Champions League - Chelsea too good for Bordeaux
Chelsea got their Champions League campaign off to the best possible start with a comfortable 4-0 win in their opening Group A fixture against Bordeaux at Stamford Bridge.
First half goals from Frank Lampard and Joe Cole put the Blues firmly in the driving seat before Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka put the result beyond doubt late on.
The scoreline saw Chelsea top the fledgling Group A table on goal difference after Italian giants Roma slumped to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of unfancied CFR Cluj of Romania, the Blues' next opponents in a fortnight's time.
It was an impressive performance from last season's finalists, who never looked like losing points against Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux.
An early lapse of concentration aside - John Obi Mikel giving the ball away cheaply to Wendell and allowing the Brazilian striker to run in on goal and let off a shot, albeit over into the stands - the hosts looked confident from the first whistle.
It took them just 14 minutes to take the lead, Lampard stooping to head past Ulrich Rame after Jose Bosingwa had delivered an inch perfect cross from the right wing.
The Portuguese full-back provided a constant threat early on in the game, although it was not from one of his many sorties forward that Chelsea doubled their lead.
Instead it came from a corner taken on the other flank, Cole belying his diminutive stature to rise between two Bordeaux defenders and flick a near post header into the back of the net.
It was no less than the hosts deserved - Luiz Felipe Scolari's side had bossed the opening period and rarely allowed their opponents get a grip on the game.
Indeed, the visitors could easily have headed into the dressing rooms at half-time more than just two goals down - only two good saves from Rame and some rather profligate Chelsea finishing saved them from that fate.
Having already picked the ball out of the net, the Bordeaux keeper was brought into action for a second time by a crisp Nicolas Anelka drive on 19 minutes, before keeping out Joe Cole's backheel from the resulting corner with his legs.
Chelsea captain John Terry then flashed a header wide of the upright before Bosingwa again proved his class with a wicked cross which nearly resulted in a comical own-goal, Fernando almost putting into his own net.
Chelsea were not finished there and they swarmed forward in search of a third before the half-time whistle sounded. Anelka was twice at the centre of the action but the lone striker could not repeat the weekend's goalscoring feat, first stabbing an awkward-looking effort wide of the upright and soon after opting to pull the ball back - to no one in particular - when a shot at goal was the better option.
But the best chance of the first half fell to Lampard, who passed up the opportunity to notch a second when he dragged a shot wide of the post, despite having been played in on goal by Florent Malouda following another Bosingwa cross.
Two-nil up and Chelsea visibly eased off the gas after the break, a boisterous Stamford Bridge crowd having to wait until the 59th minute for their team's first meaningful attack of the second half.
It was Cole who nearly got his name on the scoresheet again, although the flag was up for offside as his curling effort bounced the wrong side of Rame's upright.
Anelka then hit the side netting before his compatriot Malouda made it three, finding the corner to end a superb passing move which culminated in Lampard backheeling the ball into the Frenchman's path.
It got worse for Bordeaux as time ran out, Ricardo Carvalho thundering a header against the cross bar with three minutes remaining before a by-now forlorn-looking Anelka again fired wide.
But just as it looked like the Frenchman would finish the evening goalless, he popped up in injury time to seal victory, tapping home from close range after substitute Juliano Belletti's blockbuster from 35 yards had rebounded off the cross bar.
Roma 1-2 CFR Cluj
Juan Culio scored twice as CFR Cluj came from behind to beat Roma 2-1 and make a stunning Champions League debut in their Group A opener at the Stadio Olimpico.
Christian Panucci had headed the Serie A side in front in the 17th minute after Daniele De Rossi stole the ball near the corner flag and whipped a cross to the near post.
Argentine forward Culio levelled in the 27th with a diagonal strike from outside the area set up by a sweet lay-off from Eugen Trica.
He then volleyed home a loose header from Marco Cassetti four minutes after the break to give the Romanian champions a night to remember |
發表於 2008-9-17 01:29 PM
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