"Landep News"
Chelsea drawn in last minutes by Valencia
Salomon Kalou’s handball cost Chelsea two precious points last night at the Mestalla where the Blues were drawn 1-1 by Valencia in the group E of UEFA Champions League.
Frank Lampard opened the score early in the second half, while Soldado brought the hosts a late point after converting a penalty with three minutes left in the game. Chelsea dominated especially the first half when both Fernando Torres and Ramires managed to put some pressure on Diego Alves’s goal. Valencia also created plenty of dangerous actions in the second part but they were not able to convert them, either.
Andre Villas Boes’s side were the first to near the opener in the third minute, but Ramir’ lovely tackle hindered Torres of scoring the first one for Chelsea. Ashley Cole then tried his luck with a shot from distance to which Alves was equal. Victor Ruiz was the first to concede a yellow card in the 12th minute when he was cautioned by the referee for a foul on Ramires.
Frank Lampard got his first big chance in the 14th minute but his shot was denied by a great shaped Alves who would finish the first half goalless. Valencia’s first big opportunity came in the 25th minute through Hernandez whose powerful finish reached the side netting. Rami made another block in the 29h minute when the defender denied Malouda’s dangerous cross which could have seen Torres finish it home.
Mata beat all his marks to pick free Lampard on the edge of the box from where the midfielder hit it poorly. John Terry made a providential intervention in the 45th minute when the defender denied Soldado at the death. Valencia finished the first half in Chelsea’s half, earning a free kick 20 yards of the goal.
Fortunately for Boas’ side, Petr Cech, who also had a great night, held the ball with ease leaving the scoreboard unchanged. Three minutes into the second part Chelsea got his first big chance through Torres, but it was Albelda to stop the Blues’ attack with a tough challenge which attracted a second yellow card for the hosts.
The two sides picked back to back chances in the 52nd minute when Chelsea’s action finished with Alves’ intervention was followed by Hernandez’s header which also did not bring anything new on the scoreboard. Ramires missed yet another big chance two minutes later, following a great action from Lampard who fed the Brazilian inside the box only to strike it straight at keeper Alves.
Torres mocked a golden opportunity in the 54th minute following another great play from Lampard who picked the Spaniard in close range with Alves denying the finish with some effort. Alves was kept busy for three more minutes as the keeper saved his side from a big disaster in the 56th minute when he blocked Blues’ dangerous finish.
But just one minute later, Chelsea opened the score through Lampard who was perfectly picked by Malouda with a cross which both travelled through the Valencia box and was converted home by the co-captain into the near post from 12 yards or so. That was also Lampard’s 20 the goal in Champions League, one which made coach Emery to make a change in the 61st minute. Mathieu made way for Piatti as Valencia were renewing their offensive.
Ruiz picked a dangerous chance in the 63rd minute when the Valencia defender looked for the goal but he could only earn his side a corner on the left. Soldado then threatened with a leveler following a dangerous action on the right which saw the striker round Cech only to be denied by Terry who cleared the cross away.
Andre Villas Boas made his first change in the 67th minute when Ramires, who had been given medical assistance at one point in the first half, departed for Raul Meireles. Nicolas Anelka, Kalou and Didier Drogba were also warming outside the pitch, but only the first two would enter the field.
Cech made a tremendous save in the 71st minute when the Czech denied a great volley from Pitatti. Ruiz then headed a cross just wide in what should have been another difficult test for the keeper. Emery then replaced both Benaga and Hernandez with Jonas and Feghouli respectively.
The latter one got his first big chance just one minute after being introduced. Feghouli tried his luck with a ranger shot to which Cech was equal. Piatti then delivered a dangerous cross in front of the net which everybody failed to connect. Malouda neared a second one in the 79th minute when the French winger tried to fool the keeper with a shot into the near post which Alves held in the end.
Lampard departed for Kalou in the 83rd minute but the game was far from being over. Jonas also tried his luck with a ranger shot which Cech saved at the death. Two minutes later newly introduced Salomon Kalou gifted the hosts a penalty following a corner from the right which the Ivorian stopped with the hands. The referee pointed the white spot as Soldado placed the ball for the kick.
The striker converted home to bring the first point for Valencia in the head to head series with Chelsea on Mestalla. Anelka was very close to scoring the winner with two minute left but the French was denied by Alves who was one of the best players of the match. Finally, Malouda, Mata and Cole were all shown yellow cards for chatty.
Said a disappointed Malouda after the game: “We always try to create more opportunities and finish the game. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but we have to try and we are pleased with the way we played today, especially in the second half… We are trying game after game to improve our play and to score goals.”
Chelsea still lead the group E with four points but are just one point above their main followers Bayer Leverkusen who beat Racing Genk 2-0 last night at home. Valencia are third with two points won in two games, having the Belgians one point behind.
The Blues will next meet Racing Genk on Stamford Bridge on October 19, while Valencia travel to BayArena to meet Leverkusen.
Valencia CF – Diego Alves; Alba, Victor Ruiz, Rami, Miguel; Banega, Albelda; Mathieu, Canales, Pablo; Soldado. Reserves: Jonas, Bruno Saltor, V. Guaita, H. Maduro, P. Piatti, D. Parejo, S. Feghouli.
Chelsea – Petr Cech, Bosingwa, David Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Ramires, Lampard, Malouda, Mata; Torres. B. Ivanovic, O. Romeu, S. Kalou, Raul Meireles, N. Anelka, D. Drogba, R. Turnbull.
Thank's for link:
0 Response to "Chelsea drawn in last minutes by Valencia"
Post a Comment