CL LIV 1 – 1 CHEL
Well not the dull affair that I had expected. Both sides started slowly and poorly. Drogbaaaaaaa (thanks Clive) was given an early free kick for a weak challenge and his behaviour was consistent throughout the game, unlike the referee. It was a scrappy game for the first 20 minutes, a few poor chances after spells of brief possession. Playing Cech should have been a weakness and early on it looked to be as he flinched/drew back from a challenge. I don’t blame the man after his 50 stitch effort but it could have been a problem.
Chelsea did have the first best controlled effort of the first half and like much of their possession threatened but failed to produce much.
The ref was very harsh early on and along with the players attitudes made for a scrappy, stop start game.
From early on Drogba did his “I’ve been shot” impression and keeled over at any opportunity, please will some ref card him for this! Like the vast majority of his minute or two on the ground writhing type efforts he quickly recovered, until the next time of course. Drogba was involved in an entanglement in the box which could have been seen as a penalty, but his own less than enthusiastic plea showed it for what it was, two players with no control over the ball colliding. The ref sensibly waved play on.
The latter part of the first half was Liverpools, including an excellent Kuyt nutmeg of Ashley Cole. Kuyt showed his worth by scoring late on in the first half, if he hadn’t scored when he did he could have been given a penalty for a trio of kung-fu style challenges on him, which while lacking massive contact were pretty good (desperate) attempts to stop the player scoring. The goal wasn’t agaisnt the run of play, there was no run to go against, but it was deserved.
The second half was as the first ended, slightly longer periods of possession, with Liverpool having the best of the game, but ultimately leading to nothing. John Terry showed his credentials by giving Torres some knee style follow through after an attempt on goal. Shows hes got balls like water melons that does. I do hope Capello gives the Captaincy to someone else. Drogba did yet another pathetic dive in amongst not much else from Chelsea. Carvalho also gave a nice fist to the back of Torreses head as part of a tackle. Torres might feel pleased that they feel he is such a threat, but it just shows the total lack of class Chelsea have. Ashley Cole got away with a proper Kung-Fu style tackle late on, the ref by then totally inconsistent compared to the first half by letting all sorts of nonsense go on.
Liverpools last best chance was by Stevie G which required a great Cech save.
But a late, late, own goal gave Chelsea an undeserved equaliser and away goal. Chelsea’s smug, practically suggesting victory hand slapping after the own goal was funny in a way, as they should have lost this by more than one. With the away goal, they may well win this now, undeservedly and unwelcome perhaps, but Avram Grant looks to be closer to steering Chelsea to a final than the so called Special one ever was.