11.3.07
FA Cup : Chelsea VS Spurs (6th Round)
Well watched an exciting match just now, was super irritated and angry when Chelsea conceded 3 goals to Tottenham… And one of them was an Own Goal by Essien, OMG, imagine my frustration at that moment, practically seething with fumes le…
And you can visualize “The Special One’s” (Jose Mourinho) black face, the TV crew also don’t dare to close up on him lor… LoL
Not forgetting the “Pinocchio” (Mike Riley) referee, always like to give people yellow card one… think he LOVES YELLOW!!!
Luckily my Lampard never fail me, haha.. he scored 2 goals that night and the last one was a good one by Kalou…
I nearly had a heart seizure, cos watching them played the last 4 crucial mins is so exciting... Because Spurs cannot score again, else defeated liao...
Watching them play let me fully understand, never give up till the last min, Half time score was 1:3… Full time score was 3:3…
Hehe… I simply LOVES CHELSEA, simply LOVES LAMPARD!!!
Read the Match Report extracted from Chelsea FC Website … Sun, 11th Mar 2007
Chelsea and Tottenham have played out a true FA Cup classic: six goals, numerous chances, even more bookings and the spirit on show that makes English football so popular around the globe.
Less than three days after a European away game, even the staunchest Chelsea fan would have to take their hat off to the determination and drive of that the visitors from north London put into this tie - and Chelsea looked shocked, especially when the players went in at half-time 3-1 down - staring a first home domestic defeat for three years in the face.
Berbatov, Ghaly and an Essien own-goal had done the damage for Martin Jol's side with Frank Lampard keeping the Blues just about in touch.
But a José Mourinho side is nothing if not resilient and although never gaining proper control of the game, there always looked goals in our second-half display. Lampard scored again and then with time running out, Kalou netted for the final equaliser.
A replay was the last thing a side fighting on three fronts would have wanted before kick-off but midway through the game, we would have bitten off any hand that offered that outcome from the day.
Spurs lined up with Aaron Lennon at the front of a midfield diamond which with Jermain Defoe up front gave plenty of pace down the middle. It was challenge Chelsea struggled to meet throughout.
The cause was not helped with the news that a specialist medical assessment had decided John Terry was not yet ready to return.
So yet again, Essien was the deputy in defence with one change in midfield. Claude Makelele had been too ill to train in the days leading up to the game so Lassana Diarra was moved from right-back into his true holding position.
Paulo Ferreira therefore came in at right-back. The three-man attack that had begun against Porto was again selected.
Spurs, already without keeper Paul Robinson and in-form striker Robbie Keane from following their Thursday European exploits suffered another blow when right-back Pascal Chimbonda was ruled out late on. Paul Stalteri came in and with Ricardo Rocha preferred to Anthony Gardner in the centre, it was an unfamiliar look to the visitors' defence.
Injuries or no injuries, they made a blistering start. Just four minutes were gone when Berbatov scored. Fed by Lennon after Defoe had attacked the Chelsea defence, the Bulgarian took the ball on the turn and flashed a no-nonsense drive past Cech.
As against Arsenal in the Carling Cup Final and Porto on Tuesday, Mourinho's side had conceded early; this time very early!
Spurs could have doubled the lead on 12 minutes, Berbatov's diagonal ball flying just in front of a well-placed Defoe after Stalteri had won possession in midfield.
With no real home pressure prior to Chelsea's 20th minute equaliser, the goal came rather out of the blue.
Suddenly a move fell into place. a Drogba cross, chested back to Ballack by Shevchenko, was smacked into the area by the German to where Lampard's instinctively extended leg diverted the ball past a rooted keeper.
The stand-in skipper's sharp reflexes had earned him his 18th goal of the season and his team parity in the tie.
It was a scoreline held for only eight minutes. Lennon's low ball into the Chelsea area from the right looked innocuous enough when played but as Essien and Cech misread each other's intention, the outfielder stuck out a leg, turning the ball into the net at an agonisingly slow pace.
For a worrying moment soon after, the own-goal scorer's continued participation looked in doubt as he pulled up unchallenged, seemingly struck by a knee injury. A short spell on the sidelines and he was able to continue.
Mourinho, troubled by the stretched Chelsea display, made a change on 34 minutes, replacing Ferreira with Wright-Phillips and going three at the back.
The switch cannot hardly be said to be an instant success! Within a minute Spurs made it 3-1.
Robben was barged off the ball by Berbatov deep in the visitors' half and when he didn't receive the free-kick he believed deserved, Spurs went on the attack.
Ghaly won an aerial challenge with Cole and continued his burst through the middle to finish low past Cech. Chelsea had conceded three at home for the first time since Arsenal called in the Cup four years earlier - back in the Ranieri era.
Most of the key action was unpleasant for Chelsea eyes but it was incident after incident in this wide open game.
Spurs almost put through their own net after Robben's searing attack and cross from the right was diverted by Dawson, only for Stalteri to clear a yard from the line.
Shevchenko blasted hard but off-target after a Drogba chest back on 37 minutes and then Essien glanced a header narrowly wide after Robben's free-kick had troubled the Spurs defence.
The visitors were booked twice before the break as they tried everything to prevent the start of a Chelsea fight-back. Ghaly was the first cautioned for taking out Ballack in the centre of the park. Zokora followed for body checking Sheva on the edge of the area.
Within 24 seconds of the restart, Spurs had a third player booked - left-back Lee for a challenge on Wright-Phillips. Four minutes later Stalteri followed for grabbing Robben round the waist.
Chelsea just about hung on to hopes of pulling the game round when on 51 minutes,Cech at his best saved first from Lennon and then brilliantly from the same player again, clawing away his follow-up after Ghaly had clipped the ball over Cole to the far post.
Chelsea then collected two bookings in quick succession, Diarra for fouling Ghaly and Carvalho for an arm-up challenge on Berbatov.
Cole would soon follow for a despairing lunge on the flying Lennon but not before Mourinho had made a second change, Boulahrouz on for Diarra to allow Essien into midfield.
The third and final throw of the substitute dice came on 63 minutes when Kalou was brought on for Cole. Essien moved into the back three yet again.
This was real go for broke stuff from Chelsea - plenty of bodies forward, little cover at the back.
Kalou was booked for handball on 67 minutes as he tried to reach a cross.
Chelsea began to win a few corners - always a source of hope.
When Ballack climbed well and headed Robben's kick on-target, the ball was blocked but fell perfectly for Lampard to slam in from five yards.
Frank's 19th of the campaign left his side 3-2 down with 20 minutes plus stoppages to go.
Cech made a vital low stop to keep out Zokora as the game continued at a breathless pace.
Essien, who had forcibly won possession, drilled a 20-yarder a foot or two wide on 80 minutes. Spurs goalkeeper Cerny was booked for time-wasting at a goal-kick soon after.
It was fierce, it was frantic! The decisions of referee Riley were increasingly frustrating the Blues and their manager - but would this Chelsea side be beaten - no chance!!
The priceless equaliser came with five minutes of scheduled time to go and it was undoubtedly the finest moment of Salomon Kalou's Chelsea career so far - dispatching the sweetest of close-range volleys after Drogba had headed Carvalho's ball from deep across the area.
Unbelievably, Spurs went straight up the other end and struck woodwork, Defoe skipping through challenges from Lampard and Carvalho before rocketing a shot onto the bar.
For a fraction a second, it looked as if Shevchenko had pulled the tie completely around as he turned, drifted across the pitch and let fly with a 25-yarder that curled just the wrong side of the angle.
Asking for a winner in the dying seconds after all that had gone before was perhaps a little greedy. Instead these two teams will have to do it all again on Monday March 19 at White Hart Lane. If that is half as pulsating as this game at Stamford Bridge, anyone present will be in for a night to remember.
¶ 11.3.07 And you can visualize “The Special One’s” (Jose Mourinho) black face, the TV crew also don’t dare to close up on him lor… LoL
Not forgetting the “Pinocchio” (Mike Riley) referee, always like to give people yellow card one… think he LOVES YELLOW!!!
Luckily my Lampard never fail me, haha.. he scored 2 goals that night and the last one was a good one by Kalou…
I nearly had a heart seizure, cos watching them played the last 4 crucial mins is so exciting... Because Spurs cannot score again, else defeated liao...
Watching them play let me fully understand, never give up till the last min, Half time score was 1:3… Full time score was 3:3…
Hehe… I simply LOVES CHELSEA, simply LOVES LAMPARD!!!
Read the Match Report extracted from Chelsea FC Website … Sun, 11th Mar 2007
Chelsea and Tottenham have played out a true FA Cup classic: six goals, numerous chances, even more bookings and the spirit on show that makes English football so popular around the globe.
Less than three days after a European away game, even the staunchest Chelsea fan would have to take their hat off to the determination and drive of that the visitors from north London put into this tie - and Chelsea looked shocked, especially when the players went in at half-time 3-1 down - staring a first home domestic defeat for three years in the face.
Berbatov, Ghaly and an Essien own-goal had done the damage for Martin Jol's side with Frank Lampard keeping the Blues just about in touch.
But a José Mourinho side is nothing if not resilient and although never gaining proper control of the game, there always looked goals in our second-half display. Lampard scored again and then with time running out, Kalou netted for the final equaliser.
A replay was the last thing a side fighting on three fronts would have wanted before kick-off but midway through the game, we would have bitten off any hand that offered that outcome from the day.
Spurs lined up with Aaron Lennon at the front of a midfield diamond which with Jermain Defoe up front gave plenty of pace down the middle. It was challenge Chelsea struggled to meet throughout.
The cause was not helped with the news that a specialist medical assessment had decided John Terry was not yet ready to return.
So yet again, Essien was the deputy in defence with one change in midfield. Claude Makelele had been too ill to train in the days leading up to the game so Lassana Diarra was moved from right-back into his true holding position.
Paulo Ferreira therefore came in at right-back. The three-man attack that had begun against Porto was again selected.
Spurs, already without keeper Paul Robinson and in-form striker Robbie Keane from following their Thursday European exploits suffered another blow when right-back Pascal Chimbonda was ruled out late on. Paul Stalteri came in and with Ricardo Rocha preferred to Anthony Gardner in the centre, it was an unfamiliar look to the visitors' defence.
Injuries or no injuries, they made a blistering start. Just four minutes were gone when Berbatov scored. Fed by Lennon after Defoe had attacked the Chelsea defence, the Bulgarian took the ball on the turn and flashed a no-nonsense drive past Cech.
As against Arsenal in the Carling Cup Final and Porto on Tuesday, Mourinho's side had conceded early; this time very early!
Spurs could have doubled the lead on 12 minutes, Berbatov's diagonal ball flying just in front of a well-placed Defoe after Stalteri had won possession in midfield.
With no real home pressure prior to Chelsea's 20th minute equaliser, the goal came rather out of the blue.
Suddenly a move fell into place. a Drogba cross, chested back to Ballack by Shevchenko, was smacked into the area by the German to where Lampard's instinctively extended leg diverted the ball past a rooted keeper.
The stand-in skipper's sharp reflexes had earned him his 18th goal of the season and his team parity in the tie.
It was a scoreline held for only eight minutes. Lennon's low ball into the Chelsea area from the right looked innocuous enough when played but as Essien and Cech misread each other's intention, the outfielder stuck out a leg, turning the ball into the net at an agonisingly slow pace.
For a worrying moment soon after, the own-goal scorer's continued participation looked in doubt as he pulled up unchallenged, seemingly struck by a knee injury. A short spell on the sidelines and he was able to continue.
Mourinho, troubled by the stretched Chelsea display, made a change on 34 minutes, replacing Ferreira with Wright-Phillips and going three at the back.
The switch cannot hardly be said to be an instant success! Within a minute Spurs made it 3-1.
Robben was barged off the ball by Berbatov deep in the visitors' half and when he didn't receive the free-kick he believed deserved, Spurs went on the attack.
Ghaly won an aerial challenge with Cole and continued his burst through the middle to finish low past Cech. Chelsea had conceded three at home for the first time since Arsenal called in the Cup four years earlier - back in the Ranieri era.
Most of the key action was unpleasant for Chelsea eyes but it was incident after incident in this wide open game.
Spurs almost put through their own net after Robben's searing attack and cross from the right was diverted by Dawson, only for Stalteri to clear a yard from the line.
Shevchenko blasted hard but off-target after a Drogba chest back on 37 minutes and then Essien glanced a header narrowly wide after Robben's free-kick had troubled the Spurs defence.
The visitors were booked twice before the break as they tried everything to prevent the start of a Chelsea fight-back. Ghaly was the first cautioned for taking out Ballack in the centre of the park. Zokora followed for body checking Sheva on the edge of the area.
Within 24 seconds of the restart, Spurs had a third player booked - left-back Lee for a challenge on Wright-Phillips. Four minutes later Stalteri followed for grabbing Robben round the waist.
Chelsea just about hung on to hopes of pulling the game round when on 51 minutes,Cech at his best saved first from Lennon and then brilliantly from the same player again, clawing away his follow-up after Ghaly had clipped the ball over Cole to the far post.
Chelsea then collected two bookings in quick succession, Diarra for fouling Ghaly and Carvalho for an arm-up challenge on Berbatov.
Cole would soon follow for a despairing lunge on the flying Lennon but not before Mourinho had made a second change, Boulahrouz on for Diarra to allow Essien into midfield.
The third and final throw of the substitute dice came on 63 minutes when Kalou was brought on for Cole. Essien moved into the back three yet again.
This was real go for broke stuff from Chelsea - plenty of bodies forward, little cover at the back.
Kalou was booked for handball on 67 minutes as he tried to reach a cross.
Chelsea began to win a few corners - always a source of hope.
When Ballack climbed well and headed Robben's kick on-target, the ball was blocked but fell perfectly for Lampard to slam in from five yards.
Frank's 19th of the campaign left his side 3-2 down with 20 minutes plus stoppages to go.
Cech made a vital low stop to keep out Zokora as the game continued at a breathless pace.
Essien, who had forcibly won possession, drilled a 20-yarder a foot or two wide on 80 minutes. Spurs goalkeeper Cerny was booked for time-wasting at a goal-kick soon after.
It was fierce, it was frantic! The decisions of referee Riley were increasingly frustrating the Blues and their manager - but would this Chelsea side be beaten - no chance!!
The priceless equaliser came with five minutes of scheduled time to go and it was undoubtedly the finest moment of Salomon Kalou's Chelsea career so far - dispatching the sweetest of close-range volleys after Drogba had headed Carvalho's ball from deep across the area.
Unbelievably, Spurs went straight up the other end and struck woodwork, Defoe skipping through challenges from Lampard and Carvalho before rocketing a shot onto the bar.
For a fraction a second, it looked as if Shevchenko had pulled the tie completely around as he turned, drifted across the pitch and let fly with a 25-yarder that curled just the wrong side of the angle.
Asking for a winner in the dying seconds after all that had gone before was perhaps a little greedy. Instead these two teams will have to do it all again on Monday March 19 at White Hart Lane. If that is half as pulsating as this game at Stamford Bridge, anyone present will be in for a night to remember.
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