again Cole sent the ball into the penalty area but it was deflected for a corner.
However, only the width of the upright prevented the home side from increasing their lead seconds later.
Malouda's corner was met by the head of Ricardo Carvalho but the Portugese defender saw the ball cannon back off the post.
Chelsea continued to press and Lampard sent an angled drive into the arms of Hart in the 21st minute, while Cole was inches wide with a 20-yard shot moments later.
Cole was having a fine game for the home side and another 18-yard effort was well held by the diving Hart in the 26th minute.
But Chelsea did make it 2-0 in the 31st minute when Lampard collected a pass from Michael Ballack and sent a low angled drive beyond Hart and into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Chelsea had now moved up a gear and were in their familiar smooth groove.
In the 34th minute, Nicolas Anelka had a shot deflected for a corner as the home side looked for a third.
Chelsea's passing was fluent and inventive and Birmingham had no answer.
They possessed little attacking threat, with Chelsea captain John Terry proving to be an imposing figure in his 300th career league game.
City had not tested Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and lacked the quality and guile to trouble the home defence.
There was also a distinct lack of ambition in City's play, which was surprising given their 15-game unbeaten run.
Chelsea began the second half with the same attacking desire and a 25-yard drive from Anelka ruffled the side-netting with Hart scrambling to protect his near post.
In the 53rd minute, Hart rescued Birmingham when a cross from Ashley Cole found the unmarked Ballack at the far post.
The German captain sent his downward header towards the corner of the net but Hart somehow managed to grab the ball in time.
City replaced Cameron Jerome with Keith Fahey in the 56th minute as the visitors looked to add more impetus to their attack.
Chelsea were inches away from a third in the 59th minute when a corner by Malouda was directed just over the crossbar by Ballack.
Joe Cole deserved a goal as a reward for his performance but he squandered a real chance in the 64th minute when Lampard found him with a fine cross-field pass.
The midfielder, hoping to play his way into England's squad for the World Cup finals this summer, hit a weak shot straight at Hart from eight yards.
Hart was busy again two minutes later when he held a long-range drive from Malouda.
Birmingham's James McFadden broke clear of the Chelsea defence in the 72nd minute but his angled shot flashed the wrong side of the far post.
Moments later substitute Fahey brought a fine save from Petr Cech as City finally put some pressure on the home defence.
But Chelsea made it 3-0 in the 90th minute when Lampard collected a pass from Malouda and fired past the advancing Hart.

Preston Panned : Preston North End 0 Chelsea 2

2010-01-25T12:56:00.004Z

Daniel Sturridge enhanced his growing reputation by helping Chelsea secure a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Deepdale, reports sportinglife.com.
The former Manchester City striker scored his third goal for the club and repeatedly kept Preston's defence on their toes.
Sturridge's strike in the 47th minute effectively killed off the tie in what was Darren Ferguson's first home match as manager.
Ferguson will no doubt look back on a chance that changed the face of the game.
Darren Carter should have cancelled out the opening goal from Nicolas Anelka but somehow screwed his shot wide of the target.
Chelsea controlled the game and had it not been for goalkeeper Andy Lonergan the margin could have been greater
The visitors almost took the lead in the 14th minute when Yury Zhirkov saw his effort booted away by Lonergan after the Russia international had played a neat one-two with Frank Lampard.
That came after an early scare when Hilario punched away a header from Chris Brown following a cross from Chris Sedgewick.
Chelsea began to impose themselves and Anelka got into a good position only to drag his effort wide of the target.
Preston were struggling to get into the game but Callum Davidson found himself clear in the area. However his soft header ended in the goalkeeper's arms.
Then substitute Florent Malouda found the net for Chelsea in the 26th minute but instead of celebrating a goal they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.
Michael Ballack saw his effort deflected to safety but this was a difficult spell for Preston.
The home side were grateful to Lonergan five minutes later when he stood tall to parry Alex's blistering 25-yard effort following a short free-kick from Lampard.
Chelsea's pressure paid off when Anelka made the breakthrough. The France striker got away from Youl Mawene on the edge of the box and even though Lonergan made some contact he could prevent his effort going into the net.
Preston, however, launched a spirited comeback and nearly drew level four minutes later.
Brown's towering header was taken by Hilario at the last moment and the ball fell to Carter but he found the wrong side of the post with the rebound.
Play switched down the other end and Paulo Ferreira almost extended Chelsea's lead with a blistering shot that went narrowly wide.
Chelsea doubled their advantage two minutes into the second half following a corner from Malouda.
John Terry powered in a header that came back out but only as far as Sturridge, who whacked the rebound home.
Sturridge then had an appeal for a penalty waved away after he went down in the area following a challenge from Davidson.
Ferguson decided to take off the unfortunate Carter in the 59th minute and bring on Jon Parkin to add a bit of muscle up front.
Chelsea were looking comfortable with a two-goal cushion and Anelka tried to release Sturridge but he had strayed offside.
Ballack tried his luck from distance but the ball hit Lampard's heel before Sturridge almost got a second goal, his effort going marginally off target.
Lonergan again came to Preston's rescue in the 67th minute, pushing over a header from Ballack inside the six-yard area.
Preston striker Parkin then tested Hilario from distance in the 77th minute as they tried to get back in the game.
Parkin was not afraid to shoot on sight and saw his effort minutes later sail wide of the target.
Sturridge went close again in the 83rd minute and substitute Joe Cole fired wide late on as Chelsea ran out two-goal winners.

Sunderland Shattered : Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2

2010-01-25T12:39:00.007Z

Chelsea maintained their slender lead at the top of the Premier League by hitting sorry Sunderland 7-2 at Stamford Bridge, reports sportal.co.nz.
Carlo Ancelotti's side proved it can prosper without its quartet of African stars as goals from Nicolas Anelka (two), Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard (two) and Michael Ballack set the seal on a fine afternoon for the Blues.
It kept them one point ahead of Manchester United at the summit of the League with a game in hand on their rivals.
Sunderland managed two consolation goals through substitute Bolo Zenden and Darren Bent but Steve Bruce's side has now failed to win in their last eight league games.
Chelsea dominated from the start and Joe Cole could have put them in front in the first minute.
But the England international failed to beat goalkeeper Marton Fulop after Malouda's header had put him clear of the Sunderland defence.
Ashley Cole then headed wide from point-blank range in the fourth minute when Joe Cole's cross found him at the far post.
But the returning Anelka put Carlo Ancelotti's side ahead in the seventh minute.
The France striker pounced on a clever through-ball from Ballack, rounded Fulop and placed the ball into the net.
Sunderland's first real attempt on goal arrived in the 13th minute but Bent's shot from the edge of the penalty area was easily saved by Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.
Malouda added a second for Chelsea in the 17th minute when he collected the ball just inside the Sunderland half, shrugged off two challenges and sent an angled right-foot drive into the bottom corner of the net from 18 yards.
Sunderland had not won in the league since beating Arsenal in November and they were not in the same class as the Blues.
The gulf was underlined in the 22nd minute when the league leaders went 3-0 in front with another simple move.
John Terry's lofted ball from the back found Ashley Cole sprinting into the penalty area and the England left-back dummied Lorik Cana before dinking the ball over Fulop.
In the 32nd minute, Anelka got clear of the Sunderland defence yet again but this time Fulop's knees prevented him from scoring.
But it mattered little as Chelsea made it 4-0 two minutes later. Anelka fed Ashley Cole on the left wing and his cross was volleyed home from six yards by Lampard.
Chelsea were now playing some vintage stuff and moments later Ashley Cole was only denied a second by Fulop's outstretched hands.
Ballack was inches away from a fifth in the 36th minute when his curling shot fell just the wrong side of the left-hand upright.
Joe Cole forced Fulop into a diving save in the 43rd minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area before Chelsea were cheered off the field at the interval.
Chelsea made two changes at half-time. Captain Terry was replaced by Alex while Yury Zhirkov came on in place of Ashley Cole, who collected a knock scoring his goal.
But Chelsea still dominated and in the 50th minute, Fulop had to tip a shot from Anelka onto the crossbar and post to prevent the home side scoring a fifth.
But the goal came in the 52nd minute and it was pure simplicity for Chelsea.
A cross from Joe Cole on the right flank was headed home from six yards by the unmarked Ballack.
Sunderland hit back in the 56th minute when substitute Bolo Zenden fired home from the edge of the penalty area.
But Chelsea's sixth duly arrived in the 64th minute when Zhirkov's cross was punched straight to Anelka by Fulop and the Chelsea striker slotted into an empty net from the edge of the area.
In the 75th minute, Anelka was denied a hat-trick when his shot from six yards was somehow kept out by Fulop.
Nine minutes later, Joe Cole hit the post with a header after Juliano Belletti had knocked an Alex free-kick into his path.
But Chelsea made it 7-1 in the 89th minute when Lampard headed home a cross from Anelka. Moments later Bent scored from close range for Sunderland before Chris Foy brought proceedings to a close.

Hornets Humbled : Chelsea 5 Watford 0

2010-01-19T13:42:00.003Z

Two goals from Daniel Sturridge inspired Chelsea to a thrashing of Watford as the FA Cup holders moved into the fourth round, reports espnstar.com.
Sturridge started and finished the scoring as Chelsea produced a five-star showing against their Coca-Cola Championship opponents.
An own goal from John Eustace, a deflected effort from Florent Malouda and a thunderous finish from Frank Lampard were sandwiched in between Sturridge's brace as Chelsea dominated from the start.
Sturridge, handed the task of replacing Didier Drogba while he is away on international duty in the African Nations Cup, put the home side in front in the fifth minute with his first goal for the club.
A corner from Lampard was headed down by Alex for John Terry to fire the ball into the six-yard box, where Sturridge pounced to score.
Sturridge was in fine form and almost added a second moments later but saw his 20-yard shot just flash past Scott Loach's left-hand upright.
But Chelsea went two goals in front in the 14th minute thanks to a comedy of errors from the Championship side.
Malouda's cross was hit back into the six-yard box by Joe Cole, only for the ball to cannon off Jay Demerit. The Watford captain watched in horror as the ball then slammed against Lampard before Eustace turned it into his own net as he tried to clear.
Chelsea were completely on top and moments later Loach made a superb one-handed save to stop a thumping header from Alex finding the net.
In the 19th minute Juliano Belletti was inches away from a third when he hit Lampard's corner first time from 20 yards out.
But Chelsea made it 3-0 in the 21st minute when a 20-yard shot from Yury Zhirkov deflected off Malouda and sent Loach the wrong way.
Another superb Chelsea move in the 37th minute almost brought the home side a fourth.
This time captain Terry joined the attack and his superb through-ball gave Sturridge the chance to score his second - but the striker sent his left-foot shot just wide of the far post.
Watford started the second half brightly and in the 52nd minute, Henri Lansbury saw a shot deflected for a corner as Chelsea's defence failed to clear.
Seconds later Demerit tested Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario with a firm header from the resultant corner.
But Chelsea soon got back on top of the game and in the 55th minute Ashley Cole was a yard wide with an angled drive.
The England-full-back then lifted the ball on to the roof of the net in the 60th minute as the Blues continued to dominate.
Sturridge then raced clear of the Watford defence but was foiled by a fine save from Loach as he attempted to lift the ball over his head and into the net.
But Chelsea made it 4-0 in the 64th minute with a superb Lampard strike.
The England midfielder was given time and space some 25 yards out and sent a thunderous rising drive into the roof of the net. It was a fabulous finish from the Chelsea midfielder who had been at the centre of all the home side's best moves.
Four minutes later it was 5-0 after Ashley Cole and Zhirkov combined superbly on the left wing. Cole's run into the penalty box was followed by a clever cross to the waiting Sturridge, who controlled the ball and slipped it beyond the helpless Loach.
However, the striker's hopes of a hat-trick were ended soon after when he was replaced by Fabio Borini, although he left the field to a standing ovation from the home fans.
In the 85th minute Joe Cole almost got himself on the scoresheet but his shot on the turn was just too high.
Chelsea continued push for a sixth and Lampard was inches away from getting a touch to a cross from Branislav Ivanovic in the 90th minute.

Fulham Floored : Chelsea 2 Fulham 1

2010-01-19T13:32:00.005Z

Chelsea came from behind to spare their blushes against west London neighbours Fulham and restore their five-point lead at the Premier League summit, reports sportal.co.nz.
Zoltan Gera gave Roy Hodgson's side a fairytale start at Stamford Bridge when he struck after just three minutes and Fulham looked comfortable for the first hour.
But then Chelsea moved through the gears and was rewarded with two goals in two minutes with Didier Drogba notching the equaliser before the pressure forced defender Chris Smalling to concede an own goal.
It was a cruel blow for Fulham who defended heroically until the Blues' onslaught began to take its toll.
The 20-year-old Smalling, deputising for the injured Brede Hangeland, will feel particularly aggrieved after making a fine full debut - until he turned the ball into his own net.
Chelsea's unconvincing performance, which was one-dimensional and lacked imagination, will have given its title rivals further encouragement that the championship race is far from over.
Jose Mourinho, watching from the stands in preparation for Inter Milan's Champions League clash against his former club, will also have been encouraged by what he saw.
Carlo Ancelotti reacted to Chelsea's run of just one victory in five matches by making six changes.
Only John Terry remained from the back four that started the goalless draw against Birmingham with Ricardo Carvalho, Yury Zhirkov and Paulo Ferreira joining him.
Midfielders Joe Cole and Michael Ballack also returned, while Drogba and Salomon Kalou played their last matches in club colours before heading off to the African Nations Cup.
But despite the shake-up Chelsea suffered from an abysmal lack of penetration in the final third where vast reams of possession were wasted amid a flurry of mis-hit shots.
In contrast, Fulham was able to unpick its opponent as early as the third minute.
Paul Konchesky found acres of space on the left before launching a cross that deceived Terry and the England skipper watched in horror as Bobby Zamora, stationed six yards out, found Gera.
The Hungarian was stood at point blank range but still had work to do as he controlled the ball, turned and planted his shot beyond Petr Cech.
Gera celebrated with a back flip but whatever the scoreline said it was all Chelsea with Fulham struggling to string more than a couple of passes together.
Only resolute defending was keeping the blue horde at bay with Konchesky executing a well-timed tackle on Lampard as the England midfielder weaved his way into the area.
For all their possession, however, Chelsea were failing to create any chances and were becoming less of a threat as the match progressed.
Cech had to palm a shot by Clint Dempsey over the crossbar after the American had been expertly set up by Zamora, whose physical presence was causing Chelsea problems.
Referee Andre Marriner told captains Danny Murphy and Terry to speak with John Pantsil and Drogba in response to the African rivals' running battle.
It was then Schwarzer's turn to talk to Drogba following his challenge on Pantsil and moments later the Ivorian was floored by a kick from his nemesis after his thunderbolt had been blocked.
Chelsea enjoyed a lucky escape seconds after the interval when a poorly-judged backpass by Carvalho was intercepted by Zamora, whose shot cannoned off the leg of the advancing Cech.
Schwarzer was pressed into action on the hour when he made a fine stop of Drogba's curling effort from the edge of the area.
Fulham's defence was finally starting to creak but two poor shots by Kalou and Lampard let them off the hook.
Chelsea replaced Mikel with Daniel Sturridge and Fulham brought on Andy Johnson for Gera as the match entered the final 20 minutes.
The equaliser finally arrived in the 73rd minute, substitute Branislav Ivanovic picking out Drogba who rose above Chris Baird at the far post to nod home.
And two minutes later Chelsea stormed ahead when Smalling, attempting to clear Schwarzer's save of Sturridge's shot, turned the ball into his own net for the winner.

Brummies Unbreached : Birmingham C 0 Chelsea 0

2010-01-19T13:25:00.002Z

The Blues had to be content with a Boxing Day point at in form Birmingham as the two sides played out a scoreless draw, reports sportal.co.nz.
While Chelsea enjoyed the better chances, it was Birmingham who had the ball in the net at St Andrew's, Christian Benitez poking it over the line and apparently being played onside by an injured Didier Drogba only to see the flag raised against him.
The visitors, defending a four-point lead over second-placed Manchester United, had excellent chances to win it themselves as Branislav Ivanovic, Daniel Sturridge, Alex and Florent Malouda all went close. Malouda, meanwhile, was dismissed in the closing stages after receiving a second caution.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti handed Sturridge - whose father Michael and uncle Simon are former Birmingham players - his first Premier League start in the absence of the injured Nicolas Anelka.
Birmingham were unchanged for the seventh successive game as they attempted to build on a nine-match unbeaten run.
The home side carved out the first chance less than a minute into the match, Barry Ferguson catching Chelsea cold with a sweeping pass that Cameron Jerome brought under control only to fire off target.
Chelsea right-back Ivanovic came close to opening the scoring in the 11th minute when he rose to meet Malouda's corner but headed just over.
Frank Lampard scooped a 35-yard effort well over as Chelsea continued to push forward, while Juliano Belletti headed just wide from a tight angle in the 18th minute.
Drogba continued the assault when he met Ivanovic's cross from deep with a powerful volley that whistled wide, and soon afterwards Sturridge blasted a shot that Joe Hart did well to save.
Lampard's snap-shot forced another good save from Hart after good forward play by Drogba to create the opening.
Birmingham had the ball in the net in the 31st minute only for it to be ruled out somewhat harshly.
When the ball was fired back into the box after a free-kick, with Drogba lying injured, Liam Ridgewell directed the ball towards goal - only for Benitez, apparently in an offside position, to stab it over the line and see the goal ruled out by the assistant referee's flag. However, television replays suggested the home fans' frustration was justified, with Drogba playing the striker onside.
Chelsea hit back, with Alex's powerful free-kick from distance smashing into the crossbar with half-time approaching.
In added time, Sturridge had a glorious opportunity when Drogba crossed from the right but the youngster's volley at the far post was narrowly wide.
After a quiet opening to the second half in which Chelsea probed without making headway, City striker Benitez cut inside for a shot that Terry blocked well with his head in the 58th minute.
Livewire Benitez was Birmingham's dangerman and he forced Malouda to foul him and concede a yellow card on the hour following more determined dribbling.
From the resulting free-kick, Sebastian Larsson curled a trademark effort towards the top left-hand corner that Petr Cech did well to save, injuring himself against the post in the process but recovering quickly.
The visitors continued to press at the other end and Belletti and Lampard had half-chances, while Ancelotti replaced Sturridge with Salomon Kalou in the 67th minute.
Kalou nearly had an immediate impact as his cross from the right found Malouda, who miscued woefully in lots of space.
Hart produced another excellent save from Drogba's shot in the 71st minute before Lampard scuffed a first-time effort from the corner that followed.
Birmingham broke forward in the 74th minute after James McFadden fed Jerome but the striker could not provide an end product as he was smothered in the Chelsea box.
Malouda's nightmarish afternoon was complete when he received a second yellow card in the closing stages for an ill-judged challenge on Stephen Carr, while substitutes Keith Fahey and Damien Johnson both created half-chances for Birmingham during six minutes of added time.

Irons Inspired : West Ham 1 Chelsea 1

2009-12-21T13:49:00.003Z

Frank Lampard showed the nerve which has made him one of England's finest players to rescue a point to draw 1-1 with West Ham which takes Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premier League at Christmas,reports sportal.co.nz.
Lampard, once hailed but now routinely jeered inside the Upton Park ground he graced as a youngster, slotted home a penalty in the second half which he was forced to take three times.
Some players might have been thrown by that. Lampard simply kept rippling the back of West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green's net until referee Mike Dean finally signalled the goal which cancelled out a first-half penalty by Alessandro Diamanti.
But if it signalled two dropped points for Chelsea in their quest for the title, then for West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola perhaps this was the corner he has been waiting to turn.
The corner which means the Hammers will not be bottom on Christmas Day, which is usually a prelude to relegation.
Instead, Zola can forget bringing in a psychologist, as he had admitted thinking of, to boost the confidence of his West Ham players.
All he needs to do is show them the video of this battling performance, when at last they added grit to their undoubted style.
Maybe the improvement was sparked by the fact that Zola was facing his old club and opposing manager Carlo Ancelotti, with whom he used to play for Italy.
You certainly could not fault West Ham's work rate, nor their readiness to play football. It was committed to the fluent, passing, scampering style of play for which Zola has always been famed.
Scott Parker, in particular, was a terrier in the centre of midfield. So was Jack Collison, while Guillermo Franco was a threat up front.
True, Chelsea, with Joe Cole and Lampard back on the ground where they learned their football, always had more physical power.
They might have taken the lead after 22 minutes when Branislav Ivanovic's powerful header from a corner was chested off the line by Parker.
Lampard, who received a predictably hostile reception, also spurned a good chance when he fluffed a left-footed shot from eight yards.
But it was West Ham who took the lead and no-one could say they did not deserve it, even if it was via the penalty spot.
Collison surged at the heart of Chelsea's defence and as he bore down on goalkeeper Petr Cech, England full-back Ashley Cole slid in.
The tackle needed to be perfect. It wasn't and referee Mike Dean had no hesitation pointing to the spot to allow Diamanti to send Cech the wrong way.
Cue the sort of Upton Park euphoria which has been in scarce supply this season.
It must have been an easy half-time team talk for Zola. Carry on playing as you are.
And they tried to, snapping and harrying the blue shirts with a tenacity which made a nonsense of their lowly league position.
They were undone by what looked like a dodgy refereeing decision from Mr Dean, who pointed to the spot when Matthew Upson tackled Chelsea substitute Daniel Sturridge.
It looked as if he took the ball, a message he attempted to deliver to the assistant referee when he raced to the touchline miming the shape of a football.
No matter, Lampard took the spot kick and scored, only for it to be scratched by the referee for encroaching players. Lampard tried again and scored again, only for the picky Mr Dean to order the kick to be retaken once more.
To Lampard's credit he did not let it upset him, stroking the ball home once more and this time the referee did point to the halfway line.
West Ham could have let their heads drop as they has done in recent months when faced with adversity.
But they did not and it took a diving save from Cech in the 72nd minute to beat away a powerful left-foot shot from the lively Diamanti.
They also found the resilience to keep out a surging Chelsea finish.
"Things can change very quickly in football," Zola told the fans in the matchday programme.
He was right. Now the Hammers need a lot more of the same.

Avram Returns : Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1

2009-12-18T15:48:00.002Z

A second-half penalty from Frank Lampard spared Chelsea's blushes as bottom club Portsmouth threatened to further undermine their title ambitions, reports sportal.nz.
Lampard scored from the spot in the 78th minute after Branislav Ivanovic had been fouled by Marc Wilson.
Chelsea had followed defeat to Manchester City with a 3-3 home draw with Everton but were back to winning ways for the first time in five games in all competitions to restore their three-point lead at the top of the table.
Lampard's strike also ruined former boss Avram Grant's return to Stamford Bridge after lowly Pompey had threatened to leave with a point when Frederic Piquionne cancelled out a first-half goal from Nicolas Anelka in the 50th minute.
Yet again Chelsea's defending from set-pieces was called into question as they conceded their 12th goal out of 14 this season from a dead-ball situation.
Chelsea almost opened the scoring in the second minute when Michael Ballack's shot flashed just the wrong side of Asmir Begovic's left-hand upright.
Anelka was just as close with a 20-yard drive that was tipped around the post by Begovic.
Chelsea were completely on top and a corner from Deco in the seventh minute found the head of Ballack.
The Germany captain flicked the ball into the six-yard box where Salomon Kalou headed over the bar from point-blank range.
England midfielder Lampard, normally deadly from the edge of the penalty area, was thwarted by Begovic in the 18th minute.
The Pompey goalkeeper dived low to his right to collect Lampard's low drive with some ease.
But the goal finally arrived for the home side when central defender Alex made a stunning run down the right flank and crossed for Anelka to sidefoot home from six yards.
The Brazilian defender held off the challenge of Hermann Hreidarsson to pull back for Anelka who finished with ease.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had been a spectator for most of the first-half but the Czech Republic international preserved the home team's lead in the 33rd minute.
Portsmouth finally put a decent move together with Jamie O'Hara feeding Piquionne.
The Pompey striker turned and hit a vicious low shot which Cech did well to save as the ball sped towards the bottom corner.
But Chelsea responded quickly and when Ballack played a free-kick into the path of Alex, the Brazilian drilled a shot just wide of the far post.
In the 40th minute, Portsmouth should have equalised when Ivanovic gave away a free-kick.
But former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim headed O'Hara's free-kick just over from six yards.
Chelsea's nervousness from set-pieces was clear to see and Kevin-Prince Boateng almost made them pay in the 43rd minute but shot wide.
However, Chelsea's set-piece disasters continued in the 50th minute when captain John Terry fouled Boateng 25-yards out.
O'Hara's free-kick rebounded against the wall and then off the unfortunate Ashley Cole into the path of Piquionne who fired an equaliser into the roof of the net.
Ancelotti's insistence that his side would learn their lessons from recent setbacks had clearly fallen on deaf ears.
But Chelsea only had themselves to blame. They had given away so many free-kicks around the penalty area that it had only been a matter of time before Portsmouth took advantage.
The response from the home side was immediate as they increased the tempo of the game.
But yet again Chelsea had waited for the opposing team to score before they began to play with restored intensity.
Ivanovic forced Begovic into a fine save when the full-back let fly from 25 yards in the 57th minute.
Ancelotti had clearly seen enough of the disappointing Deco and in the 58th minute, the Portugal international made way for Joe Cole.
Five minutes later Chelsea replaced John Mikel Obi with Florent Malouda as the home fans became more and more frustrated by their inability to re-impose themselves on the bottom club.
Anelka forced Begovic into a fine save at his near post but Chelsea's attempts to get back in front were somewhat laboured.
Chelsea finally got themselves out of trouble in the 78th minute when Ivanovic was felled by Wilson inside the penalty area and Lampard fired home the spot-kick to make it 2-1.
Substitute Fabio Borini then squandered a chance to make it three when he fired wide from an acute angle after rounding Begovic in the injury time.

Toffees Untamed : Chelsea 3 Everton 3

2009-12-14T12:58:00.003Z

Chelsea's suicidal defending from set-pieces threatens to wreck their title ambitions as they failed to win for the fourth game in a row, drawing 3-3 with Everton, reports sportal.nz.
The Blues have now conceded 10 goals in their last four games and all three Everton strikes arrived courtesy of a Chelsea defence that looked clueless at free-kicks and throw-ins.
Everton became the first team this season to leave Stamford Bridge with any reward but Chelsea should have put this game beyond the Toffees long before half-time.
Everton took a shock 12th minute lead when a Louis Saha header off a Leighton Baines free-kick hit the post and rebounded into the net off the back of Petr Cech.
But Chelsea hit back and goals from Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka put the Blues in front only for substitute Ayegbeni Yakubu to pounce from a throw-in to level the scores in first-half injury time.
Drogba restored Chelsea's lead but another blunder from a free-kick allowed Drogba's attempted clearance to bounce off the back of Saha to make it 3-3.
Chelsea almost took the lead in the fourth minute when Michael Ballack put Didier Drogba clear of the Everton defence but the Ivory Coast striker's effort was just wide of the far post.
But Everton hit back four minutes later when Jo unleashed 25-yard drive that Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech did well to turn away for a corner.
And the Toffees went in front in the 12th minute when the home side were again caught out from a set-piece.
Baines sent the free-kick into the penalty area and although Saha headed the ball on to the post, it rebounded off the back of Cech and into the net for an own goal.
It was only the second goal Chelsea had conceded at home in the Premier League this season.
Not since the opening day, when Hull's Stephen Hunt scored, had any opposing domestic side found the net.
It was the perfect tonic for an Everton side that has won once in its last nine league games.
But Chelsea were level in the 17th minute with a simply worked goal.
Ricardo Carvalho broke forward and evaded a number of challenges before supplying a superb pass for Frank Lampard.
The England international tapped the ball into the path of Drogba who hit a first-time shot into the roof of the net for his 17th goal in all competitions this season.
Anelka then put Chelsea in front in the 23rd minute when Everton failed to clear Lampard's corner and Anelka collected Ivanovic's neat pass and fired into the roof of the net from close range.
Everton striker Jo was forced to hobble off with an ankle injury in stoppage time and replacement, Yakubu, shocked Chelsea with an equaliser seconds later.
Terry failed to clear a throw-in and when the ball bounced off Carvalho, the Everton striker pounced.
After Wednesday's 2-2 draw with APOEL in midweek, coach Carlo Ancelotti called for his players to play with the same intensity for 90 minutes.
But Chelsea once again had stopped playing when they had Everton on the ropes and were punished them again with Yakubu's equaliser five minutes into first-half injury time.
Ancelotti resisted making any changes at half-time and began the second period in a positive fashion.
And in the 58th minute their pressure paid off when Branislav Ivanovic crossed for Drogba to score his 18th of the season.

The Ivory Coast striker fired home from six yards at the far post after Everton's defence failed to intercept the cross.
But astonishing Chelsea again committed defensive suicide in the 63rd minute with yet another set-piece blunder.
It was a comical affair as Heitinga sent over a free-kick into the Chelsea penalty area.
Drogba, helping out in a defensive role, headed the ball into the back of the leaping Saha and it bounced back over Cech and into the empty net to make it 3-3.
Ballack showed Chelsea could almost be as deadly from set-pieces when he forced Howard into a fine save with a 25-yard free-kick in the 74th minute.
But despite the home side's pressure, including another Ballack effort that flew just wide, they could not find a breakthrough and the doubts are growing over Chelsea's title credentials under Ancelotti.

Frustrated Again : Chelsea 2 APOEL 2

2009-12-09T12:39:00.002Z

Chelsea were made to pay for more costly mistakes as APOEL Nicosia increased the gloom around Stamford Bridge with a 2-2 draw in the Champions League, reports ninemsn.com.au.
Back to back defeats over the last seven days to Blackburn in the League Cup and Manchester City in the Premier League had brought the Blues crashing down to earth after their much-lauded win at Arsenal.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were hoping for a convincing victory over the Cypriot champions to restore morale, but the Blues were undermined by more of the careless errors that proved so crucial in those recent disappointing results.
John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho were exposed by Marcin Zewlakow's early opener for APOEL and, although Michael Essien and Didier Drogba put Chelsea ahead before half-time, the hosts had to settle for a draw when John Obi Mikel's blunder presented Nenad Mirosavljevic with a late equaliser.
While the result does no harm to Chelsea's European prospects as they had already won Group D, Ancelotti will be concerned by another lacklustre display that left them without a win in three matches.
Ancelotti, who rested Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole and Petr Cech and gave French midfielder Gael Kakuta and goalkeeper Ross Turnbull their first starts, must have found it hard to understand the slack defending that allowed APOEL to take a shock lead in the sixth minute.
When Constantinos Charalambides slipped a clever pass from the left wing towards the six-yard box, Terry and Carvalho appealed for offside rather than clearing and, with the flag rightly staying down, Zewlakow was able to guide a low shot past Turnbull at his near post.
Joe Cole thought he had equalised when he headed home Florent Malouda's cross, but the midfielder's effort was ruled out for offside.
Chelsea didn't have to wait long to draw level. In the 19th minute, Essien worked a yard of space 25 yards from goal and unleashed a ferocious swerving strike that flashed past APOEL goalkeeper Dionisios Chiotis.
That was Essien's last contribution as he limped off moments later after pulling up in mid-stride. The Ghanian's departure didn't unsettle Chelsea as they moved in front in fine style in the 26th minute.
Signing Kakuta from Lens could cost Chelsea dearly if they are unable to overturn a two-year transfer embargo imposed by FIFA as punishment for inducing the 18-year-old's move.
But the teenager, the youngest Chelsea player ever to feature in the Champions League, is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Europe and he showed enough flashes of skill to suggest he will be worth the hassle.
He started the move that led to Chelsea's second goal with an incisive run and perfectly weighted pass to Yuri Zhirkov. The Russian cut the ball back to Drogba, who shot low past Chiotis for his 16th goal of the season.
Frank Lampard, on for Essien, went close to increasing Chelsea's lead just before half-time with a skimming shot that went just the wrong side of the post.
It took APOEL some time to recover from Chelsea's two-goal blast but they made a bright start to the second half when Turnbull dived low to his left to keep out a deflected shot from former Blues midfielder Nuno Morais.
Cole almost put the result beyond doubt with a cross that drifted over Chiotis and glanced off the top of the crossbar before Terry had a late effort disallowed for offside.
But Chelsea had lost any sense of urgency by now and they were made to pay for their lethargy in the 87th minute.
Mikel's under-hit pass back to Terry left the England defender with no chance of reaching the ball and Mirosavljevic stole possession, advanced on goal and calmly slotted his shot under Turnbull.

Blues Bruised : Manchester City 2 Chelsea 1

2009-12-07T12:58:00.003Z

Shay Given emerged a hero on both sides of Manchester by saving a late Frank Lampard penalty to give City a precious 2-1 win over Chelsea and cut their advantage over United to two points, reports sportal.nz.
Carlos Tevez's brilliant free-kick ultimately proved decisive after Emmanuel Adebayor had inadvertently put Chelsea in front, then cancelled out that own goal himself seven minutes before the interval.
However, that hardly told the story as bad tempered Chelsea went down in a hail of yellow cards - six in all - and skipper John Terry went off with a leg injury that will bring a moment of dread to Fabio Capello even if the damage is not too great.
The two first-half goals were certainly not in keeping with a pulsating opening in which City more than matched their highly-rated opponents without ever looking completely secure at the back.
Mark Hughes' men had already been given one warning when Shay Given turned away Drogba's angled drive.
Yet, when he looks at the replay, Hughes will probably conclude the main factor in Chelsea's opener was complete bad luck.
Didier Drogba and Branislav Ivanovic could both have been more closely marked at the start of the scramble but the Blues survived that lapse when Given made his first save.
The ball bounced back to Anelka but Given got behind his shot too.
But the Republic of Ireland star could not legislate for the ball shooting upwards, striking Adebayor on the back and bobbling in.
As Chelsea should not have been awarded the corner which started the whole melee off in the first place, City could have been forgiven for believing it was not to be their day.
Far from it. They poured forward and if their delivery from set pieces had been less persistent in picking out Petr Cech, the equaliser might have come long before it did.
Cech's only mistake had been to come for a Shaun Wright-Phillips' cross and get nowhere near as Richards rose. Ricardo Carvalho read the situation perfectly though and made a splendidly acrobatic clearance.
City kept up their offensive and when Wright-Phillips drove another shot into the Chelsea box it ultimately brought their equaliser.
Terry, who was linked so heavily with a move to Eastlands last summer, was still complaining to referee Howard Webb at halftime that Richards handled Wright-Phillips' shot.
It was difficult to see what the England Under-21 full-back could have done to get out of the way though.
The ball deflected into Adebayor's path and did so again when it bounced back off the England skipper. At the second time of asking Adebayor did not fail to make up for his earlier misfortune.
If Drogba's free-kick in the final minute of the half had been one inch inside Given's left-hand post rather than just outside it, City might have had problems responding.
As it was, they were the ones with the impetus when the sides returned and got their noses in front.
In keeping with the others, there was an element of controversy about the goal.
Ricardo Carvalho did have a point when he claimed he had been looking at the ball as he went for an aerial challenge with Tevez, but he also kept a leg in the air long enough to plant it into the Argentina star's back.
Tevez added insult to the resulting yellow card though, curling a crisp free-kick into the bottom corner.
The loss of Richards and Wayne Bridge to injury hardly assisted City in their efforts to cling on for a win, but Juliano Belletti's studs-first challenge that led to Bridge being carried off could easily have left Chelsea with 10 men.
That bad-tempered tackle led to a few more. At one point Ashley Cole and Deco were booked for offences in the same passage of play.
Prior to that though, Given had emerged the hero when he turned away an admittedly poor Lampard penalty after Onuoha had upended Drogba.
There was still time for Terry to limp off and Drogba to waste a glorious chance to level at the death although City, and Given, deserved their success.

Ballack Ballsup : Blackburn 3 Chelsea 3 (aet. 5-4 on pens.)

2009-12-03T13:31:00.004Z

Blackburn had keeper Paul Robinson to thank for two penalty saves that sent them into the Carling Cup semi-finals at Chelsea's expense, reports soccernet.espn.go.com.
Rovers will now meet Aston Villa for the right to go to Wembley after former England keeper Robinson saved from Michael Ballack and teenager Gael Kakuta, who took the last kick.
Benni McCarthy, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella and David Hoilett scored Rovers' penalties, with Nikola Kalinic having his saved. Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Yury Zhirkov were successful for Chelsea.
In normal time, Blackburn had taken an early lead through Kalinic but Chelsea hit back after the break, with quick-fire goals from Drogba and Salomon Kalou, before Emerton's cross deceived keeper Henrique Hilario.
But, with Chelsea down to ten men after Kalou picked up an injury and having used all their substitutes at half-time, Rovers went ahead again through a McCarthy penalty, only for Paulo Ferreira to lash home the equaliser and force penalties.
Chelsea made the expected wholesale changes for this quarter-final, taking perhaps too much of a risk by resting seven players from the side that won at Arsenal on Saturday.
John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Nicolas Anelka, Drogba and Ashley Cole all stood down, with Joe Cole getting another run-out, while teenager Kakuta - at the centre of the row that saw a transfer ban imposed on the Stamford Bridge club - was on the bench.
Blackburn, again without manager Sam Allardyce on the sidelines due to his recent heart surgery, made five changes from the side that drew at home with Stoke last time out. But their alterations were primarily enforced, with Keith Andrews and David Dunn injured, while Franco Di Santo - on loan from Chelsea - was ineligible.
Although Chelsea started well, with Deco prompting from midfield, a determined Rovers found themselves ahead after only eight minutes.
Seconds earlier Kalinic had shot wide after taking a return pass from Jason Roberts. But his next opportunity was far more successful. Morten Gamst Pedersen and Pascal Chimbonda combined well down the left and, when the full back's low cross arrowed into the six-yard box, Kalinic finished in style.
Emerton flashed a 20-yarder wide as Rovers kept coming forward and the nearest Chelsea got in the opening exchanges was a diving header from Kalou, following Ferreira's cross, that skidded wide of the far post.
Chelsea's response took a long time to get up any steam, with Cole shooting wide and then Ballack crashing a volley into the side-netting from Malouda's right-wing cross.
But it was Blackburn who continued to look dangerous, and Chris Samba saw a header pulled down by Hilario, the keeper being clattered to the ground by the big defender for his troubles.
The hosts could see their opportunity against a weakened side, with Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti only having Drogba from his front-line troops on the bench.
Ancelotti could hardly have been impressed with Chelsea's first-half efforts and he made three substitutions for the second period. Not surprisingly, on came Drogba as well as Kakuta and Jeffery Bruma, with Cole, Juliano Belletti and Deco making way.
And Chelsea were level within two minutes of the restart. Malouda's cross came in from the left and Drogba rose above Ryan Nelsen to head powerfully past Robinson.
It did not take Chelsea long to go in front, with Blackburn punished for some dreadful defending. Zhirkov found all the time in the world to send Kalou racing into Blackburn's half, without a defender within 20 yards of him, and the striker coolly rolled his shot wide of Robinson after 52 minutes.
Rovers sent on Grella for Pedersen after 61 minutes and were level three minutes later. Emerton's swirling cross came in from the right and, although Kalinic went for it and claimed the goal, the ball looked to sail straight in and past a bemused Hilario.
Roberts was replaced by youngster Hoilett with 20 minutes left. But Chelsea were left with only ten men for the last 19 minutes, having used all their substitutes at the break, when Kalou limped away with a groin injury.
Elrio Van Heerden replaced Steven Nzonzi at the start of the extra half-hour, and Rovers were ahead a minute later. Zhirkov brought down the nippy Hoilett and McCarthy rammed home the penalty.
But, in the second minute of injury-time at the end of 120 minutes, Chelsea were level when Ferreira lashed home after Robinson had fumbled a Malouda free-kick to send the game to penalties.
Ancelotti defended his decision to field a weakened side at Blackburn in the Carling Cup quarter-final, and then to use all three substitutes at half-time. A string of debatable decisions by Ancelotti contributed to Chelsea's demise, including using all three substitutions before injury reduced them to 10 men for almost 50 minutes of the match.
He even chose French teenager Gael Kakuta to take the crucial pressure penalty in the shoot-out, which was saved by Paul Robinson to send Rovers through. Kakuta is the former Lens youngster whose move to Stamford Bridge has seen Chelsea fined and banned from transfer by FIFA, with an appeal pending.
Ancelotti, who rested seven top players including John Terry and Frank Lampard, said: "We had priorities this week with league games against Arsenal and Manchester City. I felt we fielded a strong team. But in the first half they did not play well. That is why I used all three substitutes, it is not something I usually do.
"Then we were unlucky to have Salomon Kalou injured in the second half, and that meant we were left with 10 men. It was just unfortunate, but we still played well with 10 against 11.
"As for using Kakuta for that last penalty, it was my decision. I have seen him take good penalties during training, and I felt he could handle it.''
Blackburn assistant boss Neil McDonald, standing in for Sam Allardyce following the Ewood Park manager's heart surgery, was critical of Ancelotti's decisions.
He said: "I hope they regret making so many changes and not fielding a stronger team. Maybe they should have looked at our home record and realised that we are a decent side here.
"They should have played a stronger side. But I have to praise Paul Robinson for his shoot-out save after making a mistake to give them their equaliser.
"I have spoken to Sam and he is very pleased. He just told us to enjoy the moment and to get ourselves ready for Liverpool on Saturday.''

Gunners Gagged : Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

2009-11-30T08:18:00.004Z

Chelsea tightened their grip on top spot in the Premier League and put a massive dent in Arsenal's own title ambitions with a convincing win at Emirates Stadium.
The Blues, then under Guus Hiddink, were the last team to beat the Gunners on their own ground, ripping them apart 4-1 here in May, reports sportal.nz.
While this encounter was nowhere near as much a one-sided affair, it still highlighted the gulf between the two sides' ability to produce a big performance when required.
Chelsea - who restored their lead on Manchester United to five points - grabbed a brace at the end of a first half in which Arsene Wenger's men had enjoyed plenty of possession, but without really troubling Petr Cech.
The Gunners were made to pay when Didier Drogba converted Ashley Cole's low centre, and Thomas Vermaelen's own goal effectively killed off the contest before the interval, with the Ivory Coast striker drilling in a late free-kick to seal matters.
There is, of course, plenty more football to be played before they crown the 2010 champions, but even with a match in hand, it is difficult to see Wenger's young squad - without Robin van Persie until at least April - clawing back what is now an 11-point deficit, and indeed they could still face a battle to secure a top-four finish.
Arsenal may have dedicated this afternoon's match to their charity of the season at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, but there was little compassion shown towards former Gunner Ashley Cole, who was resoundingly booed every time he touched the ball.
It had been a bright start from the hosts, with Bacary Sagna's deep cross flicked back into the penalty area by Andrey Arshavin, but Cesc Fabregas was unable to make decent contact.
Eduardo almost robbed England captain John Terry on the edge of the Chelsea box, but Ricardo Carvalho cleared the loose ball.
Chelsea, though, looked dangerous on the break and were somewhat unfortunate to see Drogba's run clear onto a pass from Joe Cole halted by an offside flag.
Nicolas Anelka, whose big break came at Arsenal, then went down in the penalty area as he got ahead of Sagna, who wrestled him to the ground, but referee Andre Marriner was not interested.
There was a brief stoppage in play when the referee removed an object, which looked like a fake camera, which had been thrown on in the direction of Frank Lampard, the England midfielder fit again following a thigh injury.
Arsenal had plenty of possession, but lacked spark in the final third, with the absence of Dutch forward Van Persie painfully clear.
It was no real surprise when Chelsea went ahead on 41 minutes.
Terry played in Ashley Cole down the left, and he whipped a low centre across the six-yard box, where Drogba got in between the static Arsenal centre-backs to steer the ball into the net off the angle of post and bar.
Before Wenger could regroup his team in the dressing room, it was 2-0.
Cole was again the provider, as this time his ball from the left was deflected into the Arsenal net off Vermaelen's shin.
Wenger had to do something to inject fresh life into his shell-shocked side, and it came in the form of England forward Theo Walcott, defensive midfielder Alex Song the man sacrificed.
Arsenal certainly had more urgency following the restart, and thought they had a goal back when Arshavin smashed home from close range - but the effort was ruled out for a high boot from Eduardo on Cech.
Chelsea almost grabbed a fortunate third goal when Drogba's shot deflected off William Gallas and then Lampard, but Manuel Almunia made a quick change in direction and touched the ball around the post.
Arsenal were getting desperate and called for what would have been a harsh penalty as substitute Carlos Vela went down under a challenge from Branislav Ivanovic.
On 71 minutes, Ashley Cole was replaced by Paulo Ferreira, the England defender clenching his fists towards the travelling Chelsea fans as he left the pitch, before heading straight down the tunnel.

The Blues should have had another penalty wheh JT was swung around by his waist in the lead up to a corner but again Marriner bottled it.
Arsenal threatened, but once again lacked a decisive pass at the key moment.
Drogba wrapped things up for Carlo Ancelotti's men when he smashed in a 25-yard free-kick with four minutes left.

Dragons Defeated : Porto 0 Chelsea 1

2009-11-26T08:18:00.002Z

Nicolas Anelka stunned Porto for the second time this season as Chelsea finished top of Group D with a 1-0 victory in the Estadio do Dragao, reports SBS The World Game.
Anelka, who scored the winner when the two teams met at Stamford Bridge, stooped to head home a cross from Florent Malouda in the 69th minute.
It was another uninspiring performance from the Blues who had the woodwork to thank in the first half when Fernando Belluschi's 25-yard effort smashed off the crossbar.
But for the third time in Europe this season, Chelsea emerged winners by a solitary goal and in each of those games, Anelka has been the matchwinner.
Chelsea were quickly into their stride against Porto in a surprisingly sparsely populated stadium. There were many empty seats among the Porto sections of the ground and the atmosphere which accompanied the start of the game was hardly intimidating for Chelsea.
In the sixth minute, Malouda, scorer of their wonderful opener against Wolves last Saturday, was off target with a 25-yard low drive which drifted wide of the target.
In the 15th minute, Chelsea won a corner when Didier Drogba's shot was turned over by Beto.
Unfortunately for the English side, Deco floated the flag-kick over everybody in the penalty area.
The Portugal international was given a warm reception by the Porto fans in that part of the ground.
In the 18th minute Michael Ballack almost finished off a neat move by the Blues but his final shot was deflected for another wasted corner.
But the home side almost took the lead in the 20th minute with their first real attack of the game.
Belluschi's 25-yard drive was palmed into the path of Radamel Falcao Garcia by Petr Cech but the Chelsea goalkeeper redeemed himself with another fine save at the feet of the Porto forward. Porto were unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 29th minute when Argentinian Belluschi, playing his first game for a month, again tried his luck from 20-yards.
This time his shot beat Cech in the Chelsea goal but rebounded off the crossbar to safety.
Chelsea were living dangerously but Porto did not appear to have the guile to create anything other than the occasional long-range effort.
A 20-yard drive from Deco flashed past Beto's left-hand upright in the 36th minute.
It was hardly a thrilling spectacle and the stay-away Porto fans clearly made the right decision.
Jesualdo Ferreira's side may have come close to scoring with two long-range shots but Chelsea had coped easily with much of their attacking play.
Time and again Chelsea wasted the ball in good areas, with full-back Branislav Ivanovic one of the main culprits.
Chelsea created nothing in an opening half that was instantly forgettable.
The English outfit made a much better start to the second half and Deco sent a shot flashing beyond the far post in the 52nd minute.
Moments later, Malouda drilled two low crosses into the penalty area but they eluded the Chelsea strikers on each occasion.
At least there was more purpose about Chelsea's play now and Ballack was booked for a challenge on Cristian Rodriguez as the Porto player threatened to run clear.
Porto brought on the Hulk to great cheers from the home fans in the 59th minute. The Brazilian striker replaced Silvestre Varela.
In the 67th minute Chelsea replaced the ineffective Ballack with Michael Essien.
Essien, who scored two goals against Wolves last weekend, was left out of the starting line-up after collecting a minor knock on his knee.
But clearly coach Carlo Ancelotti was anxious to add some drive to a rather lack-lustre midfield.
It brought instant results, although not from Essien. Yuri Zhirkov broke down the left and his pass found Malouda inside the penalty area.
This time the winger's cross found the head of Anelka as the France international stooped to head his third goal of the Euro campaign in the 69th minute.
It was Anelka's sixth goal of the season and his first in eight games for the Blues.
In the 80th minute substitute Ernesto Farias brought a fine save from Cech with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area but Chelsea were home and dry.

Wanderers Wrecked : Chelsea 4 Wolves 0

2009-11-23T12:45:00.002Z

Chelsea opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 demolition of woeful Wolves at Stamford Bridge before Man.Utd. cut it back to five, reports sportal.co.nz.
The Blues were three goals to the good inside the first 22 minutes through Florent Malouda and a double from Michael Essien.
Joe Cole's first goal for 13 months completed the rout in the second half as Chelsea set a new club record for home wins and kept Wolves entrenched in the bottom three.
The victory over Wolves was their 12th in a row in all competitions at home - the previous record was 11 between February 25 and September 17, 2006.
The clean sheet also saw the Blues equal their record of 10 consecutive games without conceding at home.
But they could have gone behind in the fourth minute when a fine Wolves move saw Matthew Jarvis break free on the right.
However, his cross just eluded David Edwards as he arrived in the six-yard box.
Wolves paid a heavy price for the miss a minute later as Malouda collected a poor Wolves header inside the centre-circle and ran on unchallenged to unleash a 20-yard shot into the roof of the net.
Another sweet Chelsea move in the 11th minute almost brought them a second goal but Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey tipped Salomon Kalou's 20-yard angled drive around the post.
However, the relief for Wolves was shortlived as from Malouda's resultant flag-kick, Essien rose unmarked to head home from six yards.
Chelsea made it three in the 22nd minute when John Mikel Obi fed Essien with a short pass on the edge of the penalty area and the Ghanaian's low drive went under Hennessey for his second of the game.
The home side was determined to record their 1000th league win at Stamford Bridge as well as complete a year since their last defeat at home.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy had spent much of the half shaking his head in disbelief at his side's reckless defending.
But in the 39th minute Wolves almost conjured a goal out of nothing when a header from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was superbly kept out by Petr Cech.
Chelsea's performance had been even more admirable without the likes of injured quartet Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Deco and Michael Ballack.
Their quick, incisive passing game was too much for Wolves who spent much of the half chasing shadows.
Chelsea continued where they left off in the second half and a superb crossfield pass by Nicolas Anelka found Malouda free on the left.
However, the France international slipped at the vital moment and saw his shot saved by Hennessey.
The Wolves keeper was in action again in the 52nd minute when he held on to a shot from Alex as Chelsea threatened to increase their advantage.
But Chelsea did make it four in the 56th minute and it was a welcome strike for the fit again Joe Cole.
The England midfielder, out for 10 months since January, side-footed the ball beyond Hennessey after Anelka's cross had been turned into his path by Kalou.
It was Cole's first goal for the Blues since the win over Aston Villa back in October 2008.
Moments later Anelka made way for substitute Gael Kakuta to make his first-team debut.
In September, Chelsea were found guilty by FIFA of inducing Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago and were punished with a transfer ban until 2011, while suspending the player for four months.
But the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the bans until Chelsea's case is heard in full and that allowed Kakuta to make his debut.
Essien almost claimed a hat-trick in the 63rd minute but his shot was palmed onto the top of the bar by Hennessey.
Kakuta almost celebrated his debut with a goal 10 minutes from time but his 25-yard effort curled the wrong side of the upright.
Essien then sent a 20-yard drive just wide of the post as a hat-trick continued to elude him.

Five Points Clear : Chelsea 1 Man. Utd. 0

2009-11-09T08:21:00.003Z

Captain John Terry put Chelsea five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with a second-half match winner to claim a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, reports sportal.nz.
Terry glanced home a 76th minute free-kick from Frank Lampard although United claimed Didier Drogba was in an offside position.
United had their chances with Wayne Rooney twice going close but the Blues made it a club record of 11 straight home wins.
It was the home side who created the first goal attempt when Branislav Ivanovic burst down the right flank and let fly with a left-foot shot which Edwin van der Sar did well to hold at the near post.
United though were far more comfortable on the ball with the home side given little time to build from the back.
But a long cross from Michael Ballack in the 18th minute found the lurking Drogba on the edge of the six-yard box but the Ivory Coast striker failed to direct his header on to the target.
United, despite their dominance, had not created a clear cut chance.
In the 23rd minute, Chelsea won a free-kick but Lampard wasted the chance to test the United defence when he sent his curling effort beyond the far post.
Drogba was fouled by Wes Brown in the 27th minute in a central position 25 yards from goal.
It was another chance for the home side but again Lampard's free-kick was poor as he sent his effort straight into United's defensive wall.
Moments later Nicolas Anelka tried to beat Van der Sar from 35 yards but the United keeper dealt with it most comfortably.
Van der Sar was tested again when he made a one-handed save to keep out a curling shot from Anelka in the 32nd minute.
A quick counter attack from Chelsea saw Anelka put Deco free on the right flank but his cross eluded Ballack before arriving at the feet of Drogba.
The Ivory Coast striker was unable to control the ball and it ran harmlessly into the arms of Van der Sar.
Drogba then broke into the penalty from the right flank but his angled drive ended in the upper tier of the stand as referee Martin Atkinson brought proceedings to a finish for the opening period.
In the 50th minute Drogba got the better of United's John O'Shea but his 25-yard shot went wide of the target.
Ivanovic was booked for a foul on Giggs in the 57th minute as the game began to open-up.
Ricardo Carvalho managed to get his body in the way of a fierce shot from Darren Fletcher moments later. It was a fine piece of defending by the Chelsea man.
A cross from Anelka fell kindly to Lampard on the edge of the penalty area but the England midfielder's shot was easily saved by Van der Sar.
Chelsea had gone over 14 hours since they last conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge.
It was time for the home side to make a change and Carlo Ancelotti opted to remove Deco in favour of Joe Cole, who was celebrating his 28th birthday.
Rooney should have punished Chelsea in the 66th minute when he took a return pass from Antonio Valencia on the edge of the penalty area. But the England striker sent his shot a foot wide of the far post.
Seconds later Rooney brought a fine save from Petr Cech with a 20-yard curler which was destined for the top corner until the Czech international intervened.
There was a worrying moment for Chelsea in the 71st minute when Drogba was kicked in the chest by Jonny Evans. Astonishingly, Drogba was then booked by Atkinson.
Chelsea was in front in the 76th minute when Ashley Cole was fouled by Fletcher on the left flank.
Captain Terry rose to glance Lampard's free-kick into the corner of the net but United were furious that Drogba appeared to be in an offside position as the ball bounced beyond Van der Sar and into the net.
Rooney was booked afterwards and then Atkinson booked O'Shea and Carvalho in the 82nd minute as tempers flared.
Valencia was lucky remain on the pitch with a two-footed challenge on Lampard but Atkinson handed him a yellow card.

Transfer Ban Suspended

2009-11-06T15:36:00.001Z

Chelsea should be able to sign players in January after the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended their FIFA-imposed transfer ban, reports clubcall.com.
The Blues had been banned from making any transfers in the next two transfer windows after being found guilty of tapping up Gael Kakuta from French club Lens. However Chelsea launched an immediate appeal against the ban and then asked for the punishment to be suspended until the final decision on the situation has been made.
CAS have agreed to that and with the decision only set to be made in the New Year, Chelsea should be free to strengthen in the next window.
A statement from CAS read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has granted the request for a stay filed by Chelsea Football Club Ltd and Mr Gael Kakuta in relation to the decision taken by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009.
"The FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber imposed, inter alia, a restriction of four months' ineligibility on Mr Gael Kakuta, and Chelsea Football Club Ltd was banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the next two complete, consecutive registration periods. Such sanctions are now stayed until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter."

Drogba Double : Atletico Madrid 2 Chelsea 2

2009-11-04T13:45:00.004Z

Didier Drogba announced his return to European football with a brace as Chelsea qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League with a 2-2 Group D draw at Atletico Madrid, reports wwos.ninemsn.com.au.

Drogba, back after a three-match suspension, scored twice in the final ten minutes to put Chelsea in front only for second half substitute Sergio "Kun" Aguero to score his second with a 90th minute equaliser.
Chelsea knew a win would see them through to the next phase but in the end a draw was enough due to FC Porto's 1-0 win at APOEL in Tuesday's other group match.
Drogba, who had not played in the Champions League since May after he was hit with a three-match ban for berating the referee after the semi-final defeat to Barcelona, showed his striking prowess.
"It was a good game but frustrating because we didn't win it," said Drogba.
"I have played many Champions League games with Chelsea in the past and to be honest I am just happy to be back on the pitch.
"We have qualified which is great although it would have been nice to do it with a win."
Aguero had put Atletico into a 66th minute lead but the Ivory Coast forward headed an equaliser on 82 minutes and struck again on 88 minutes.
Argentine Aguero equalised in the final minute for Atletico's first goal in the competition and ended Chelsea's 100% record but they still progress.
Chelsea now hope to be back in Madrid in May for the final at the Santiago Bernabeu as they aim to win the Champions League for the first time in their history.
With qualification wrapped up Carlo Ancelotti's side can concentrate on the crunch title clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Atletico, third from bottom in Spain, have just two points in the group and can now only hope for a spot in the Europa League as they prepare for a weekend derby against Real Madrid.
"We have a good team here and we will do everything to try and stay in Europe," said Aguero. "It would not be a failure to go into the Europa League."
Chelsea routed Atletico 4-0 in their first match in London a fortnight ago without Drogba and they have the worst defensive record in the Spanish top-flight so they must have feared the worst.
Ancelotti resisted the temptation to rest stars with Manchester United on the horizon and even welcomed back Ashley Cole who recovered from a knee injury to begin at left back.
His opposite number "Quique" Sanchez Flores played a somewhat conservative 4-5-1 with Diego Forlan as the main striker.
Atletico were far from defensive despite their formation and were shooting from long range to try and steal a goal.
Jose Antonio Reyes almost scored in the 20th minute with a super curling shot but Petr Cech tipped the effort over the crossbar.
Chelsea had plundered an impressive 17 goals in their last four matches but didn't threaten too much. However, they went close on the half hour mark when Salomon Kalou, a two-goal hero against Atletico in the first game, headed just wide.
Six minutes into the second half Drogba watched on in agony as his free-kick was touched onto the post by goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.
Flores decided to throw on Aguero for Florent Sinama Pongolle and it reaped rewards when the Argentine volleyed in from 15 yards out 12 minutes after coming on.
It was Atletico's first goal in this season's Champions League and the first Chelsea had conceded in Europe.
Drogba should have equalised in the 73rd minute after being put through on goal but dragged his shot poorly wide.
However he found his touch in the 82nd minute heading in Malouda's cross and he outmuscled his marker to score again in the 88th minute before Aguero completed a crazy final ten minutes.

Wanderers Whitewashed : Bolton 0 Chelsea 4

2009-11-02T13:03:00.003Z

Chelsea won at Bolton for the seventh league game in succession, by 4-0, to stamp their hold on top spot in the Premier League, reports sportal.nz.
Beaten in their last two away games, there was no chance of the west Londoners suffering a third against the hosts, who had Jlloyd Samuel sent off.
Chelsea have now scored eight goals in four days against Gary Megson's team, and were brutally destructive when confronted with a team a man down.
It was hard enough for Bolton when they had 11 on the park, but they was merely the victim for Chelsea to bully after Samuel's red card.
Frank Lampard's penalty in first-half injury-time set up the win, with the key moment being Samuel's red card for the trip on Didier Drogba which conceded the spot-kick.
Bolton worked feverishly but it was always a losing battle. Deco added the second and Zat Knight's own goal made it 3-0, before Didier Drogba grabbed a fourth in injury-time.
Bolton brought back goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and striker Kevin Davies, both rested when these two sides clashed in the Carling Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge in midweek.
The hosts had Chris Basham in for his first start of the season as Bolton aimed to inflict Chelsea's third successive away defeat, while the Blues reverted mainly to their Saturday-best side.
Tamir Cohen's header over from Lee Chung-Yong's free-kick was Bolton's only serious early chance as Chelsea had five decent early openings.
Drogba headed just over from a Nicolas Anelka cross, then Jaaskelainen touched over another effort from the big striker before saving from Anelka.
Michael Essien flashed an angled effort just wide, before Drogba got clear and was only halted by Jaaskelainen's outstretched boot.
Bolton persisted with their set-plays and aerial attacks aimed at Davies and Johan Elmander, and the ploy concerned Chelsea's defence.
The visitors had a 30th-minute Branislav Ivanovic strike ruled out by a linesman's flag - Michael Ballack was adjudged to be offside. Chelsea players complained bitterly, but referee Peter Walton was unmoved.
Bolton were soon back under pressure - and in the final seconds of injury-time, Chelsea were ahead, after Drogba had been brought down. Lampard lashed home the penalty.
Gary Megson made two half-time changes, sending on Ricardo Gardner and Paul Robinson for Basham and Lee.
Cohen lashed a free-kick over after John Terry had bodychecked Gardner in full flow, then Cohen was too slow to react to a fine Davies knockdown and Essien produced a remarkable saving tackle a yard out.
Drogba was booed every time he touched the ball by Bolton's fans, but he did not dive for the penalty having been clearly caught from behind.
Jaaskelainen made fine saves twice at the feat of the Ivory Coast star, and then from an Anelka effort before Lampard crashed an 18-yard effort against the bar.
Robinson was booked for a foul on Ivanovic before Jaaskelainen beat away a fierce Anelka drive after the former Bolton man had cruised past three defenders.
Chelsea had been under pressure in the air from set-plays, but when they broke from defence after 61 minutes they grabbed their second.
Anelka was the architect, streaming down the left before angling his pass for Deco to sidestep Paul Robinson's lunging tackle to clip the ball into the net.
Bolton sent on Mark Davies for Fabrice Muamba after 66 minutes, with Chelsea firmly in control.
Paulo Ferreira was booked late on, but Chelsea were in full control and it was 3-0 when Knight - under pressure from Ivanovic - got the final touch to Ricardo Carvalho's cross.
Bolton, to their credit, kept coming forward and won a succession of corners which Chelsea were at last beginning to defend properly.
But Chelsea got their fourth in injury-time when Anelka's cross was flicked on by Lampard for Drogba to fire home.

Wanderers Wasted : Chelsea 4 Bolton 0

2009-10-29T12:32:00.003Z

Chelsea cruised into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup with an easy 4-0 fourth-round victory over Bolton at Stamford Bridge, reports ESPNsoccernet.
First-half goals from Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda put the home side in command before Deco and substitute Didier Drogba finished off Gary Megson's side after the break.
Bolton wasted a couple of chances to reduce the arrears but Chelsea were always in control despite the loss of goalkeeper Hilario through injury in the first half.
The win maintained Chelsea's 100% home record under new coach Carlo Ancelotti and even without the likes of rested captain John Terry and his England team-mate Frank Lampard, the Blues continue to look invincible at home.
Bolton must be fearing Chelsea's arrival at the Reebok Stadium at the weekend when the Blues will welcome back their first-team regulars for the Barclays Premier League clash.
Chelsea took control of the tie in the 15th minute when in-form Kalou opened the scoring.
The Ivory Coast international, who notched twice against Atletico Madrid in their Champions League win last week, rose unmarked to head home a cross by Paulo Ferreira.
But Bolton squandered a great chance to level the scores seconds later when a cross from Gretar Steinsson eluded the Chelsea defence and fell perfectly at the far post for Matthew Taylor.
But the Bolton midfielder's first touch let him down and goalkeeper Hilario seized the chance to cut down his angles. Hilario's quick thinking saved the day as Taylor's shot cannoned back off the Chelsea keeper's face.
But Hilario never recovered from the facial blow and went down inside the six-yard box while preparing to take a goal-kick.
It was the end of the proceedings for the Chelsea goalkeeper who made way for substitute Ross Turnbull to make his home debut.
But Chelsea went 2-0 up in the 25th minute when Malouda's header from a Kalou cross rebounded back to him off Zat Knight and the winger tucked the ball home at the near post. .
The visitors looked vulnerable every time the Blues launched an attack and in the 38th minute a sweet passing move between Michael Ballack and Kalou ended with the Ivory Coast international bending a shot beyond the far post.
Kalou was having a fine game but Sturridge looked out of his depth and that was underlined in the 40th minute when Chelsea broke clear again.
Malouda managed to put Kalou clear with a lovely pass, but the Ivory Coast striker was thwarted by a fine one-handed save by Al Habsi.
But when the ball rebounded straight to the waiting Sturridge, the Chelsea striker miscued his volley completely.
Hilario's injury meant the first half was extended by a further four minutes but Ballack wasted a chance to put more distance between the two sides when his attempted curling shot finished closer to the corner flag than the Bolton goal.
Chelsea made a change at half-time when Kalou was replaced by Michael Essien. Bolton also made one change at the break with Steinsson replaced by Johan Elmander.
The visitors should have reduced the arrears in the 54th minute but Turnbull dived low to his left to save an 18-yard drive from Mark Davies.
However, two minutes later saw Chelsea squander an even easier chance when Joe Cole set up Sturridge inside the left-hand edge of the Bolton penalty area. The Chelsea striker turned his marker but then shot wide of the far post when he only had Al Habsi to beat.
Sturridge repeated the miss seconds later when Cole sent him clear of the Bolton defence but again his left-foot shot went wide of the post with Al Habsi floundering.
Bolton were showing more invention since the introduction of Elmander and Chelsea needed a third to make the tie safe.
Ancelotti clearly recognised the need for more goals and in the 61st minute he replaced Sturridge with Drogba.
Bolton paid for some poor finishing when Ricardo Gardner's shot was cleared off the line by Branislav Ivanovic in the 66th minute. Chelsea went straight down the other end of the pitch and a cross from Cole was despatched into the bottom corner from 16-yards by Deco.
Ivan Klasnic was unlucky not to get on the score sheet in the 86th minute but his clever shot rebounded off the far post and Ferreira cleared the rebound.
Drogba then completed the scoring in 89th minute when he rose highest at the far post to convert a lovely curling cross from Cole.
After the match Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with the performance but he knows it will be a different contest when the two sides meet again at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.
"I think this is a very good moment for us," said Ancelotti. "Above all, because the players who returned after injury came back very well. Joe Cole came back in the last match and did very well.
"Alex and Paulo Ferreira did a very intelligent match tonight. It's a very good moment. We have to continue and maintain this atmosphere.
"The first thing is to play well and to win a game. It happens we've won with large results, but that's not so important. Rather, we want to win the games. We played the last three games very well, and Saturday can be another kind of match. We have to be ready to play a different match.
"The team are working very well. The defence has balance on the pitch during 90 minutes, maintaining good control defensively and offensively. This is the most important thing for the team, to have a balance."
Chelsea are awaiting a scan on goalkeeper Hilario's head after he was forced out of the action with concussion in the first half.
Ancelotti also voiced his support for striker Daniel Sturridge who squandered two gilt-edged chances to score on his full home debut.
"We are awaiting a scan on Hilario," said Ancelotti. "We're hoping he'll be better in the next few days.
"As for Sturridge, I'm disappointed for him. I think he played 60 minutes well for the team. I asked him to play for the team, not just to score. He did what I asked of him.
"For me, it's not important that he didn't score. The others - Malouda, Kalou - did. For him it would have been better to score, but I'm happy with his work out on the pitch."
Bolton manager Gary Megson admitted his team did not perform but promised Chelsea would face a more difficult encounter when the two teams meet again.
"We didn't play as you need to play against the quality they have," said Megson. "If you don't play at a tempo that might upset Chelsea, or go into challenges that might upset them, then you're not going to damage them.
"It was a poor performance from minute one. We needed to score the first goal, but we were never going to do that with the way we approached it.
"When you can put a £28million sub on - that's as much as we've spent in two years. We can't compete with that on equal terms. Chelsea are stronger than other teams in terms of physical strength, they're quicker, and all the teams that are in the quarter-finals are probably in the top eight of the Premier League.
"I'm pleased to be playing them again on Saturday. We need to put on a performance. That was a bit of a stroll. Our team will be different, not just in personnel but in approach, and I hope we're a lot more wholehearted than it was tonight."
Bolton missed the physical presence of striker Kevin Davies in attack but Megson said he would be back in the starting line-up for the visit of Chelsea to the Reebok.
"Davo gets battered from pillar to post every time he plays. He had three stitches above his right eye against United, and two above his left eye against Everton.
"We just felt it would be unfair to chuck him in as we did against Everton, and then ask him to do the same on Saturday. He needed a breather.
"But we missed a lot of things tonight. We weren't physically as strong as we need to be. Hopefully it'll be a bit different on Saturday."

Rovers Routed : Chelsea 5 Blackburn 0

2009-10-26T13:29:00.004Z

Chelsea gave Carlo Ancelotti a perfect tonic as they soared back to the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 demolition of Blackburn at Stamford Bridge, reports sportal.co.nz.
Ancelotti, back in the dugout after visiting his seriously ill father in Italy in midweek, watched his side produce a fabulous performance against ragged Rovers to go two points clear at the summit.
Chelsea destroyed Sam Allardyce's side with two goals from Frank Lampard, one a penalty, plus others from Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and an own goal from Gael Givet.
The game was so one-sided that had Chelsea taken all its first half chances, the scoreline could have been in double figures.
But four goals in a 15-minute second half spell handed Rovers their biggest defeat since Allardyce took charge at Ewood Park and kept Ancelotti's 100 percent home record intact.
Joe Cole, making his first start since January, should have opened the scoring for Chelsea within the opening minute but he somehow headed a cross from Lampard wide of the target from six yards.
Lampard was inches away from giving Chelsea the lead in the 10th minute when his 20-yard shot just evaded the far post.
But Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with a goal of classic simplicity.
A Blackburn attack broke down allowing Michael Ballack to collect the ball in midfield.
The Germany captain fed Nicolas Anelka on the left flank with a superb low pass and when the France international crossed the ball into the six-yard box, it was turned past his own goalkeeper by the unfortunate Givet.
Blackburn had to rely on counter-attacks and in the 25th minute they almost grabbed an equaliser but Morten Gamst Pedersen's 20-yard effort flashed wide of Petr Cech's right-hand post.
Chelsea's players were lining up to shoot and Essien tried his luck from 25 yards in the 29th minute but although the ball dipped violently in the air, it still went over the crossbar.
Lampard wasted another chance to increase Chelsea's lead moments later when Ballack's cross found him unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. But the England midfielder put his header wide of the target.
In the 33rd minute, Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson came to their rescue when Lampard fed Anelka inside the penalty area.
A second goal seemed on the cards but Anelka's shot hit Robinson in the chest, much to the frustration of Ancelotti.
It was shooting practice for Chelsea and Robinson did well to punch away a 35-yard blockbuster from Drogba.
Five minutes before the break, Anelka turned and twisted before firing an 18-yard shot into the sidenetting.
Pedersen was the first player into the notebook on the stroke of half-time for a foul on Branislav Ivanovic. Seconds later Robinson pulled off a magnificent save to deny Lampard again.
Chelsea, somewhat predictably, went further in front in the 48th minute through Lampard.
The England midfielder scored his first goal in open play in the top flight since last April when he finished off a fine Chelsea move.
Essien sent Drogba racing into the penalty area and his cross was only half cleared by Lars Jacobsen, leaving Lampard to pick his spot from eight yards.
It was 3-0 in the 51st minute when Essien sent a 35-yard shot thundering beyond the despairing dive of Robinson.
Anelka then tried to repeat the feat in the 54th minute and his 20-yard shot was so fierce that Robinson had to save at the second attempt.
It got worse for Rovers in the 58th minute when New Zealander Ryan Nelsen brought down Drogba inside the penalty area and Lampard converted the spot-kick for his second of the game.
Drogba underlined Chelsea's superiority in the 63rd minute when he rose highest to head home a corner by Lampard to make it 5-0. It was the Ivory Coast international's eighth goal of the season.
In the 67th minute Chelsea replaced defender Ricardo Carvalho with youngster Jeffrey Bruma for his Premier League debut, who looked very composed when called upon.
Cole was then replaced by Daniel Sturridge, making his home league debut, in the 76th minute. Cole received a standing ovation from the fans and a bear hug from Ancelotti.
The England midfielder had shown he was back to his best during an afternoon when Chelsea returned to top form.

Madrid Mauled : Chelsea 4 Atletico 0

2009-10-22T12:12:00.003+01:00

Salomon Kalou scored twice as Chelsea took a huge step towards the Champions League knockout stages with a 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge, reports Reuters.
With striker Didier Drogba sitting out the final game of his three-match UEFA ban, his Ivory Coast team mate Kalou grabbed his chance to impress with goals either side of halftime to put his side in charge.
Kalou's strikes deflated the struggling Spanish side before Frank Lampard's shot and a stoppage time own goal by Luis Perea completed a third victory from three matches for Chelsea in Group D.
Carlo Ancelotti's side, who went down at Aston Villa on Saturday to lose the lead in the Premier League, have nine points to second-placed Porto's six. Atletico are bottom with one point and face the prospect of elimination.
Kalou, who recently signed a new contract, plays third fiddle behind Drogba and Nicolas Anelka at Stamford Bridge but underlined his importance to the squad with an all-action performance that could have netted him a hat-trick.
"Drogba is still Drogba," Kalou told reporters. "It's not an insult to be behind him and Anelka because they are two of the best strikers in the world right now. But I'm pleased to get on the pitch and take my opportunity and do my best.
"We have proved that even without our main striker we have the character to win without him. But he will be back next time and that is very important for Chelsea even though its hard to accept if you are not playing."
Kalou, playing alongside Anelka in front of Chelsea's diamond midfield, took a while to warm to the task and was guilty of a terrible miss early on when he dragged a shot wide after being played in by Michael Ballack.
Atletico, who have started the Spanish season poorly, matched Chelsea for most of the first half, particularly in a lively opening spell when Uruguay striker Diego Forlan looked menacing. Twice he tried his luck from distance and also forced an acrobatic save from Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
His Argentine striking partner Sergio Aguero wasted Atletico's best chance when he rolled Branislav Ivanovic easily but shot wastefully into the side-netting.
Atletico always looked vulnerable at the back and fell behind after 41 minutes when Lampard sent Ashley Cole scuttling down the left and his low cross gave Kalou the perfect chance to make amends for his earlier misses.
Seven minutes after half time Kalou doubled the lead when he sprang high to head Lampard's deep corner past the exposed Sergio Asenjo who was given little help by his defenders.
Aguero then wasted another chance when he dithered too long after being sent clear. As Chelsea took complete control, Lampard rifled in his side's third to snap a 10-game sequence without a goal for the England midfielder.
"I'm happy for Lampard but I think it's important that Lampard is not just about scoring goals," Ancelotti said. "He is very unselfish and works for 90 minutes for the team."
Atletico's miserable night was complete in stoppage time when Perea got the final touch to an inswinging freekick.
"I think it was one of those bitter tastes of football," under-fire Atletico coach Abel Resino told reporters. "We had as many chances as Chelsea but the ball wasn't going for us."

Dire Defending : Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 1

2009-10-19T12:57:00.003+01:00

Defender James Collins scored his first goal for Aston Villa to condemn Premier League leaders Chelsea to a second successive away defeat.
Martin O'Neill's 5 million pound capture from West Ham took advantage of slack marking to head the winner after 52 minutes.
Didier Drogba had given the Blues the lead after 15 minutes but Collins' defensive partner Richard Dunne levelled before the interval.
Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti will be frustrated with his side's defending as two corners from Ashley Young presented Dunne and Collins with free far-post headers for the goals.
It completely undermined the threat posed by his side going forward, with Deco shining in a free role behind the strikers.
But Chelsea found Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel in inspired form with a series of excellent saves making amends for gifting Drogba the opening goal.
And Collins and Stephen Warnock also played their part in thwarting Chelsea with a series of excellent blocks.
Skipper Stiliyan Petrov was effective in the centre of the park as Villa maintained their push for a European spot.
The kick off was delayed for five minutes after referee Steve Bennett was taken ill and fourth official Keith Friend stepped into the breach.
Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor had the first effort on goal and his shot on the turn was deflected wide.
The home side had claims for a penalty rejected when Jose Boswinga wrestled with Agbonlahor in the box in attempting to get on the end of a first time cross from Petrov.
James Milner then made a superb tackle inside his own box to deny Florent Malouda.
But after 15 minutes a rare mistake by Friedel, in his 198th consecutive Premier League appearance, allowed Drogba to put Chelsea ahead.
Drogba fired in a hopeful 30-yard drive but Friedel allowed the ball to bounce over his dive and into the corner of the net. It was Drogba's seventh goal of the campaign.
Villa tried to retaliate and Chelsea skipper John Terry made a crucial interception to cut out a low centre from Milner with John Carew and Agbonlahor unmarked in the danger area.
Chelsea were now looking the more likely to score and Ashley Cole was only just too high with a rising drive after a powerful surge forward.
But after 32 minutes Dunne struck for the second successive match to bring Villa back on level terms.
Essien was forced to concede a corner after good link up play between Agbonlahor and Petrov. Young's centre flicked off the head of Frank Lampard and Dunne was on hand to head home at the far past.
The Republic of Ireland international celebrated in a way he had declined to do when netting against his former club Manchester City 12 days ago.
Agbonlahor became the first player to be booked after 35 minutes for a challenge on Essien.
Friedel redeemed himself for his earlier error when tipping over a chip from Deco at full stretch and then made another crucial stop to deny Drogba at point-blank range.
Villa took the lead early in the second half when Collins was left completely unmarked at the far post to power a header past Cech from Young's inswinging corner.
Lampard was only a couple of feet wide with a low 20-yard drive as Chelsea tried to respond, but Friedel showed he had fully recovered from his first-half error with another excellent block on a shot from Deco, who had been put clear by Drogba.
Malouda was then denied by Friedel who beat out his fierce 20-yard shot as Chelsea searched for the equaliser.

Alex And Kalou Commit

2009-10-14T08:19:00.008+01:00

Central defender Alex became the second Chelsea player to sign a new contract in as many days yesterday as the Blues look to tie their star names to the club, reports rte.ie.
Alex followed Salomon Kalou in committing his future to the club when he signed a four-year deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2013.
Chelsea seem determined to extend as many of their key players contracts as possible following FIFA's transfer ban.
The Blues are prevented from signing any players in the next two transfer windows after being found guilty of inducing teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago.
Chelsea have appealed against the verdict and are hopeful of getting it overturned, but in the meantime they are determined to keep their current squad together.
Alex, who is returning to fitness after groin surgery in the summer, has joined Kalou, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Michael Mancienne in signing new deals, while Joe Cole is also expected to soon put pen to paper.
'I am very happy to start again to train and feel no pain, and to sign for four more years,' he said .
'It was easy to decide to sign and now I hope to get back to playing well. My condition now is so-so. I think in two more weeks I am 100% and can play without a problem.
'I hope now to start to play in the Chelsea games and play very well.'
Boss Carlo Ancelotti has yet to manage Alex in a Chelsea game but is well-versed in the Brazilian's ability.
His AC Milan side contested a tight Champions League semi-final in 2005 when Alex was at the heart of the PSV Eindhoven defence.
Ancelotti welcomed the defender's decision to continue his career at Stamford Bridge and told the club's official website: 'I am very happy that Alex has signed a new contract with the club. He is just returning from injury and surgery but he is a player I know well.
'I am familiar with all of his fantastic qualities, so I am delighted he will be with us for another four years.'

Scousers Scuppered : Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0

2009-10-05T17:10:00.004+01:00

Second half goals from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda gave Chelsea a deserved 2-0 victory over Liverpool and put the Blues two points clear at top of the Premier League.
The France international struck first in the 60th minute when he finished off a sublime low cross from Didier Drogba as Chelsea defied their critics with a performance of grit and quality.
Substitute Malouda sealed the win in injury-time when he slid home another low cross from Drogba.
Carlo Ancelotti's side was desperate to get back to winning ways in the league after its 3-1 drubbing by Wigan last week and a lacklustre victory over Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League in midweek.
But it was Liverpool who had the best of the early exchanges and the game sparked into life in the 12th minute when Fernando Torres was fortunate not to receive a yellow card for a late challenge on Chelsea captain John Terry.
The Spaniard's right foot was clearly too high and raked the shins of the England defender.
However, referee Martin Atkinson opted to give the Liverpool striker a lengthy lecture, much to the annoyance of the home fans.
Liverpool continued to dominate but a shot from Albert Riera was high and wide of the target in the 19th minute.
Michael Essien appeared to be late and high with a challenge on Javier Mascherano but referee Atkinson was perfectly positioned to see the incident and ignored the Reds' appeals. The Liverpool player soon rose to his feet without any damage to his right leg.
Both sides were full of attacking ideas but neither goalkeeper had been tested at the midway stage of the opening half.
Liverpool's Jose Reina finally collected a header from Drogba just beneath the crossbar in the 24th minute but Chelsea's threat was somewhat impotent.
In the 27th minute Reina was called into action again when Essien's cross was met by Anelka.
Anelka was unmarked but despite the luxury of a free header, he could not find a way past the Liverpool goalkeeper.
Liverpool were handed a chance to open the scoring in the 29th minute when Branislav Ivanovic was adjudged to have brought down Torres.
The free-kick was some 25 yards out but Gerrard's effort sailed over the crossbar to the delight of the home fans.
Four minutes later Chelsea squandered a chance of their own after Drogba had been brought down by Jamie Carragher near the corner flag.
Deco's free-kick into the penalty area was well placed but Michael Ballack's header was off target from six yards.
Chelsea were now enjoying their best spell of the game and when Lampard's 38th-minute corner fell to Essien at the far post, the Ghanaian international forced Reina to make a save at the second attempt.
Liverpool responded with Dirk Kuyt crossing for Torres to head straight at Hilario from six yards.
Essien was booked for a foul on Kuyt in the 44th minute and Riera forced Hilario into a late save with a 40-yard low drive.
In the 57th minute Liverpool won a free-kick when Riera was blocked by Ballack - but Gerrard's delivery was met by a confident punch from Hilario and Chelsea survived a difficult moment.
The Blues broke the deadlock on the hour after Mascherano lost possession to Lampard in the Chelsea half. Essien and Deco fed the ball wide to Drogba on the left - and his centre was perfect for Anelka to convert his fifth goal of the season.
In the 63rd minute, Drogba met Lampard's free-kick but his header was well held by Reina - and four minutes later the visitors replaced Riera with Yossi Benayoun.
In the 77th minute Chelsea won a free-kick in a dangerous area when Lampard was brought down by Gerrard.
The challenge earned Gerrard a yellow card and Chelsea almost went two goals in front but Drogba was just wide of the right-hand post with his free-kick.
Chelsea's goal was now under siege and Torres wasted a glorious chance to level the scores when he shot wide in the 80th minute.
Substitute Malouda then settled the outcome when he slid the ball home from close range in injury-time.

Gerrard then hit a volley from the edge of the area which Hilaro palmed away.

Nicosia Nullified : Apeol 0 Chelsea 1

2009-10-01T13:34:00.003+01:00

Chelsea bounced back from their first defeat of the season with a laboured 1-0 win over Cypriot champions Apeol Nicosia to make it two wins out of two in the Champions League this season, reports Goal.com.
Nicolas Anelka was again the match-winner and there was a European return for Joe Cole but for long periods Chelsea created very little and the home side almost did enough to steal a point from their more illustrious opponents.
Chelsea made three changes from the team that lost at Wigan at the weekend with Juliano Belletti coming in for the injured John Obi Mikel, and Branislav Ivanovic and Saloman Kalou deputising for the suspended Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba.
Ashley Cole recovered from his knee problem in time and continued at left-back, giving a man of the match performance, with Carlo Ancelotti adopting a 4-4-3 formation in favour of the diamond. The hosts, holding their first ever Champions League game, were without Polish strikers Adrian Sikora and Marcin Zewlakow as well as defenders Joost Broerse and Paolo Jorge because of injury.
With the Cypriot side happy to play an open game and make a good impression, Chelsea were quick to exploit the time and space with Michael Essien going close early on with a shot from outside the box that flashed wide.
Seventeen minutes in and Chelsea were ahead. Belletti skipped past his marker on the right wing, then picked out Nicolas Anelka on the corner of the penalty box and the Frenchman clipped the ball past Nicosia keeper Dionisis Chiotis into the far corner of the net. His second goal in as many Champions League games.
From then on Chelsea controlled the first half with neither team really threatening. Flourent Malouda hit a shot from 25 yards that sailed over the bar while Christos Kontis had Apoel’s best chance with a header from a corner that went high and wide.
The home side came out for the second half much livelier and forced Petr Cech into his first meaningful save just after the hour mark. Savvas Poursaitidies found room on edge of the Chelsea and his shot deflected of John Terry, forced Cech to make a difficult save. From the resulting corner, Boban Grncarov just missed a header that flashes across goal.
Malouda had Chelsea’s only chance of the second half, shooting straight at Chiotis from a Ivanovic cross but there was little else to shout about in the second half for the visitors apart from a European return for Joe Cole
Constantinos Charalambides' saw a diving header go the wrong side of the but there was to be no fairytale debut for the Apeol fans and Chelsea maintained their 100% record in Group D.

All in all the Blues made pretty hard work of this game and will have to improve drastically if we are to beat the Scousers on Sunday.

Carlo Not Happy

2009-10-01T08:19:00.003+01:00

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted he was far from happy with his team's performance in their uninspiring 1-0 Champions League win over unfancied Apoel Nicosia, reports PA Sport.
Nicolas Anelka's 18th-minute goal gave Chelsea an undeserved Group D victory in Cyprus as Ancelotti's side produced another disappointing performance, but the Italian coach had wanted a big reaction from his team following their 3-1 defeat by Wigan last Saturday, but he failed to get it and was clearly not satisfied. "It was a good result but perhaps not a good performance," said Ancelotti. "We started with good control, scored a goal and we had opportunities to do quick counter-attacks after that, but we didn't do this."He added: "In the second half it was different. We tried to control the game with possession, but we made a lot of mistakes. "Nicosia played very well in the second-half and deserved to draw this game. This is football. "I'm not satisfied. I wanted Chelsea to play better and to take more control, to play with courage. But I think that, in this moment of the season, it's normal. We have to change, for sure."We have to play better. In the first half, the team showed good application of the system and of their defensive duties. "We took good control in defensive positions, but the second half was totally different. We lost a lot of balls. We allowed Nicosia to get back into the game. "I'm not angry with the players. I have a lot of faith in this team and these players. I was a player for a lot of years myself, and I know when things don't go well. "I'm not afraid, not angry with the players. The only thing is that I'd like Chelsea to play better than we did.

Phil "Look At Me" Dowd : Wigan 3 Chelsea 1

2009-09-26T17:07:00.004+01:00

Wigan sent shockwaves through the Barclay's Premier League with a shock 3-1 win over 10(or 9)-man Chelsea, reports skysports.com.
Petr Cech saw red in an explosive start to the second-half which saw Chelsea equalise before immediately conceding a penalty, which Hugo Rodallega won and dispatched.
Chelsea had won each of their six games so far this season and only this week were being labelled as almost unbeatable, a tag which manager Carlos Ancelotti rebuffed.
Titus Bramble opened the scoring on 16 minutes when he headed home unmarked from around 8 yards when Charles N'Zogbia delivered after a short corner.
The Latics held on until half-time and perhaps should have taken advantage of some suspect Chelsea defending as Emmerson Boyce shot straight at Cech from inside the six yard box.
Chelsea began the second-half in great urgency and were level on 47 minutes as Didier Drogba steered home Florent Malouda cross past Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal, who was guilty of failing to hold the Ivorian's tame effort.
Wigan were back in front soon after when Cech brought down Rodallega inside the after the Columbian raced through on goal.
Florent Malouda was sacrificed as Henrique Hilario came in to replace Cech in the Chelsea goal but he was sent the wrong way by Rodallega, who picked himself up to drill home the penalty.
Chelsea were unable to regain control of the game as play resumed and after using all three subs, they were reduced to nine men after Ashley Cole was unable to continue in injury time.
The away side were massively exposed as they desperately searched an equaliser and Paul Scharner capitalised when he poked home from a yard out after great wing play by Maynor Figueroa a minute into added time.

So, another disgraceful display of refereeing. When are prats like Phil Dowd going to realise that the fans come to see eleven men against eleven, not the likes of him.
Make no mistake, if Cech had been wearing a Man. Utd., Liverpool or Arsenal shirt in the same situation he would have stayed on the pitch.
Still, we'll win the league despite the officials, not because of them. We always have before.

Joe Just Happy To Be Playing

2009-09-26T11:13:00.002+01:00

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole was delighted with his return from injury in the Carling Cup third-round victory over QPR at Stamford Bridge.
Cole has been sidelined with a cruciate knee problem for eight months but came back and set up Salomon Kalou's winner just after the interval.
"I'm back now and it's blinding," Cole said. "But I'm not going to get ahead of myself. There is going to be a lot of ups and downs. All I can do is keep working hard in training. If you see the size of the squad we have, a lot don't play week-in week-out so it's vital for them to get airtime," said assistant boss Ray Wilkins.
"It's entirely up to the young men to push themselves forward and the two that played have been doing so in the reserves and training. We want to win everything we enter. Every side that takes to the field in a Chelsea shirt wants to win the game and the tournament they are playing in. If we can blood a few on the way, all well and good."
"It's not a bad substitution to make," Wilkins said. "It's a testament to QPR that we had to use Frank, Ashley and John. QPR equipped themselves very well and gave us a very tough evening. It was nice to see Joe and Paulo (Ferreira) come through the 90minutes, Yury (Zhirkov) got a good hour and the two youngsters did very well too."
QPR boss Jim Magilton was pleased with his side's application. "We have to use it as a springboard," said Magilton. We have a chance of promotion, like 14 other clubs. We had a lack of belief in the final third but I was immensely proud of the overall performance."
Magilton, who started with two strikers, added: "I'm not naive but that is the way I thought we could get after Chelsea. We were encouraged against Cardiff in our last game and some players may not get back to Stamford Bridge so I couldn't deny them that by resting them."
Magilton refused to answer questions on owner Flavio Briatore, whose position has been questioned following his role in Formula One's "crashgate" scandal. "I've never met him," Magilton joked.

Hoops Held At Bay : Chelsea 1 QPR 0

2009-09-26T10:55:00.006+01:00

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole returned from his long-term knee injury to help defeat QPR 1-0 and send the Premier League leaders into the fourth round of the Carling Cup, reports espn.go.com.
The 27-year-old, named by manager Carlo Ancelotti as skipper for the evening, was playing in his first match since January and set up Salomon Kalou's winner at Stamford Bridge.
Ahead of the tie, the future of Flavio Briatore as QPR's owner has been uncertain following his role in Formula One's "crashgate'' scandal - but Jim Magilton's men could not give him something to smile about despite putting the hosts under pressure at times.
It was Cole's evening after eight months out with ruptured cruciate knee ligaments, a problem he aggravated in July's pre-season tour of the United States.
The clock is ticking for Cole - he has to get back into Fabio Capello's England squad before the World Cup after watching competition increase while out injured.
Cole was playing in the hole and showing no signs of his injury affecting his approach. He matched Wayne Routledge for pace in the early stages and went shoulder to shoulder. Later in the first half he danced around Routledge and Akos Buzsaky before Martin Rowlands brought him down.
When Paulo Ferreira, also returning from a long-term knee problem, crossed from the right 10 minutes before the break, Cole was on the end of it but stabbed wide of Tom Heaton's goal.
That was a rare bright moment in a dull opening 45 minutes although Juliano Belletti, just before the whistle, smashed a 30-yard free-kick and Heaton tipped over the crossbar.
The other clear-cut chance of the first half dropped to Fabio Borini, one of Frank Arnesen's youngsters who was making his first start for the club.
With FIFA having imposed a transfer ban on Chelsea for two windows, this was meant to be the clash to show what youngsters sporting director Arnesen had unearthed for Ancelotti to utilise.
Instead, there was plenty of experience in the starting XI, with the only Arnesen player to feature being Borini, as centre-back Sam Hutchinson has been at the club since he was a child.
Borini headed over in the 10th minute from Yury Zhirkov's cross and goalkeeper Heaton, on loan from Manchester United, was forced to save powerful efforts from Florent Malouda and Kalou in the early stages.
The visitors had their moments as well, with Jay Simpson volleying over wildly and Buzsaky curling wide after an exciting run by Routledge.
They were holding their own, although boss Magilton was ranting and raving on the touchline, chucking his chewing gum onto the pitch at one point.
His mood did not get better at the break when Ancelotti brought on Frank Lampard for Malouda. The Frenchman was the only survivor from Sunday's win over Tottenham but there was still the likes of John Obi Mikel and Branislav Ivanovic in the side.
After the interval, Rowan Vine's ball over the top almost embarrassed the hosts, with Henrique Hilario forced into a rushed clearance as Routledge chased him down.
But the visitors were ahead in the 52nd minute after Cole spun on the ball and slipped it through to Kalou. The Ivory Coast forward cut inside Mikele Leigertwood from the left and his crisp finish went in off the post.
Borini could have added a second goal when Lampard sent him through but the Italian youngster was forced slightly wide and Heaton saved his finish.
QPR were still in the tie and Buzsaky forced Hilario into a save when his awkward shot from 30 yards bounced just in front of the veteran goalkeeper.

Spurs Smashed : Chelsea 3 Tottenham H 0

2009-09-26T10:34:00.003+01:00

Chelsea extended their 100 percent record under Carlo Ancelotti as goals from Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba gave them a comfortable 3-0 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.
The win was enough to lift them back above Manchester United to the summit of the Barclays Premier League, three points ahead of their rivals, who had briefly gone top with a 4-3 win over Manchester City earlier in the day.
Tottenham were second best but left having lost more than three points as defenders Ledley King and Sebastien Bassong both suffered serious-looking injuries.
Chelsea goalscorer Cole said: "This is the best squad, team and spirit since I've been here. John Terry won the title here so it's probably not as good as that year but we all stick together and fight. Hopefully that can help us win the title."
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp bemoaned referee Howard Webb's decision not to give a penalty for Ricardo Carvalho's challenge on Robbie Keane at 1-0.
"Robbie tried to stay on his feet, if he went down it might have been different," Redknapp said.
"If he (Webb) felt he (Keane) dived he should have given a yellow card."
Chelsea almost opened the scoring in the eighth minute when right-back Jose Bosingwa latched on to Ballack's header and fired in a shot from the edge of the area.
Tottenham goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, the ex-Chelsea man, was relieved to see the ball rebound back into play off the top of his near post.
Jermain Defoe should have given Tottenham the lead three minutes later though when he was played through by Wilson Palacios's fine ball.
The England marksman already has five Premier League goals to his name this season but was denied by the boot of Petr Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Cech was needed again to deflect away Tom Huddlestone's long-ranger, which caught him by surprise, and Jermaine Jenas fired wide by the most slender of margins from the next attack.
Chelsea's reply was a header from Frank Lampard that wasn't far away either and an effort from Nicolas Anelka that fizzed into the side-netting.
The home side's appeals for a penalty when Vedran Corluka and Ballack collided in the box were ignored by Webb but the reprieve was short-lived for the Croatia defender as Chelsea scored seconds later.
Drogba fired in a cross from the right that was met by Cole's diving header, with the left-back having stolen in ahead of Corluka.
The second half began with Lampard scuffing a good chance wide but there was trouble for Tottenham when centre-back King's already-damaged knee failed him and he was replaced by Alan Hutton.
Webb had another decision to make when Carvalho challenged Keane in the Chelsea box.
Again he ruled no penalty should be awarded although the defender appeared to clip Keane.
Chelsea doubled their lead through Ballack straight afterwards. Anelka's cross was chested down by Drogba and Cudicini could not hold on to the low shot that followed.
Lampard was first to the loose ball and set up the German for a tap-in.
Further disaster for Corluka and Cudicini followed when Cole's long ball over the top sent Drogba clear of the Croatian, who had switched to centre-back in King's absence.
Out came Cudicini only for Corluka to divert the ball past him and Drogba collect it for another tap-in.
Cudicini almost cost Tottenham another when he let slip a shot from John Obi Mikel, who had come on for Ballack, but the Italian just managed to claw it away before it trundled over the line.
There was yet further misery for Spurs when Bassong fell heavily and had to be stretchered off, a fate that then befell Drogba five minutes before the end.

Porto Prised Apart : Chelsea 1 Porto 0

2009-09-26T10:27:00.002+01:00

A well-taken second-half goal by Nicolas Anelka gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Porto in their opening Champions League Group D clash at a rain-sodden Stamford Bridge.
The Frenchman struck three minutes into the second half but Chelsea had some nervous moments in the closing stages as Porto pushed hard for an equaliser before having Fernando sent off in injury time for a second caution. The last time Chelsea were in European action here, their hearts were broken by Barcelona's last-gasp equaliser in the second leg of last season's semi-final.
Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa were suspended on Tuesday following their rants about the referee in that encounter.
The hosts seemed to miss Drogba in the first half as strike duo Anelka and Salomon Kalou flitted in and around the box without really establishing a presence.
Florent Malouda fired one effort over the bar while Helton saved an early Frank Lampard header as Chelsea struggled to turn their midfield passing into attacking openings.
Porto looked the more dangerous side in the first half, breaking quickly and keeping John Terry and his defence on their toes in conditions made awkward by torrential rain.
Fredy Guarin headed over the bar and, in injury time, Raul Meireles popped a tame header straight at keeper Petr Cech when presented with the best chance of the first half.
Things changed within three minutes of the restart as a Kalou flick sent Anelka through on goal. His initial shot was parried by Helton but the Frenchman reacted smartly to force in the rebound from a tight angle.
The diving Helton did well to save a Kalou header after an hour while Branislav Ivanovic thundered a header inches over from the resulting corner.
Chelsea could not find the second goal, however, and memories of Andres Iniesta's injury-time strike for Barcelona began to emerge as some sloppy play offered the visitors too many sights of goal.
The Chelsea defence, though, stood firm to get off to a sound start in a group that also includes Atletico Madrid and Apoel Nicosia.
Having reached the semi-finals five times in the last six campaigns, new Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti hopes this will be the season the Blues finally get over the line to win the trophy that owner Roman Abramovich so desperately wants.

Potters Punished : Stoke City 1 Chelsea 2

2009-09-26T10:10:00.003+01:00

Carlo Ancelotti saw his Chelsea side stretch their 100 percent record to five matches at the Britannia Stadium thanks to a 2-1 winner in stoppage time from Florent Malouda.
Manager Ancelotti must have been living on his nerves as Stoke threw themselves into every challenge and looked like taking a point.
However Chelsea kept plugging away and got their rewards when Malouda finished well following a knock back from Nicolas Anelka.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has assembled a team that battles and scratches for every 50-50 ball.

They almost did the trick again and Chelsea were rattled, especially in the first half, and it is doubtful if they have had many tougher physical tests.
Stoke lost two players in the first half with James Beattie and then Thomas Sorensen going off injured but refused to cave in.
Chelsea got a taste of what was to come after two minutes when Ashley Cole lost possession when he was harried by Dave Kitson.
The striker raced on but his cross was poor and Jose Bosingwa was able to clear with ease.
Chelsea responded and Didier Drogba tested Sorensen from distance after the ball had been played back to him by Salomon Kalou.
Beattie should have put Stoke ahead in the ninth minute but scuffed a shot wide when clear on goal.
In the process he suffered an ankle injury and was carried off in considerable discomfort. He was replaced by Ricardo Fuller in the 11th minute.
Chelsea carved out another chance in the 23 minute when Bosingwa surged forward but Dean Whitehead made a good block.
Stoke made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute after Glenn Whelan swung in a cross from the right.
Skipper Abdoulaye Faye was the first to react inside the area and powered a header beyond a stranded Petr Cech.
It was a test of character now for Ancelotti's men and the atmosphere was electric.

Stoke lost their second player of the half with Sorensen coming off in the 41st minute after appearing to pull a muscle and was replaced by Steve Simonsen.
Mainly because of Beattie's injury eight minutes of added time were awarded and Drogba pulled Chelsea level with a shot into the corner after getting away from Faye following a superb through ball from Frank Lampard.
Chelsea almost took the lead a minute into the second half but Drogba hit his effort high over the bar after Michael Ballack had nodded the ball on.
The visitors were beginning to spray their passes about and asking questions of the home side.
Stoke are traditionally dangerous from set-pieces and there was a moment of danger for Chelsea when Whelan delivered a free-kick into the area after 57 minutes but his side failed to take advantage.
A minute later Kitson peeled away from his marker after Whelan delivered the corner but his header went straight into Cech's arms.
Robert Huth almost scored against his old club in the 63rd minute but sent his effort from inside the six-yard area over the top following another good corner from Whelan.
Ancelotti then brought on Anelka for Kalou a minute later in a bid to try and get the victory, not just one point.
Stoke was forced to back pedal in the 68th minute when Bosingwa raced to the edge of the area, only to drag his effort wide.
Chelsea stepped up the pace and Drogba thumped in a shot from an acute angle after
76 minutes but Faye made a brave block.
Drogba then whipped in a free-kick from 25 yards, only for Simonsen to react well and turn his effort around the post.
It was all hands to the pump now for Stoke as the visitors went in search of fifth successive victory and they seemed to be holding out only for Malouda to have the last word.

Chelsea Banned From Signing Players Till January 2011

2009-09-03T14:01:00.001+01:00

CHELSEA have been banned from registering any new players for the next two transfer windows in a shock move by FIFA after being found guilty of inducing a French teenager to breach his contract with another club, reports thenorthernecho.co.uk.
Gael Kakuta, 18, joined Chelsea from Lens two years ago after which the French club lodged a complaint with FIFA.
Now FIFA's dispute resolution chamber (DRC) has ruled that Kakuta breached his contract with Lens and that Chelsea induced him to do so.
FIFA said in a statement: "The French club had lodged a claim with FIFA seeking compensation for breach of contract from the player and requesting also sporting sanctions to be imposed on the player and the English club for breach of contract and inducement to breach of contract respectively.
"The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such breach.
"As a result the player was condemned to pay compensation in the amount of EUR 780,000, for which the club, Chelsea, is jointly and severally liable, and sporting sanctions were imposed on both the player and Chelsea in accordance with art. 17 par. 3 and 4 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
"A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches is imposed on the player Gael Kakuta while the club Chelsea is banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision.
"Furthermore, Chelsea, has to pay RC Lens training compensation in the amount of EUR 130,000."

Clarets Conquered : Chelsea 3 Burnley 0

2009-09-03T12:42:00.003+01:00

Chelsea moved to the top of the Premier League with a fluid 3-0 destruction of new boys Burnley at Stamford Bridge, reports Sportal.com.
Burnley, the victors over Manchester United and Everton in their last two games, were no match for an exciting Chelsea side.
Goals from Nicolas Anelka, Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole ensured Chelsea retained their 100 % record.
But for an inspired performance by Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen, the margin of victory would have been much greater.
It was a performance that captured Chelsea at their best under Carlo Ancelotti's attacking system.
Burnley clearly could not cope with them and at times Chelsea's play was fluid, fast, and exciting. It was, at last, the brand of football that owner Roman Abramovich had been yearning for since he took charge.
Chelsea announced their intentions within three minutes when Anelka tested Jensen with a 20-yard shot.
Moments later a mazy run by Ballack saw him fire a shot across the face of the goal as Burnley struggled to contain the Blues.
In the sixth minute, Chelsea wasted a great chance to take the lead when Anelka robbed Andre Bikey on the half-way line and sprinted towards goal.
But the France international's touch let him down and Jensen grabbed the ball at his feet as the Chelsea striker looked to go around him.
However, Chelsea escaped in the ninth minute when Tyrone Mears robbed Frank Lampard and sped into the penalty area.
Instead of shooting, the Burnley defender squared the ball to the unmarked Martin Paterson who looked certain to put the visitors ahead.
However, Paterson shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
It was a real let-off for Chelsea but they responded immediately with Lampard putting Anelka clean through on goal. However, Jensen was alert to the danger and claimed the ball at the Frenchman's feet.
In the 20th minute Ballack was foiled by a fine save from Jensen after Deco's pass had given the German a clear opportunity to put the home side ahead.
Jensen then saved from captain John Terry and Drogba, with three goals to his name already this season, curled a 20-yard effort around the post as the Blues increased the pressure.
Jensen pulled off another reflex save on the half-hour when Jose Bosingwa's cross was headed back to Lampard by Terry.
The England midfielder's volley was punched clear by an inspired Jensen.
Michael Essien, handed the holding role in front of the defence instead of John Mikel Obi, was beginning to move forward with increasing regularity as the half wore on.
But the Ghanaian international is not renowned for his shooting and he did not show any signs of improvement when he tried his luck from 30 yards.
Essien had a clear sight of the target but his shot only troubled the fans in the second tier of the Shed end.
A superb run by Drogba down the left ended with Lampard just failing to control the ball enough to fire past Jensen, who collected the ball comfortably at his near post.
But Chelsea finally broke the deadlock when Drogba broke down the right and crossed for Anelka to score from point-blank range.
Chelsea made it two in the 48th minute with a well-worked goal. Anelka supplied the overlapping Lampard, whose cross found Ballack who finished with a diving header.
Chelsea's third goal of the game arrived in the 52nd minute courtesy of defender Ashley Cole.
In a move of elegant simplicity, Chelsea ripped open Burnley's defence when Lampard and Cole exchanged passes.
The accuracy of Lampard's return ball allowed Cole the chance to send an angled volley beyond Jensen.
In the 54th minute Anelka could have made it four but although he rounded Jensen, his shot crashed off the top of the crossbar from just two yards out.
Chelsea continued to flow forward effortlessly and Essien almost made it four in the 66th minute but Jensen dived low to his left to tip the ball around the post.
Jensen denied Essien again in the 76th minute when he punched away a rising drive from the Chelsea midfielder.
Three minutes from time substitute Salomon Kalou was denied a goal when Mears cleared his goalbound effort off the goal-line.
But it had been an electric performance from the Blues who enjoyed a rapturous ovation at the final whistle.

Cottagers Tamed: Fulham 0 Chelsea 2

2009-08-23T20:13:00.003+01:00

Chelsea maintained their perfect start to life under Carlo Ancelotti with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Fulham on Sunday, reports nationalpost.com.
Ancelotti cut a contented figure at Craven Cottage after his side cruised home against their west London rivals rivals thanks to goals in either half from Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.
The triumph put Chelsea into second place in the English Premier League table behind Tottenham, but of more significance to Ancelotti will have been the nonchalant manner of the performance.
Chelsea were almost completely untroubled by Roy Hodgson's team, who badly missed the injured Andy Johnson, and this display - characterised by doughty defending and lethal finishing - sent an ominous message to their title rivals.
Ancelotti's satisfaction will have been compounded by the fact that Fulham are a side that traditionally revel in bloodying the noses of the top flight's elite, and Chelsea have suffered more than most.
The Blues had won just three of their previous seven encounters with their near neighbours: hardly a catastrophic record, but not exactly glittering, so the visitors would have been forgiven a little wariness.
That showed in the opening stages, when neither side took the game by the throat.
Fulham, who handed a debut to Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff, were predictably high-octane, snappy in the tackle and eager to harry their glitzy opponents at every opportunity, and while they delivered precious little as an attacking force, Chelsea were largely neutered.
Instead, they were restricted to half-chances. Michael Ballack propelled a free-kick harmlessly over the crossbar from an inviting position five yards just outside the penalty area - much to the disgust of Frank Lampard, who had appeared the more likely taker - while moments later John Obi Mikel skimmed a 20-yarder two yards wide of the post.
But patience has been a feature of the early Ancelotti era and, just as in their previous league outings this season, their wait was rewarded again when they finally cracked Fulham's resolve with a neatly worked goal in the 39th minute.
The architect was Anelka, the striker splitting the hosts' central defensive pairing of Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland with a beautifully weighted pass.
Drogba, having curved his run to perfection, took the ball in his stride and clipped his shot into the corner.
Fulham were angry at the referee's assistant for failing to intervene then but they were grateful moments later, when Drogba was set clear by a delicious pass from Lampard, only for the flag to be raised. Replays suggested the 31-year-old had once again timed his run to the split-second.
Hodgson hardly had the manpower to instigate sweeping changes, so Chelsea remained largely unruffled after the interval.
Drogba might have had a second goal when his angled snap-shot on the turn was smartly saved by Mark Schwarzer, while Lampard dragged wide from a similar position moments later.
That might have briefly reinvigorated Fulham's hopes of an unlikely point but they were snuffed out in the 76th minute.
A slide-rule pass from Drogba picked a path through Fulham's back-line and Anelka rounded Schwarzer and rolled in his first goal of the season.

New Deal For Ash

2009-08-21T17:04:00.003+01:00

Left-back Ashley Cole has penned a new four-year deal with the club, reports tribalfootball.com.
The deal will see the former Arsenal man pocket a cool £120,00 per week after Roman Abramovich was desperate to secure him for £25million.
Cole was receiving interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona but the Blues staved off their advances by offering the England international the lucrative deal.

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

2009-08-18T21:52:00.005+01:00

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

2009-08-18T13:51:00.003+01:00

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

2009-08-18T12:42:00.002+01:00

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?

2009-08-18T08:05:00.002+01:00

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.

CHelsea 2 Hull City 1

2009-08-17T08:16:00.005+01:00

Didier Drogba's double strike gave new Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti a winning start to his Premier League career in a 2-1 result over Hull.
The Ivory Coast international grabbed the winner in added time to shatter battling Hull's hopes of a point.
Chelsea had trailed to a 27th-minute goal from Hull's debut boy Stephen Hunt, but Drogba levelled the scores in the 37th minute with a dipping 25-yard free-kick and then grabbed the winner late in the game to secure maximum reward for the home side.
But prior to Drogba's face-saving strike there were worrying echoes of the Luiz Felipe Scolari era.
Chelsea resorted to far too much intricate approach play on the edge of Hull's penalty area and when that failed it opted to punt long balls into the danger zone from either flank.
They were tactics reminiscent of Scolari's ill-fated reign and, just as Chelsea did so often under their former coach, they saved themselves with a late winner.
The home side should have taken the lead as early as the second minute but Drogba fired wide from six yards after Michael Essien's superb cross fell directly at the feet of the unmarked striker.
Hull gave Chelsea a warning in the ninth minute when captain George Boateng shot just wide of Petr Cech's right-hand upright from 20 yards.
Four minutes later a cross from Hunt was headed over by Dean Marney. The Hull midfielder was allowed to ghost into the penalty unmarked and should have done better with his finish.
Cech then had to be alert to save another shot from Boateng as the Tigers began to find some success in the attacking third.
Hull had weathered the early Chelsea storm and had been far from second best.
Chelsea looked impressive going forward in their diamond formation but the same could not be said for the defensive element of the system.
The home side's failure to clear a free-kick in the 27th minute cost them dearly.
Chelsea had been upset at the free-kick awarded by Alan Wiley when the official insisted that Jose Bosingwa had tugged the shirt of Hunt.
It got worse for the Blues when Andy Dawson sent the free-kick towards the Chelsea penalty area.
It was only half-cleared to Boateng on the edge of the area and his shot cannoned off both Ashley Cole and Mikel before falling to Hunt to apply an easy finish into an unguarded net.
That made it a terrific start to his Hull career for Hunt who was booed all afternoon by the Chelsea fans.
They still have not forgiven the former Reading player for the challenge in an October 2006 match which left Cech with a fractured skull. Cech is still required to wear protective head gear.
The Blues were level in the 37th minute thanks to a superb free-kick strike by Drogba.
Seyi Olofinjana was penalised by Wiley for holding off Mikel 25 yards out and Drogba punished Hull severely when he sent a dipping shot over the defensive wall and into the right corner.
Boaz Myhill then had to dive low to his left to prevent Michael Essien from giving Chelsea the lead five minutes before the interval.
Ancelotti's side should have gone in front within seconds of the re-start.
Drogba set up strike partner Nicolas Anelka perfectly but the France international failed to beat Myhill from six yards.
In the 56th minute Myhill twice denied Drogba with stunning saves as the Ivory Coast international looked for his second goal of the game.
In the 68th minute Hull replaced Hunt with new signing Kamel Ghilas to a chorus of boos from the Chelsea fans and the Blues substituted Malouda, bringing on Deco.
Essien almost gave Chelsea the lead in the 74th minute but his 20-yard volley was narrowly wide of the target.
Bosingwa then brought a fine diving save from Myhill as his effort looked to creep in.
Substitute Salomon Kalou, on for Anelka, then headed over from Deco's cross as Chelsea chased a winner.
But Drogba scored a vital winner two minutes into added time when he somehow chipped the ball over Myhill and into the far corner from an acute angle.

Yuri Out

2009-08-14T17:03:00.002+01:00

Carlo Ancelotti's main summer signing Yuri Zhirkov may have to wait before making his Chelsea debut because of a knee problem.
The Blues' Italian coach is likely to name a familiar line-up and formation for the season's opener against Hull City, with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka leading the attack.Zhirkov, who cost £18million from CSKA Moscow, may have to wait until midweek for his Premier League bow, with John Obi Mikel anchoring a midfield of Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda.

Mancienne Signs For Wolves On Loan

2009-08-13T17:11:00.004+01:00

Wolves have completed the signing of Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne on loan.
The defender has signed a season-long deal with the Premier League new-boys, after the clubs decided a loan fee and Wolves captain Jody Craddock believes Mancienne can use his loan spell at Molineux to follow Joleon Lescott into England's World Cup squad.
The 34-year-old told the Express and Star: "He'll be playing Premier League football here which will be fantastic for him, because we all saw what that did for Joleon Lescott.
"He started playing well for Everton, scored goals and he got himself into the England squad. Michael has got every chance to prove himself here and do the same.
"That will be in his head - he's going to want to play and get himself noticed for the World Cup squad."

Matic Convinced Of Switch

2009-08-13T08:17:00.004+01:00

Chelsea are poised to sign Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic from Slovakian club Kosice within days, according to the player, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Matic, 20, who has represented Serbia at youth level, also claims that Middlesbrough are keen on signing him, but eould prefer a move to Chelsea.
"The London club are very interested about seeing me in their ranks this summer," he said.
"I've left the whole matter up to my agents. The talks are being conducted on a daily basis and I think that everything will soon be finished.
"All in all, there's a big possibility that I'll become a Chelsea player in the next few days.
"It's important that my club Kosice, where I won recognition as a player, is satisfied.
"I have a contract with them for another one-and-a-half years and I hope that it will end in the best possible way."

Chelsea In For Pazzini?

2009-08-12T12:37:00.003+01:00

The Blues have identified Sampdoria hitman Giampaolo Pazzini as a possible transfer target, according to French website les-transferts.com.
The Italian has scored 15 goals in 22 appearances in all competitions since joining the Blucerchiati from Fiorentina last January and has formed a fruitful partnership with Antonio Cassano.
Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay €18 million for his signature and the deal may allow them to offload seldom-used striker Andriy Shevchenko, whose salary takes up a significant amount on their wage bill. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is an admirer of the former Atalanta striker, who scored against the his Milan team last season.
Pazzini also earned his first cap for the Italian national team last year, but has been omitted from their latest string of matches.

JT Flattered But Not Tempted

2009-08-12T08:05:00.003+01:00

John Terry has claimed that while he was flattered to be wanted by Manchester City, he was never tempted to leave Chelsea for the big bucks on offer at Eastlands.

Despite an offer of a reputed £300,000-a-week by Mark Hughes' employers to prize the defender away from the Blues, JT insisted that 'Sparky' failed to ignite his imagination.

"If I'd been tempted I'd have gone," Terry told The Sun."I was flattered but that was it.

"The bid was [big] but I don't know what kind of figures would have been thrown at me.

"I got a call from [chief executive] Peter Kenyon and told him I was flattered but I didn't want to leave."

However, the Blues' skipper said that his decision was made based on assurances that the key players would not be sold.

"I didn't want the club to sell Didier Drogba but we'd heard all the rumours and I wanted these kind of players around me," he confessed."I wanted assurances they would be staying."

Chelsea 2 Man. Utd. 2 (4-1 pens.)

2009-08-11T17:13:00.002+01:00

Chelsea beat Manchester United on penalties to win the Community Shield on Monday after a feisty 2-2 draw that offered few clues as to the destination of the far bigger prizes to be fought over during the next nine months.
Frank Lampard again showed his knack of scoring from midfield with one of Chelsea's goals as they responded from a lethargic first half to take the lead while United's Wayne Rooney took his stoppage time equaliser with trademark zeal.
United's Portuguese midfielder Nani showed glimpses of the flair that could help him fill the large hole left by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid while Chelsea's Michael Essien gave another powerful midfield display.
However, the traditional season curtain-raiser, that was marred by a bad-tempered clash between Patrice Evra and Michael Ballack, raised more questions than it answered.
While Carlo Ancelotti won a trophy in his first competitive match in charge since taking over from Guus Hiddink, his preferred midfield diamond looked far from polished, particularly in a first half in which United cut through Chelsea with ease.
United's new signing Michael Owen was given just 15 minutes and barely got a kick while fellow new recruit Antonio Valencia was also restricted to a substitute appearance.
Goalkeeper Ben Foster, deputising for the injured Edwin van der Sar, could have done better with both Chelsea strikes as England manager Fabio Capello looked on.
One certainty whenever United and Chelsea meet is a raw edge and Monday proved no exception.
United were furious when Ballack's crude bodycheck on Evra went unpunished by referee Chris Foy and with the Frenchman sprawled on the turf and United's players expecting the ball to be kicked out, Didier Drogba powered forward and squared for Lampard to shoot past Foster to put Chelsea 2-1 ahead with 20 minutes remaining.
"If the referee sees it properly it's a red card," United boss Alex Ferguson told reporters. "He's elbowed him clearly, he was lucky. The referee was in line and should have seen it.
"I'm disappointed because he has stopped the game twice before that. Once when Ballack went down he jumped up and was back on his feet again in seconds. That decision cost us the game. We've said it time and again, all we want is consistency."
Minutes later Evra launched a tackle on Ballack which earned him a yellow card.
Ancelotti was disappointed with Chelsea's display in the opening half an hour but said beating United would give his side confidence for the season.
"They are our most important opponent in the Premier League, they have great experience so it was important," said the Italian who broke Chelsea's penalty shoot-out jinx after they had lost their previous six, including the Champions League final in 2008 when United prevailed.
The impressive Nani opened the scoring after 10 minutes, waltzing across in from the left before arrowing a shot beyond Petr Cech. However, the 22-year-old's afternoon ended painfully when he dislocated his shoulder on the hour.
Chelsea looked far more comfortable after the break with Lampard and Essien much more involved. After 52 minutes Lampard linked up with Florent Malouda whose looping cross was not dealt with by Foster and he pawed the ball straight to Ricardo Carvalho who headed into an empty net.
Lampard appeared to have sealed it before substitute Ryan Giggs sent Rooney clear to bury a shot past Cech.
It was a temporary reprieve for United though as Giggs and Evra both had their penalties saved and Salomon Kalou struck the winning blow for Chelsea.

Reading 2 Chelsea 2

2009-08-11T17:09:00.002+01:00

Brendan Rodgers, who learned at the feet of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, almost masterminded a win over the current Blues crop at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

Chelsea had dominated the early moments, with John Terry heading over from a Frank Lampard corner and Deco, making a start despite much speculation over his future, seeing a penalty appeal turned down.

However, Jimmy Kebe gave Reading the lead less than ten minutes before the interval. Hal Robson-Kanu's effort bounced to the Malian off Ashley Cole, and the wide man was able to follow-up and stun the visitors.

Chelsea had their chances, though. Nicola Anelka had had a shot cleared off the line not long before Adam Federici saved well from Didier Drogba, but it was the Royals who struck first.

Before Carlo Ancelotti's side were able to regroup in the dressing room, Reading had doubled their advantage. Shane Long was brought down by a combination of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho as he charged through, allowing Scott Davies, impressive in midfield, to slot home the subsequent free-kick from the edge of the box.

After the interval, Chelsea would make numerous changes and continue to get closer to finally making the net bulge. However, Alex, Michael Essien and Drogba haven't quite found their touch in front of goal yet and couldn't take advantage of far better second half play.

However, the Premier League side showed good character to salvage a result in the dying moments of the contest.

First, Salomon Kalou latched onto a Mikel John Obi through-ball and chipped home.

Then, Alex Pearce was the unlucky one as his header turned Florent Malouda's last-gasp free-kick into his own net.

Club America 0 Chelsea 2

2009-08-11T08:22:00.002+01:00

Franco DiSanto and Florent Malouda each set up the other for a goal in the span of two minutes in the second half to lead Chelsea to a 2-0 win over Club America on Sunday in the final game of the World Football Challenge, reports espn.go.com.
Malouda took a pass from Ashley Cole and chipped it in front of the goal, where DiSanto beat Club America goalkeeper Armando Navarrete to the ball and knocked it into the net in the 76th minute.
Two minutes later, DiSanto, a halftime substitute, beat defender Oscar Rojas along the end line and dropped a ball back to Malouda, who fired it past Navarrete from about 12 yards out.
"It is very important for a young player like me to take advantage of every single opportunity," said DiSanto, 20, who made 16 appearances as a sub last season. "I'm just beginning with the Chelsea and I want to stay here."
Chelsea went undefeated in winning the four-team, round robin-style tournament, which was played in six cities across the United States over the last week. Club America was second, one point ahead of Inter Milan. AC Milan finished fourth.
The goals came about 15 minutes after Club America failed to capitalize on two of its best scoring opportunities. In the 61st minute, Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull pushed Enrique Esqueda's shot wide. Two minutes later, Pavel Pardo's free kick from 35 yards out glanced off the head of forward Salvador Cabanas, who flicked the ball off the post.
Esqueda also missed on back-to-back scoring chances in the first half, when goalkeeper Hilario tipped away a header. A minute later, Esqueda's shot missed just wide.
Chelsea outshot Club America 18-10, with 11 of those shots coming in the second half when the English Premier League team controlled the run of play.
Turnbull and Hilario combined for four saves. Navarrete finished with three saves for Club America, which plays in Mexico's Primera Division. Each team received a yellow card.
Chelsea kept most of its famous names on the bench. Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and John Terry, who announced he would return to Chelsea, did not play.
Club America was without star goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who earlier in the day led Mexico to a 5-0 win over the United States in the championship of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Coach Jesus Ramirez took several players off the field in the second half, saying he was saving them for an upcoming match against Mexican club San Luis.
"It is hard to take off most of our starting team because everybody wanted to continue on the field," Ramirez said through a translator. "We have to be smart, because we need most our players ready for this Wednesday."
The game was the second sporting event at the new Cowboys Stadium, which last week was the site of a pair of Gold Cup quarterfinal matches. The crowd of 57,229 mostly favored Club America, but was about 25,000 fewer than the turnout last week to see Mexico's national team.

A C Milan 1 Chelsea 2

2009-08-11T08:20:00.003+01:00

A wonder strike from Didier Drogba and a goal for debutant Yuri Zhirkov allowed Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti to get the better of his former club AC Milan in Baltimore, reports espn.go.com.
Drogba produced a stunning shot from distance with just seven minutes on the clock which was cancelled out by Clarence Seedorf before half-time.
Russian Zhirkov then restored Chelsea's lead midway through the second half and this time there was no way back for their Italian opponents.
Juliano Belletti gave Milan a scare with just three minutes on the clock, unleashing a shot from outside of the box which forced a save from Zeljko Kalac.
There was little the Milan goalkeeper could do to stop Drogba's opener four minutes later, however.
The Ivory Coast striker took everyone by surprise with a sublime strike from around 35 yards out which blazed into the top left corner.
It took a while for Milan to recover from the blow, but they slowly worked their way into the contest and Petr Cech made his first save after 19 minutes, using his feet to turn away Ronaldinho's effort.
The alarm bells really started to ring for Chelsea 10 minutes later when a lovely passing move set up Seedorf for a chipped shot which came back off the crossbar.
And the Serie A side were back on level terms after 37 minutes thanks to Seedorf, who hit a first-time strike from Ronaldinho's lay-off which sailed into the net from 18 yards.
Milan hit the woodwork for the second time after 57 minutes with Ronaldinho unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet.
But Chelsea kept their heads, and their patience was rewarded 11 minutes later when Zhirkov capped his first appearance with a goal.
The Russian capitalised on a game of pinball in the Milan area which began when Andriy Shevchenko's shot was parried by Kalac to Frank Lampard.
His effort was also cleared by the Milan defence but only as far as Zhirkov who finished the job from the edge of the area.
Milan could have snatched a draw in stoppage time but Cech tipped Filippo Inzaghi's effort over the bar.

Internazionale 0 Chelsea 2

2009-08-04T13:15:00.002+01:00

Slick Chelsea dominated former boss Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl to get their World Football Challenge campaign off to a winning start in Pasadena, California, reports ESPN soccernet.
Goals from Didier Drogba in the 11th minute and a Frank Lampard penalty just after half-time gave Chelsea the victory over the Italian champions in front of 81,224 fans.
The impressive nature of the Blues' performance more than the scoreline, however, will have delighted new head coach Carlo Ancelotti, especially coming so soon into the ex-AC Milan chief's first pre-season campaign and against his former cross-city rivals.
Mourinho, facing the club he led to two Premier League titles during his three seasons at Stamford Bridge between 2004-07, had seen his Inter team open its campaign with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Mexico's Club America on Sunday. Chelsea, meanwhile, had warmed up with a 2-0 win over Major Seattle Sounders the previous day but had since lost German midfielder Michael Ballack to a broken toe.
Led once again by John Terry in central defence with Ricardo Carvalho, Chelsea fans at the Rose Bowl saw their African players start for the first time in pre-season, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien returning to midfield with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou in attack.
It was the central defenders, though, who had Chelsea's first sights on the Inter goal, Florent Malouda receiving a short corner on the left and crossing for Carvalho to head over the bar at the near post in the second minute and Terry heading from the resultant Malouda corner from the right.
Chelsea were dominant throughout the opening half and Drogba opened the lead in the 11th minute, receiving a short pass from Lampard with his back to goal, turning and shooting unimpeded from 20 yards, the ball bouncing over Inter Milan keeper Vid Belec's outstretched left hand and into the bottom corner of the goal.
The Londoners continued to play with purpose and fluency, highlighted in the 16th minute when Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic exchanged a one-two down the right, the Serbian full-back advancing to the byline and centering for Drogba whose shot was straight at a grateful Belec.
Trailing 1-0 at the break, Inter's first real chance came as Chelsea adjusted to the five changes made by Ancelotti at half-time.
With Carvalho making way for Alex in defence, the incoming centre-back gave the ball away to Mario Balotelli on halfway immediately following the restart and the through ball found Diego Milito who cut inside Terry but was blocked at his feet by Petr Cech, the Chelsea keeper making his first meaningful contribution of the game.
Daniel Sturridge, who scored on his debut at Seattle, and Nicolas Anelka had replaced Drogba and Kalou and they quickly caused problems. Deco, on for Malouda, sent Sturridge clear in the box in the 48th minute and when his cross from the left was blocked by Ivan Cordoba's hand, Lampard was given the chance to add to his goal scored against the Sounders, converting the penalty, right footed into the bottom corner.
Ancelotti made further changes in the 64th minute, taking off Cech, Essien and Ivanovic for Ross Turnbull, Juliano Belletti and Michael Mancienne, who was called straight into the action, blocking a Balotelli bicycle kick on the six-yard line after Inter sub Zlatan Ibrahimovic had crossed from the right.
Late substitute Franco Di Santo nearly added a third for the Londoners in stoppage time, taking a delicate Deco chip over the top on his chest and shooting right-footed over the bar.

Seattle Sounders 0 Chelsea 2

2009-08-04T13:04:00.003+01:00

Daniel Sturridge jumped at the chance to join Chelsea as soon as he heard the club was interested in him.
His debut on Saturday made Blues' management look very smart for acquiring the talented 19-year-old player, reports ESPN soccernet.
Making his debut following an offseason move from Manchester City to Stamford Bridge, Sturridge scored in the 12th minute and assisted on Frank Lampard's goal later in the first half as the Blues opened their preseason tour of America with a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday.
"Nobody ever thinks twice about going to such a big club when it comes calling," Sturridge said. "You have to take the opportunity and I'm very happy to be here."
Sturridge's goal early in the match quietened some of the 65,289 fans -- most in Seattle green -- who turned out to see the first of two international exhibitions the Sounders will host this season. It also made a winner of new manager Carlo Ancelotti in his first match leading the Blues after his move from AC Milan.
It was Chelesa's second appearance in Seattle in recent years. They faced Celtic in 2004 in an exhibition match that drew 30,504 and was part of an increased run of international exhibitions in the Pacific Northwest.
But Saturday was the first time those Northwest fans were cheering for their own team. Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said he went to pick up his dry cleaning at 8 a.m. Saturday and was met by a Sounders fan already in full regalia.
The hometown team responded with a spirited effort despite getting shut out.
"From a European point of view I think it definitely sends a message that we can play so well against Chelsea," Seattle midfielder Freddie Ljungberg said, a former Chelsea nemesis during his time at Arsenal. "When I speak to my friends back home there are a lot of questions about what is the level and how would you play against a great team. I think that message was sent today."
The match was Chelsea's first on-field test since beating Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup final on May 30. They are using the tour of the United States -- which includes matches against Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America -- as their training leading up to the English Premier League opener against Hull on Aug. 15.
To that end, a number of stars either sat or played only one half. Didier Drogba and Michael Essien never took off their warmups, while Ashley Cole, John Terry and Petr Cech were among the Chelsea starters to only play a half. Terry did not speak to reporters afterward regarding the ongoing pursuit of his services by Manchester City.
The only Chelsea regular to play the full 90 minutes was Lampard.
"Today was the best atmosphere I've played in out here for sure," Lampard said. "I think the game was pretty even really except for the two goals that we scored which is maybe a slight difference in quality from the Premier League to here, but the Seattle team played good football."
Seattle is in the middle of its MLS season and had to balance upcoming matches with trying to make a good showing against the Blues. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller and forward Nate Jaqua only played a half, while Ljungberg played into the second half before leaving.
The Sounders host Houston in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Tuesday. They will play Chicago next Saturday.
With the blazing rave green of the Sounders easily dwarfing the royal blue of Chelsea's in the stands, the Sounders were clearly the more fit side. But some sloppy passing and poor first-touches kept the numerous runs by Ljungberg and striker Fredy Montero from becoming great scoring opportunities. Seattle also missed on a pair of open second-half headers, and Sanna Nyassi missed an open net when his chipped attempt went over the crossbar.
While Seattle failed to convert, the Blues made the most of their runs through Seattle's shaky defense. Sturridge took advantage in the 12th minute, accepting a pass from Florent Malouda near the top of the box, stopping while Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall slid past and beating Keller with a right-footed strike.
Just over 20 minutes later, Sturridge got Chelsea's next goal started. His pass from near midfield found the foot of Nicolas Anelka running free in the box. Anelka chipped a centering pass that Lampard easily deposited past the helpless Keller.
The second half featured reserves for both sides. Seattle defender Zach Scott twice saved goals by clearing balls off the line after keeper Terry Boss was beaten.
"Their speed, their movement, their touch, there's no mistakes in the back," Seattle's Steve Zakuani said. "They're all very, very good at what they do. That's the next level, that's why they are where they are. It was good to measure ourselves today."

Chelsea 2 Everton 1 (F.A. Cup Final)

2009-06-11T13:43:00.004+01:00

Guus Hiddink was handed the FA Cup as a going-away present as Chelsea recovered from conceding the fastest goal in final history to beat Everton 2-1The contest was less than half a minute old when Louis Saha found the net for the Toffeemen.

It was to be a high point for Everton though as Didier Drogba levelled before Frank Lampard's 20-yard strike just evaded the despairing dive of Tim Howard 18 minutes from time.

Apart from allowing Ashley Cole to become the first player since the 19th century to collect five winners' medals, the victory, Chelsea's second in three years at the new Wembley, is a reminder of the stability Hiddink has brought to Stamford Bridge since replacing the hapless Luiz Felipe Scolari in February.

And if, as expected, Carlo Ancelotti is confirmed as permanent boss when Hiddink returns to his full-time job with Russia, the Italian has been given a pretty successful man to follow.

After a pair of tepid semi-finals, the Wembley authorities changed the pitch and their groundsman in the hope of getting something better in place for their showpiece occasion. The reward came after exactly 25 seconds.

If there is a more unlucky player in world football at the moment than Louis Saha, he must get some pretty bad fortune.

During a brief period on loan at Newcastle much earlier in his career, Saha was overlooked for one FA Cup final. Of the three he sat out at Manchester United, he was fit for just one - in 2004, but he was ineligible.

In addition to that, a booking during a brief substitute appearance in the World Cup semi-final in Germany three years ago meant he was suspended for France's eventual defeat by Italy.

So there was a fair bit of venom in his left foot when Marouane Fellaini guided Michael Essien's weak clearance into the former Manchester United man's path.

Saha met the ball perfectly, leaving Petr Cech with not a hope of keeping it out.

The Everton supporters, erupted in joy, Peter Reid among them, daring to believe this year, as in their last appearance 14 seasons ago, they would leave Wembley as winners.

If there is a downside to scoring quite so early, it is the length of time left to hang on.

Everton did try to keep pushing forward. It was just that they were not allowed to as Chelsea shook off that massive initial disappointment and slowly but purposefully turned the screw.

Tony Hibbert is what is known in the trade as an honest professional. Dedicated to his task, what he lacks in ability, he tries to make up for in effort.

Sometimes though, it is not enough.

Booked after eight minutes for a needless ankle tap on Malouda, he was then repeatedly exposed by the French wide-man, a clear case of Chelsea targeting an individual within opposition ranks.

More than any other player, Malouda has benefited from working with Hiddink and the Dutchman's departure for Moscow will be keenly felt by the former Lyon man, acquired at the not inconsiderable cost of 13.5 million pounds by Jose Mourinho.

And, assisted by Cole, the pair caused mayhem down the Everton right virtually at will.

Malouda delivered the cross that invited Drogba's powerful finish for the Chelsea equaliser, Cole had the angled drive that should have put them in front.

Before that Malouda had just fired over and with Lampard's dipping effort virtually skimming the Everton crossbar, it was not really a surprise when David Moyes introduced Lars Jacobsen at the break.

The move worked to the extent Chelsea were forced to go infield to make ground, Nicolas Anelka going mightily close with a deft lob.

However, in stemming such an obvious flow of attacks on their goal, Everton found it easier to relieve the pressure and apply some of their own.

Saha went close with virtually their first decent opening since he scored and spirits started to rise again among the Toffees faithful. How quickly they were crushed.

After collecting Anelka's lay-off, Lampard was assisted by a slight slip as he checked inside Phil Neville - allowing him a couple of extra seconds to get a sight of Everton's goal and he duly drilled home from 20 yards.

Chelsea were twice controversially denied a third, first when referee Howard Webb decided Malouda's effort had not crossed the line after crashing back off the bar when TV replays showed it had, then when the official wrongly booked Lampard for diving when Stephen Pienaar had stuck out a leg for him to fall over.

It did not matter. Hiddink richly deserved to wave goodbye with a glint of silverware in his eye

Sunderland 2 Chelsea 3

2009-05-27T11:00:00.003+01:00

Sunderland survived a nervy final afternoon of the Premier League season, going down 2-3 to Chelsea, and will be the north-east's only representatives in the top flight next season.
While rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough were experiencing the trauma of relegation, Sunderland were succumbing to defeat in Guus Hiddink's final match as manager of Chelsea.
But results elsewhere meant it was not a costly loss and these two sides will meet again next season.
Substitute Salomon Kalou and England defender Ashley Cole struck inside the final 16 minutes to ensure the three points left Wearside with the visitors, despite Kenwyne Jones' 90th-minute header.
Kieran Richardson had earlier dragged the home side back into the game with a 53rd-minute strike, six minutes after Nicolas Anelka had claimed his 25th goal of the season and the Golden Boot with a 25-yard rocket.
A crowd of 42,468 left the ground happy for very different reasons, with the victors looking to next Saturday's FA Cup final clash with Everton and their hosts anticipating the watching Ellis Short's buy-out.
After a week during which the strength of the teams Chelsea and Manchester United might field had been a regular topic of debate, no-one could have any complaints about Guus Hiddink's response.
Seven days before the FA Cup final, he left out only Alex and Frank Lampard, and an early injury to Juliano Belletti meant Michael Ballack also got a run-out on his return from a hamstring injury.
It was a measure of what was at stake on a tense final afternoon of the season that the biggest cheer of the first half had nothing to do with what was happening at the Stadium of Light.
With 38 minutes gone on Wearside, the news filtered through that Aston Villa had taken the lead against Newcastle, and the resulting celebrations among the fans decked out in red and white were as much in relief as at the misery of their black and white neighbours.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech got away with an unconvincing punch early on as he and Jones jumped for a Danny Collins cross.
He also saw a well-struck Grant Leadbitter shot fly well wide with 24 minutes gone as the home side worked hard to limit their opponents.
Chelsea's best moments came at either end of the half with Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda causing the problems.
The Ivory Coast striker chipped an eighth-minute shot just over the rapidly back-pedalling Martin Fulop, and then forced the Hungarian into a solid save from a tight angle three minutes later.
Fulop had to be at his best in stoppage-time when Drogba turned smartly on the edge of the box and curled a shot towards the bottom corner, where the goalkeeper just got his fingertips to the ball.
The woodwork denied the visitors deep into added time when Malouda crashed a dipping left-footed drive against the bar with Fulop beaten.
However, there was nothing Fulop or anyone else could do to prevent Chelsea from taking the lead two minutes after the restart.
Anelka, who had endured a quiet opening 45 minutes by his standards, took it upon himself to light up the game with a piece of individual brilliance.
He picked up the ball around 35 yards out and made ground before unleashing a piledriver which was too good for Fulop's despairing dive and screamed into the top corner.
But Sunderland refused to accept that was game over, and were back on level terms within six minutes.
The industrious Leadbitter battled hard for the opportunity to cross from the left, and when Cech spilled the ball under pressure from Jones, Richardson pounced to smash the rebound home.
Fulop had to be on his toes to keep out Ballack's near-post flick from a 57th-minute Malouda corner, but the home fans were starting to relax as the nightmare scenario receded.
Sunderland enjoyed their best spell of the game as they started to play with a freedom which had been lacking in recent weeks, and nearly took the lead with 19 minutes remaining.
Steed Malbranque broke from his own half and exchanged passes with the supporting Calum Davenport, only for John Terry to intervene before the Frenchman could pull the trigger.
But it was Kalou, who had earlier replaced Michael Essien, who made it 2-1 three minutes later when he drilled an unstoppable shot inside the post to beat Fulop.
Sunderland continued to battle gamely, with Phil Bardsley forcing another save from Cech with a long-range 83rd-minute attempt, but it was Cole who wrapped things up four minutes from time with a volleyed finish from the edge of the box.
Jones' 90th-minute header ensured a tense finale, but there was no way back for the Wearsiders.

Chelsea 2 Blackburn Rovers 0

2009-05-20T11:19:00.003+01:00

Guus Hiddink finished his last game in charge at Stamford Bridge with a 2-0 win over Blackburn - and left to the sound of Chelsea fans calling for him to stay on as head coach.
However, the impassioned pleas for the club to sign up the experienced Dutchman on a permanent basis were more in faint hope than genuine expectation.
Indeed, chairman Bruce Buck suggested in the matchday program that a decision on a permanent successor was expected 'sooner rather than later' - with AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said to be the top target as he contemplates his own future after missing out on the Serie A title to city rival Inter.
Nevertheless, the way in which Chelsea - who won with a goal in each half from Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka - have performed under the guidance of the Russian boss is a credit to their professionalism as much as Hiddink's tactics and man-management skills.
It is perhaps fitting that the farewell for the Dutchman, whose best efforts could just not get close enough to wrestle the title from Manchester United, yet came within moments of reaching the Champions League final, is to come in the FA Cup final on May 30, when the Blues faithful will get to say their goodbyes at Wembley.
By then the new Chelsea manager is likely to have been announced as Buck aims to put the right man in place to secure 'trophy after trophy next season and beyond' for Roman Abramovich's club.
Chelsea, who have a slim chance of catching Liverpool for runners-up spot, started brightly, and took the lead after just four minutes.
Anelka escaped down the right, before whipping the ball back onto the penalty spot, where Malouda arrived on queue to crash a bullet header past Paul Robinson, into the corner.
Rovers had a chance to get quickly back on level terms, but captain Ryan Nelsen headed El-Hadji Diouf's right-wing cross over from six yards.
After 10 minutes, Anelka almost made it 2-0 when he touched Ashley Cole's cutback goalwards, but Robinson produced a fine reaction save.
Rovers are much improved under Sam Allardyce, who has guided them safely out of the relegation zone, and the visitors enjoyed a spell of possession.
Frank Lampard made a timely block as Vince Grella sent a shot goalwards from the edge of the area.
Chelsea then went up the other end - where all-action England midfielder Lampard struck the crossbar after being played in by Anelka.
Cole saw his scuffed effort saved, at the second time of asking, by Robinson in the 21st minute.
Chelsea continued to press forward and Givet, from under his own crossbar, was alert to hack away Malouda's chip over the goalkeeper.
Blackburn were forced into a change just before the break when skipper Nelsen limped off to be replaced by youngster Aaron Doran as the visitors reshuffled their line-up, moving makeshift striker Chris Samba back into defence.
Chelsea continued in determined mood following the restart and doubled their lead after 59 minutes.
Cole's ball in was missed by Malouda, but Didier Drogba touched back for Anelka on the edge of the Blackburn penalty area.
The French striker needed no second invitation, and drilled in his 18th league goal of the season, to draw level with United forward Cristiano Ronaldo - as chants of 'Guus Hiddink, we want you to stay' rang out around Stamford Bridge.
Anelka almost made it 3-0 after 72 minutes, but dragged an angled shot just wide.
Blackburn veteran Tugay - set to leave Ewood Park at the end of the season - had a swerving shot kept out by Petr Cech.
Robinson produced a fine reaction save from Anelka at point-blank range during stoppage time before Chelsea and their departing coach all enjoyed a lap of appreciation after the final whistle.

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 4

2009-05-12T08:18:00.002+01:00

Chelsea did their talking on the pitch with a 4-1 win at Emirates Stadium securing at least third place in the table and ending Arsenal's 21-match English Premier League run.
There were no flashpoints against Arsenal as all of Guus Hiddink's men kept their composure to weather early pressure from the home side before killing the game off with two clinical strikes.
Chelsea - who beat Arsenal to reach the FA Cup final at the end of the month - are now guaranteed automatic entry to Europe's elite club competition once again next season, while Arsene Wenger must again guide his young team through qualification as another campaign finishes empty-handed.
The Gunners started with just leading scorer Robin van Persie in attack. Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor - who claimed both the team and himself had gone 'backwards' this season following the Champions League defeat here to holders Manchester United - was left on the bench, and was booed by some fans when he came on.
Lukasz Fabianski was in goal, with regular number one Manuel Almunia - another player to call for experience to be added this summer - missing from the starting XI, understood to be because of an ankle problem rather than as any statement from Wenger.
Theo Walcott, who has just signed a new long-term contract, was full of running and fired over following a neat one-two with van Persie as Arsenal started brightly.
The England forward was put in again down the right side of the penalty area by Samir Nasri, but Petr Cech stood up well at his near post.
Abou Diaby should have scored when he shot wide after being picked out in the centre by Walcott, who then drilled an angled shot just wide from 18 yards following a surging run down the left by Diaby.
Chelsea finally managed an attack when former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole skipped away down the left and pulled the ball back into the path of Florent Malouda, with Kieran Gibbs making a timely block.
Another chance went begging for the home side when a free-kick was not cleared, and Diaby expertly pulled the high ball down - which Alex Song turned wide from three yards.
It proved costly as Chelsea snatched the lead on 28 minutes.
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas was cautioned for showing dissent after he was ruled to have tripped Drogba. The Ivorian lofted the resulting free-kick into the penalty area and Alex headed the ball in off the underside of the crossbar, with Fabianski rooted to the spot as Arsenal conceded a first Premier League goal at Emirates in more than 13 hours.
Fabregas was then fortunate to stay on the field when he upended Malouda and received only a stern talking to from referee Phil Dowd.
As happened against United, Arsenal found themselves 2-0 down before they could respond.
Nicolas Anelka, once idolised by Gunners fans, picked up the ball just inside the opposition half and charged forward before riffling a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Fabianski made a smart stop with his legs from Anelka during first-half stoppage time but it was 3-0 just four minutes after the restart as Arsenal hit the self-destruct button in defence again, when Cole's cross from the left was put past Fabianski by the outstretched boot of Kolo Toure.
Cech saved from van Persie before substitute Nicklas Bendtner - fined after being photographed leaving a nightclub with his trousers down after the United defeat - headed a consolation goal with 20 minutes left.
Although the Gunners, who travel to Old Trafford for what could be a title party next week, went on to have a good spell, it was too little too late - and Malouda tapped in Chelsea's fourth from close range in the 86th minute after Anelka had struck the post following a counter-attack.

Chelsea 1 Barcelona 1

2009-05-11T14:12:00.003+01:00

Barcelona's Anders Iniesta's injury-time goal stunned Chelsea in a 1-1 draw in a game that showcased, without doubt, the most inept and disgraceful refereeing performance I have ever seen, which is saying a lot considering the decisions we see given in the Premier League every week.
The Blues looked to be cruising after Michael Essien's stunning early volley put them 1-0 ahead in their semi-final second leg, and when Eric Abidal saw red after 66 minutes, Guus Hiddink's side looked home and hosed and in line for a repeat of last season's final.

Malouda was wrestled to the ground in the penalty area by a Barca defender but the 'referee' waved the Blues' claims away, a motion that would become a habit during the match.
But with time ticking away, Iniesta struck a devastating shot - Barca's first effort on target in the entire match - that beat Petr Cech and sent them through on the away goals rule to the Rome showpiece against holders United on Wednesday 27 May.
The Blues made a nervous start, with Jose Bosingwa having to hack the ball off the line after a cross was deflected goalwards. But their nerves were soon settled in spectacular fashion as Essien fired in a first-time left-footed volley that crashed in off the underside of Victor Valdes' crossbar after just nine minutes.
Barca finally had an effort on goal when Dani Alves' 35-yard free-kick sailed wide of Petr Cech's goal. But the Blues were soon on the attack again with Didier Drogba's fierce free-kick touched away by Valdes' leg, while John Terry was just a yard off target with a towering header.
Drogba then saw penalty claims waved away by referee Tom Ovrebo after he went down under Abidal's clumsy challenge.
The Spaniards finished the half the stronger, but Chelsea defended resolutely as the interval arrived with no further incident.
But the Blues were soon on the attack after the break, with Nicolas Anelka slipping Drogba in on goal, but Valdes' outstretched boot saved his left-footed effort.
The Ivorian then saw penalty claims waved away once again, but Yaya Toure's challenge in the box appeared good. A rare Barca thrust saw Lionel Messi cut in from the right and unleash a powerful drive that flew high and wide.
But Barca's task was made far harder after 66 minutes when Abidal was harshly shown a straight red card after he clipped Anelka's heels as he burst towards goal.
Chelsea saw another penalty claim waved away when Gerard Pique handled the ball in the area.
But with time ticking away, Iniesta's first-time shot - after Essien had fluffed a clearance - flew into the top corner to spark scenes of jubilation for Barca.
There was still time for Chelsea to see further penalty claims waved away and furious scenes at the final whistle could have further ramifications for the Blues.

Chelsea 3 Fulham 1

2009-05-05T12:15:00.003+01:00

Chelsea warmed up for their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona next week with a comfortable win over west London neighbours Fulham.
Goals from Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba ensured Chelsea also kept the heat on second-placed Liverpool in the Premier League.
Guus Hiddink's side dented Fulham's own hopes of European football next season as West Ham and Manchester City both moved above the Cottagers in the race for seventh place.
The contest began in dramatic fashion with three goals inside the first 10 minutes.
The Blues opened the scoring inside 50 seconds.
Malouda and Anelka combined down the left before Malouda's cross was stabbed into the path of Anelka by Drogba.
The France international finished from the edge of the six-yard box.
But Fulham hit back immediately and were level in the fifth minute.
Norwegian striker Erik Nevland scored his second goal in as many games when he ran on to a great pass by Danny Murphy to beat Petr Cech with a fierce angled drive.
Two minutes later Frank Lampard was narrowly wide with a clever chip shot as Chelsea looked to restore their advantage.
But the Blues were back in front in the 10th minute when Anelka fed Drogba inside the penalty area and his low cross was lashed into the net by Florent Malouda.
But Fulham were still dangerous on the counter and Nevland smashed an 18-yard volley just over the bar in the 14th minute.
Moments later a cross from Paul Konchesky found the head of Bobby Zamora but the Fulham striker's effort was just wide of Cech's right-hand upright.
Chelsea's Drogba then had a goal ruled out for offside but TV replays clearly showed that the Ivorian was onside and the goal should have counted.
Drogba felt he should have earned a penalty in the 29th minute when he went down in the area under a challenge from Konchesky. But referee Alan Wiley rejected Chelsea's appeals.
However, moments later Drogba was fouled by John Pantsil only for Lampard to send the free-kick into the second tier of the Shed end.
Fulham were dealt another blow to their attack in the 35th minute when goalscorer Nevland succumbed to a knock on his knee and was replaced by Diomansy Kamara.
But Kamara proved to be full of running and won the ball off John Terry before supplying Zoltan Gera via Pantsil.
Gera's ferocious effort was deflected for a corner by Terry, who threw his body into the path of the ball at the last second.
Aaron Hughes saved Fulham from falling further behind seconds later when he half-blocked a shot from Lampard which then grazed the outside of the post.
Chelsea made two changes at half-time with Michael Ballack replacing Michael Essien in midfield and Branislav Ivanovic coming on for Alex in the centre of defence and they made it 3-1 in the 53rd minute with a superb counter-attack that was finished by Drogba.
Anelka broke clear on the right flank and slipped a perfect ball into the path of the Ivorian who took one touch before slotting the ball beyond the advancing Mark Schwarzer.
Chelsea were given an injury scare in the 55th minute when Drogba collided awkwardly with Pantsil on the edge of the Fulham penalty area.
Drogba was eventually declared fit enough to carry on and play had ended when Malouda was fouled on the edge of the penalty box.
Lampard's free-kick was tipped over the crossbar by Schwarzer and Drogba was given a rousing reception as he returned to the fray.
Fulham had now lost their shape completely and Chelsea were able to break out at will.
Drogba almost made it four in the 68th minute but he could only turn Anelka's right-wing cross wide of the near post.
Chelsea continued to dominate and Ballack went close with a close-range header that finished on top of the net.
In the 88th minute Mikel was just wide with a 25-yard rising drive but Chelsea had done enough to run out comfortable winners.

Barcelona 0 Chelsea 0

2009-04-29T13:20:00.003+01:00

Chelsea's defensive discipline earned them a precious goalless draw against Barcelona to make them slight favourites to reach their second successive Champions League final.
Coach Guus Hiddink's pre-match prediction that the first leg of this semi-final tie would be saturated in goals proved incorrect as Chelsea put in a highly competent defensive shift.
Hiddink's tactic of giving holding roles to both John Obi Mikel and Michael Ballack worked superbly and Lionel Messi was marked out of the contest by Jose Bosingwa.
Barca's strike force of Samuel Eto'o, Messi and Thierry Henry have scored 90 goals between them in all competitions so far this season.
But Henry proved to be Barca's real danger man when he twice forced Petr Cech into important saves in the opening half.
However, to a man, The Blues were defiant and disciplined with full-backs Branislav Ivanovic and Bosingwa faultless while John Terry and Alex were solid as a rock.
Hiddink will be more than pleased with the night's work and Chelsea should have enough in their artillery to go on and finish the job in the return match next week.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric with the Nou Camp faithful in full voice.
The hosts almost grabbed an early lead when a free-kick from the left reached Samuel Eto'o at the far post after Cech misread the flight of the ball. However, the Cameroon striker's far-post header flashed across the face of the goal with Rafael Marquez unable to connect.
Cech was in trouble again in the 11th minute when he surprisingly opted to punch clear a cross by Eric Abidal.
Luckily for the Czech, none of the Barcelona forwards were quick enough to capitalise on his error.
But Barcelona soon gained control of the midfield and when Messi slipped Daniel Alves clear, the full-back's dangerous low cross was cleared decisively by Alex.
Moments later, Eto'o tried his luck from 20 yards but his low drive was more than a little wayward and Cech was untroubled by his effort.
Barcelona pegged Chelsea back with a series of corners as the half-hour approached.
Chelsea's defence repelled the danger every time but the Blues were forced to camp in their own half as Barcelona looked for an opening.
In the 28th minute Xavi almost broke the deadlock with a long-range drive that flashed past Cech's right-hand upright.
Moments later Ballack was booked for a foul on Henry but the Barca player certainly made the most of it as he rolled on the ground as though he had been shot, bringing back memories of his Arsenal days.
In the 31st minute though, Henry was fit enough to unleash an angled drive that Cech gathered at the near post.
Cech pulled out another outstanding save to deny Henry again in the 34th minute as Barcelona continued to test Chelsea's defensive resolve at every opportunity.
Florent Malouda appeared to catch Alves in an off-the-ball incident and moments later the pair were involved in another spat which German referee Wolfgang Stark again chose to ignore.
But Chelsea should have been ahead when a dreadful back pass by Marquez put Didier Drogba clear in the 38th minute but the Ivorian's shot was twice saved superbly by Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
Barcelona suffered a major blow in the 50th minute when Marquez went down clutching the back of his knee and was carried off with possible ligament damage. He was immediately replaced by Carles Puyol.
The Catalans won a corner in the 58th minute from which Messi volleyed high over the crossbar from 20 yards.
But Chelsea's defending had been admirable from the kick-off and Hiddink's side showed no sign of capitulating.
Whenever the home side did break through they found Cech in their way. In the 61st minute he proved his worth yet again when he blocked a ferocious angled drive from Alves.
In the 67th minute the former Sevilla star sent a free-kick just over the crossbar and Cech denied Eto'o with a fabulous save when the Barca striker got free of Alex for the first time in the game in the 69th minute.
Frank Lampard was replaced by Juliano Belletti in the 71st minute as Chelsea looked to protect the stalemate.
Puyol was booked for a foul on Michael Essien in the 75th minute and the card rules him out of the return leg at Stamford Bridge.
But Barcelona substitute Bojan Krkic could have won the first leg for his side but he somehow headed a cross from Alves over the bar from point-blank range, and there was still time for fellow sub Alexander Hleb to be denied by another great save from Cech in stoppage time.
It was their last chance and it could have costly repercussions for Pep Guardiola and his side at Stamford Bridge next week.

West Ham Utd. 0 Chelsea 1

2009-04-27T13:20:00.003+01:00

Chelsea warmed up for their Champions League clash against Barcelona with a 1-0 victory over West Ham courtesy of Salomon Kalou's winner and Petr Cech's penalty save.
Kalou struck in the 55th minute at Upton Park but it needed Cech to save Mark Noble's penalty to keep the Blues ahead and send them into European action in high spirits.
The celebrations for Kalou's goal were marred by objects being thrown in the direction of Frank Lampard and John Terry, although that is hardly likely to affect a Chelsea team that is focused on ending its season with silverware.
They started the weekend six points behind Premier League leader Manchester United and Guus Hiddink, in charge until the end of the season, has given up hope of catching up.
With that in mind, this match served to tee-up their clash at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, with Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack on the bench.
Ashley Cole was also among the substitutes and, as he was suspended for the Barca clash, Jose Bosingwa was given a dry run in the position ahead of facing Lionel Messi. Luis Boa Morte was his sparring partner three days before the heavyweight clash in Spain.
There were reunions in the dug-out and on the pitch, with Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola and assistant Steve Clarke facing their former club.
Both were poised to announce long-term deals at West Ham following a successful first season together, with West Ham still in the hunt for a place in the Europa League despite this defeat.
For the visitors, midfielder Lampard was given his usual hostile welcome from West Ham fans who are still bitter after he left in 2001, while Terry was not spared either.
England's captain spent five years at the Hammers' academy before joining Chelsea as a 14-year-old, and there were poisonous chants from the home fans towards the centre-back.
It was Lampard who created the first chance, in the 16th minute, when he slid the ball through to Florent Malouda - but the Frenchman dragged his shot wide after racing through.
Kieron Dyer, making his first start since August 2007, should have given the hosts a lead shortly after but he shot tamely at Cech after Diego Tristan had split the Chelsea defence.
Lampard, with jeers ringing in his ears, had a few sighters on Robert Green's goal. One volley flashed wide, a second went straight at the West Ham goalkeeper and Noble bravely blocked another.
Chelsea was applying pressure but almost fell behind just before the break. John Mikel Obi was needed to clear off the line when Tristan prodded towards goal after Noble's corner was nodded down by Matthew Upson and Cech was out of position.
After that scare, the visitors were ahead 10 minutes after the restart.
Lampard wriggled to the byline down the left and floated a cross to the far post, where Kalou took one touch before planting his finish into the empty net for his ninth of the season.
Lampard and Terry celebrated in front of the Bobby Moore Stand and missiles were thrown towards them from the crowd, an incident the Football Association could now look at.
Bosingwa was given a breather just before the hour mark, with Cole coming on at left-back, while Zola's response to falling behind was replacing Dyer and David di Michele with Freddie Sears and Radoslav Kovac.
Nicolas Anelka should have doubled the lead when Juliano Belletti sent him through after Upson slipped, with Green rushing out to block the finish. Cole then shaved the crossbar after exchanging passes with Malouda.
The Hammers were given their penalty 20 minutes from full-time when Herita Illunga's shirt was pulled by Kalou.
Noble's penalty was struck well but Cech leapt to his left and tipped away the effort.

That was the closest the Hammers got to an equaliser as Chelsea held on for a confidence boosting win before going to the Nou Camp.

Chelsea 0 Everton 0

2009-04-27T13:11:00.003+01:00

Battling Everton killed off Chelsea's lingering title ambitions with a hard-fought goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
The result leaves Guus Hiddink's side three points behind second-placed Liverpool and six adrift of leaders Manchester United, who beat Portsmouth at Old Trafford and also have a game in hand.
The game, a dress rehearsal for May's FA Cup final, was dominated by both goalkeepers.
Chelsea's Petr Cech and Everton's Tim Howard took the plaudits on a night when both sides failed to make the most of their chances.
Chelsea's Cech was the first goalkeeper forced into action when a left-wing cross from Joleon Lescott was glanced into the arms of the Czech Republic international by Jo in the second minute.
Cech came to Chelsea's rescue in the sixth minute when Tim Cahill put Jo through with a neat pass but the Everton striker was unable to beat the home goalkeeper who kept out his shot at point-blank range.
Moments later Chelsea responded with a long-range effort from Michael Ballack smothered by Howard who dived low to his left to ensure the ball did not creep inside the post.
Everton captain Phil Neville was shown the yellow card for a foul on Didier Drogba in the 13th minute.
Three minutes later Lampard, playing his 50th game of the season, sent a 25-yard shot just over Howard's crossbar.
Michael Essien tried to go one better than Lampard in the 19th minute but his effort was well off target.
Chelsea were now dominating the game but Everton still had their moments.
In the 22nd minute Steven Pienaar tried to curl a 25-yard shot into the top corner but unfortunately his accuracy let him down and the ball went the wrong side of Cech's left-hand upright.
Cech then had to back-pedal frantically to ensure that a long-range free-kick from Leighton Baines did not creep in underneath the crossbar.
But Everton's spell of pressure was curbed when Joseph Yobo had to intercept a Lampard pass to keep out the lurking Drogba.
Chelsea continued to press for an opening goal but Everton's defence remained resolute.
Indeed, the Toffees almost opened the scoring themselves in the 33rd minute when Jo broke down the left-flank and crossed low for Cahill.
The Australian midfielder turned cleverly before drilling a low shot towards the bottom corner of the net.
But for the third time in the game, Chelsea goalkeeper Cech pulled off a superb save to deny Everton the lead.
Cech's performance was outstanding and in complete contrast with his recent displays.
The Czech Republic international had been suffering something of a confidence crisis after conceding eight goals in Chelsea's previous three games.
But a lightning counter-attack from Chelsea in the 42nd minute almost brought reward for the home side.
Nicolas Anelka led the charge as he burst down the right flank but with Florent Malouda completely unmarked in the penalty area, the France international's cross was easily intercepted by Howard.
Two minutes before the break Cech raced out of his goal to beat Leighton Baines to the ball as Everton threatened to open-up the home side once more.
Cech rescued Chelsea again two minutes after the interval when a cross from Leon Osman was met by the head of Cahill.
The Everton midfielder's glancing effort was well held by Cech who was looking unbeatable in the home goal.
The Toffees continued to press forward but Pienaar was again off target when he tried his luck from 25-yards.

The Blues managed to wrestle back the initiative from the visitors but despite some intricate approach play, there was little invention in their attack.
The best they could muster was a clever flick from Drogba that set Anelka racing into the penalty area but his shot flew across the six-yard box without troubling Howard.
Chelsea made a double change on the hour when Essien was replaced by John Mikel Obi and Anelka made way for Salomon Kalou.
A minute later John Terry almost broke the deadlock for the home side when he let fly from fully 30 yards only for Howard to leap spectacularly to his left to deny the captain an opening goal.
Kalou then squandered a clear opportunity when he fired high over the bar from a corner by Malouda.
Jo wasted a chance to pinch the points for Everton when he fired high and wide from 18-yards in the 73rd minute.
Chelsea's Kalou was wasteful again when he headed a cross from Malouda over the bar from six yards.
Everton goalkeeper Howard then saved superbly to deny Kalou in the 79th minute after Lampard's corner found him unmarked.
Pienaar and Cahill both wasted late chances for Everton while Drogba hit the crossbar with a volley in injury time - a miss that almost certainly ended Chelsea's interest in the title race.

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2

2009-04-20T08:26:00.002+01:00

Didier Drogba gave Arsene Wenger more reason to regret his failure to spend 100,000 pounds to bring him to Arsenal by scoring the late winner that sent Chelsea to the FA Cup final 2-1 at the Gunners' expense.
Drogba kept his head when Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski lost his six minutes from time, strolling round the Poland international after charging on to a long ball from man of the match Frank Lampard before gleefully tapping into an empty net.
For Wenger it must have been another nasty reminder of what might have been given he had the chance to sign Drogba from Le Mans in 1998, only to spurn the opportunity.
Although Andrey Arshavin went close in stoppage time, there was no way back for Arsenal, allowing Chelsea to claim capital dominance, while also quietly keeping on track for the treble.
And, as almost a side issue, there is bound to be a further clamour for Guus Hiddink to stay on as manager beyond next month, although it had not looked too good for the Dutchman earlier on.
Having conceded seven goals in a week, the last thing Petr Cech needed was to see another flash past him in slightly dubious circumstances.
In fairness, Cech was not the only one culpable. Nicolas Anelka was caught on his heels as Kieran Gibbs nipped past to reach Emmanuel Adebayor's neat pass.
Gibbs' cross was decent, allowing Theo Walcott to let fly with a first-time volley that flicked off Ashley Cole's hand.
The deflection did alter the direction of the ball. Yet the feeling persisted that the Cech of three years ago would have kept it out.
Walcott's goal was just reward for a sparkling start. The young England star was the pick of an Arsenal side whose movement was a joy to watch, even if the end product was not always the best.
Denilson and Abou Diaby had been asked to anchor midfield. Yet they still found time to push forward. Indeed, with a bit more composure, Diaby might have found the net himself.
In contrast, Chelsea were ponderous, their general experience costing them the liveliness that ran through Wenger's side.
Unfortunately, Arsenal in their present form are a flawed concept.
For a start they persist in passing the ball around in tight spaces inside their own penalty area when, in Adebayor, they have the perfect target for a more agricultural clearance. More pertinently, they do not have significant strength in depth.
True, the Gunners' bench contained Arshavin, Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey. In other areas they were lacking, specifically goalkeeper.
In all probability Manuel Almunia would not have been involved at Wembley even if an ankle injury had kept him on the sidelines.
Only on Friday, Wenger expressed his faith in Fabianski.
It looked more like blind optimism judging by the Pole's first-half performance.
On his 24th birthday, Fabianski was the one handing out presents, setting the tone barely two minutes into the game when he lost out in an aerial duel with Drogba, Gibbs forced to chase back and hack off the line as the Ivorian's header was about to bounce in.
Fabianski was then fortunate to escape when he failed to get behind a fierce shot from Florent Malouda that skimmed under his body before flashing across goal.
It all pointed to an equaliser, which duly arrived when Malouda cut inside Emmanuel Eboue and beat Fabianski at his near post, although it was hard to quibble with the Frenchman's accuracy.
Anelka hit a post after robbing Diaby inside the Arsenal box just before half-time and Chelsea continued to look the more likely scorer after the break, even though their opponent was, in patches, the better team.
An acrobatic clearance by Alex may have denied Walcott, who was involved in a fascinating duel with England team-mate Cole, but it fell perfectly for Robin van Persie, who could only fire disappointingly over.
Anelka was off target with a header at the other end, before Lampard volleyed an excellent chance wide from Drogba's cross.
Through all this, Fabianski had been relatively stable.
All that changed six minutes from the end when he inexplicably raced out of his area as Drogba brushed off Mikael Silvestre to reach Lampard's long ball.
What should have been a 50-50 duel turned into a walkover as Drogba skipped round Fabianski and tapped Chelsea into the final, where they will meet either Manchester United or Everton on May 30.

Chelsea 4 Liverpool 4 (7-5 aggregate)

2009-04-15T08:25:00.002+01:00

Chelsea beat Liverpool 4-4 (winning 7-5 on aggregate) and denied them the glory of another sensational European comeback to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Liverpool, trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Anfield, stunned the Blues with two first-half goals from Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso, who scored a penalty.
Chelsea's defensive frailties, exposed so clinically by Bolton in the Premier League at the weekend, looked like costing them a place in the last four as Liverpool, without their talismanic midfielder Steven Gerrard, threatened to pull off another miracle.
But the Blues looked home and dry after producing a sensational comeback of their own - scoring three times in the second half to lead 6-4 on aggregate at one stage.
Yet this incredible contest took another twist when Liverpool scored twice in as many minutes through Lucas and Dirk Kuyt to leave them just one goal adrift of an incredible victory.
However, Lampard's second of the night in the 89th minute secured a 4-4 draw on the night and a 7-5 Chelsea win on aggregate.
The home side had been outplayed in the opening 45 minutes and had barely threatened to get on the scoresheet despite coach Guus Hiddink's pre-match assertion that Chelsea would go for more goals.
They had to wait until six minutes after the break for the goal which eased the growing pressure on their ambitions of reaching the final in Rome.
Didier Drogba's effort was deflected into the back of the net by Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, and a stunning 25-yard free-kick from Brazilian defender Alex then looked to have eased any remaining worries.
When Frank Lampard added a third in the 76th minute the tie seemed to be effectively all over, but Liverpool had other ideas.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had always maintained that the first goal would be the most important but when Kuyt collected a pass from Yossi Benayoun and fired over in the 13th minute, he could have been forgiven for thinking that perhaps the task ahead was indeed far too great.
But six minutes later Liverpool was in dreamland when they punished Lampard's push on Kuyt in spectacular fashion.
With everyone expecting the free-kick from the right of goal to be pumped high into the centre of the penalty area, Aurelio stunned everyone, including the flat-footed Petr Cech, by firing his 30-yard effort straight into the bottom near corner of the net.
Referee Luis Cantalejo then rightly awarded Liverpool a penalty when Chelsea's first-leg goal hero Branislav Ivanovic clearly held back Alonso.
The Liverpool midfielder stepped up to beat Cech and suddenly the impossible seemed possible.
Chelsea had Cech to thank for keeping them on level terms on aggregate when he tipped away a header from Kuyt in the final minute of the opening half.
Hiddink's side needed a goal to take the sting out of Liverpool's motivation and it arrived somewhat fortunately in the 51st minute.
Nicolas Anelka, a 35th-minute replacement for the poor Salomon Kalou, crossed low from the right and Drogba got a touch on the ball, with Reina only able to turn it over the line.
Chelsea made it 2-2 on the night when Jamie Carragher's foul on Drogba was punished by a fierce 25-yard free-kick by Alex.
With 14 minutes remaining Liverpool's dreams looked finished when Drogba crossed for Lampard to apply the finish.
But a long-range effort from Lucas was deflected off Michael Essien and beyond Cech in the 81st minute and, somewhat astonishingly, Kuyt put Liverpool 4-3 ahead on the night with a six-yard header two minutes later.
But with Liverpool needing one more goal for a victory on away goals, Lampard ended a stunning contest with his second of the night in the last minute.
Chelsea will face Barcelona in the last four but only after Liverpool had pushed them all the way in a pulsating contest that was a marvellous showcase for English and European football.
Benitez must have wished that Gerrard had been fit enough to play as his contribution may well have been the telling one, on a night when the Reds almost managed to achieve the unthinkable.

Chelsea 4 Bolton 3

2009-04-14T12:17:00.006+01:00

The Blues kept their title hopes alive after surviving an incredible Bolton fightback to win 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were 4-0 in front and cruising to victory when coach Guus Hiddink replaced Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard in the 65th minute.
Two goals from Drogba, a Lampard penalty and Michael Ballack's first league goal of the season had put Chelsea in total command.
But battling Bolton scored three times in 11 minutes through Andy O'Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor to give the Blues an almighty scare.
The result leaves Chelsea just four points behind leaders Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
United also have a game in hand but Chelsea are determined to keep the pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson's team.
Bolton had the better of the opening exchanges with Chelsea looking a pale shadow of the side that demolished Liverpool in the Champions League in midweek.
The home side were almost caught out in the second minute when a free-kick from Taylor was palmed away by goalkeeper Petr Cech as it arrowed towards the top corner.
Chelsea's best response was a 20-yard drive by Drogba that Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to keep out.
But Bolton continued to take the game to the home side and in the 15th minute Kevin Davies sent a 20-yard volley fizzing beyond Cech's right-hand upright.
Bolton went close again in the 21st minute when Ballack lost possession to Gardner.
The Bolton midfielder set off on a mazy run but was forced to lay the ball off to Davies on the left.
When his cross arrived Taylor headed inches over with Cech beaten.
But Lampard almost made Bolton pay when his 30-yard free-kick squirmed under Jaaskelainen's body and out for a corner.
Chelsea were not afraid to shoot from range and John Mikel Obi, back in the side in place of Essien, brought another fine save from Jaaskelainen.
But the goal Chelsea had threatened for some time finally arrived in the 40th minute.
Ballack began the move by setting Salomon Kalou free on the right and the Ivorian's low cross back into the penalty area was fired into the roof of the net by the German midfielder.
Kalou broke free again moments later but this time his low cross was just inches behind the lurking Drogba.
Gary Megson's side had struggled to cope once the home side had increased the tempo of the game but Davies almost equalised when he sent a right-foot drive inches wide of an upright in stoppage time.
Chelsea went two goals in front in the 48th minute when they punished Bolton for some poor defending.
J Lloyd Samuel brought down the marauding Kalou on the right-hand edge of the penalty area and when the free-kick was played into the box Drogba's left-foot sent the ball into the roof of the net.
In the 59th minute Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Gretar Steinsson handled Lampard's attempted pass and the England midfielder stepped up to send Jaaskelainen the wrong way from the spot.
Bolton's dismal afternoon got worse in the 63rd minute when a corner from Malouda was headed down by Ivanovic and Drogba reacted quickest to guide the ball into the net for Chelsea's fourth.
The goal was the signal for Hiddink to rest some of his players ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday.
Deco and Nicolas Anelka were introduced into the action in the 65th minute for Lampard and Drogba respectively and it almost cost Chelsea dearly.
The changes removed the thrust out of the Chelsea attack and Bolton began to enjoy more possession and belief.
Ballack had to clear a Davies header off the line before O'Brien took advantage of a fumble by Cech to score in the 69th minute.
Bolton added a second in the 74th minute when Basham got on the end of a Davies header to guide the ball home.
Incredibly, Bolton made it 4-3 four minutes later when Taylor headed home a flick-on by Davies.
Malouda squandered an injury-time chance to finish Bolton off for the second time but Jaaskelainen saved superbly.
But more drama was to follow when Deco cleared off the line from Gary Cahill with virtually the last kick of the game to deny Bolton one of the most sensational comebacks of the season.

Liverpool 1 Chelsea 3

2009-04-09T12:50:00.002+01:00

Chelsea moved within touching distance of the Champions League semi-finals thanks to a stunning 3-1 victory over Liverpool in their quarter-final first leg at Anfield.
Guus Hiddink's side produced a breathtaking response after falling behind to an early Fernando Torres strike as Branislav Ivanovic buried two headers before Didier Drogba added a third goal.
Liverpool had beaten Chelsea twice in the league this season, but that was during Luiz Felipe Scolari's underwhelming reign.
The Blues have been back to their imposing best since Hiddink replaced Scolari and they swept Liverpool aside to leave next Tuesday's return at Stamford Bridge looking a formality, with a last four clash against Barcelona, big winners over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, now on the cards.
Rafa Benitez's team had only themselves to blame. Steven Gerrard was completely out of touch and woeful marking gifted Ivanovic his goals. Now the Reds, for so long Chelsea's bogey team in Europe, look odds on to crash out against the Londoners for the second successive season.
Hiddink said: "If you score in an away Champions League tie it is a tremendous blow to the opposition and that is what we aimed for. We wanted to neutralise Gerrard and make them sweat in defence.
"But it is only half-time in the tie. If we go to the second game thinking it will be easy that would be wrong. We have seen in the past what Liverpool are capable of."
Benitez added: "We scored the first goal and were doing well. But they had some chances and we conceded from a corner when we could have done better.
"After that we were not in control. The second game will be very difficult now because we have to score three goals."
Benitez's pre-match barbs towards Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggested he was more concerned about the Premier League title race than success in Europe.
But Anfield on a big European occasion stirs the soul like no other venue and, with Liverpool seeking revenge for last season's semi-final exit against Chelsea, it was no surprise to see Benitez's side make a ferocious start.
From Liverpool's first attack, Ivanovic almost deflected Dirk Kuyt's powerful strike into his own goal.
If that was a fortunate escape for Chelsea, they had no such luck in the sixth minute as Liverpool sliced through their defence in clinical fashion.
Kuyt's back-heel picked out Alvaro Arbeloa on the right and his cross caught the Blues flat-footed. Torres took full advantage to steer a perfectly placed shot past Petr Cech.
Anfield went wild but, with the celebrations still in full swing, Drogba had a golden opportunity to silence the Kop. Fabio Aurelio's error allowed Salomon Kalou to pick out Drogba, but with just Jose Reina to beat his shot was too close to the Liverpool keeper.
These English powerhouses were meeting for the fifth successive season in Europe and, while previous ties have often been stifled by both sides' caution, this was an open encounter.
Torres was terrifying the visitors' defence with his pace and movement. He pulled clear of Frank Lampard before curling a long-range strike just over.
Drogba's first miss had been bad enough but the Ivory Coast star was guilty of an even worse effort in the 30th minute. When Michael Ballack whipped in a low cross, Drogba had Reina's goal at his mercy, yet he lashed over from no more than 10 yards.
After such a frenetic opening, Liverpool were beginning to falter and Chelsea, sensing blood, equalised in the 39th minute when Ivanovic met Florent Malouda's corner with an emphatic header that flashed past Reina for his first Chelsea goal.
Drogba threatened again when he overpowered Martin Skrtel to reach Lampard's pass and slid his shot past Reina, only for Jamie Carragher to make a superb goal-line clearance.
Then John Terry, one booking away from a suspension, rashly challenged Reina for a ball the keeper was clearly going to win. Both players fell to the turf but when Terry got up Danish referee Claus Bo Larsen was waiting with a yellow card that rules him out of the return leg.
Just as the momentum appeared to have swung in Liverpool's favour, Chelsea took the lead in the 62nd minute from another set-piece.
When Lampard curled over a corner, Liverpool, marking zonally rather than man-to-man, allowed Ivanovic a clear run at the ball. Once again he made them pay with a bullet header past Reina.
Liverpool were stunned and there was worse to come. Five minutes later Ballack played in Malouda, whose low cross was turned in by Drogba from close-range.

Newcastle Utd 0 Chelsea 2

2009-04-06T12:39:00.004+01:00

Even Alan Shearer's return could not prevent Newcastle slipping deeper into relegation trouble as Chelsea's 2-0 win closed the gap to within a point of leaders Manchester United.
The Magpies completed a hat-trick of successive home defeats by top-four sides as the Blues left St James' Park with all three points just as United and Arsenal had done in recent weeks.
There was plenty to admire in the effort, commitment and determination shown by Shearer's players, but ultimately they failed to take any of the handful of chances they created, although skipper Michael Owen's 73rd-minute shot was shown by cameras to have crossed the line before Ashley Cole hooked it clear.
By contrast, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda were clinical when their chances arrived within nine second-half minutes.
Newcastle now have seven games in which to save themselves from relegation, the first of them at fellow strugglers Stoke next weekend.
A crowd of 52,112 turned out desperate for the Shearer effect to kick in straight away, but left under little illusion as to the struggle ahead.
The Magpies knew they would struggle to match Guus Hiddink's men for innate skill and fluency, and decided to make up for that with effort and sheer bloody-mindedness.
Nicky Butt set the tone with a rugged early challenge on Michael Essien, and Jonas Gutierrez was fortunate to escape punishment for a two-footed lunge at John Terry which drew extended protests from the Blues skipper.
Chelsea rarely sidestep a battle and a tense encounter unfolded with the visitors pressing repeatedly, but meeting stern resistance and Newcastle attempting to hit them on the break.
Clear chances were few and far between with Steve Harper having to pull off a fine 19th-minute save to keep out Salomon Kalou's diving header and Habib Beye just getting a touch to divert Nicolas Anelka's shot into the side-netting 14 minutes before the break.
The Magpies created only one real opening when Obafemi Martins, perhaps surprised that Jose Enrique's low cross had been allowed to reach him, stabbed it just wide of the post with his knee as he reacted late.
But for Shearer, who spent much of the first 45 minutes of his reign stalking the technical area and barking out orders, there was much with which to be pleased.
However, he will have been concerned with the lack of quality of delivery from his wide men, and in particular with Ryan Taylor's inability to avoid the first man from a series of free-kicks in promising areas.
Owen and Martins combined to almost open Chelsea up within three minutes of the restart, but the visitors responded swiftly.
Essien drilled a long-range shot high and wide and Malouda's clever spin took him in on goal with 51 minutes gone and Harper had to make another excellent block at his near post.
Martins fired wide under pressure from Terry and Alex three minutes later, but the opening goal came with 56 minutes gone, and it went to Chelsea.
Fabricio Coloccini's clearance was blocked and the ball ran to Lampard, who poked it through to Anelka.
The Frenchman was forced wide, but managed to chip a shot over Harper and on to the woodwork, with Lampard easily heading the rebound into the empty net.
Jonas might have done better when he headed substitute Damien Duff's 64th-minute cross straight at Petr Cech, and his side's plight worsened within seconds.
Anelka flicked on Cech's clearance and Lampard slid the ball into the path of Malouda, who despatched a left-foot shot across Harper and into the net.
Then came Owen's effort which the linesman didn't give, a rare example of an official's mistake benefiting Chelsea this season.

There was the obligatory officials cock up earlier in the game when Nicky Butt blatantly tripped Frank Lampard but dismal referee Rob Styles decided to book Frank for diving instead of giving us a deserved free kick. Indeed, if only for the growing tally of fouls he commited, Butt should have been booked, but Styles seemed to have his own agenda.
The 29-year-old was in again two minutes later when Martins played him into space inside the box, but his left-foot shot was saved easily by Cech.
But it was the visitors who finished with a flourish as substitutes Michael Ballack and Franco di Santo, Malouda, Kalou and Lampard all went close.
Disappointed applause rang around St James' on the final whistle as the home fans trudged away hoping against hope that Shearer could yet be their saviour.

£100 million Shopping List

2009-03-26T13:27:00.001Z

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants a £100 million shopping list drawn up by Guus Hiddink.
The Daily Express says Abramovich is set to spend – despite denials all season by the club – aware that an ageing squad is in urgent need of reinforcement to enable them to compete with Manchester United, Liverpool, big-spending new boys Manchester City, and Arsenal.
On the list are CSKA Moscow and Russia winger Yuri Zhirkov, another CSKA ace in Brazilian Wagner Love, Lyon striker Karim Benzema, Barcelona defender Dani Alves – and the man Abramovich tried and failed to bring in last summer, Manchester City’s £33m Brazilian star Robinho.
That list will cost Abramovich more than £100m if he manages to land them all but, he will fund the recruiting drive by also having a mass summer clear-out at Chelsea.
Among those on the list to leave Stamford Bridge are Michael Ballack, Deco, Florent Malouda, Paulo Ferreira, Mineiro and Branislav Ivanovic.