Friday, December 24, 2010
Kikwete akabidhiwa noti mpya
Thursday, December 9, 2010
MATCH REPORT: MARSEILLE 1 CHELSEA 0
Chelsea's poor form continued with a narrow defeat in the south of France on Wednesday evening.
A late goal from Marseille forward Brandao proved enough to end our five-game winning streak in the Champions League, and although we progress from Group F in first place, we have claimed victory in just one of our last six matches
In truth we were second best for much of the evening and could have been behind early on, but for the woodwork and the offside flag, before penalty appeals from both Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou were turned down. There is something about Chelsea and penalties in Europe that don't go.
An insipid second half looked to be fading away before Brandao popped up inside the Chelsea box after 80 minutes to steal victory for the home side, despite Carlo Ancelotti naming a strong starting 11.
There were no vital points to play for but the Italian had stated this final group game was far from meaningless as we looked to arrest the worrying slump in form.
The manager resisted the opportunity to rest the majority of his key first-teamers for the major domestic challenges that lie ahead. John Mikel Obi, who is just one yellow card away from suspension, was rested however, replaced in deep midfield by the prodigious Josh McEachran, making his second successive European start.
Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole were both left behind in England, so Ramires came into midfield and Florent Malouda joined Didier Drogba, on his former stopping ground, and Salomon Kalou in attack, while Paulo Ferreira was the preferred stand-in option at left-back.
Former Chelsea midfielder Didier Deschamps, now in charge of Marseille, also had no concern for group points, the French side having already tied up second place, but he too named a strong side that included former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze at its heart, and French international and summer signing Loic Remy down the left of a five-man midfield.
It was Remy who had the game's first chance after six minutes. The ball was deflected into the air at the far post where he had space to volley goalward, but instead swung and missed his connection altogether.
Benoit Cheyrou was closer moments later when he half-volleyed a yard wide from outside the area, and then Mathieu Valbuena rattled the crossbar with a dipping curler. Chelsea had not yet mustered an attack and we were 10 minutes in.
Remy and Brandao shot just wide as the home side's early dominance continued, and then came controversy with the Blues' first foray into Marseille territory.
Malouda was brought down by Souleymane Diawara inside the box, and Russian referee Vladislav Bezborodov pointed to the spot, only to then change his mind and instead award a corner.
Essien struck Chelsea's first shot on target after 20 minutes and then Kalou danced around two challenges inside the box before toeing wide.
Drogba caught his first sight of goal just after the half-hour, and clearly eager to score, he kept hold of the ball a little long, eventually seeing his shot blocked by Taye Taiwo.
Immediately afterwards John Terry hauled down Brandao at the other end, allowing Marseille another decent chance. Cheyrou crossed, and Heinze headed into the far corner, only for the goal to be scratched out for offside.
Another escape for Chelsea, who overall had been second best but by the end of a goalless first half could have had two penalties after Kalou was clipped having already beaten Diawara in the closing stages.
Malouda tested Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda at the top of the second period after McEachran had sent a low diagonal pass through to the left, while in the Chelsea area Branislav Ivanovic had to throw himself at Fabrice Abriel's low drive following Valbuena's acrobatic cross.
Drogba's special night came to an end just after the hour when he was replaced by Daniel Sturridge, leaving the field to huge applause.
Terry deflected Taiwo's drive behind before he was withdrawn, Jeffrey Bruma on in his place at centre-back, with the captain's armband going to Ferreira.
Jose Bosingwa, a willing runner down the right flank all evening, pulled up with a hamstring problem and was forced off 12 minutes from time. Gael Kakuta had been stripped ready to come on, but injury to the full-back meant Patrick van Aanholt was called into action instead.
The Dutchman had barely been on two minutes before Chelsea were picking the ball out of our net.
Taiwo mishit his shot from just inside the area but Chelsea's unfamiliar defence did not react, and Brandao was on hand to poke the ball home from inside the six-yard box. Petr Cech was not amused - it is now six games without a clean sheet.
The result is by no means disastrous, but as Ancelotti had said before the game, he had wanted to win this one.
Improvement will be needed if we are to beat Spurs at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
In truth we were second best for much of the evening and could have been behind early on, but for the woodwork and the offside flag, before penalty appeals from both Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou were turned down. There is something about Chelsea and penalties in Europe that don't go.
An insipid second half looked to be fading away before Brandao popped up inside the Chelsea box after 80 minutes to steal victory for the home side, despite Carlo Ancelotti naming a strong starting 11.
There were no vital points to play for but the Italian had stated this final group game was far from meaningless as we looked to arrest the worrying slump in form.
The manager resisted the opportunity to rest the majority of his key first-teamers for the major domestic challenges that lie ahead. John Mikel Obi, who is just one yellow card away from suspension, was rested however, replaced in deep midfield by the prodigious Josh McEachran, making his second successive European start.
Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole were both left behind in England, so Ramires came into midfield and Florent Malouda joined Didier Drogba, on his former stopping ground, and Salomon Kalou in attack, while Paulo Ferreira was the preferred stand-in option at left-back.
Former Chelsea midfielder Didier Deschamps, now in charge of Marseille, also had no concern for group points, the French side having already tied up second place, but he too named a strong side that included former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze at its heart, and French international and summer signing Loic Remy down the left of a five-man midfield.
It was Remy who had the game's first chance after six minutes. The ball was deflected into the air at the far post where he had space to volley goalward, but instead swung and missed his connection altogether.
Benoit Cheyrou was closer moments later when he half-volleyed a yard wide from outside the area, and then Mathieu Valbuena rattled the crossbar with a dipping curler. Chelsea had not yet mustered an attack and we were 10 minutes in.
Remy and Brandao shot just wide as the home side's early dominance continued, and then came controversy with the Blues' first foray into Marseille territory.
Malouda was brought down by Souleymane Diawara inside the box, and Russian referee Vladislav Bezborodov pointed to the spot, only to then change his mind and instead award a corner.
Essien struck Chelsea's first shot on target after 20 minutes and then Kalou danced around two challenges inside the box before toeing wide.
Drogba caught his first sight of goal just after the half-hour, and clearly eager to score, he kept hold of the ball a little long, eventually seeing his shot blocked by Taye Taiwo.
Immediately afterwards John Terry hauled down Brandao at the other end, allowing Marseille another decent chance. Cheyrou crossed, and Heinze headed into the far corner, only for the goal to be scratched out for offside.
Another escape for Chelsea, who overall had been second best but by the end of a goalless first half could have had two penalties after Kalou was clipped having already beaten Diawara in the closing stages.
Malouda tested Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda at the top of the second period after McEachran had sent a low diagonal pass through to the left, while in the Chelsea area Branislav Ivanovic had to throw himself at Fabrice Abriel's low drive following Valbuena's acrobatic cross.
Drogba's special night came to an end just after the hour when he was replaced by Daniel Sturridge, leaving the field to huge applause.
Terry deflected Taiwo's drive behind before he was withdrawn, Jeffrey Bruma on in his place at centre-back, with the captain's armband going to Ferreira.
Jose Bosingwa, a willing runner down the right flank all evening, pulled up with a hamstring problem and was forced off 12 minutes from time. Gael Kakuta had been stripped ready to come on, but injury to the full-back meant Patrick van Aanholt was called into action instead.
The Dutchman had barely been on two minutes before Chelsea were picking the ball out of our net.
Taiwo mishit his shot from just inside the area but Chelsea's unfamiliar defence did not react, and Brandao was on hand to poke the ball home from inside the six-yard box. Petr Cech was not amused - it is now six games without a clean sheet.
The result is by no means disastrous, but as Ancelotti had said before the game, he had wanted to win this one.
Improvement will be needed if we are to beat Spurs at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)