Champions League review: Chelsea 2 - 1 Porto (Agg: 3-2)
Wednesday, 07 March 07, 12:23 AM · Comments (38)
Match reports
Daily Telegraph, John Ley: "Having drawn 1-1 in Portugal, Chelsea started as favourites but a goal from Ricardo Quaresma in the 15th minute left Chelsea chasing the game and with Jose Mourinho's future in doubt - until the 48th minute when Arjen Robben's tame shot was mis-handled by Porto's hapless goalkeeper, Helton, and the ball found its way into the net."
The Times, Matt Hughes: "Robben’s ball to Lassana Diarra down the right was returned to him in a more propitious position on the edge of the area, with his low left-foot shot somehow finding its way through the body of Helton. It was a horrendous error from the Brazilian, but Robben celebrated as if he had scored the goal of the season. In terms of importance he may not be wrong."
Daily Mail, Neil Ashton: "While there is no doubting Robben’s ability on the ball, there is a side to his game that is not welcome in English football and he was rightly booked after his theatrical dive over Fucile’s outstretched leg 10 minutes before the break."
The Independent, Jason Burt: "Ashley Cole slung in a deep centre, which was headed by Didier Drogba to Andrei Shevchenko. Showing admirable presence of mind the Ukrainian headed back across goal for Michael Ballack to volley in the winner. Previously anonymous, the German remains an enigma. But Mourinho is convinced Ballack could prove decisive in the quest to win this trophy."
The Guardian, Matt Scott: "It was fitting that the man whose goal would decide this pulsating encounter should be Michael Ballack, the man in whom he had placed his faith amid so much criticism. After hinting on Monday that he will not be long of west London, Mourinho is setting about his legacy in this competition. It could yet be engraved on the European Cup."
Official Chelsea FC Website: "It had been a difficult night against accomplished opponents and Mourinho's men had not been at their best. But by the end, the blue flags, given out in their thousands to the crowd, were flying high."
The goals
15' Quaresma 0-1 48' Robben 1-1 79' Ballack 2-1
The good
- Jose Mourinho. Turned around what looked like a lost cause. It could be said that it was his fault we were in trouble at half time, although there was little he could do to prepare for what he witnessed in the first forty-five minutes. Obviously said the right things at half time and replaced the ineffective Claude Makelele with John Obi Mikel, which made all the difference.
- Didier Drogba. A one-man Blue army. We'd be screwed without him.
- Ashley Cole and Lassana Diarra. Our full-backs were the best of a poor lot in the first half, and maintained it in the second. Mourinho played safe and brought Diarra off after he was booked, but the 21 year-old had already done enough to prove he's far better and more versatile than Makelele who looks like he's coming to the end of a magnificent career.
- Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho. Essien was at fault for Porto's goal, but you can forgive him the odd mistake for obvious reasons. He was quite simply outstanding for the rest of the game - there are no superlatives left to describe him. Carvalho put in another distinguished performance.
- Michael's Ballack goal. Great all round, from Cole's cross to Drogba and Shevchenko's cushioned headers. The ball was slightly behind Ballack but he still managed to slot it past Helton, who apparently is Brazil's number one goalkeeper. The goal Helton gifted a hard-working Arjen Robben (I'll gloss over his dive) that let us back in the tie would suggest there's a dearth of keepers in Brazil.
- Andriy Shevchenko. Still a class act even if he's not knocking in the goals.
The bad
- The first half. Quite dreadful, perhaps the worst forty-five minutes we've played this season. Gave the ball away, got pressurised off the ball in every area of the pitch, and had a definite lack of drive and passion. A performance like that against a better team than Porto and it would have been goodnight Athens.
- Frank Lampard. A little controversial maybe, but he was really poor tonight. His passing in the first half left a lot to be desired and he gave the ball away on numerous occasions. (Ballack was slightly better, not great but made up for it with a goal.) Is the Lampard/Ballack midfield pairing a failed experiment? I'm beginning to think so. They both improved once Obi Mikel was introduced, but that wasn't hard given their showings in the first half.
- Claude Makelele. In two big games in the last ten days we have played poorly and gone a goal down with Makelele in the starting line-up. On both occasions we turned it around and emerged 2-1 winners after Makelele was substituted. A coincidence?
Man of the Match
A tough one. Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, or even John Obi Mikel? You decide.
Final thoughts
Jose Mourinho continues to work his magic. Roman Abramovich looked pretty pleased, smiling when the final whistle blew and shaking his head as if wondering how Mourinho pulls these things off. The Champions League dream is still alive - what's the betting we draw Liverpool in the quarter-finals?
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My boss called me 20 minutes into the first half which meant I missed most of the remainder of the half. Probably just as well.
Mikel was a revelation. Nothing seems to faze him. For nineteen, he is some player. Carvalho has become a different player since he has been leading the defense. This bodes well for when JT is fit again. The goal we gave away was a disaster but was the only error I saw Essien commit. With his drives deep into Porto territory he (like Drogba) was playing everywhere. hard to choose between him and Drogs for player of the year.
What has happened to Frank? If there is a worry, it must surely be with his current form. Maybe he needs a rest. Ballack may not actually do very much but he always seems to be somewhere near the ball. He covered Diarra well at times, and of course, scored a moderately useful goal.
Robben is an enigma. He looks great at times, sometimes makes the killer pass (but more often does not), and scores more than his share of goals. I should be enthusiastic, but somehow I'm not. Maybe I'm pining too much for Joe Cole.
We'll have to play better in the quarters, especially if it is Liverpool who made Barcelona look very ordinary at times, even if they did sneak a goal. I'm more worried by Sunday. Now that is a game we could trip over.
If I had a choice of teams, I would go for Real Madrid (or PSV if they manage to dispatch Arsenal). Not Valencia, which probably seals it.
Graham,
Ballack scored a "moderately useful goal"? Man it won us the game...how crucial do you want the goal to get?
Did I hear some fans booing Ballack last night? If so that is despicable...
The Ballack/ Lampard thing is becoming a conundrum, but I think at the heart of it is something far simpler.
Lamps is NOT a born Captain. JT takes the role in his stride, and Ballack would as well having proven at Bayern and for Germany that he can do the job. Lamps however is very much a fish out of water. He reminds me of Ian Botham when he captained the English cricket team A great cricketer but a man who's form dissolved under the additional pressure of trying to set fields, decide batting orders and translate tactics. Once the burden was removed he was able, like many great sportsman to focus on the things that he knew he was good at, and hey presto his form came back in time to win the Ashes. Similarly in cricket Flintoff looks very similar to me despite his apparent willingness to take the role - but whereas Vaughan can adapt and take the pressure, Flintoff has rarely put in a good performance whilst being Captain.
There are numerous similar examples across a range of sports where people have been given the Captaincy and the focus on that role has lost them the form that their fame relies on. Martin Corry in Rugby Union is a great example and I'd argue that Thierry Henry is similar (ask most Arsenal fans!)
Make Ballack the deputy captain to cover for JT and you'll see a different Frank. If JT is back at the weekend, watch frank get back in the groove.
Maka has been a shadow this season in most games and I'll make no apology for stating once again that he has gone on a season too long. He's like a boxer who's big heart isn't telling him that it's time to dip out. Everyone can see it it but him. JM should act like a Special One, put his arm around Maka and break the news to him that this is over. Sad, but inevitable.
Obi Mikel - Graham has this spot on - I am firmly going from doubter to believer where this boy is concerned. His composure on the ball is amazing, if not his mental composure (he does look to be an emotional kid) and is a very bright prospect.
On the whole a satisfactory result, but there's no doubt that we haven't been anywhere near our previous best's all season and that's a worry. The team should have bedded in by now and yet we haven't been anywhere near as slick and dominant as in the last 2 seasons. Nor have we been anywhere near as entertaining and that, for me, is also as worrying. The loss of Joe Cole is a blow but are we that reliant on one player for falir and entertainment? That is wrong. We know we are good and yet we seem to give opponents too much respect especially in the first half of a match. One day this will trip us up, and arguably did at Anfield. I can't believe the loss of Duff, Billy and Eidur is responsible for this, but as Champions we should be swaggering around games, chests puffed out and putting on the odd display, but seriously folks when was the last time we saw this? Is it time for JM to consider entertaining as part of the strategy? There's just a nagging doubt in my mind that for £650 a season I shouldn't consistently be feeling that I've been watching a battle. Sometimes I want to see a show.
Yes a dreadful first half performance, I was hoping to be poked in both eyes by those bloody flags, I think it would have been marginally more enjoyable.
We did have a bit more urgency about us in the second half with the obvious results, but I agree with regards Maka's contribution, he's coming to the end of a great career.
Anyway, onwards and upwards, and Rottenham Totspurs to dump out of the cup on Sunday.
Also just a quick footnote, I thought that we wouldn't meet Liverpool if they continue their run until the final, that was certainly the case with Barca, but then again I could be mistaken.
Ballack? i didn't know he started the game unitl 20 minutes in....OK he scored but his contribution until then was slow, effortless and showed no desire to close down or win the ball.
Lampard? He was our worst player on the pitch. Port marked him out; when ever the ball came to lamps there were three Porto players in front of him. His passing was terible throughout the game and he could only manage short layoff passes.
Robben? One of the better players last night; ran at them down the left then the right in the second half. So what if he dived!!! Supporters debate this everyweek, we know Robben's a diver, lets look at the nation's favourites ManUre, Ronaldo must have won three penalties this season alone for diving in the box when no contact is made.
Ashley was my man of the match. I do prefer Bridgey but Cashley was solid in defence and whipped alot of good balls in the box. Problem there was Drogs was going down alot in the first half.
Essien and Carvaliho did well at centre back minus the goal, which i think Ricky could have got to if he wasn't staring at the linesman for five minutes before trying to catch Quaresma.
The first half wasn't the worst performance we've played this season but it was down there with the baddies. No possesion, conceeding the ball, mis-timed tackles.....
AND the Bridge was silent in the first half. OK i was on the sofa at home but i was making more noise then the fans at the Bridge. It took Drogs coming out for the second half to pump up the crowd. Some might say "well at least we got to the game" fare enough but get your monies worth and SHOUT SHOUT SHOUT until you loose your voice when at the Bridge.
KTBFFH.
P.s. TonyG Didier was captain for me in the second half.
The midfield trio of Maka-Lamps-Ballack is just too cumbersome in every first half. I'd really love to see JM try a Diarra-Mikel-Essien-Robben combination before the end of the season, because that's surely where the future lies.
Lampard is looking very poor at the moment, but at least Ballack is contributing. We still have that inevitable look of victory about us – I wasn't worried for a moment despite the appalling first half last night. But be nice to give Rottenham something to think about on Sunday.
38 Comments · Add yours
Ballack was anonymous in the first half but quite improved in the second.Great move in front of the goal and excellent finish.Big man for big moments!
Credits to Mikel whose presence in the midfield made us play a lot better in the second half.
I think Roma would be a good draw in the quarter finals.No Scoucers…not yet!
wooohooooooooo....