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 | Chelsea 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspurs (235)
31/08/2008
The London derby, played under the greys wet skies befitting an English summer, got off to a super start when Gomes showed his massive reach to tip over Frank Lampard’s chip after just 4 minutes. Spurs then took a foothold in the game, only for Chelsea to turn the screw when Anelka fired over, Essien struck the bar and eventually scoring when Belletti turned home a corner kick. But on the stroke of half-time Spurs drew level, the ball broke to Darren Bent and the forward proved he can score in the league as well as pre-season. The second half was a far more stale affair. The best chance fell to Kalou but the striker dragged his shot wide. The point was a welcome result for Spurs, who finally get on the scoreboard this season. |
|  | Wigan Athlatic 0 - 1 Chelsea (538)
24/08/2008
After scoring on his debut, Deco showed he is the real deal with a stunning free-kick after just 4 minutes at the JJB, arching the ball from right to left and giving Pollitt (who came in for Kirkland minutes before kick-off) no chance. Wigan responded in a spirited fashion, and dominated the half with Petr Cech the far busier of the keepers. For their part, Chelsea looked off the boil for the majority of the first half (highlights here). The second half was largely a dull affair, Chelsea nullifying Wigan who lacked the same penetration which they displayed in the opening 45. Kapo forced Cech into a smart save in the final minutes but in the end Chelsea, without playing well, made it two wins from two. |
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 | Chelsea 4 - 0 Portsmouth (757)
17/08/2008
Scolari starts in style! Chelsea dominated the early exchanges, Frank Lampard set about finding his range before the Blues moved ahead in the 12th minute when Ballack freed Joe Cole who beat David James on the angle. Chelsea doubled their lead soon after, Boswinga raced down the right, his cross was fed back in by Deco at the back post, and Nicolas Anelka had the simple job of nodding home. Anelka steered a shot just wide of post moments later. On the stroke of half-time Chelsea won a penalty after Joe Cole’s immaculate control brought down a ball which Distin then handballed, and Frank Lampard rolled in the third from the spot. After the break Anelka continued to look sharp, with Joe Cole also looking to bag his second. Deco opened his account with a fourth at the death, David James should have done better with the strike from distance. |
|  | Chelsea 5 - 0 AC Milan (1487)
03/08/2008
Chelsea raced into a three goal lead within eighteen minutes against AC Milan in the third place play-off of the Russian Railways Cup. Frank Lampard’s inswinging free-kick evaded everyone for the first then five minutes later Nicolas Anelka drilled home the second before he tapped home the third following some shocking goalkeeping from Kalac. (All three first half goals can be seen on this video.) After the break Anelka got his hat-trick goal, a free header in the box from Malouda’s cross. And the Frenchman capped off an incredible personal achievement netting his fourth, turning home yet another left wing cross from Malouda. |
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 | Malaysian XI 0 - 2 Chelsea (107)
29/07/2008
Nicolas Anelka fired Chelsea into the lead in the 25th minute after Joe Cole had played him in. Ashley Cole doubled the lead just after the break, finishing from close range from a Lampard assist. |
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 | Manchester United 1 - 1 Chelsea (Pens. 6-5) (3437)
21/05/2008
There were a lot of nervous faces when the players came out at the Luzhniki stadium. United settled the quickest with Ronaldo showing some great skill to beat Essien. Scholes and Makalele clashed heads just after the twenty minute mark with both veteran midfielders receiving a booking, United’s ginger midfielder was left with a bloody face. United’s greater purpose was rewarded in the 26th minute. Scholes and Brown worked the ball down the left, and the United right back crossed for Cristiano Ronaldo to head into the bottom corner giving Cech no chance. The goal brought the game to life with both goalies called into action, Ballack saw a header saved and then Cech saved from Tevez and Carrick. Chelsea came back into the game and pulled level on the stroke of half-time, Frank Lampard tapping in after a shot from Essien was deflected into his path. |
|  | Chelsea 1 - 1 Bolton (941)
11/05/2008
There was early embarassment for John Terry who put on the wrong shorts and was forced to change in the tunnel. The Chelsea captain was not on the field for long, a clash with Cech left him with a suspected collar bone injury meaning his chances of playing in the Champions League final could be slim. Drogba went close in the eighth minute following a cross from Ballack and on twenty minutes the Ivorian was unlucky not to open the scoring with a free-kick. Early in the second period Malouda saw his looping effort touched onto the bar by Al Habsi. Just after the hour mark, substitute Andiry Shevchenko stabbed home from close range to put the Blues in front. But in the final moments Bolton snatched an equaliser, Matty Taylor scuffing a shot through Cech’s legs after Alex had failed to clear his lines. |
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 | Newcastle 0 - 2 Chelsea (684)
05/05/2008
Michael Owen spurned a great opportunity to put the Toon in front in the sixth minute after a great ball from Butt. Just before the half-hour the Toon should have taken the lead, but Terry saved off the line from Owen after Cech had saved from Viduka. Minutes later Michael Ballack should have done better when put through on goal. Anelka was next to shank a shot wide, and Terry picked up a yellow card when Owen bounced off the centre-half. (First half highlights here.) After the break Chelsea came out with far more purpose, John Terry seeing his header crash off the bar from Malouda’s corner. And Chelsea didn’t have to wait too long before finally going ahead, Drogba crossing to Ballack who headed home unchallenged from close range. Owen fluffed a great chance to draw the Toon level at the back post, Martins dragged his shot wide, while Ballack looked for the second from distance. Chelsea killed the game in the 82nd minute, sub-Lampard threaded a pass to Malouda who beat Harper with a left-foot strike. The Blues play Bolton on the final day of the season, Manchester United travel to Wigan. |
|  | Chelsea 3 - 2 Liverpool (1151)
30/04/2008
(Agg. 4-3) There were chances for both sides in a frenetic opening at the Bridge, Essien blazed over the bar, Cech smothered an effort from Torres after the Spaniard had been played in by Gerrard and Drogba sidefooted wide after a fine move by the Blues. Just after the half hour Didier Drogba did break the deadlock, firing the ball home after Reina had saved from Kalou. Towards the end of the half Gerrard pushed over Avram Grant as they battled for control of a ball out of play. (First-half highlights here.) Early in the second half Cech denied Kuyt with a fine save and Liverpool’s improved performance was rewarded when Fernando Torres produced a classy finish after an impressive run from Benayoun. With just under fifteen to go, Essien hit the side netting after a storming run down the right. (Second-half highlights here.) Early in extra-time Essien saw a goal ruled out for offside but in the 96th minute Chelsea did re-take the lead - Frank Lampard scored from the penalty spot after Ballack had been felled by Hyypia. Seconds before half-time in extra-time, Didier Drogba put Chelsea in touching distance of Moscow scoring the third from close range after good work by Anelka. Liverpool showed that you can naver write them off as Ryan Babel pulled one back with three minutes to go - Cech probably should have done better with the long range shot from the Dutchman. |
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 | Chelsea 2 - 1 Manchester United (679)
26/04/2008
Chelsea controlled the first half (highlights here) against Manchester United. It started badly for United when Drogba forced Vidic to withdraw with a bloody mouth. Joe Cole was unfortunate to see hit shot rebound off the goal frame, and Cole was then again involved when his jinking run forced Van der Sar to save at his feet. The Blues got their just desserts on the stroke of half-time, Drogba battled to hold onto the ball before delivering a perfect cross for the unmarked Ballack to head in at the back post. All Chelsea’s good work was undermined 10 minutes into the second half when Carvalho inexplicably played a blind pass straight to Rooney, and the United striker took the ball before finding the inside of the post for the equaliser. But five minutes from time Chelsea were awarded a controversial penalty for a handball by Carrick, and Ballack converted the winner from the spot. In the final minutes, both Ashley Cole and Andriy Shevchenko saved off the line, as Chelsea drew level on points with United. Both teams have just two league games remaining, United host West Ham and then go away to Wigan, Chelsea visit Newcastle and then host Bolton. |
|  | Liverpool 1 - 1 Chelsea (2177)
22/04/2008
In the early exchanges Torres came close with a toe-poke past the post. On the half-hour Gerrard played a perfect first time pass into Torres, but Petr Cech stood firm, and the Spaniard was denied when he should have done better. Dirk Kuyt then sent the Kop into raptures when his industrious work produced the opener. Kuyt received Alonso’s quick free-kick, retrieved his poor cross off Lampard, before meeting Mascherano’s looping pass in the box and firing home through Cech. (First half highlights here.) Chelsea were anonymous at the start of the second half, but the Reds couldn’t capitalise, Babel striking a shot past the post. Chelsea stirred in the later stages, Malouda was guilty of missing a golden opportunity. Liverpool kept on searching for the crucial second and a piece of individual brilliance from Gerrard, firing a shot into the top corner, forced Cech yet again to save expertly. Cech produced another wonderful save to stop Torres from a corner in injury-time, but in the 94th minute Avram Grant was handed a huge slice of luck, Riise got himself into horrendous trouble trying to head out Kalou’s cross (he truly has no right foot!) and the full-back headed a bullet past Reina, gifting the all important away goal for Chelsea. |
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 | Everton 0 - 1 Chelsea (767)
17/04/2008
Michael Essien got the only goal just before the break, the Ghanaian burst through and was found by a deflected pass from SWP. Minutes later Jon Obi Mikel went close with a blistering drive and Fernandes had the best chance of the game for the home side from a free-kick midway through the second period. Avram Grant will now be hoping for a favour from Blackburn who host Manchester United on Saturday evening. |
|  | Chelsea 1 - 1 Wigan Athelatic (311)
13/04/2008
Kalou served up a great chance for Chelsea to take an early lead, but his cross was headed off target by Anelka. The Blues failed to assert their possession, and were almost stung by Valencia’s fierce shot. Ballack entertained the crowd with a spot of showboating, before Anelka had the best chance of the game with a looping header, but Kirkland saved expertly. Skoko then came to Wigan’s rescue, saving off the line from Kalou as Chelsea were unable to score in the first half. Grant brought on Joe Cole for the anonymous Malouda at the break, and the Blues benefited from an immediate increase in their attacking threat. The pressure finally peaked from the 53rd minute, firstly Terry smashed the bar from a corner, Kirkland then made a tremendous save to deny Kalou, until Michael Essien eventually found the opener following Anelka’s assist. Joe Cole snatched at a chance to extend the Blues lead only for Wigan to stun Stamford Bridge in the closing minutes. Kirkland made yet another fabulous save to deny Essien, before Koumas whipped in a perfect cross to pick out Emile Heskey at the back post, and the England striker scored to crush Chelsea’s title dreams. The chorus of boos at full time announced that Avram Grant is now officially a dead-man walking. |
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 | Fenerbahce 2 - 1 Chelsea (524)
02/04/2008
Chelsea went ahead when Florent Malouda found space down the left, crossed, and Deivid produced an unstoppable finish to put the ball in the back of his own net. Chelsea dominated much of the play, but on a night full of English teams, it was Fener’s Englishman Colin Kazim-Richards who latched onto a ball over-the-top and coolly dispatched the leveller past Cudicini. And the comeback was completed by villain-turned-hero Deivid de Souza, who fizzed a belter into the top corner from 30 yards to send the Turks wild. |
|  | Chelsea 2 - 1 Arsenal (3883)
23/03/2008
Almunia easily saved a Ballack free-kick after six minutes at the Bridge. Arsenal dominated the early exchanges and Van Persie blazed over on 15, seconds later Cudicini was forced to come out but Eboue was unable to take advantage. On 25 Drogba ran through but failed to control. Five minutes before the break Gallas should have put the Gunners in front at the back post, the linesman had though flagged for offside. (First-half highlights here.) Early in the second-half, Drogba ran through again but was unable to finish, Gallas did well to put him off. Bacary Sagna broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, heading home at the near post from a Fabregas corner, his first goal in English football. With twenty minutes to go, seconds after a double substitution by Avram Grant, Didier Drogba equalised with a fine finish. And the Ivorian turned the game round, and potentially crushed Arsenal’s title hopes, with the second, Almunia could have done better with Drogba’s finish. (Second-half highlights here.) |
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 | Tottenham Hotspurs 4 - 4 Chelsea (4648)
19/03/2008
Poor Spurs defending allowed Didier Drogba to answer his critics by scoring after three minutes at White Hart Lane. And it could have been worse for Spurs minutes later, but Joe Cole’s finish was ruled out for offside. Mirroring events from the Carling Cup final, Woodgate rose powerfully to head his second Spurs goal against Chelsea to bring the hosts level. In an incredible opening 20 minutes, the Blues struck back when Joe Cole fed in Essien (Drogba offside?), who chipped the ball past Robinson with the outside of his right foot. The end of the first-half (highlights here) descended into controversy when Ashley Cole’s hospital tackle on Hutton only received a yellow, and Cole had the nerve to argue. After the break, Joe Cole strolled round Chimbonda and found the net via Robinson’s arm. But once again Spurs hit back, Berbatov out-jumping Terry for Tottenham’s second. Cudicini’s wonder save denied Robbie Keane, but Spurs completed the comeback when Huddlestone arrowed a shot into the a far corner. Yet, Chelsea refused to lose, and Cole scored his second after executing amazing control from Drogba’s pass. But Robbie Keane had the final word, curling an absolute beauty into the top corner to end a mesmerising London derby. (Second-half highlights here.) Surely one of the greatest Premier League matches ever. |
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 | Barnsley 1 - 0 Chelsea (437)
08/03/2008
Barnsley almost lit-up the FA Cup when Carvalho failed to deal with a free-kick and Istvan Ferenczi controlled and hit the outside of the post with his shot. After the break SWP played in Anelka, who found Joe Cole, but the ball bobbled and Cole conspired to miss the target horribly. Then, in one of the greatest moments of FA Cup history, the Tykes took the lead when Martin Devaney’s cross was met by (remember the name) Kayode Odejayo, and he beat Cudicini and headed in his first goal since September. Barnsley put on a giant-killing performance to hold out until the 94th minute, sparking the classic pitch invasion, as they recorded one of the greatest upsets in FA Cup history to reach the semi-final. Can Grant survive? |
|  | Chelsea 3 - 0 Olympiakos (349)
05/03/2008
Chelsea showed their attacking intent early on against Olympiakos, and were rewarded when a quick throw on fell to Lampard, and his cross picked out the unmarked Ballack, and the German headed home at the near post. Unrelenting Chelsea attacks bore further fruit on 25 minutes, when Ballack was set free on the right hand side, his shot was saved but Lampard rolled home number two. Kalou put the game to bed moments after the restart when he got the final touch off a Lampard corner. Drogba had a goal chalked off for offside, while the Greeks threatened to score, and saw Belluschi’s free-kick hit the crossbar. |
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