Saturday, September 12, 2009

Stoke 1-2 Chelsea

Stoke   1 - 2   Chelsea

By David Ornstein

Didier Drogba
Drogba's emphatic strike was his fourth goal of the season

Florent Malouda struck deep in stoppage time as Chelsea claimed a last-gasp victory over Stoke and maintained their 100% start to the season.

The hosts took a surprise lead when Abdoulaye Faye capitalised on Petr Cech's indecision by heading Glenn Whelan's cross into an empty net.

Chelsea replied in first-half injury time, Didier Drogba spinning Faye and smashing home Frank Lampard's pass.

They bombarded Stoke late on and Malouda drove in a 94th minute winner.

It was a dramatic end to a pulsating encounter and the result, which Chelsea deserved, keeps the Blues top of the league with five wins from as many games.

Given the number of chances they created in the second half, boss Carlo Ancelotti will wonder how his side failed to confirm the three points earlier.

But, considering the recent bad press the club have received in relation to their recruitment policy, the win provides them with a timely boost.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis might though take consolation from the way his side defended throughout and, although they drop out of the top six, their performance suggested a promising season ahead.

606: DEBATE
Davgroos

Attempting to guide his club to a first league win against Chelsea since 1975, Pulis opted to dispense with his trusted 4-4-2 formation in favour of a 5-3-2, which was designed to combat marauding full-backs Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole.

And, although Chelsea dominated possession in the opening stages, Stoke rarely looked in danger of conceding.

Perhaps considering Tuesday's Champions League opener against Porto, Ancelotti made four changes to the team that beat Burnley last time out and Chelsea struggled to establish any sort of rhythm early on.

They might have gone behind inside 10 minutes when Branislav Ivanovic inexplicably diverted a long ball into the path of James Beattie.

Beattie, returning from three weeks out with a knee injury, raced through on goal but dragged his shot horribly wide and, to make matters worse, fell awkwardly in the process and had to be substituted.

Chelsea had been warned and, despite enjoying a period of sustained pressure, they were soon punished.

Whelan collected possession on the right and sent in a hopeful left-footed cross which Cech came for but then withdrew, allowing Faye to head home.

Chelsea responded positively to the set-back and continued to take the game to a Stoke side who were defending ominously deep.

Cole shot straight at Thomas Sorensen from an acute angle and Jon Mikel Obi had a thumping drive bravely blocked by former Blues centre-half Robert Huth.

Injuries to Beattie, Cole and Sorensen saw eight minutes of stoppage time added at the end of the first half, and Chelsea used it as an opportunity to strike.

Lampard was able to get away from Whelan and slide a delicious ball through to Drogba, who rolled Faye and unleashed a thunderous first-time left-footed drive across substitute goalkeeper Steve Simonsen and into the top corner.

Chelsea started the second half as they finished the first and, were it not for Stoke's resilience, the Blues might have seen their dominance reflected on the scoresheet.

Salomon Kalou came within inches of connecting with a Malouda centre and Drogba blasted over the bar after Faye hesitated with his clearance.

A temporary lull ensued but Stoke almost regained the lead when Huth rose above Michael Ballack and headed just over from Whelan's corner.

But it was all Chelsea from that moment on, Lampard and Michael Essien squandered a couple of chances each before Drogba had a goal-bound effort blocked by Faye.

The visitors were flooding forward but found themselves repelled time and again until Simonsen failed to keep out a fizzing Malouda effort at the death.

Live text and stats

 

Saturday, 12 September 2009

Premier League

Home Team Score Away Team Time
Stoke 1 - 2 Chelsea R
(HT 1 - 1)
  • Faye 32
  • Drogba 45+3
  • Malouda 90+4

Stoke

Substitutes

Chelsea

Substitutes

Ref: DeanAtt: 27440
STOKE
CHELSEA

Possession

  • Stoke 36%
  • Chelsea 64%

Shots on target

  • Stoke 2
  • Chelsea 10

Shots off target

  • Stoke 2
  • Chelsea 8

Corners

  • Stoke 4
  • Chelsea 14

Fouls

  • Stoke 13
  • Chelsea 11
  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+5:51 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
  • 90:00+3:33 Assist on the goal came from Nicolas Anelka.
  • 90:00+3:33 GOAL - Florent MaloudaStoke 1 - 2 Chelsea Florent Malouda scores a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Stoke 1-2 Chelsea.
  • 90:00+2:15 Corner taken by Didier Drogba from the left by-line.
  • 90:00+1:46 Frank Lampard takes a shot from 18 yards. Ryan Shawcross gets a block in.
  • 90:00+1:46 Frank Lampard takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Ryan Shawcross.
  • 90:00+0:02 Abdoulaye Faye fouled by Juliano Belletti, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
  • 87:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Shawcross by Nicolas Anelka. Steve Simonsen takes the free kick.
  • 86:53 Frank Lampard takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Abdoulaye Faye.
  • 84:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nicolas Anelka by Danny Collins. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Didier Drogba.
  • 83:29 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Florent Malouda from the left by-line to the near post, Didier Drogba takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.
  • 82:23 Substitution Juliano Belletti on for Mikel.
  • 81:07 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard takes a shot. Blocked by Ryan Shawcross.
  • 79:25 Tuncay Sanli concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Essien. Mikel takes the free kick.
  • 78:44 Michael Essien has an effort at goal from a long way out that misses to the right of the target.
  • 77:32 Corner from the left by-line taken by Frank Lampard, save by Steve Simonsen.
  • 76:38 Strike on goal comes in from Didier Drogba from the free kick, Steve Simonsen makes a save.
  • 76:38 Booking Andy Wilkinson goes into the referee's book.
  • 76:31 Foul by Andy Wilkinson on Michael Essien, free kick awarded.
  • 75:48 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Florent Malouda, Abdoulaye Faye makes a clearance.
  • 75:12 Inswinging corner taken by Florent Malouda, clearance by Ricardo Fuller.
  • 73:50 Frank Lampard takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
  • 72:23 Michael Essien concedes a free kick for a foul on Tuncay Sanli. Steve Simonsen restarts play with the free kick.
  • 71:03 Michael Essien takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.
  • 70:49 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Frank Lampard, Ryan Shawcross makes a clearance.
  • 70:13 Frank Lampard takes a outswinging corner.
  • 69:49 Outswinging corner taken by Frank Lampard, Ryan Shawcross manages to make a clearance.
  • 69:06 Corner taken right-footed by Frank Lampard to the near post, Shot from 12 yards from Michael Essien. Blocked by Mikel.
  • 66:38 Jose Bosingwa has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.
  • 65:26 Substitution Tuncay Sanli is brought on as a substitute for Dave Kitson.
  • 65:26 Substitution Michael Essien comes on in place of Michael Ballack.
  • 63:18 Substitution Nicolas Anelka replaces Salomon Kalou.
  • 60:51 Glenn Whelan takes the outswinging corner, Close range header by Robert Huth goes over the bar.
  • 58:25 Free kick taken by Florent Malouda.
  • 58:25 Booking Rory Delap is booked.
  • 58:22 Mikel fouled by Rory Delap, the ref awards a free kick.
  • 57:20 Rory Delap concedes a free kick for a foul on Frank Lampard. Frank Lampard has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
  • 56:38 Corner taken by Glenn Whelan, Abdoulaye Faye takes a shot. Save made by Petr Cech.
  • 55:18 Jose Bosingwa gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dave Kitson. Glenn Whelan crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by John Terry.
  • 54:39 Florent Malouda takes the outswinging corner, Steve Simonsen makes a save.
  • 54:12 Michael Ballack fouled by Dave Kitson, the ref awards a free kick. Jose Bosingwa takes the direct free kick.
  • 52:36 Direct free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
  • 52:36 Booking Ashley Cole is given a yellow card.
  • 52:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ashley Cole on Ricardo Fuller.
  • 51:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andy Wilkinson on Ashley Cole. Free kick taken by Frank Lampard.
  • 50:22 Ricardo Fuller concedes a free kick for a foul on Branislav Ivanovic. Michael Ballack restarts play with the free kick.
  • Correction - 46:15 Effort on goal by Didier Drogba from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
  • 46:15 Didier Drogba produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.
  • Correction - 45:25 Florent Malouda sends in a cross, Steve Simonsen makes a save.
  • 45:25 Centre by Florent Malouda, save by Andy Wilkinson.
  • 45:01 The second half has started.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+8:26 The half-time whistle blows.
  • 45:00+7:55 Dave Kitson is caught offside. John Terry takes the free kick.
  • Correction - 45:00+6:27 Unfair challenge on John Terry by Dave Kitson results in a free kick. Petr Cech takes the direct free kick.
  • 45:00+6:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Terry by Dave Kitson. Petr Cech takes the free kick.
  • 45:00+4:34 Free kick crossed right-footed by Glenn Whelan, Michael Ballack manages to make a clearance.
  • 45:00+4:34 Booking John Terry goes into the book.
  • 45:00+4:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dave Kitson by John Terry.
  • 45:00+2:15 Frank Lampard provided the assist for the goal.
  • 45:00+2:15 GOAL - Didier DrogbaStoke 1 - 1 Chelsea Didier Drogba fires in a goal from inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Stoke 1-1 Chelsea.
  • 45:00+1:52 Mikel takes a shot. Ryan Shawcross gets a block in.
  • 43:00 Ricardo Fuller challenges Ashley Cole unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by John Terry.
  • 42:00 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Collins by Salomon Kalou. Steve Simonsen takes the direct free kick.
  • 40:05 Frank Lampard takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Robert Huth makes a clearance.
  • 40:05 Substitution Steve Simonsen comes on in place of Thomas Sorensen.
  • 34:49 Dave Kitson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Florent Malouda. Free kick taken by Branislav Ivanovic.
  • 34:06 Shot on goal by Didier Drogba from just inside the area goes over the target.
  • 33:20 Ashley Cole takes a shot. Save by Thomas Sorensen.
  • 31:30 Assist by Glenn Whelan.
  • 31:30 GOAL - Abdoulaye FayeStoke 1 - 0 Chelsea Abdoulaye Faye finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty area. Stoke 1-0 Chelsea.
  • 30:55 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Glenn Whelan, save by Petr Cech.
  • 27:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ricardo Fuller by Branislav Ivanovic. Danny Collins crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.
  • 24:46 Frank Lampard produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.
  • 23:06 Dean Whitehead concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Cole. Free kick taken by Ashley Cole.
  • 22:20 Thomas Sorensen fouled by Salomon Kalou, the ref awards a free kick. Thomas Sorensen takes the free kick.
  • 18:18 Direct free kick taken by Petr Cech.
  • 18:18 Booking Ryan Shawcross receives a yellow card.
  • 17:50 Ryan Shawcross concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Cole.
  • 17:38 The ball is swung over by Glenn Whelan, Didier Drogba makes a clearance.
  • 16:38 Booking Salomon Kalou is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
  • 14:42 Foul by Mikel on Dave Kitson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Abdoulaye Faye.
  • Correction - 11:12 Substitution Ricardo Fuller comes on in place of James Beattie.
  • 10:30 Substitution Ricardo Fuller comes on in place of James Beattie.
  • 8:37 Shot from just outside the box by James Beattie misses to the left of the goal.
  • 7:39 The referee blows for offside. Branislav Ivanovic takes the indirect free kick.
  • 6:48 Glenn Whelan takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, save by Petr Cech.
  • 6:09 Free kick awarded for a foul by John Terry on Dave Kitson. Glenn Whelan delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Branislav Ivanovic manages to make a clearance.
  • 4:58 Didier Drogba takes a shot. Save by Thomas Sorensen.
  • 0:30 Didier Drogba is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Thomas Sorensen.
  • 0:00 The referee starts the match.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

о 7:03 AM

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