Thu, 29th Nov 2007
Chelsea sealed qualification for the knockout phases of the Champions League on Wednesday evening with a scintillating performance at Rosenborg.
The Blues were superb from first to last, opening the scoring inside five minutes and never looking back, as Didier Drogba bagged himself two goals, while Alex and Joe Cole completed the scoring.
The resounding win guarantees Chelsea top Group B, and progress to the knockout stages in February.
The Blues were superb from first to last, opening the scoring inside five minutes and never looking back, as Didier Drogba bagged himself two goals, while Alex and Joe Cole completed the scoring.
The resounding win guarantees Chelsea top Group B, and progress to the knockout stages in February.
It was a bitterly cold night inside the open-cornered Lerkendal stadium, which made for difficult conditions in which top football could be played. Indeed the Norwegian league season was concluded in late October, and so competitive games in these parts are rare in late November.
Chelsea arrived expecting a difficult game, but both Carlo Cudicini and Avram Grant had maintained the weather would have no impact on the outcome of the game, and so it proved as Rosenborg were brushed aside.
Chelsea arrived expecting a difficult game, but both Carlo Cudicini and Avram Grant had maintained the weather would have no impact on the outcome of the game, and so it proved as Rosenborg were brushed aside.
By the eighth minute, Chelsea's obvious early superiority was confirmed. Once again it was Drogba in the thick of things, firing home the rebound after Joe Cole's enterprising run and shot had been parried by Rosenborg keeper Lars Hirschfeld.
By the 20th minute, the lead was doubled as Drogba grabbed his fourth Champions League goal this season. The hard work was done by Essien, whose terrier-like spirit in the middle won the ball, and Wright-Phillips, who was as fleet-footed and skilful as anyone has seen since his arrival at the Bridge.
A foul on Joe Cole allowed Alex the opportunity to unleash a trademark free-kick, but unlike the rocket at Middlesbrough, this goal was a rather tame effort, deceiving Hirschfeld, and sealing Chelsea's progression into the knockout stages.
It only took four minutes for the lead to increase, Shevchenko involved as Joe Cole netted from close range, having won possession out on the left flank. A minute later, the Ukrainian should have made it five, dragging a low shot wide after making space for himself inside the box.
After sealing qualification on a cold night in Trondheim, Chelsea's Champions League campaign is just hotting up.
Rosenborg (4-3-1-2) Hirschfeld; Stoor, Kvarme, Riseth (c), Dorsin (Basma 85); Skjelbred, Traore (Strand 55), Tettey; Sapara; Kone (Konan Ya 62), Iversen.
Chelsea (4-3-3) Cudicini; Belletti, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien, Makelele, Lampard (Pizarro 75); Wright-Phillips (Kalou 68), Drogba (Shevchenko 68), J Cole.
Goals: Drogba 7, 20 Alex 39 J Cole 72.
No comments:
Post a Comment