Archive for December, 2012

Match Report: Everton 1-2 Chelsea

Two goals from Frank Lampard helped Chelsea to end Everton’s unbeaten home record on a cold Sunday afternoon at Goodison Park. A fourth successive league win means that Chelsea will end 2012 just four points off second place in the Barclays Premier League with a game in hand over Manchester City. While it did not have the control or swagger of recent performances, the first league win at Goodison since 2008 means a producitve festive period for the Blues, and a renewed sense of optimism heading into the new year.

Rafa Benitez’s return to Merseyside was always going to be a tough game, against a team described as a “small club” during his time at Liverpool, and the chance to finish the year above both Benitez and Liverpool was a real one. It seemed even more likely when they took the lead after only 63 seconds. Phil Jagielka’s right wing cross was headed onto the post by Victor Anichebe with the rebound fired home by Steven Pienaar, whose run into the box had not been tracked by either Lampard or David Luiz.

This set the tone for the first 30 minutes of the game, with Everton playing at a much higher tempo and outworking the visitors in midfield. They could have had a two goal advantage in the first ten minutes, but Nikica Jelavic’s free kick hit the post with Petr Cech beaten. The Czech keeper was also on hand to keep out a drive from Leon Osman before Chelsea had even fashioned a chance in the game. When that chance did come it fell to Juan Mata, who for once was not able to finish. The Spaniard had been crowded out of the game in the opening half hour, but as the first half drew to a close he began to become more involved in the game, linking well with Ramires down the right as well as with Fernando Torres.

It was these two who created the opening from which Chelsea equalised just before half time, with good play from Torres on the right wing gave Ramires space for a cross which was met by a powerful header by Lampard for his fifth goal of this season, and his 191st of his Chelsea career.

Despite the withdrawl of Cech at half time with an ankle injury, bringing his 400th Chelsea game to an early end, the second half was a much more balanced game, though no less intense. Chelsea created more good opportunities, with Torres first failing to control and excellent Luiz chip over the defence then being caught narrowly offside after link up play by Mata and Hazard. He was not the only striker failing to break the offside trap, as Jelavic struggled to do so at the other end, much as Holt and Benteke have in recent games. There was still a threat in the air though, and Jelavic hit the woodwork for a second time midway through the half, but while his header beat Turnbull it could not beat the crossbar.

The improved interplay from the Chelsea midfielders meant that they were looking more dangerous themselves and forcing the Everton defence back, but there was nothing the Toffees could do about Lampard’s second goal. The increasingly influential Mata found space to cross to Hazard, and while his knockdown header was half cleared, and Mata’s followup shot saved there were no defenders left standing to beat Lampard to the rebound. His second of the game took him within one goal of Kerry Dixon in second on the clubs all time goalscoring list.

Jelavic had his final chance of the game with only a minute left of stoppage time when a cross fell to him in the six yard box, but he couldn’t find a finish and Turnbull was able to gather. While this was not one of the most expansive performances, the hard fought nature of the win against a very tough team will have pleased Benitez, though the rumours about the future of the goalscorer will linger on. In the 11 games Lampard has played in the league this season, Chelsea have won 10. He has not featured in eight games, and in those Chelsea have picked up only one victory. He might not be surplus to requirements just yet.

2012
12/30
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Match Report: Norwich 0-1 Chelsea

Chelsea overcame a hardworking but toothless Norwich side on a damp Boxing Day at Carrow Road. A Juan Mata strike, his 13th of an impressive season, was enough to seal the three points and move the Blues within four points of second place Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League.

Following the 8-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday it would have been easy to expect another romping performance from a Chelsea team that had scored 13 goals in the two games since returning from Japan, but the changes made to the starting line-up, along with resolute defending made this a much tighter contest. With Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard dropping to the bench, replaced by John Obi Mikel and Oscar respectively, some of the speed and decisiveness of Sunday was lost from the team, as was the width that tormented the Villa defence. Much of the attacking threat was through Victor Moses, who will be missed when he departs to the Cup of Nations in the new year.

There were few chances created by either team. David Luiz, once again marauding forward from midfield, fired wide and over twice in the first half, but it was Mata’s strike that was the first real piece of attacking quality in the match. Oscar did well to hold off attempted challenges before finding Mata 20 yards out from goal to control and fire past Bunn, despite the keeper getting his fingertips to it. The importance of the Spaniard to the rest of Chelsea’s season can not be underestimated, and again here he was the deciding factor.

Another part of the Chelsea game plan going forward will be the improvement of the defence. Given that Luiz was pushed forward, the centre-back pairing of Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic was responsible for marshalling Grant Holt, and kept the Norwich skipper frustrated and resorting to pushing wide in order to challenge the Chelsea fullbacks in the air. Following their control of Christian Benteke on the weekend, the pairing are showing a level of understanding and partnership that was not often present when Luiz partnered Cahill in the centre of defence. Once John Terry has returned from injury the three ought to make up the centre back options, a possibility enhanced by strong performances from Cesar Azpilicueta at right back.

Norwich have also turned around their defence from its struggles earlier this season, but while they were solid at the back, there was little goal threat going forward. Wes Hoolahan was, once again, their best player, but Petr Cech was untested in the Chelsea goal, with the closest the home team coming to scoring a Sebastian Bassong header in injury time that he put over the bar. Carrow Road is becoming a difficult place to visit for the top teams, but Chris Houghton’s men will need to find a regular scorer to make the most of their continuing improvement.

2012
12/26
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Match Report: Chelsea 8-0 Aston Villa

Frank Lampard marked his 500th Premier League start with a goal as Chelsea thrashed a young Aston Villa side at Stamford Bridge.

The seeds for Villa’s biggest defeat in top-flight football were sown early. A free kick within the first minute was cleared, but there was nothing goalkeeper Brad Guzan could do to keep out a towering Fernando Torres header after three minutes. The second came just before the half hour. David Luiz, who played in the midfield role many feel he can excel in, lining up a free kick just outside the Villa area before powering it over the wall and getting the ball to dip as it ripped past Guzan. It was the third direct free kick the Blues scored in the league this year, having not scored a single one last term.

With Chelsea two goals to the good, and with Villa’s main threat, Christian Benteke, unable to break the offside trap, the home team were able to turn on the style, and it was not long before they were three goals to the good. Former Villa man Gary Cahill’s turn and shot was well saved by Guzan, but the rebound fell to Branislav Ivanovic, who headed past the diminutive Barry Bannan to notch up his fourth goal of the Premier League season.

The midfield pairing of Lampard and Luiz were in total control of the game, and after half time it was Lampard’s turn to get his name on the scoresheet, and it was in typical Lampard style, chesting the ball down 20 yards from goal before rifling a shot low into the corner of the net. It was his 130th top flight goal for the club, taking him one above Bobby Tambling as the leading top flight goalscorer for Chelsea.

It was to be his final involvement in the game, substituted for Ramires with an hour gone. The ovation from the crowd, along with chants of “Sign him up” shows that there is still a desire to see Lampard and Ashley Cole sign new deals past the end of this current season. Even with one of the stars of the show withdrawn, it did little to halt the onslaught. it was the substitute Ramires who was on hand to score the fifth. Fellow replacement Lucas Piazon’s perfectly placed pass was directly into the path of his fellow Brazilian, and as Chelsea fans have seen plenty of times before the midfielder slotted the ball through the legs of the keeper with aplomb.

Piazon was involved in the sixth as well, playing the ball into the area for another of the substitutes, Oscar, who was pulled to the ground by Chris Herd. He picked himself up to fire an unstoppable penalty high into the net. Not wanting to be left out of the goal-getting, Eden Hazard scored the seventh, which was also one of the best. His close control and power was on show as he glided past two weak challenges before powering the ball into the net with Guzan helpless and left berating his defenders as the home side celebrated. The American stopper, who was Villa’s best performer on the day, did get a chance to at least keep the score to single figures when he kept out the second penalty of the day, this time from Piazon after he was fouled by Ciaran Clark. There was still time for one more though, with Ramires again getting into the area as the ball was played to him, and firing into the top corner.

The final quarter of the game involved four goals, and it was the also the first time there were seven different goal scorers in the same game. Following the 5-1 hammering of Leeds midweek, 13 goals in the two games after the trip to Japan shows that while it was disappointing not to win the Club World Cup there is success, and entertainment, to be had this season.

2012
12/24
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Match Report: Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea

Two goals from Fernando Torres helped to earn Chelsea their first league win under Rafa Benitez. Adding to his two goals against FC Nordsjaelland in midweek, the £50m striker has scored four in his last two games, breaking a goalless league run that had lasted 12 and a half hours.

Much as against West Ham last weekend, Chelsea came out of the blocks fast, continuing the flowing, attacking football that had overwhelmed the Danish champions midweek. There could have been a penalty after only three minutes, with Eden Hazard being held by Sebastian Larsson as he ran in on goal. There were further opportunities spurned before Torres got his first of the day after ten minutes. Hazard was released down the left by Victor Moses, and his cross was met in midair by the studs of Torres right foot.

The pace and movement from the Chelsea attackers was too much for Sunderland to cope with for the first 20 minutes of the half, but following the withdrawal of Oriol Romeu, the Black Cats were able to get into the game. The highlight of their first half was a stinging attempt by Stéphane Sessegnon which was pushed behind for a corner by Petr Cech. Any hopes Martin O’Neill had of going into the break a goal down were dashed by a rash tackle from Larsson on Ramires to concede a penalty in injury time. While the timing was foolish, the location of the foul (as the ball was running out behind the goal by the edge of the area) made it an even more bizarre action. Following the two spot kicks in midweek, taken by Hazard and David Luiz, it was Torres who grabbed the ball this time, and he dispatched the penalty with a composure and confidence that has been missing since the first few weeks of the season. It was his first penalty since his move to the Premier League.

Following the second half capitulation at West Ham, and having allowed Nordsjaelland to score within a minute of the restart during the week it was important to start the second half sharply, and this time that is just what happens. With three minutes gone in the half Phil Bardsley mis-controlled a cross, Torres shot the free ball against the bar and Juan Mata was the first to the rebound, tucking it in calmly to establish a three goal lead.

Similarly to the first half it took time for Sunderland to get any control of the ball, and it took until after the hour mark for them to register a goal. Again it came from failure to clear a cross, this time by David Luiz, and the ball was played out to Adam Johnson, and the £10m signing from Manchester City drove the ball past Cech, though it looked as though the Chelsea keeper misjudged the flight of the ball and left it when it was within his reach.

There were a couple of scares for a suddenly nervous Chelsea defence, including a chance for Connor Wickham and Craig Gardiner hitting the bar from a free kick, but they were able to see out the game without any further concessions. The return of Frank Lampard from injury was an added bonus to go along with the snapping of the worst league run in 18 years for the Blues, and they will hope to carry some momentum to the World Club Cup in Japan.

2012
12/01
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Match Report: West Ham 3-1 Chelsea

The wait for a Chelsea win under Rafa Benitez goes on after the Blues lost out to an excellent second half performance by West Ham.

For much of the first half a first West Ham win over Chelsea since 2003 looked unlikely, with the visitors producing much more going forward than against either Fulham or Man City. The recalled Juan Mata was at the heart of much of Chelsea’s good play, and it was the Spaniard who opened the scoring after 13 minutes following an excellent pass from Victor Moses to Fernando Torres, who saw his cut back fired into the net.

It was to be Torres’ finest moment in the match. For the rest of the game (and he stayed on for the duration) he looked disinterested, slow and out of sync with what was going on around him. He had opportunities, a turn and shot that rolled weakly to Jussi Jaaskelainen, and a controlled volley that did the same. With Chelsea chasing the game, his diving header was perfectly aimed at the goalkeepers chest.  It is becoming quite difficult to watch a player so shorn of confidence, game speed or ideas.

In terms of going forward, there was certainly more creativity and enterprise than in the other matches of Benitez’s tenure. Mata hit the post as well as having a quick pair of shots blocked by first Jaaskelainen then his defenders. As was the case earlier in the season, with better execution in front of goal, the game could have been out of sight by half time.

It wasn’t, and the move by Sam Allardyce to bring on Diame and Taylor at half time changed the game. Suddenly West Ham had more industry, physicality and drive in the centre of the pitch and were able to play their way back to parity. There was an element of luck about their equaliser, with a Matt Jarvis cross headed into the net by Carlton Cole, despite the former Chelsea man climbing all over Branislav Ivanovic.

Another wasted chance for Torres, and a Mata free kick that hit the post from 25 yards out were the Chelsea responses. But the hosts had the momentum, with the Blues defence looking just as fragile as it had before the managerial change, and Ashley Cole was forced into yet another goal line clearance from Winston Reid’s header. This lack of organisation was highlighted on West Ham’s second goal. As Carlton Cole controlled the ball well inside the Chelsea area he was closed down by Mikel and Ramires, leaving Diame totally free on the edge of the area, and he had the simple task of slotting the ball past Cech after Cole laid the ball back to him.

As Modibo Maiga slotted home with only a few minutes to go there was no question of a Chelsea comeback, but plenty of questions will be raised about where this Chelsea season is going. When all four sides of the ground are chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning” at the manager there are clearly problems, and the question that was sung by some of the travelling fans “Roman Abramovich, is this what you want?” clearly needs to be answered.

2012
12/01
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