CHELSEA :: THE BLUES

Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea: Ballack Leads Second Half Blitz

Bent's opener had the home crowd rocking, but the Blues improved after the break to score three in the space of 18 minutes and take the points back home...

Chelsea made four changes to the side which beat Hull City on the opening Premier League weekend: Ricardo Carvalho, Jon Obi Mikel, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka made way for Branislav Ivanovic, Deco, Michael Ballack and Salomon Kalou. Meanwhile, Sunderland were without Steed Malbranque, bringing Jordan Henderson into the starting line-up.

Chelsea had previously made a meal of beating Hull and went looking for a strong start at the Stadium of Light. However, Darren Bent scored his second in two games since signing from Tottenham Hotspur after 18 minutes to give the Blues a fright.

The forward was in the right place to slot Kenwyne Jones's deflected shot past Petr Cech.

The visitors were guilty of over-egging the pudding in the midfield areas during the first half. They did have a couple of decent chances, including Ballack's shot over the bar from inside the area, but it was otherwise an underwhelming performance until late in the opening period.

Ballack again went close, seeing an effort cleared off the line, before Lee Cattermole blocked from Jose Bosingwa.

Carlo Ancelotti's men went into the dressing room on the back foot, but the Italian gaffer must have passed on some words of wisdom, revitalising his side and prompting an impressive second half response.

First, Ballack finally etched his name on the scoresheet seven minutes in, following a spell of pressure, when he drove home from eight yards out.

With the hour mark just passed and Chelsea gathering steam, Didier Drogba was dragged to the turf inside the area by George McCartney, allowing Frank Lampard to step up and convert the subsequent penalty.

With twenty minutes remaining the early-season points were just about in the bag. Deco, who of course was so impressive at the beginning of last season before falling out of favour, found the net via the post as he struck for goal powerfully, relying on very little back-lift.

Despite being deadly at the weekend, Drogba found himself missing a great chance, his downward header bouncing over the bar when he should perhaps have buried the Black Cats.

Interestingly, both newly-signed starlet Daniel Sturridge and previously exiled veteran Andriy Shevchenko came off the bench for a run-out as Ancelotti paraded his attacking depth towards the end of the contest.

Yet there was to be no more punishment for the hosts. Sunderland crash back to earth after winning their first game, while Chelsea have six points in the bag despite two at-times shaky performances.

Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com

kammmonnn the blues...
lagi 38 game kite jore EPL....

J.Milan22 wrote:kammmonnn the blues...
lagi 38 game kite jore EPL....

yeah....new stail of play...we will win the league..european champ league..hahahahaha

Fulham 0-2 Chelsea: Drogba & Anelka Net In Craven Cottage Stroll

The Blues convincingly secured all three points against the toothless Cottagers...

Chelsea continued their excellent early season form with a comfortable 2-0 win over London neigbours Fulham this afternoon, to make it three wins out of three in the Premier League.

Didier Drogba scored his third of the season in the first half, before the Ivory Coast international played in his striker partner Nicolas Anelka to secure the win, and consign a lacklustre Fulham to a home defeat.

This was a match with little in the way of clear goal-scoring opportunities. Fulham are extremely well organised under Roy Hodgson, who prides his teams on being difficult to break down, while Chelsea under Carlo Ancelotti look as strong and as powerful as ever.

The Italian has been tinkering profusely with formations and personnel in order to find the right blend, and today was no different, with Michael Ballack preferred to Michael Essien in midfield, while Florent Malouda returned to replace Deco.

Fulham’s best opportunity arose in the opening exchanges of the match. Clint Dempsey, playing as an auxiliary striker today due to the absence of Andy Johnson, turned sweetly inside the area, but could only scoop his effort over the crossbar from an angle.

From that point on though, Chelsea looked comfortable, and while they were at no point their formidable best, they did enough to ensure that once they had managed to establish an advantage, they were never likely to let it slip.

Jon Obi Mikel fired in a sighter, that whizzed past Mark Schwarzer’s post before the Blues eventually secured the lead, thanks to the prolific Didier Drogba.

He strode confidently on to a through pass that split the Fulham rearguard, having kept himself just onside, before slamming the ball into the corner past Schwarzer, and giving Chelsea a deserved advantage.

In the second period, there was little more in the way of action in the final third. Ricardo Carvalho had to be vigilant to head away a long through ball as Demspey lurked behind him, while Lampard fired in a speculative effort that failed to trouble the Fulham goal.

However, Chelsea rarely looked in danger, and with 15 minutes left on the clock a slick move from Ancelotti’s men put the game to bed, and secured the points.

A first-time pass from Ballack found Drogba, who instantly controlled and played a teasing pass into the path of strike partner Nicolas Anelka, who duly walked the ball around the advancing Schwarzer and tapped into the empty net.

Chelsea, even this early in the campaign, have the hallmarks of a side that will be challenging for honours up until the dying embers of the season, and today they continued their hunt to wrestle the title from rivals Manchester United with another confident victory.

Paul Macdonald, Goal.com

Chelsea 3-0 Burnley: Blues Cruise At Stamford Bridge

Despite an inspired performance by the Clarets ‘keeper, the home side made it four wins out of four.

Nine months after departing Stamford Bridge with a famous League Cup win, Burnley returned to Chelsea hoping for a similar result but this time in the Premier League.

Indeed after beating champions Manchester United and Everton, Owen Coyle’s men were full of confidence as they took on the west Londoners.

However, the first half was a one-sided affair with the home side dominating the play yet being frustrated for long periods due to an inspired performance from Clarets’ stopper Brian Jensen.

It took only three minutes for Carlo Ancelotti’s men to go close, Nicolas Anelka finding himself free, cut inside and unleashed a shot on his weaker foot that Jensen saved calmly.

Less than a minute later and the Frenchman went even closer. A twisting, turning run by Michael Ballack saw the German cross to Anelka at the far post and the striker was inches away from heading home unmarked.

Still the chances came, a mistake by Alexander allowed Anelka a one-on-one with Jensen but a heavy touch at a crucial moment by the striker allowed the Dane to pounce on the ball.

Ballack was next, cruising into the box with a clever turn that left Bikey on the turf. With just Jensen to beat the German attempted a dink but the goalkeeper did brilliantly to block.

The veteran was at it again minutes later when a corner found Terry in the box and he showed a great first touch before poking a shot goalwards which flew straight at Jensen.

Incredibly, Terry then turned provider, heading a glorious ball from Michael Essien to Frank Lampard but his shot at point blank range was straight at the stopper.

Yet for all their pressure the two best chances of the half surely fell to the visitors who could easily have opened the scoring.

With only seven minutes on the clock McCann was allowed to slice through the Chelsea half, unimpeded yet his shot was too high and sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Martin Paterson was to have an even better chance, after some sloppy defending allowed Mears to race through on goal.

He then squared a pass for his striker to finish but instead he sliced his shot narrowly wide with the goal gaping.

Just as it looked as though Burnley would survive until the break, Chelsea finally scored in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Drogba raced onto a through ball from Essien down the right wing, before firing in a low cross for Anelka to tap home at the far post for a deserved lead.

The home side picked up where they had left off at the beginning of the second half and within minutes of the restart they had doubled their lead.

A poor clearance fell only to Anelka on the left wing, he slipped a ball to Lampard and the midfielder chipped in a lovely cross for a diving Ballack to head past Jensen.

Chelsea were now rampant and went on to grab a third with a little over 50 minutes on the clock.

Another flowing move saw Ashley Cole play a one-two with Lampard, before picking up the return and firing a superb shot past Jensen and into the far corner.

With a comfortable lead established the home side slipped into cruise control but still the chances came, although Jensen ensured the score line did not become a humiliation.

Acrobatic stops denied both Essien and Ballack whilst Mears had to be alert to scoop a shot off the line by substitute Saloman Kalou late on as the Clarets wilted in the London sunshine.

For Chelsea, meanwhile, it was sweet revenge for last season whilst another win and another clean sheet means their perfect start to the season continues.

Gill Clark, Goal.com

OFFICIAL: Dynamo Kiev Announce Andriy Shevchenko Signing From Chelsea
The Ukrainian returns to his homeland...

Andriy Shevchenko has rejoined his old club Dynamo Kyiv on a free transfer from Chelsea.

The Ukrainian striker has failed to impress at Stamford Bridge after his £30m move from A.C. Milan in 2006.

After spending last season on-loan to A.C. Milan in a bid to return to form, Shevchenko returned to Chelsea where he did not prominently feature in Carlo Ancelotti's plans.

The 33-year-old held talks with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and concluded the move would be best for both parties, with the Russian releasing Shevchenko from the remaining 11 months on his contract.

The striker returns to his old club to lead the Ukrainian side to Champions League success.

According to Dynamo's official website, Shevchenko's official unveiling will take place tomorrow, August 30th at 15:00 with FC Dynamo Kiev President Igor Surkis and coach Valery Gazzayev welcoming back their favourite son.

Will Ashwell, Goal.com

chelsea yg mantoopp....

J.Milan22 wrote:chelsea yg mantoopp....

Kamon Chelsea....we are the only the big four yang tak kalah lagi stakat nih...kamon..kamon.....

Deto_8 wrote:

apis11 wrote:

J.Milan22 wrote:chelsea yg mantoopp....

Kamon Chelsea....we are the only the big four yang tak kalah lagi stakat nih...kamon..kamon.....

baru2 ni je power....kalau Roman tak beli sama level ngan West Ham je...

xde la baru sgt ..hehe ade la dalam 7/8 tahun nih..hehehhe...tapi ok la..dlm tempoh tuh..skali je kot liverpool atas chelsea..tu pon last season

chelsea mantop sbb anceloti berjaya fungsikan player2 tua dia... dia tau camner nak guna ballack, deco, drogba, etc... huhuhu...
siap relek jer lepaskan secenko sbb takde dlm perancangan dia... bagus tul...