Drogba back with a bang as Chelsea qualify for knockout phase
November 4, 2009
Didier Drogba announced his return to European football with a brace as Chelsea qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League with a 2-2 Group D draw at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Drogba, back after a three-match suspension, scored twice in the final ten minutes to put Chelsea in front only for second half substitute Sergio “Kun” Aguero to score his second with a 90th minute equaliser.
Chelsea knew a win would see them through to the next phase but in the end a draw was enough due to FC Porto’s 1-0 win at APOEL in Tuesday’s other group match.
Drogba had not played in the Champions League since May after he was hit with a three-match ban for insulting the referee after the semi-final defeat to Barcelona and showed his striking prowess.
“It was a good game but frustrating because we didn’t win it,” said Drogba. “I have played many Champions League games with Chelsea in the past and to be honest I am just happy to be back on the pitch.
“We have qualified which is great although it would have been nice to do it with a win.”
Aguero had put Atletico into a 66th minute lead but the Ivory Coast forward headed an equaliser on 82 minutes and struck again on 88 minutes.
Argentine Aguero equalised in the final minute for Atletico’s first goal in the competition and ended Chelsea’s 100 percent record but they still progress.
Chelsea now hope to be back in Madrid in May for the final at the Santiago Bernabeu as they aim to win the Champions League for the first time in their history.
With qualification wrapped up Carlo Ancelotti’s side can concentrate on the crunch title clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea lead the English Premier League two points ahead of reigning champions United.
Atletico, third from bottom in Spain, have just two points in the group and can only hope for a spot in the Europa League as they prepare for a weekend derby against Real Madrid.
Chelsea routed Atletico 4-0 in their first match in London a fortnight ago without Drogba and Atletico, who have the worst defensive record in the Spanish top-flight, must have feared the worst.
Ancelotti resisted the temptation to rest stars with Manchester United on the horizon and even welcomed back Ashley Cole who recovered from a knee injury to begin at left back.
His opposite number “Quique” Sanchez Flores played a somewhat conservative 4-5-1 with Diego Forlan as the main striker.
Atletico were far from defensive despite their formation and were shooting from long range to try and steal a goal.
Jose Antonio Reyes almost scored in the 20th minute with a super curling shot but Petr Cech tipped the effort over the crossbar.
Chelsea had plundered an impressive 17 goals in their last four matches but didn’t threaten too much. However, they went close on the half hour mark when Salomon Kalou, a two-goal hero against Atletico in the first game, headed just wide.
Six minutes into the second half Drogba watched on in agony as his free-kick was touched onto the post by goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.
Flores decided to throw on Aguero for Florent Sinama Pongolle and it reaped rewards when the Argentine volleyed in from 15 yards out 12 minutes after coming on.
It was Atletico’s first goal in this season’s Champions League and the first Chelsea had conceded in Europe.
Drogba should have equalised in the 73rd minute after being put through on goal but dragged his shot poorly wide.
However he found his touch in the 82nd minute heading in Malouda’s cross and scored when he outmuscled his marker to score again in the 88th minute before Aguero completed a crazy final ten minutes.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: 88 minutes, aguero, apoel, Argentine, atletico madrid, Barcelona, Carlo, carlo ancelotti, champions league, CHELSEA, Cole, crunch, didier drogba, English Premier League, Europe, good game, Ivory Coast, jose antonio reyes, knockout, league games, london, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, Petr Cech, PORTO, premier league, prowess, Quique, real madrid, Salomon Kalou, Santiago, santiago bernabeu, Sergio, Sergio Asenjo, Spain, stamford bridgeRelated posts
Chelsea´s Ancelotti prays for more Anelka magic
October 21, 2009
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will be praying for another dose of Champions League magic from Nicolas Anelka as the Blues bid to erase the memory of their recent domestic difficulties.
Ancelotti’s side reeled off eight successive wins at the start of the season to widespread acclaim, but the wheels have come off Chelsea’s bandwagon after defeats at Wigan and Aston Villa.
The west London club’s 2-1 loss at Villa on Saturday wasn’t as shocking as the Wigan embarrassment, but it cost Chelsea their place on top of the Premier League and raised questions about Ancelotti’s defence, whose shoddy marking was exposed at two set-pieces.
Suddenly Chelsea don’t look quite so all-conquering, but they have a chance to get back on track in Wednesday’s European clash against Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
Victories over Porto and Apoel Nicosia have put Ancelotti’s team top of Group D and three points against Atletico would all but secure their place in the knockout stages.
If Chelsea do get another win it would be little surprise if the decisive blow is delivered by France striker Anelka.
The former Real Madrid star has scored both of the Blues’ match-winning goals in the Champions League this season and his form in Europe has helped to overcome the absence of suspended Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba.
Drogba was banned for three games by UEFA following his rant at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo following their controversial semi-final defeat against Barcelona last season.
But Anelka has thrived in Drogba’s absence and he claims playing alongside adaptable forwards like Nwankwo Kanu and Dennis Bergkamp during his time at Arsenal has been instrumental in his success at leading the attack.
“You know when you play with big players like Bergkamp or Kanu that you will learn – I have learned from a lot of people that I’ve played with and tried to take a little bit from all of them,” Anelka said.
“I am a striker but not at the top of the team and I’m still in the centre of the pitch – a bit like the position Dennis Bergkamp used to play.
“He used to play for Arsenal like that when I was there, not like a striker, but not a number 10 or a midfield player either.
“You play between the number 10 position and the centre-forward position, that’s nine-and-a-half.
“In the position I play you need to know before you get the ball where your team-mates are and try to be clever because in modern football doing something clever is advantageous.
“I’m not sure if too many other players like playing in this position but I enjoy it a lot.
“You have to be very clever now. It is not enough just to be a very good footballer or very athletic, because if you do not have the intelligence to make the right decisions on the pitch, I don’t think you will make it at the highest level.”
Atletico, who travel to England on the back of a dismal 3-0 defeat at Osasuna, are languishing in the lower reaches of La Liga as well as sitting bottom of their European group.
Under-pressure boss Abel Resino needs a big performance from former Manchester United Diego Forlan – last season’s European golden boot winner.
Forlan said: “Things haven’t been going so well and I think we have been playing with a bit of anxiety.
“But I’ve got confidence in the squad we have and I think we can turn it around soon enough.”
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: Abel Resino, apoel, aston villa, atletico madrid, Barcelona, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, decisive blow, dennis bergkamp, diego forlan, domestic difficulties, England, Europe, France, london, london club, MADRID, Manchester, Nicolas Anelka, Nicosia, nwankwo kanu, PORTO, premier league, real madrid, set pieces, stamford bridge, three games, tom henning, Tom Henning Ovrebo, west london, WiganRelated posts
Ancelotti confident Lampard will end goal drought
October 2, 2009
Carlo Ancelotti has insisted it is only a matter of time before Frank Lampard’s goal drought comes to an end — and the Italian would love to see it happen against Liverpool on Sunday.
Lampard went through the entire month of September and a total of eight games without a goal, a rarity for the England midfielder, and Chelsea suddenly appear to be struggling a little after losing to Wigan last weekend and then labouring to a 1-0 win over APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Ancelotti however professes to be unconcerned. “I’m not worried because Lampard will score and he is working hard for the team, for me this is important,” he said.
Chelsea will be without suspended goalkeeper Petr Cech against Liverpool, who ended Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge in the corresponding fixture last season.
Cech admitted the display in Cyprus had given some cause for concern.
“We scored a great goal and until the end of the first half we did well,” the Czech international said. “Then in the second half we started quite well for five minutes and then there was a moment when we started losing balls cheaply.
“We allowed them to come back into the game and unfortunately after that it became more difficult for us because we lost possession so many times in areas that were dangerous for ourselves.
“We had to run a lot and chase the ball. It is not a good game when you chase the ball.
“In the end we had to fight hard to defend the lead. The positive part of it was that we knew how to do it. We went away with a 1-0 victory but of course the second-half performance is something we have to improve.”
Chelsea will welcome back Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa, both suspended against APOEL, for the clash with Liverpool.
Michael Ballack will also be fit after shaking off the calf problem which kept him out of the defeat at Wigan.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: apoel, carlo ancelotti, cech, champions league, CHELSEA, clash, Cyprus, czech international, Drogba, eight games, England, five minutes, frank lampard, goal drought, good game, Jose, Liverpool, london, matter of time, Michael Ballack, midfielder, Nicosia, Petr Cech, rarity, stamford bridge, wednesday nightRelated posts
Ancelotti confident Lampard will end goal drought
October 1, 2009
Carlo Ancelotti has insisted it is only a matter of time before Frank Lampard’s goal drought comes to an end — and the Italian would love to see it happen against Liverpool on Sunday.
Lampard went through the entire month of September and a total of eight games without a goal, a rarity for the England midfielder, and Chelsea suddenly appear to be struggling a little after losing to Wigan last weekend and then labouring to a 1-0 win over APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Ancelotti however professes to be unconcerned. “I’m not worried because Lampard will score and he is working hard for the team, for me this is important,” he said.
Chelsea will be without suspended goalkeeper Petr Cech against Liverpool, who ended Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge in the corresponding fixture last season.
Cech admitted the display in Cyprus had given some cause for concern.
“We scored a great goal and until the end of the first half we did well,” the Czech international said. “Then in the second half we started quite well for five minutes and then there was a moment when we started losing balls cheaply.
“We allowed them to come back into the game and unfortunately after that it became more difficult for us because we lost possession so many times in areas that were dangerous for ourselves.
“We had to run a lot and chase the ball. It is not a good game when you chase the ball.
“In the end we had to fight hard to defend the lead. The positive part of it was that we knew how to do it. We went away with a 1-0 victory but of course the second-half performance is something we have to improve.”
Chelsea will welcome back Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa, both suspended against APOEL, for the clash with Liverpool.
Michael Ballack will also be fit after shaking off the calf problem which kept him out of the defeat at Wigan.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: apoel, carlo ancelotti, cech, champions league, CHELSEA, clash, czech international, Drogba, eight games, five minutes, frank lampard, goal drought, good game, Liverpool, london, matter of time, Michael Ballack, midfielder, Petr Cech, rarity, stamford bridge, wednesday nightRelated posts
Cypriot debutants APOEL hold Atletico
September 16, 2009
Atletico Madrid were held to a goalless draw in their opening Champions League group game against Cypriot debutants APOEL here on Tuesday.
Atletico owed their presence in the last 32 for the second year running to a 5-2 aggregate defeat of Greek side Panathinaikos in the play-offs, while APOEL put themselves on the European map by beating Copenhagen 3-2 over two legs.
Atletico coach Abel Resino started Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero up front while his opposite number, Serbian Ivan Jovanovic, was missing forward Nenad Mirosavljevic but welcomed back defender Altin Haxhi from suspension.
The visitors from Nicosia had the first chance of the match in the seventh minute from Maroin Zewlakow but it was virtually all one way traffic after that as Atletico dominated in attack without succeeding in breaking down APOEL’s defence.
APOEL were living dangerously when Christos Kontis was booked for a foul on Jose Manuel Jurado in the 24th minute.
Forlan stepped up to take the freekick from the edge of the area, forcing APOEL keeper Dionisios Chiotis into evasive action.
On the half hour mark Chiotis had to look lively to deny Jurado’s close range effort.
Down at the other end APOEL’s Kamil Kosowski then had a shot blocked and the Cypriot champions went into the break rueing a brace of shots off target to leave everything to play for in the second half.
Jovanovic brought Boban Grncarov on for Paulo Jorge at the start of the second period with Resino introducing Maxi Rodriguez for Cleber Santana shortly after as both sides sought to break the stalemate.
Atletico deserved to be fully in control with a total of ten shots on target compared to APOEL’s sole early effort.
But APOEL were holding out for a point at the Vicente Calderon stadium despite Atletico’s sharp superiority in attack but they came away from their debut group game with a hard earned if a little fortuitous point.
Chelsea lead Group D after a 1-0 win over FC Porto with Atletico and APOEL in a share of second.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: aguero, apoel, atletico madrid, champions league group, CHELSEA, copenhagen, cypr, diego forlan, evasive action, first chance, freekick, greek side, Ivan Jovanovic, Jose Manuel Jurado, Jovanovic, kamil kosowski, MADRID, maxi rodriguez, Nicosia, opposite number, Paulo, PORTO, Sergio Aguero, target, two legs, Vicente Calderon, zewlakowRelated posts
Barca clash with Inter, United tackle Wolfsburg in Champions League
August 28, 2009
European champions Barcelona drew Inter Milan, moneybags Real Madrid pulled AC Milan while Manchester United will take on German surprise package Wolfsburg after the Champions League group stage draw was made here on Thursday.
This season sees nine former champions go into action in the 32-team format split into eight groups of four while the quartets of teams from England and Spain will battle for an historic 13th triumph, both countries having polished off a round dozen to date.
Group A pits four-time champions Bayern Munich against two-time holders Juventus, French champions Bordeaux and Maccabi Haifa of Israel.
In Group B, Manchester United, European champions in 1968, 1999 and 2007 and beaten finalists last year, will go up against German champions Wolfsburg, Turkey’s Besiktas and CSKA Moscow.
“These are difficult ties, especially the trips to Russia and Turkey,” said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
“CSKA have developed strongly in the last few years and games in Turkey are always difficult.”
Former United star Cristiano Ronaldo’s nine-times winners, and summer megaspenders, Real Madrid will have to joust with seven-time champions AC Milan in Group C, meaning an early return to San Siro for Brazilian Kaka.
Marseille, the only French side ever to lift the trophy, and outsiders FC Zurich of Switzerland complete the group.
Chelsea, the 2008 finalists and bidding for a first crown under former AC Milan handler Carlo Ancelotti are seeded in Group D where they meet two-time champions Porto, Atletico Madrid and Cypriots APOEL Nicosia.
“We are always looking to go one step further in Europe,” said Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon. “There is not too much travel and we managed to avoid one of the bigger teams. We’ve played Porto twice in Europe and we know them better than most.”
Liverpool, who humiliated Real last season, will play in Group E along with French side Lyon, who have never been past the quarters, Fiorentina of Italy and Debrecen of Hungary.
“We tend to focus on travel commitments and we’ve got a short trip to France, a relatively short trip to Italy and a slightly longer one to Hungary,” said Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow.
Holders Barcelona will play in Group F along with Italian champions Inter, who won the last of their two European crowns in 1965 and are coached by former Barca assistant and ex-Chelsea handler Jose Mourinho.
Those encounters also mean a swift return to the Nou Camp for Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, who twice lifted the Cup with the Catalan club.
Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who went the other way, will likewise get to renew old acquaintances back at the San Siro.
Barcelona’s vice-chairman Rafael Yuste told Radio Marca he looked forward to seeing Eto’o again.
“Eto’o is a great player, always motivated no matter who he is up against.”
But he added: “We are the team to beat, the holders,” and vowed Barca would go all out to become the first team to retain the Champions League.
Dynamo Kiev and Russian champions Kazan complete the group.
Seville of Spain will compete in Group G alongside Glasgow Rangers, Germany’s VfB Stuttgart, and Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni.
Jose Castro, vice president of Sevilla, was pleased with the outcome.
“We are happy because there are much more difficult groups. Of course, all the teams will be difficilt and we will have trouble getting through. But we are satisfied with the draw,” he said.
Arsenal were drawn in Group H alongside AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands, Greek side Olympiakos and Belgium’s Standard Liege, whom the Gunners thrashed 7-0 away 16 years ago in the old Cup Winners Cup.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis noted his side’s rivals are all their country’s respective champions.
“They are three good leagues and there is a reason why they are in the competition. People might see it as a free pass for us but we don’t see it that way at all. It will be very tough.
“It is good to have relatively short travel times, that’s something that Arsene (Wenger) thinks about a lot.”
Bayern team manager Uli Hoeness said of facing Juventus that the Italian presence in particular made it “a very difficult group and there is no team we can afford to underestimate.”
And skipper Mark van Bommel said: “Everyone can qualify from this group, it is really not an easy pool.”
MONACO (AFP)
Tags: ac milan, alex ferguson, apoel, carlo ancelotti, champions league group, cristiano ronaldo, cska moscow, european champions, french side, german champions, inter milan, maccabi haifa, moneybags, peter kenyon, real madrid, san siro, sir alex ferguson, surprise package, time championsRelated posts
Overview: All UEFA Champions League 2009-10 participants
August 27, 2009
Following Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League play-off games, all 32 participants in this year’s competition are known. Here is an overview.
England: Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal
Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid
Italy: Internazionale, Milan, Juventus, Fiorentina
France: Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon
Germany: Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich, Stuttgart
Russia: Rubin Kazan, CSKA Moscow
Romania: Unirea Urziceni
Portugal: FC Porto
Netherlands: AZ Alkmaar
Scotland: Rangers
Turkey: Besiktas
Ukraine: Dynamo Kyiv
Belgium: Standard Liege
Greece: Olympiakos
Israel: Maccabi Haifa
Switzerland: Zürich
Cyprus: APOEL
Hungary: Debrecen
(32 teams from 18 countries)
Jonathan Roorda
Tags: apoel, atletico madrid, az alkmaar, Barcelona, barcelona real madrid, Bayern, bayern munich, Bordeaux, CHELSEA, chelsea arsenal, cska moscow, Cyprus, dynamo kyiv, England, england manchester, fc porto, France, internazionale milan, israel, Jonathan Roorda, Liege, Liverpool, Lyon, maccabi haifa, madrid sevilla, Manchester, Marseille, Milan, Moscow, Porto Netherlands, portugal, rubin kazan, scotland, SEVILLA, spain barcelona, standard liege, Switzerland, UEFA Champions League, ukraine, unirea urziceniRelated posts
Ketsbaia resigns as Anorthosis manager
April 13, 2009
LARNACA, Cyprus (AFP) – Temuri Ketsbaia on Monday resigned from his position as manager of Cypriot champions Anorthosis Famagusta only months after taking them to the Champions League group stage, the club said.
A statement from the club said the 40-year-old Georgian had handed in his resignation to the board during a routine meeting on Monday evening.
Ketsbaia told the board his resignation was with immediate effect and the decision came after much “soul searching” but was done for the “best interests of Anorthosis”.
“At first the board did not accept his resignation and requested it be withdrawn. Mr Ketsbaia stuck to his position and said his decision to cut short his association with the club was final,” said Anorthosis.
“The board would like to express its regret and thank Mr Ketsbaia for everything he has done as he was the main instigator of our Champions League success this season,” the club statement added.
Anorthosis said this season was the “brightest page” in its 98-year history.
Ketsbaia made history when Anorthosis became the first Cyprus team ever to reach the group stage of Europe’s premier competition.
Although they failed to qualify for the knock-out phase or even the UEFA Cup, the team remained unbeaten at home; beating Panathinaikos and holding both Inter Milan and Werder Bremen in games they could easily have won.
But apart from the Champions League achievement that put Cyprus football on the European map, Anorthosis have been disappointing on the domestic front this season.
They have failed to win against their main Nicosia rivals APOEL and Omonia, were dumped out of the Cyprus cup at a relatively early stage and APOEL are expected to be crowned the new champions needing only one point from their last three games.
Anorthosis’ season began to fall apart last November when their then chairman Andreas Panteli was arrested on embezzlement claims.
He later resigned “for the good of the club” and Ketsbaia had lost his closest ally.
Panteli had brought the former Newcastle player and Georgia international to Anorthosis as they were close personal friends.
Ketsbaia played for Anorthosis between 1992-1994 before moving on to AEK Athens and then the Premiership with Newcastle.
He returned to the Cypriot side as player-coach in the summer of 2002 securing two league titles (2005 and 2008) and retired as a player in 2007.
The club is now searching for a new manager but there are no clear front runners at present.
Tags: Andreas Panteli, anorthosis, apoel, athens, Bremen, champions league group, Cyprus, cyprus football, embezzlement, Europe, Famagusta, Georgia, group stage, instigator, inter milan, knock out, LARNACA, larnaca cyprus, last november, Milan, Mr Ketsbaia, NEWCASTLE, Nicosia, omonia, panathinaikos, resignation, rivals, temuri ketsbaia, three games, UEFA Cup, Werder, werder bremen, World CupRelated posts
Calendar
Related Sites
- AFP
- e-soccertips
- Free Themes All - Blogger, Wordpress, Joomla themes
- Soccer Results
- soccerway
- WAGS
- WAGS Blog
Categories
- 1 League
- A PFG
- A-League
- African
- Argentina
- Belgium
- Brasil
- Bundesliga
- CAF Champions League
- Club Friendlies
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup
- Cup
- English Championship
- English Premier League
- Eredivisie
- European Championships
- FA Cup
- FIFA
- Franch
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Jupiler League
- LA Liga
- LigaBwin
- Ligue 1
- MLS
- netherlands
- Olympics
- Olympics Women
- Photo
- portugal
- premier league
- Primera Division
- Rusia Premier League
- scotland
- Scottish Premier League
- Serie A
- Super Copa
- Super League
- Sweden
- Turkcell Süper Lig
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Cup
- Umaglesi Liga
- Uncategorized
- United States
- Video
- Vietnam
- Wag Watch
- WAGS
- WC Qualifying Asia
- WC Qualifying Concacaf
- WC Qualifying Europe
- WC Qualifying South-Africa
- WC Qualifying South-America
- World Cup
