The TimesMay 21, 2008
United win Champions League on penalties
Richard Neale
Manchester United have beaten Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a pulsating 120 minutes of action in Moscow ended with the sides deadlocked at 1-1.
Cristiano Ronaldo - who had earlier scored in normal time - was the guilty party for United, seeing his penalty saved, before John Terry, with the tenth penalty of the shootout, missed the chance to win the match for Chelsea, the captain slipping and seeing his effort clip the outside of the post. With the score at 6-5 to United, Nicolas Anelka then had his kick saved by United's Dutch international goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar to seal a victory every bit as dramatic as their last-minute triumph over Bayern Munich in 1999.
The prolific Ronaldo gave Manchester United the lead with a powerful header after 26 minutes, only for Frank Lampard to score a somewhat fortuitous equaliser for Chelsea on the stroke of half-time, the England midfielder profiting when an ambitious Michael Essien shot was deflected into his path.
Probably not believing their luck at going in at the interval on level terms after having been outplayed for the most part, Chelsea were the dominant force against an evidently tiring United in the second half and Didier Drogba struck a post with 12 minutes remaining.
Lampard then hit the underside of the bar in an equally thrilling first period of extra time, while John Terry headed away a goalbound effort from Ryan Giggs, a second-half substitute, with the Chelsea goalkeeper this time beaten. It was pulsating, thrilling, end-to-end action in a final that started slowly but grew in intensity and by the end was being played in an atmosphere of almost unbearable tension.
Ultimately, that pressure reached boiling point and beyond as Drogba was shown the red card for slapping Nemanja Vidic in the face in the midst of a mass alternation featuring at least half a dozen players from both sides.
With so much at stake, both sides were anxious not to throw many players forward in the early stages and there was not a shot to speak of in the first quarter of an hour, before Ronaldo, who else, brought the crowd in the Luzhniki Stadium to their feet with a piece of brilliance down the left wing.
Like a conjuror, Ronaldo showed the ball to Michael Essien before making it disappear before the Ghanaian’s very eyes, jinking his way past the makeshift right back in a flash before delivering a cross which bypassed Petr Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper, but was too high for Owen Hargreaves.
Tempers flared midway through the half as Claude Makelele chased a loose ball in midfield. The France international appeared favourite to win it, but Paul Scholes went in with a robust challenge which resulted in the pair clashing heads.
Manchester United’s former England midfielder was treated for a nasty-looking facial injury and the challenge resulted in a melee which saw Wayne Rooney push Ashley Cole. The two initial protagonists were both shown the yellow card by the Slovakian referee Lubos Michel.
Finally, Chelsea started to carry a threat. A cross from Lampard looked certain to pick out the unmarked Drogba before Vidic made a timely headed intervention. Lampard’s right-wing corner then brushed the top of Terry’s head with United defenders floundering.
Scholes came back on to the pitch after his continued participation had appeared in some doubt, which would have been heartbreaking for a player who had missed the 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich through suspension. Immediately after his return, the ginger-haired midfielder had a hand in creating the opening goal. A quick throw-in and interchange of passes gave Wes Brown some space to cross and his centre was perfect for Ronaldo, who escaped the attentions of the snoozing Essien to bullet a header past the statuesque and helpless Cech for his 42nd goal of an incredible season
Chelsea attempted to respond but Ballack’s effort from 25 yards although well struck was way over the crossbar.
The woes for Avram Grant’s side continued to grow, and Drogba required treatment for a back problem after an aerial clash with Rio Ferdinand. Scholes, very reluctantly, finally acquiesced and kicked the ball out of play to allow the trainer to come on to the pitch and attend the Ivory Coast striker with the notoriously low pain threshold.
Chelsea, though, awoke from their lethargy and came close to levelling. Lampard played an inch-perfect cross to Drogba at the far-post and his header into the centre was almost headed into his own goal by Ferdinand, under intense, and palpably unfair pressure from Ballack. Van der Sar made an excellent reaction save to tip the ball over the bar.
At the other end, United could have doubled their lead within a minute. Rooney’s raking pass picked out Ronaldo and his centre in turn found Carlos Tevez, whose header was kept out by a wonderful low save by Cech, the goalkeeper quickly regaining his feet to parry away the follow-up from Carrick.
Chelsea’s defence looked ragged and vulnerable. Rooney burst down the right and crossed with barely a second thought for Tevez, who could only get the ends of his studs to what was a glorious chance.
Then out of the blue, Grant’s men were level just before the interval. Essien’s hopeful long-range effort hit Ferdinand on the back and cannoned kindly to Lampard, who is not the kind of goal-poacher to make a mistake from 10 yards. No wonder United looked shell-shocked – it was the first goal they had conceded in nearly nine hours of football in Europe.
In first-half stoppage time Ronaldo was felled by a brutal challenge by Carvalho, his Portugal international team-mate, which resulted in the fourth yellow card of the first period.
Ronaldo showed his vision once more early in the second half to free Patrice Evra down the left, but the Frenchman’s cross was too high, as was Essien’s left-foot shot after he had collected a Florent Malouda through-ball and cut back to leave two Manchester United defenders chasing shadows.
Ballack skewed a right-foot thunderbolt wide but for once it was the London club who were asking the questions. As the pressure on United intensified, Ferdinand was treated for cramp with 20 minutes remaining.
Chelsea were within inches of getting their noses in front when Drogba exploded into life seven minutes later, collecting the ball on the edge of the penalty area, he unleashed an exquisite curling shot which rebounded to safety off the outside of the post.
With extra time looming, Sir Alex Ferguson threw on Ryan Giggs for Scholes, the Wales player surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 758 appearances for United in the process.
Lampard - who had appeared to be a man driven after the untimely death of his mother Pat - also struck the Manchester United woodwork. Collecting a ball from Ballack, he cut back onto his left foot and unleashed a shot which crashed back off the underside of the bar.
But back came United - Evra's surging run took him into the area and the ball broke to Giggs, who curiously opted to shoot with the outside of his right foot with the goal gaping. The omnipresent Terry was there to head the effort to safety with Cech beaten.
Drogba - unhappy and linked with a summer move away - never gave up trying in the cause and thrashed a 25-yard free-kick just wide, though his evening was to come to a premature end after an argument over not kicking the ball out of play after an injury spiralled out of all proportion to the nature of the perceived offence
How Chelsea ratedMatt Hughes Formation: 4-3-3 Average rating: 6.8
Petr Cech 8Kept Chelsea in the match with an amazing double save from Tévez and Carrick in the 35th minute as United threatened to race to a 3-0 lead and saved Ronaldo’s penalty in the shoot-out.
Michael Essien 6Appeared an accident waiting to happen at the back, repeatedly beaten by Ronaldo and Evra and at fault for the first goal, but gave Chelsea energy and momentum going forward.
Ricardo Carvalho 7Booked for a late challenge on Ronaldo but otherwise faultless, frequently called upon to cover as the positioning of Essien and occasionally Terry, his captain, was exposed.
John Terry 7May never recover from missing the penalty that would have given Chelsea their first European Cup, but deserves every sympathy after another wholehearted performance.
Ashley Cole 6Not 100 per cent fit after his prematch collision with Makelele and was kept busy in his defensive role by the rampaging Hargreaves, although he was fortunate to escape trial by Ronaldo.
Michael Ballack 7Started slowly but gradually began to dominate as Chelsea exerted a stranglehold at the start of the second half, going close with a free kick and blasting over the bar from distance.
Claude Makelele 7Rarely caught the eye, other than Scholes’s in a nasty collision, although that is not his role and he was as busy as ever, making more passes than any other Chelsea player.
Frank Lampard 8Appeared engaged in a one-man battle to keep Chelsea in the match, playing several good balls to Drogba and grabbing the equaliser before hitting the bar with an exquisite chip in extra time.
Joe Cole 6Chelsea’s player of the season has tired as the campaign has reached its climax and disappointed last night, flickering on occasions without ever really looking threatening.
Didier Drogba 7Well marshalled by Ferdinand and Vidic but still a considerable handful, hitting the post with a curling shot in the second half before sullying his reputation with a needless sending-off.
Florent Malouda 6Preferred to Kalou for his experience and superior ball retention and determined to make the most of his opportunity, running at Brown from the outset without ever really troubling the right back.
Substitutions: Salomon Kalou (for Malouda, 92min) 5; Nicolas Anelka (for J Cole, 99) 5, Juliano Belletti (for Makelele, 120). Not used: Carlo Cudicini, Andriy Shevchenko, John Obi Mikel, Alex.
Booked: Makelele, Carvalho, Ballack, Essien. Sent off: Drogba. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Manchester United join Europe's greats after Moscow winBy Henry Winter at the Luzhnki Stadium
Manchester United (1) 1 Chelsea (1) 1 Aet: 1-1; Manchester United win 6-5 on pens
The heavens opened over this epic all-English final last night, weeping tears of joy for Manchester United and tears of sympathy for John Terry. What a beautiful way for United to mark the 50th anniversary of Munich, but what a brutal way for such an honest pro as Terry to be treated by the sporting gods, his foot slipping on the uncertain surface as he addressed what would have been the winning penalty in a merciless shoot-out. Football, bloody hell.
When Nicolas Anelka's kick was then saved by the magnificent Edwin van der Sar, and United's players cavorted in the rain, Terry's misery was complete. England's captain adores Chelsea so deeply, loves football so intensely, that his pain was palpable. Avram Grant, Chelsea's coach for a few hours more, showed real dignity in moving swiftly to console his captain, who wept on his shoulder.
Kings of Europe: Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs hold aloft Manchester United's third European Cup in Moscow
If the heart went out to Terry and Frank Lampard, who had also given everything, and the rest of Grant's band of blue-shirted brothers who could easily have won, the heart had to leap with delight at the sight of United laying their eager hands on a third European Cup.
United's sense of adventure, their commitment to youth, the unbelievable running of Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves, the work ethic of Wayne Rooney and Wes Brown, and the magic of Cristiano Ronaldo all deserved the reward of being crowned kings of Europe.
Even when Ronaldo missed during the shoot-out, the Portuguese wizard had done enough to remind the world of his virtuoso talent on the grandest stage. His first-half header was a gem, matched only by the excellence of Lampard's riposte just before the break.
If a night crammed with heroes offered up one villain it had to be Didier Drogba, deservedly expelled for slapping Nemanja Vidic. If this brilliant target-man does now exit the Bridge of sighs, he leaves with his head held low. His act of stupidity robbed Chelsea of a regular penalty-taker, so ushering Terry into the firing line.
advertisementAs Drogba stood in the shadows of shame, a centre-half not known for dead-ball prowess had the nerve to take a penalty. When the studs of his left boot failed to grip on the slippery surface, echoing David Beckham's misfortune at Euro 2004, belief ebbed from the Londoners. As a distraught Terry went up to receive some metal that never glitters, the loser's medal, Chelsea fans rallied to their heartbroken captain, chanting his name.
United followers will observe that there was something fitting in Sir Bobby Charlton, that powerful testament to United's survival after Munich, leading the heirs to Sir Matt Busby's great tradition up to collect the European Cup. Terry and his vanquished team-mates were led up by chief executive, Peter Kenyon.
And so United painted the town red last night, sending fans celebrating into Red Square. United's victory was awash with history. No more fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of Munich could be imagined than the sight of Ferguson's ambitious young team shining on the European stage.
No more appropriate celebration of the 40 years since United first lifted the trophy could be scripted than this triumph for the new holy trinity of Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.
When Old Trafford chants "stand up for the champions", the words will ring with a double resonance: champions of England and champions of Europe. For Ferguson, the trophy collected last night gleamed with particular significance, taking him into a select band of managers to have masterminded two European Cup triumphs like Helenio Herrera, Brian Clough and Ottmar Hitzfeld.
As Chelsea lick their wounds and rebuild, with a new manager, United look forward to a glamorous season. Ferguson's side qualify for the Super Cup in Monaco where they meet Zenit St Petersburg as well as the pre-Christmas jaunt to Tokyo for the World Club Championship. More journeys, more joys.
The 30,000 United fans who flocked to the Luzhniki, fathers and sons, groups of friends, revelled in a night they will never, ever forget. Whatever happens in the future, they will always have Moscow, always have that image of Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs lifting the European Cup as Ferguson beamed with smiles.
United's manager had been bold, unleashing his most attacking players, Tevez joining Ronaldo and Rooney in a 4-4-2 formation with Hargreaves starting on the right, reprising a role he filled successfully at home to Roma. Wary of Chelsea's central strength, Hargreaves often tucked inside to assist Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.
United were first to show, scoring after 26 minutes. When Ashley Cole conceded a throw-in deep in Chelsea territory, Scholes combined superbly with Brown, who worked the ball on to his left foot as United's attackers made their moves.
Rooney darted towards the near-post, Tevez ventured towards the centre, dragging the centre-backs with them, isolating Essien against Ronaldo. As Brown's cross dropped over, Ronaldo outjumped Essien, showing power and timing as he met the ball firmly with his head, sending it flying past Cech from 10 yards.
Cech was superb, soon showing his prowess, following a United surge of breathtaking brilliance. When Rooney acquired the ball in his own half, he immediately spotted Ronaldo's lung-breaking burst down the left. Rooney found him, triggering a remarkable sequence of events.
Ronaldo's hard cross was met by the stooping Tevez, whose header drew an unbelievable save from Cech. Terry completed the clearance but only to the edge of the area where Carrick was arriving like the Trans-Siberian Express. The midfielder met the ball sweetly enough, but too close to Cech, who stretched out his right hand and palmed the ball away. "Come on", screamed Cech.
What a game. Tight? Cagey? No chance. These two Premier League heavyweights kept tearing into each other, Lampard equalising with a neat shot when Essien's effort deflected off Vidic and Ferdinand. Lampard raced away, pointing to the heavens, remembering his mother, who passed away so tragically recently. "That's for you," Lampard mouthed.
Drogba almost broke a post with a fantastic 30-yarder, Lampard struck the bar as Chelsea then dominated. But Van der Sar stood firm in the shoot-out.
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Man Utd 1 Chelsea 1 (aet; MU win 6-5 on pens): Terry's cruel slip hands Cup to United on unforgettable night
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent at the Luzhniki StadiumThursday, 22 May 2008
At Old Trafford they believed that for the sheer edge-of-the-seat, heartstopping drama 1999 would never be beaten. And then at 1.35 Moscow time this morning, suddenly we had to reassess the definition of an extraordinary, stupendous way to win the Champions League, Manchester United-style.
It was a truly remarkable night, one that will live in the pantheon forever and quite possibly scar the psyche of every Chelsea fan who witnessed it. In the Russian roulette of the penalty shootout, John Terry had only to beat Edwin van der Sar with the last penalty of 10 to bring the European Cup to the club he been at his entire career. When Terry slipped and shot wide, Roman Abramovich slumped back into his chair. £578m does not buy a man immunity to the cruelties of this game.
The Russian billionaire had his head in his hands as United polished off Chelsea in sudden death, the decisive moment when Van der Sar stopped Nicolas Anelka's penalty. Within seconds, Sir Alex Ferguson was with his players on the pitch, wiping the rain from his eyes like an old gent caught in the garden when a storm struck. But Ferguson is no retiree. At 66 he is the 16th manager in history to win the European Cup more than once, he has done it in the 50th anniversary year of the Munich air disaster and as he embraced Cristiano Ronaldo you would not bet against the old boy equalling Bob Paisley's record of three.
Did someone mention Ronaldo? Incredibly the only United player to miss from the spot was the player of the year, the assassin from 12 yards and the man who, after a 42-goal season, came within a whisker of blowing his club's amazing double. Instead it was Terry who was left to weep on the shoulder of assistant manager Steve Clarke; the Chelsea captain broken into bits by his miss, standing in the drifting rain of a Moscow night wondering if he is destined to be remembered forever for one thing. The man who missed.
As his standing foot slipped as he struck his penalty, Terry was the victim of the piece. The victim but not the villain – that was Didier Drogba, needlessly sent off for flicking a hand into the face of Nemanja Vidic four minutes before the end of extra-time. Would he have taken that Terry penalty had he been on the pitch? As they stood stunned on the pitch at the end, sodden in the rain, brought to heel by the Ferguson-effect you had to wonder what this would mean for the Abramovich Chelsea project?
It was not a beautiful game, rather it was tense and utterly absorbing for the clash of styles of the titans of English football. Ronaldo's goal gave United the lead and for a period it looked that he, along with Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, would sweep all before them. Then Chelsea came back remorselessly, exerting a grip on the game that had looked beyond them at times, and Frank Lampard scored the equaliser. Over 120 minutes, Chelsea had the better chances, perhaps shaded the victory on points, but this is not, as Bayern Munich would testify, enough to beat United.
As Abramovich clapped listlessly in the expensive seats and Ferguson leapt around in the rain with his players you had to wonder at the enduring quality of this man. Five years ago the Russian oligarch came to England and set out to undo the Ferguson dynasty. Five years on and both United and Chelsea have two Premier League titles in that period but it was Ferguson in Abramovich's hometown who carried off the prize they both really wanted. He just will not be stopped.
As Sir Bobby Charlton led United up to collect the trophy it was worth remembering that the game that had started one day earlier had finished on 22 May, the date which, 62 years earlier, George Best had been born. There was meaning and significance everywhere you looked. Ronaldo stood with his arm around Charlton as they waited for Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand to be presented with the trophy. Later the Portuguese winger said that he wanted to stay. The answer to that was: who would want to leave this club?
Ferguson made the hard decision and picked Tevez, as well as his two dashing blades Rooney and Ronaldo and when United slipped gloriously into their stride after the first 20 minutes you were bound to agree. Once United had become accustomed to the dimensions of this large pitch, and the cluttered early exchanges had ceased, there was a period when Ferguson's team were out of Chelsea's control.
His nose bloodied from a challenge with Claude Makelele, Paul Scholes took charge of the game for 10 crucial minutes and United seized the lead. Their goal, on 26 minutes, was beautifully worked. Out on the right wing, Scholes and Wes Brown worked the ball around Lampard and the right-back flighted a ball to the back post which caught Michael Essien out. The Ghanaian is a formidable athlete but he does not have the instincts of a full-back and he allowed Ronaldo the space to head the ball down past Petr Cech.
United could have won the game in the next 15 minutes before, at last, Chelsea contained them again. It would have been an astonishing goal if they had pulled it off on 35 minutes, Rooney breaking away from Ashley Cole in the United half, taking half a dozen strides and hitting a peach of a ball crossfield to Ronaldo. Two touches from him and a low cross into the box that Tevez headed at Cech. Terry cleared and the Chelsea goalkeeper then hauled himself to his feet and stopped Michael Carrick's follow-up.
Breathless stuff and United going straight for the jugular. Three minutes before the break Rooney crossed from the right, his ball eluding Makelele and then, by inches, the outstretched boot of Tevez, too. The faces of Ferguson and the rest of the United bench told their story – they could have had this game won. But already Chelsea were stopping the tide and on 45 minutes, they equalised.
A weak clearance from Ferdinand was picked up by Essien marauding in from the right and he hit a shot that took two deflections on its passage through the United box. As Van der Sar came to get the ball, his foot slipped beneath him and he was fractionally late to prevent Lampard, whose run had taken him deep into the United area, from lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net.
United had only themselves to blame: Carrick should have scored, so too Tevez and now they were back level with a team that were gaining momentum by the second. After the break Chelsea poured forward remorselessly. Essien shot over having held off Ronaldo's challenge; Michael Ballack shot a fraction wide. There was bad feeling: Owen Hargreaves against Makelele; Joe Cole and Patrice Evra, and you could see the Drogba incident coming.
He had hit the post 12 minutes from time and then lost his head in extra-time after Tevez had kicked the ball away. It took Drogba too long to get off the pitch and it may be the last Chelsea see of him. Rooney was substituted before the penalties, it was a flat evening from him and he ripped off his shirt in frustration as he reached the dugout. As for the penalties, Van der Sar said he knew which way Anelka was going to shoot which meant that by then he was the only calm head in the place.
Manchester United (4-1-4-1): Van der Sar; Brown (Anderson, 120), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick; Ronaldo, Scholes (Giggs, 88), Hargreaves, Rooney (Nani, 101); Tevez. Substitutes not used: Kuszczak (gk), O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Essien, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Makelele (Belletti, 120); J Cole (Anelka, 98), Lampard, Ballack, Malouda (Kalou, 92); Drogba. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Shevchenko, Mikel, Alex.
Referee: L Michel (Slovakia).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Guardian report Min-by-min Match facts Champions' League FinalManchester United 1 Ronaldo 26 Chelsea 1 Lampard 45
Kevin McCarra in Moscow The Guardian, Thursday May 22 2008
Manchester United are once more engulfed in the delirious joy of Champions League melodrama. They were on the verge of defeat in the shoot-out as the Chelsea captain John Terry came up to take the penalty that would have brought the Champions League trophy to Stamford Bridge. His standing foot slipped as he struck the ball and the effort flew wide. A failure by Cristiano Ronaldo had been cancelled out.
The momentum was irreversibly United's and, in the end, Edwin van der Sar ensured that the trophy would come to Old Trafford for the third time by saving the spot kick from the substitute Niciolas Anelka. This is a club that cannot come by glory in this tournament until it has scared itself senseless. The Luzhniki Stadium witnessed a spectacle to compare with the comeback in 1999 when Bayern Munich were overtaken at the close of the final.
The memorability of such a moment depends, as well, on the images of the losers' unforgettable pain. Terry had been magnificent and, 11 minutes into extra-time, had somehow twisted his neck to head away a shot by the substitute Ryan Giggs that was bound for the net. It seemed inconceivable then that such a character could be brought low.
He is no culprit. The single person meriting blame is Didier Droga, sent off four minutes from the close of extra-time for aiming a slap at the United centre-half Nemanja Vidic following a melee after Chelsea had expected the ball to be returned to them at a throw-in. That folly by the Ivorian did not mar one of the most engrossing Champions League finals of modern times.
There is always a craving to consecrate winners as deserving of their prize. It is tempting to do that because, in the first-half particularly, they scored, wasted openings and were thwarted by the goalkeeper Petr Cech. That was an outstanding spell, but Chelsea's self-belief was also imposing. At times they appeared ready to overpower Sir Alex Ferguson's team.
The Scot declared this to be the first major shoot-out to have gone his way. Ignoring the fact that the bauble of the Community Shield came United's way in just such a fashion, against Chelsea, at the start of this season. Ferguson's memory has a great deal to contain and he has now conquered in all four of his European finals since the days with Aberdeen.
It might all have been different in Moscow and Drogba had struck the post during extra-time. Nothing, it appears, goes in favour of the Chelsea manager Avram Grant for long. The Israeli could well have imagined that his luck was turning when his team came through an initial bombardment. Now there will be more uncertainty and disquiet.
Terry's failure from the spot brought a gesture of wry exasperation from Roman Abramovich. The owner will ask himself if he is employing an unlucky manager or one who falls a little short of what is needed. Either way, the Russian, deliberating in Moscow last night, cannot ignore the fact that Chelsea have failed to take trophy for the first time in four seasons. Nor would he have liked the way in which United initially took his side by surprise.
To Chelsea's regret it turned out that it is possible for one of these teams to surprise the other. United did more still, disconcerting the opposition with tactics that helped Ronaldo score against these adversaries for the first time in his career. United had been sent out in a 4-4-2 formation that some might have supposed had been stashed in the Old Trafford museum. The purpose of it was to exploit the narrowness of Chelsea's 4-3-3 system and bedevil the full-backs. Michael Essien was the principal target. Accustomed as the Ghanaian midfielder is to operating on the right of the defence on occasions such as this, he has no experience of the suffering to which Ronaldo subjected him.The winger had left him utterly stranded in one incident and then embarrassed him more severely with the opener in the 27th minute. Paul Scholes exchanged passes with Wes Brown on the right and the latter stroked an unexpectedly good inswinging cross with his left foot. Ronaldo skipped in front of a static Essien to glide a perfect header low into the net.
It was a bruising encounter, with Scholes, for instance, requiring attention to a bloodied nose after a crash between himself and Claude Makelele that led to a yellow card for each of them. All the same, United were not diverted from performing with freedom. Owen Hargreaves brought his running power to bear from right midfield, the position in which got his earlier Champions League winners' medal with Bayern Munich in 2001.
Ten minutes before half-time, United should have been in a virtually unassailable position, but Petr Cech parried Carlos Tevez's header and then reached Michael Carrick's shot from that rebound. There was a further opportunity nine minutes later when Ronaldo could not quite get to the low ball by Wayne Rooney that had eluded Makelele. Nonetheless, United by then had been given a clue as to Chelsea's powers of recovery. When Drogba headed a deep cross into the centre after 34 minutes Rio Ferdinand, under pressure from Michael Ballack, knocked it towards his own net, only for Van der Sar to tip the ball onto the bar.
Chelsea had their fortune when pulling level. Essien's 25-yarder cannoned of Nemanja Vidic and then Ferdinand to set up Lampard for a coolly taken goal. Though Chelsea had been rallying, their feelings much have contained a measure of relief. It invigorated the team thereafter. Each side took the other to it limits.
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Sir Alex thanks his lucky tsars as penalty shoot-out gives United European Cup No 3By Matt Lawton
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CHELSEA 1
(aet:1-1 at 90mins: Manchester United win 6-5 on pens)
Against a scene of delirium and delight in that centre circle last night was one of utter despair and dejection. Despair for John Terry, in particular, and a Chelsea side who no more deserved to lose against a jubilant Manchester United than they deserved to win. What an extraordinary game.
What an extraordinary climax. The sight of Terry sobbing into Avram Grant's rainsoaked shoulder. The sight of Cristiano Ronaldo sobbing on the ground, the Portuguese winger overwhelmed by a torturous final few minutes when he must have feared his penalty miss had cost Sir Alex Ferguson a second European Cup.
The sight of Roman Abramovich slumped back in his chair, almost unable to watch. The chance to win the Champions League fell first to Terry. His four colleagues had already scored, and all that now stood between Chelsea and their greatest moment was the penalty kick their captain was about to take.
A penalty that would have cemented Terry's position as the captain of Chelsea captains. But this is when football can be its cruellest. When it can take a great gladiator like Terry and tear out his heart As he pulled back his right boot to unleash his shot, his left foot slipped and the ball flew wide.
There was, of course, more drama to follow. Converted penalties for Anderson and Salomon Kalou and then one for Ryan Giggs, the Welshman marking that 759th appearance with what proved the decisive strike. Once, that is, Nicolas Anelka had seen his attempt saved by a diving Edwin van der Sar. And why was it Anelka and not Didier Drogba? Why Terry and not Drogba?
Because the petulant Chelsea striker had been sent off in disgrace, dismissed four minutes before the end of extra-time for slapping Nemanja Vidic in the face. A final foolish act, quite possibly, for a player who may not now be missed if he does choose to go to AC Milan. Where it leaves Grant only Abramovich can decide.
But it is a hard man who reflects on what Grant has done for Chelsea and decides his time is up. Not least because of the nature of this defeat. That, however, was the difference between success and failure here at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Immortality for one manager and probable unemployment for the other. This was the night when Ferguson joined what he considers the elite of European football. That pantheon of managers who have lifted the ultimate prize more than once. He should now be considered the greatest of his generation. Those 10 Premier League titles.
The two European Cups. The countless other domestic and European trophies, both at United and at Aberdeen. Then there are the teams he has nurtured and created, this being his finest team in 22 largely glorious years at Old Trafford. A team that hoped to employ their style and skill to conquer Chelsea's strength but in the end relied on the strength of their character. It was enthralling stuff.
Slow to start, the match was ignited by Ronaldo's 26th-minute goal. A 42nd of the season that it seemed had taken him to a new level. Level 42, you might say. In Frank Lampard, however, Chelsea appeared to have a saviour.
Good fortune played a part, Michael Essien's shot taking a deflection off two United defenders before falling to the England man. But the player who captured the hearts of a nation with that penalty against Liverpool struck again before staring to the heavens in acknowledgment of his late mother.
The second half was memorable for moving from Wednesday to Thursday here in Moscow but we could have waited until Friday and a further goal never would have come. The match was so tight, so tense. Both sides had other chances.
United could have been three goals up before Lampard equalised moments before half-time, with first Michael Carrick squandering a wonderful opportunity before Carlos Tevez followed suit. After the break it was Drogba who went closest, driving a shot against Van der Sar's post.
And in the first half of extra-time, Lampard sent a close-range shot against the bar. In Giggs, United almost had their matchwinner before the penalties arrived. His effort was a good one but from somewhere Terry arrived to divert the ball to safety with his head. Intent underlined Ferguson's selection.
The modern day holy trinity of Ronaldo, Tevez and Wayne Rooney were deployed, as was Owen Hargreaves in a three-man midfield designed to offer some resistance to Michael Ballack and Lampard. A prudent move from Ferguson, who in the end could not even find a place for Ji-sung Park on the bench.
The tension was almost tangible. The sheer terror at the prospect of losing. The merest thought at what, last night, was at stake. But when a goal from seemingly nothing arrived in the 26th minute, the real drama began. It was the simplest of moves. A delightful one-two between Paul Scholes and Wes Brown and then what amounted to the best ball of Brown's career.
A ball that allowed Ronaldo to drop off the shoulder of Essien and and beat Petr Cech with a wonderful header. Now we had a game. Now we had a situation where Chelsea had to cast off their defensive shackles and chase this Champions League Final.
Now we would discover what this Chelsea and Grant were really made of. The answer almost came six minutes later. A ball from deep on the left from Lampard that was met by Drogba forced Rio Ferdinand to make a desperate lunge that so nearly ended in an own goal. Much to the United captain's relief, Van der Sar made a terrific save.
It was followed, at the other end, by a quite stunning double save from Cech. First he somehow stopped a header from Tevez, after fine work from Rooney and Ronaldo, then a well-struck effort from Carrick, who really should have scored. Tevez then squandered another brilliant opportunity to put this game beyond Chelsea's reach.
The cross from Rooney was perfect, the finish from Tevez not so good. It proved all the more costly for the fact that Lampard then equalised. After that, a war of attrition and an inevitable conclusion. A conclusion from which Terry may never recover. That cost Chelsea the chance to win the Champions League and may yet cost Grant his job.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
morning papers bolton home
Indy:
Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 1: Terry hopes to be fit for Moscow after title failureBy Jason Burt Monday, 12 May 2008
No Premier League title and no John Terry either. Or so we thought. Just as Chelsea have shown remarkable powers of recovery this season, then so, most of all, has their captain. His reputation for brushing off injury is legendary but when he went down early in the first half, clattered, ironically, by his own goalkeeper Petr Cech, it did not look good.
Rumours swept around the ground that he had broken his arm. Actually, X-rays showed he had only dislocated his elbow. After the game, Terry told the expectant crowd: "It's not broken. So, hopefully, I'll be all right." That hope may prove vain – his manager, Avram Grant, was more circumspect – but Terry expects to be all right for the Champions League final a week on Wednesday. For the European Cup is what Chelsea have to aim for after missing the chance to win a third title in four years.
In the end it did not go down to goal difference. Chelsea conceded with almost the last kick thanks to a piece of appalling defending by Alex – a stand-in for the injured Ricardo Carvalho – which gave the indefatigable Matt Taylor the opportunity to drive a sweet, left-foot shot through Cech's legs. By then, though, the game was up.
The game may also almost be up for Didier Drogba – who sat on the pitch, his left knee heavily strapped, with his friend Florent Malouda afterwards looking as if he was soaking it all up for the last time – and Grant. The manager received polite applause as he patrolled the circumference of the pitch, far behind his coaching staff and players, shaking hands. But, as ever, he appeared slightly ill at ease.
Roman Abramovich was here also. For the first time in almost two months the Russian billionaire appeared at the club where he has spent almost £500m. In sunglasses and open-necked shirt he clapped along but disappeared before Grant, too, took the microphone to talk to the supporters. Too much can be read into that. Grant certainly believes he will survive. He may do but that may be because of default. The indications are he will be replaced if the right replacement can be found.
It was a sweltering, surreal afternoon. Twice cheers rolled around Stamford Bridge with claims that Wigan Athletic had scored. Twice they were false. They even distracted the Chelsea bench, with goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon animatedly asking if it was true.
Lollichon may also have taken a keener-than-most interest in the team-sheets. Bolton, accused of too much partying before this game after sealing their own survival, named two goalkeepers among their substitutes. When their manager, Gary Megson, donned a Chelsea cap towards the end of the first-half, to protect himself against the fierce sun, it appeared the conspiracies were complete. But Megson, wisely, ordered the cap's badge to be taped over and his team, also, made an impressive fist of smothering Chelsea's efforts.
The heat did not help but Bolton defended equally ferociously. Time and again Gary Cahill, Andy O'Brien and Gretar Steinsson threw themselves in front of opposition players while Ali Al Habsi proved an alert, agile goalkeeper. Drogba could have settled nerves, but failed to turn Michael Ballack's low cross into the net before Joe Cole and Drogba were thwarted by fine last-ditch challenges. Drogba then turned a free-kick narrowly wide.
At half-time, Andrei Shevchenko, in the absence of Nicolas Anelka who, under the terms of his move from Bolton was barred from playing, was brought on. Abramovich would have approved and approved further when the Ukrainian secured the lead. It came after Joe Cole's shot was blocked from a corner and the ball fell to Frank Lampard, who fired it across goal. Shevchenko swung a right boot at it, made half a contact and beat Al Habsi.
Before then Chelsea had struck the bar, when Malouda's shot looped off Cahill only for Al Habsi to flick it onto the bar. They should have gone further ahead when Drogba powered through only for his shot to be pushed over by Al Habsi.
Then Bolton started to work their way back into contest. Maybe it was the scoreline at the JJB Stadium, but Chelsea lost a little heart. The ball came in, Taylor turned it goalwards and El Hadji Diouf's point-blank shot was blocked by Cech. Then Cech punched the ball straight to Taylor who looped a header towards goal. It struck the bar and dropped to the substitute Stelios Giannakopoulos, who turned it wide. Bolton attacked again. A free header for Kevin Davies was planted straight at Cech before he was finally beaten by Taylor.
Goals: Shevchenko (62) 1-0; Taylor (90) 1-1.
Chelsea (4-1-2-3): Cech; Essien, Alex, Terry (Belletti, 14), A Cole; Makelele (Shevchenko, 46); Ballack, Lampard; J Cole (Mikel, 78), Drogba, Malouda. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Kalou.
Bolton Wanderers (4-3-2-1): Al Habsi; Steinson, A O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel; McCann, Nolan, J O'Brien; Davies, Taylor; Diouf (Giannakopoulos, 69). Substitutes not used: Walker (gk), Jaaskelainen (gk), Meite, Cohen.
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
Booked: Chelsea Drogba; Bolton J O'Brien, McCann, Davies.
Man of the match: Taylor.
Attendance: 41,755.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The TimesMay 12, 2008
Avram Grant’s men left in the shade as sun shines for title rivalsChelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 1
Matt Dickinson, Chief Sports Correspondent, at Stamford Bridge
Drama with Fulham, a massacre at Middlesbrough, celebrations for Manchester United, tears with Reading and Birmingham City. Super-dooper Soaraway Showdown Sunday lived up to its billing in many parts of the country, but at Chelsea we got a suntan and, in place of the Premier League trophy, a parade of players’ offspring and WAGs.
See you in Moscow, Avram Grant said to those fans who remained for the post-match lap of honour. They will see a Chelsea team for the Champions League final in Russia, but probably not the rather listless lot who played out a draw in the final domestic game of the season. The chance to make history should see to that. It should force Didier Drogba to concentrate on his game rather than picking a pathetic squabble with the inoffensive Gavin McCann. It should make Alex focus instead of ceding an equaliser with a sloppy clearance. It should get Joe Cole crossing to the near post rather than five yards over the bar.
The opportunity to win the Champions League should restore Chelsea to the forceful, committed bulldozer of recent months (make that recent years) rather than the team who seemed to sense right from kick-off that they could play the game of their lives against Bolton Wanderers and it would still not be enough to wrest away the championship.
The optimistic bulletin from John Terry that the dislocated elbow he suffered yesterday should not prevent him running out against United will give hope that the Chelsea team will be at their strongest in Russia. Drogba finished with one knee wrapped in ice, but he has been known to exaggerate his injuries and Ricardo Carvalho should return from a bad back.
Chelsea should be close to their best but yesterday did serve to stop anyone running away with the idea that Grant’s team are clear favourites to lift the European Cup because of their recent victory over United. If things seemed to be slipping away from the champions then, particularly with Wayne Rooney aggravating an injury, temper tantrums in the tunnel and a ruckus with the men with the lawnmowers, United reasserted themselves yesterday. The conclusion of the domestic season was a reminder that Grant could yet end up with nothing; could yet be sacked; could yet return to obscurity as a curious footnote in Chelsea’s history. We were none the wiser about his future yesterday even if Roman Abramovich was in attendance, for a change. The owner popped into the dressing-room after the match to offer his commiserations to his players, but it seems that he will not be making any definitive statements until he knows whether he will have his hands on the European Cup.
Abramovich did not hear any massed chants of support for Grant, but there were some warm hugs for the man who has not lost for 21 Premier League matches and who, until yesterday’s anticlimax, had made it an enthralling race to the title. “Don’t go,” pleaded one young fan, as if Grant has any say in the matter.
The Israeli chose simply to be generous in his praise for the champions, saying that he had sent a message of congratulations to Sir Alex Ferguson. “I respect him a lot as a manager and as a person,” he said. “Ten championships? I can’t put it into words.”
Grant talked of how difficult it had been trying to catch United after the turbulent start to the season. José Mourinho’s departure feels from a different era, although the team do remain true to the Portuguese’s credo of organisation and doggedness.
Grant has managed with considerable success marshalling the squad left by Mourinho — rebuilding the team is an altogether bigger challenge, particularly if Drogba heads off to AC Milan. If this was his last appearance at Stamford Bridge, he chose to go out as a flouncing pain in the whatsit rather than a frighteningly formidable forward. He kicked out at McCann, then deliberately trod on the midfield player’s foot, for which he was cautioned. Having aggravated a knee, he spent the last ten minutes standing near the touchline shrugging his shoulders at his first-team coach who had made all three substitutions and could do nothing to get him off.
Drogba should have scored early on but shanked his far-post shot after a cross by Michael Ballack. A free kick flew inches wide. Forced to rearrange after Terry’s withdrawal, with Michael Essien and Alex at centre half, Chelsea finally scored just after the hour-mark thanks to Andriy Shevchenko’s shin. A half-time substitute as Grant switched to 4-4-2, Shevchenko celebrated his first goal since Boxing Day while Abramovich clapped up in his executive box.
But United were already leading and the news that Ryan Giggs had doubled their advantage made this even more of a lazy Sunday afternoon. Alex certainly appeared to have nodded off in added time, hitting a poor clearance at Matthew Taylor, whose shot passed back through the legs of Alex and Petr Cech.
Perhaps goaded by Ferguson’s claim that they had been partying all week, Bolton had not lacked resolve. Indeed they had been a little over-committed with Joey O’Brien risking dismissal after scything down Ballack.
What ice could be found at Stamford Bridge was required to soothe troubling injuries to Terry and Drogba rather than to chill bottles of celebratory champagne. Now Chelsea have ten days to recover from the bumps and bruises for what Grant called “the game of our dreams”. See you in Moscow, like the man said.
Expect the real Chelsea to turn up.
How they rated
Chelsea (4-3-3): P Cech 4 M Essien 6 Alex 5 J Terry - A Cole 5 M Ballack 6 C Makelele 6 F Lampard 6 J Cole 4 D Drogba Y 5 F Malouda 5 Substitutes: J Belletti 5 (for Terry, 13), A Shevchenko 6 (for Makelele, 46min), J O Mikel (for J Cole, 78). Not used: C Cudicini, S Kalou.
Bolton Wanderers (4-4-1-1): A Al Habsi 7 G Steinsson 6 A O’Brien 6 G Cahill 7 J L Samuel 6 K Davies Y 6 J O’Brien Y 5 G McCann Y 6 M Taylor 6 K Nolan 6 E-H Diouf 6 Substitutes: S Giannakopoulos 5 (for Diouf, 69min). Not used: I Walker, J Jaaskelainen, A Meïté, T Cohen.
Referee: C Foy Attendance: 41,755
End-of-term report
Chelsea
Season’s summary: Have fared as expected. How to improve: Find a reliable right back. Player of season: Michael Essien. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Bolton draw leaves Chelsea in second placeBy Clive Tyldesley at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (0) 1 Bolton Wanderers (0) 1
John Terry lifted his young daughter up with his right arm and motioned to her to wave to the sun-baked crowds as the Chelsea players and their families took their traditional end-of-season bow yesterday. Terry is still hoping to lift the European Cup before the month is out.
The standby Premier League trophy had left Stamford Bridge in an unopened box, and with Terry's dislocated left elbow heavily strapped following a freak collision with Petr Cech, a small toddler appeared to be all he was likely to be picking up for a while. But nobody present was surprised to hear Terry declare to 40,000-odd Chelsea fans that "three or four days' rest" would be all he would require to revive his battered body for its biggest challenge of all in Moscow. Manchester United may have won the war, but Terry's powers of recovery will be the rallying point for Chelsea's bid to win the ultimate battle on Wednesday week.
The three-point gap that separated United and Chelsea at the end of Avram Grant's first game in charge last September had been reduced to two at the end of the final, fraught afternoon of the season. Beaten by a short head. Grant had the satisfaction of seeing another substitution pay dividends, when Andrei Shevchenko put his team in front against an obdurate Bolton. But United were always in control of both theirs and Chelsea's destiny at Wigan, and Grant's day fell flat when Matthew Taylor scored a late equaliser for the visitors.
The game was only 10 minutes old when Chelsea's thoughts turned abruptly away from the English championship towards the European title. The sight of their stricken captain being lifted delicately on to a stretcher immediately raised doubts about Terry's ability to lead the team in Moscow.
For his own preservation, Cech led with his knee as he came out to collect a hopeful through ball. But the Chelsea keeper inadvertently made sickening contact with Terry's arm, sending his captain crashing to the ground with a cry of agony. As soon as he landed Terry was beating his leg against the turf in acute pain.
With Ricardo Carvalho absent due to a worrying back complaint, Michael Essien was switched from right-back to centre-back as Chelsea tried to clear their minds and return to the business in hand. The atmosphere was so edgy that a strong penalty appeal 200 miles away quickly turned into a rumour of a Wigan goal. Disbelieving cheers sprung up in corners of Stamford Bridge, swelling into hearty roars before anyone with a radio had the heart to reveal that, in fact, all was going to plan for United at the JJB.
Chelsea were frantically trying to make their early pressure tell. Maybe a little too frantically. Didier Drogba sliced anxiously wide from close range after Michael Ballack had steered a precise low cross into his path. However much celebrating their players have or haven't been doing in the last week, Bolton were seeing out their responsibilities to United with a ruggedness that infuriated the Chelsea fans. They weren't averse to wasting every second they could either.
Joey O'Brien, Gavin McCann and Kevin Davies all collected bookings for fouls that interrupted Chelsea attacks and broke up the home team's attacking momentum.
Not until the opening moments of the second half was Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi called into significant action. A smart turn by Florent Malouda created space for a looping pot shot from 25 yards that Al Habsi leapt to turn against his crossbar with the palm of his hand. A minute later, Joe Cole unlocked the left side of the Bolton defence and cut the ball back for Juliano Belletti to fire powerfully goalwards. Only a brave block by Taylor diverted his shot for a corner.
The Chelsea assault was reaching fever pitch. Drogba saw a left-foot shot on the run clawed over by Al Habsi before half-time substitute Shevchenko made a deserved breakthrough just after the hour mark. A Chelsea corner drifted through to Joe Cole, and although his snap shot was blocked, Frank Lampard connected with the rebound and his low drive found its way to Shevchenko who hooked it in from six yards. It was his first Chelsea goal since Boxing Day, but an alert piece of finishing that was greeted by a chuckling smile spread wide across the face of the watching Roman Abramovich.
With news of Ryan Giggs' clincher for United filtering fatefully around Stamford Bridge, Bolton nearly equalised. An arcing header from Taylor cleared the goalmouth crowd and fell agonisingly over the leaping John Obi Mikel on to the crossbar. Ashley Cole was well placed to clear the dropping ball from his goalline.
But with three minutes of stoppage time played, Chelsea's weary resistance was broken by a low shot from Taylor shot that eluded Cech's flimsy attempt to keep it out and the sense of anti-climax was complete. Their tally of 85 points was the highest ever achieved by a runner-up for the Premier League title, but no amount of extenuating circumstances and conspiracy theories will provide solace for a club of Chelsea's ambition. They can only come in Moscow.
Read the latest from Clive Tyldesley Man of the match Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 8 • One assist and three other chances• 86 per cent pass completions• Four shots - all off target
Abramovich returns Roman Abramovich returned to Stamford Bridge yesterday, having not been seen at a Chelsea match since the 2-1 win over Arsenal on March 23.The club's billionaire owner had been in Russia on political business in recent months and even missed the Champions League semi-final win against Liverpool.His absence may have added to the uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of Avram Grant but, after yesterday's game against Bolton, he visited the players' dressing room to show his support.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Guardian:
Chelsea walk tall despite falling short at the last
Chelsea 1 Shevchenko 62 Bolton Wanderers 1 Taylor 90
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
Any sense of choking anticlimax which might have strangled Chelsea appeared to have eased by the time the squad strolled through their post-match lap of honour in the sunshine. The likelihood of their pursuit of Manchester United yielding a third Premier League title had always been slim. In the end those efforts did indeed prove futile, though there were still smiles from the players and appreciation from the fans in the aftermath. Forget failure; there was some satisfaction to be had in coming close.
To have extended the race into the final 10 minutes of the season, as Chelsea effectively did here, represented a considerable achievement, and one clearly recognised by Roman Abramovich, present for the first time since March 23, as he clapped from his box then shared his appreciation with the team in the dressing room.
The mood of optimism had briefly flared when a wild rumour swept around the arena after almost 20 minutes, emanating in the Shed End, that Wigan led in Lancashire. Ryan Giggs' 80th-minute goal for United at the JJB ultimately pricked the mood here for good.
The real news Chelsea had to savour was the possibility that John Terry's dislocated elbow, sustained in an early aerial clash with his own goalkeeper, Petr Cech, might not rule him out of the Champions League final in Moscow next week.
The joint had apparently been "popped back in" in the ambulance as the Chelsea captain was whisked away for an x-ray. The centre-half was back for the stroll on the turf after the final whistle, his arm in a sling and his mood defiant, with the possibility of a European Cup still to be lifted. United will confront a side sustained by self-belief in Moscow rather than a team left crestfallen and deflated.
There was even appreciation from the supporters, perhaps not raucous, but noticeable nevertheless, for Avram Grant. The Israeli embraced his children, held his arms aloft to those in the stands, and can focus with relish on the trip to Russia in the days to come. Didier Drogba, an ice pack strapped to his left knee, will need to be rehabilitated swiftly. Yet even the Ivorian mustered a smile after the game, hauling a topless and tattooed fan from the stands to be photographed with Michael Essien and Claude Makelele on the touchline.
That the home side had failed to win this contest, surely the bare minimum requirement, hardly seemed to matter with the destiny of the title having been decided in the north-west.
Chelsea might well have been tighter in the final exchanges had events at Wigan taken a more favourable course. Realisation had dawned on the hosts by the time Alex's poor clearance fell to Matthew Taylor in the penalty area, deep into stoppage-time, for the Bolton midfielder to scuff an equaliser beyond the Brazilian and through Cech's legs. They merited reward of a kind for their tireless efforts. If they were a side who had been celebrating survival all week, as Sir Alex Ferguson had suggested, then professionalism had demanded this display.
Bolton have been flimsy at times this season but there was no fancy dress on the pitch - Gary Megson even borrowed a Chelsea baseball cap to protect his pate from the sun, but he taped over the home side's badge. His team gave everything to frustrate Chelsea and Ferguson could have no complaints. Taylor also struck the bar with a looping header, Ashley Cole scrambling Stelios Giannakopoulos's follow-up from the line, although theirs was an approach born of solid defence.
Gretar Steinsson and Joey O'Brien tackled feverishly, Gary Cahill and Andrew O'Brien were superb at the centre of defence and Ali Al Habsi excelled in goal. Megson had included two substitute goalkeepers on the bench, with Ian Walker suffering from a stomach bug and Jussi Jaaskelainen deemed necessary in case either Al Habsi or his deputy could not feature, but the Omani blocked almost everything Chelsea flung at him.
His touch over from Drogba's battered attempt while the game was still goalless prompted wailed fury in the stands. He was just as athletic in touching Florent Malouda's shot, looping up off Cahill's attempted block, on to the crossbar as Chelsea sought reward.
It took over an hour before Bolton cracked. An inability to clear a corner left them exposed, Frank Lampard's shot across the area veering beyond Jlloyd Samuel for Andriy Shevchenko, having been summoned from the bench at the interval, to touch in at the far post.
Abramovich sprang to his feet, hope rekindled in the knowledge that a Wigan goal to claw United back to parity was all it would take for Chelsea to squeeze breathing space at the top. United's second from Giggs dashed such aspirations.
Chelsea's title challenge had always been a game of catch-up, with points having been surrendered early in the campaign, but a 21-match unbeaten league run stretching back to mid-December remains remarkable. Grant can take satisfaction in that achievement, but for this club real solace can be found in Moscow. The chance to make history remains.
Man of the match Gary Cahill
The captain was outstanding as he attempted to nullify Didier Drogba, with this an inspirational performance to douse the home side's aspirations
Best moment The early clearance from near his goalline which set the tone for Chelsea's afternoon of frustration ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mail:
Close but no cigar, Avram - Shevchenko strike not enough for Chelsea in race for titleChelsea 1 Bolton 1
By NEIL ASHTON
One down, one to go. Chelsea's assault on the Barclays Premier League is offically on hold until August 17, but Moscow is all that matters now. "We've lost the league, but we still have the biggest trophy of all to come and hopefully we can bring it back for the Chelsea fans," admitted John Terry when he soldiered on to the Stamford Bridge pitch.
Memories fade fast, especially when the team has just been pipped to the Premier League title. They were close, but not close enough.
United have their hands on a tenth Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson and Avram Grant's team will re-adjust their sights over the next ten days. Getting their hands on the European Cup would be a fitting trade off.
"The league title was never in our hands," admitted Grant. "We wanted to win it, but the Champions League was always something we could affect. We have to be proud of what we have done this season."
They did their bit in this title race, hoovering up points at a frightening rate after they were beaten 1-0 at Arsenal on December 16 2007. Jousting with United to the bitter end, they only just lost out.
Chelsea's manager is 21 games unbeaten in the Premier League and he has never been afraid to remind anyone who will listen. "Don't go Avram," screamed one young fan as he relucantly made his way around the pitch at the final whistle to take in a polite round of applause for Chelsea's manager.
His future is not for now. That will be decided at a later date, when the team returns from Moscow on May 22, but the team have certainly done their bit. "I had to be polite to the fans because my children were near me," joked the Chelsea manager.
Still there is finally some acceptance of his achievements, as well as his existence.
Overhauling United was always against the odds. By the time Andriy Shevchenko scored for the first time this year, United were already ahead. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 43rd goal of the season from the penalty spot and the game was up. Or was it?
Midway through the second half, Stamford Bridge erupted. Roman Abramovich, in the stands for the first time since they beat Arsenal on March 23, demanded answers. Good to see you, Roman.
Fans were glued to their transistor radios, others phoned home, but it was a false alarm. United were still in front and Chelsea would have to settle for being second best.
They are not used to this, not after Jose Mourinho led them to two league titles, two Carling Cups and an FA Cup in three hugely successful seasons. They want more and no doubt they will get it, whoever is the manager.
Abramovich was in the dressing rooms after the game, patting the players on the back and reminding them that all is not lost. When Arsenal fell apart in March, Chelsea stepped in and made a fist of it. No-one can fault them for that.
They were typically workmanlike yesterday, taking their time to assert their authority over a Bolton team who were all but safe. Gary Megson frequently demanded to know the score from Reading, Birmingham and Fulham, but Bolton deserve an eighth successive season in the top flight.
Typically, they made it tough for Chelsea. They know no other way, especially after being schooled under Sam Allardyce. Next season, they will continue their education in the Premier League. Is there any other place to play?
"I have been here for 28 games and never had a single complaint from my players and they have never complained about our approach," admitted Megson. "We have problems that need sorting out, but I'm delighted we can sort them out as a Premier League club.
"For the last 18 games of the season we have done well, but there are problems. Since January 1 2007, we have beaten only two teams from the top half of the table - Manchester United and West Ham."
They did not come close to breaking Chelsea's 83 match unbeaten run in the league at Stamford Bridge, but they made Grant's side work.
Shevchenko, of all people, put Chelsea in front when he swept home Frank Lampard's misplaced shot from outside the area. Abramovich could barely believe it, but the goal was good. About time, it has to be said.
Chelsea's supporters dared to dream, but Ryan Giggs ended their title ambitions when he scored 10 minutes from time. Concentration was gone and so were Chelsea. Alex failed to clear a routine corner and Matthew Taylor struck the equaliser. That settled the Premier League title, but Grant is gearing up for Moscow.
"We're in the Champions League final - Mr Abramovich must be very sad," added Grant with more than a hint of sarcasm.
The European Cup is certainly the one they want. Now they just have to win it. Official.
Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Joe Cole, Drogba, Malouda. Subs: Cudicini, Shevchenko, Obi, Kalou, Belletti. Bolton: Al Habsi, Steinsson, Andrew O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Davies, Joey O'Brien, McCann, Nolan, Taylor, Diouf. Subs: Walker, Jaaskelainen, Meite, Giannakopoulos, Cohen. Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 1: Terry hopes to be fit for Moscow after title failureBy Jason Burt Monday, 12 May 2008
No Premier League title and no John Terry either. Or so we thought. Just as Chelsea have shown remarkable powers of recovery this season, then so, most of all, has their captain. His reputation for brushing off injury is legendary but when he went down early in the first half, clattered, ironically, by his own goalkeeper Petr Cech, it did not look good.
Rumours swept around the ground that he had broken his arm. Actually, X-rays showed he had only dislocated his elbow. After the game, Terry told the expectant crowd: "It's not broken. So, hopefully, I'll be all right." That hope may prove vain – his manager, Avram Grant, was more circumspect – but Terry expects to be all right for the Champions League final a week on Wednesday. For the European Cup is what Chelsea have to aim for after missing the chance to win a third title in four years.
In the end it did not go down to goal difference. Chelsea conceded with almost the last kick thanks to a piece of appalling defending by Alex – a stand-in for the injured Ricardo Carvalho – which gave the indefatigable Matt Taylor the opportunity to drive a sweet, left-foot shot through Cech's legs. By then, though, the game was up.
The game may also almost be up for Didier Drogba – who sat on the pitch, his left knee heavily strapped, with his friend Florent Malouda afterwards looking as if he was soaking it all up for the last time – and Grant. The manager received polite applause as he patrolled the circumference of the pitch, far behind his coaching staff and players, shaking hands. But, as ever, he appeared slightly ill at ease.
Roman Abramovich was here also. For the first time in almost two months the Russian billionaire appeared at the club where he has spent almost £500m. In sunglasses and open-necked shirt he clapped along but disappeared before Grant, too, took the microphone to talk to the supporters. Too much can be read into that. Grant certainly believes he will survive. He may do but that may be because of default. The indications are he will be replaced if the right replacement can be found.
It was a sweltering, surreal afternoon. Twice cheers rolled around Stamford Bridge with claims that Wigan Athletic had scored. Twice they were false. They even distracted the Chelsea bench, with goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon animatedly asking if it was true.
Lollichon may also have taken a keener-than-most interest in the team-sheets. Bolton, accused of too much partying before this game after sealing their own survival, named two goalkeepers among their substitutes. When their manager, Gary Megson, donned a Chelsea cap towards the end of the first-half, to protect himself against the fierce sun, it appeared the conspiracies were complete. But Megson, wisely, ordered the cap's badge to be taped over and his team, also, made an impressive fist of smothering Chelsea's efforts.
The heat did not help but Bolton defended equally ferociously. Time and again Gary Cahill, Andy O'Brien and Gretar Steinsson threw themselves in front of opposition players while Ali Al Habsi proved an alert, agile goalkeeper. Drogba could have settled nerves, but failed to turn Michael Ballack's low cross into the net before Joe Cole and Drogba were thwarted by fine last-ditch challenges. Drogba then turned a free-kick narrowly wide.
At half-time, Andrei Shevchenko, in the absence of Nicolas Anelka who, under the terms of his move from Bolton was barred from playing, was brought on. Abramovich would have approved and approved further when the Ukrainian secured the lead. It came after Joe Cole's shot was blocked from a corner and the ball fell to Frank Lampard, who fired it across goal. Shevchenko swung a right boot at it, made half a contact and beat Al Habsi.
Before then Chelsea had struck the bar, when Malouda's shot looped off Cahill only for Al Habsi to flick it onto the bar. They should have gone further ahead when Drogba powered through only for his shot to be pushed over by Al Habsi.
Then Bolton started to work their way back into contest. Maybe it was the scoreline at the JJB Stadium, but Chelsea lost a little heart. The ball came in, Taylor turned it goalwards and El Hadji Diouf's point-blank shot was blocked by Cech. Then Cech punched the ball straight to Taylor who looped a header towards goal. It struck the bar and dropped to the substitute Stelios Giannakopoulos, who turned it wide. Bolton attacked again. A free header for Kevin Davies was planted straight at Cech before he was finally beaten by Taylor.
Goals: Shevchenko (62) 1-0; Taylor (90) 1-1.
Chelsea (4-1-2-3): Cech; Essien, Alex, Terry (Belletti, 14), A Cole; Makelele (Shevchenko, 46); Ballack, Lampard; J Cole (Mikel, 78), Drogba, Malouda. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Kalou.
Bolton Wanderers (4-3-2-1): Al Habsi; Steinson, A O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel; McCann, Nolan, J O'Brien; Davies, Taylor; Diouf (Giannakopoulos, 69). Substitutes not used: Walker (gk), Jaaskelainen (gk), Meite, Cohen.
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
Booked: Chelsea Drogba; Bolton J O'Brien, McCann, Davies.
Man of the match: Taylor.
Attendance: 41,755.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The TimesMay 12, 2008
Avram Grant’s men left in the shade as sun shines for title rivalsChelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 1
Matt Dickinson, Chief Sports Correspondent, at Stamford Bridge
Drama with Fulham, a massacre at Middlesbrough, celebrations for Manchester United, tears with Reading and Birmingham City. Super-dooper Soaraway Showdown Sunday lived up to its billing in many parts of the country, but at Chelsea we got a suntan and, in place of the Premier League trophy, a parade of players’ offspring and WAGs.
See you in Moscow, Avram Grant said to those fans who remained for the post-match lap of honour. They will see a Chelsea team for the Champions League final in Russia, but probably not the rather listless lot who played out a draw in the final domestic game of the season. The chance to make history should see to that. It should force Didier Drogba to concentrate on his game rather than picking a pathetic squabble with the inoffensive Gavin McCann. It should make Alex focus instead of ceding an equaliser with a sloppy clearance. It should get Joe Cole crossing to the near post rather than five yards over the bar.
The opportunity to win the Champions League should restore Chelsea to the forceful, committed bulldozer of recent months (make that recent years) rather than the team who seemed to sense right from kick-off that they could play the game of their lives against Bolton Wanderers and it would still not be enough to wrest away the championship.
The optimistic bulletin from John Terry that the dislocated elbow he suffered yesterday should not prevent him running out against United will give hope that the Chelsea team will be at their strongest in Russia. Drogba finished with one knee wrapped in ice, but he has been known to exaggerate his injuries and Ricardo Carvalho should return from a bad back.
Chelsea should be close to their best but yesterday did serve to stop anyone running away with the idea that Grant’s team are clear favourites to lift the European Cup because of their recent victory over United. If things seemed to be slipping away from the champions then, particularly with Wayne Rooney aggravating an injury, temper tantrums in the tunnel and a ruckus with the men with the lawnmowers, United reasserted themselves yesterday. The conclusion of the domestic season was a reminder that Grant could yet end up with nothing; could yet be sacked; could yet return to obscurity as a curious footnote in Chelsea’s history. We were none the wiser about his future yesterday even if Roman Abramovich was in attendance, for a change. The owner popped into the dressing-room after the match to offer his commiserations to his players, but it seems that he will not be making any definitive statements until he knows whether he will have his hands on the European Cup.
Abramovich did not hear any massed chants of support for Grant, but there were some warm hugs for the man who has not lost for 21 Premier League matches and who, until yesterday’s anticlimax, had made it an enthralling race to the title. “Don’t go,” pleaded one young fan, as if Grant has any say in the matter.
The Israeli chose simply to be generous in his praise for the champions, saying that he had sent a message of congratulations to Sir Alex Ferguson. “I respect him a lot as a manager and as a person,” he said. “Ten championships? I can’t put it into words.”
Grant talked of how difficult it had been trying to catch United after the turbulent start to the season. José Mourinho’s departure feels from a different era, although the team do remain true to the Portuguese’s credo of organisation and doggedness.
Grant has managed with considerable success marshalling the squad left by Mourinho — rebuilding the team is an altogether bigger challenge, particularly if Drogba heads off to AC Milan. If this was his last appearance at Stamford Bridge, he chose to go out as a flouncing pain in the whatsit rather than a frighteningly formidable forward. He kicked out at McCann, then deliberately trod on the midfield player’s foot, for which he was cautioned. Having aggravated a knee, he spent the last ten minutes standing near the touchline shrugging his shoulders at his first-team coach who had made all three substitutions and could do nothing to get him off.
Drogba should have scored early on but shanked his far-post shot after a cross by Michael Ballack. A free kick flew inches wide. Forced to rearrange after Terry’s withdrawal, with Michael Essien and Alex at centre half, Chelsea finally scored just after the hour-mark thanks to Andriy Shevchenko’s shin. A half-time substitute as Grant switched to 4-4-2, Shevchenko celebrated his first goal since Boxing Day while Abramovich clapped up in his executive box.
But United were already leading and the news that Ryan Giggs had doubled their advantage made this even more of a lazy Sunday afternoon. Alex certainly appeared to have nodded off in added time, hitting a poor clearance at Matthew Taylor, whose shot passed back through the legs of Alex and Petr Cech.
Perhaps goaded by Ferguson’s claim that they had been partying all week, Bolton had not lacked resolve. Indeed they had been a little over-committed with Joey O’Brien risking dismissal after scything down Ballack.
What ice could be found at Stamford Bridge was required to soothe troubling injuries to Terry and Drogba rather than to chill bottles of celebratory champagne. Now Chelsea have ten days to recover from the bumps and bruises for what Grant called “the game of our dreams”. See you in Moscow, like the man said.
Expect the real Chelsea to turn up.
How they rated
Chelsea (4-3-3): P Cech 4 M Essien 6 Alex 5 J Terry - A Cole 5 M Ballack 6 C Makelele 6 F Lampard 6 J Cole 4 D Drogba Y 5 F Malouda 5 Substitutes: J Belletti 5 (for Terry, 13), A Shevchenko 6 (for Makelele, 46min), J O Mikel (for J Cole, 78). Not used: C Cudicini, S Kalou.
Bolton Wanderers (4-4-1-1): A Al Habsi 7 G Steinsson 6 A O’Brien 6 G Cahill 7 J L Samuel 6 K Davies Y 6 J O’Brien Y 5 G McCann Y 6 M Taylor 6 K Nolan 6 E-H Diouf 6 Substitutes: S Giannakopoulos 5 (for Diouf, 69min). Not used: I Walker, J Jaaskelainen, A Meïté, T Cohen.
Referee: C Foy Attendance: 41,755
End-of-term report
Chelsea
Season’s summary: Have fared as expected. How to improve: Find a reliable right back. Player of season: Michael Essien. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Bolton draw leaves Chelsea in second placeBy Clive Tyldesley at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (0) 1 Bolton Wanderers (0) 1
John Terry lifted his young daughter up with his right arm and motioned to her to wave to the sun-baked crowds as the Chelsea players and their families took their traditional end-of-season bow yesterday. Terry is still hoping to lift the European Cup before the month is out.
The standby Premier League trophy had left Stamford Bridge in an unopened box, and with Terry's dislocated left elbow heavily strapped following a freak collision with Petr Cech, a small toddler appeared to be all he was likely to be picking up for a while. But nobody present was surprised to hear Terry declare to 40,000-odd Chelsea fans that "three or four days' rest" would be all he would require to revive his battered body for its biggest challenge of all in Moscow. Manchester United may have won the war, but Terry's powers of recovery will be the rallying point for Chelsea's bid to win the ultimate battle on Wednesday week.
The three-point gap that separated United and Chelsea at the end of Avram Grant's first game in charge last September had been reduced to two at the end of the final, fraught afternoon of the season. Beaten by a short head. Grant had the satisfaction of seeing another substitution pay dividends, when Andrei Shevchenko put his team in front against an obdurate Bolton. But United were always in control of both theirs and Chelsea's destiny at Wigan, and Grant's day fell flat when Matthew Taylor scored a late equaliser for the visitors.
The game was only 10 minutes old when Chelsea's thoughts turned abruptly away from the English championship towards the European title. The sight of their stricken captain being lifted delicately on to a stretcher immediately raised doubts about Terry's ability to lead the team in Moscow.
For his own preservation, Cech led with his knee as he came out to collect a hopeful through ball. But the Chelsea keeper inadvertently made sickening contact with Terry's arm, sending his captain crashing to the ground with a cry of agony. As soon as he landed Terry was beating his leg against the turf in acute pain.
With Ricardo Carvalho absent due to a worrying back complaint, Michael Essien was switched from right-back to centre-back as Chelsea tried to clear their minds and return to the business in hand. The atmosphere was so edgy that a strong penalty appeal 200 miles away quickly turned into a rumour of a Wigan goal. Disbelieving cheers sprung up in corners of Stamford Bridge, swelling into hearty roars before anyone with a radio had the heart to reveal that, in fact, all was going to plan for United at the JJB.
Chelsea were frantically trying to make their early pressure tell. Maybe a little too frantically. Didier Drogba sliced anxiously wide from close range after Michael Ballack had steered a precise low cross into his path. However much celebrating their players have or haven't been doing in the last week, Bolton were seeing out their responsibilities to United with a ruggedness that infuriated the Chelsea fans. They weren't averse to wasting every second they could either.
Joey O'Brien, Gavin McCann and Kevin Davies all collected bookings for fouls that interrupted Chelsea attacks and broke up the home team's attacking momentum.
Not until the opening moments of the second half was Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi called into significant action. A smart turn by Florent Malouda created space for a looping pot shot from 25 yards that Al Habsi leapt to turn against his crossbar with the palm of his hand. A minute later, Joe Cole unlocked the left side of the Bolton defence and cut the ball back for Juliano Belletti to fire powerfully goalwards. Only a brave block by Taylor diverted his shot for a corner.
The Chelsea assault was reaching fever pitch. Drogba saw a left-foot shot on the run clawed over by Al Habsi before half-time substitute Shevchenko made a deserved breakthrough just after the hour mark. A Chelsea corner drifted through to Joe Cole, and although his snap shot was blocked, Frank Lampard connected with the rebound and his low drive found its way to Shevchenko who hooked it in from six yards. It was his first Chelsea goal since Boxing Day, but an alert piece of finishing that was greeted by a chuckling smile spread wide across the face of the watching Roman Abramovich.
With news of Ryan Giggs' clincher for United filtering fatefully around Stamford Bridge, Bolton nearly equalised. An arcing header from Taylor cleared the goalmouth crowd and fell agonisingly over the leaping John Obi Mikel on to the crossbar. Ashley Cole was well placed to clear the dropping ball from his goalline.
But with three minutes of stoppage time played, Chelsea's weary resistance was broken by a low shot from Taylor shot that eluded Cech's flimsy attempt to keep it out and the sense of anti-climax was complete. Their tally of 85 points was the highest ever achieved by a runner-up for the Premier League title, but no amount of extenuating circumstances and conspiracy theories will provide solace for a club of Chelsea's ambition. They can only come in Moscow.
Read the latest from Clive Tyldesley Man of the match Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 8 • One assist and three other chances• 86 per cent pass completions• Four shots - all off target
Abramovich returns Roman Abramovich returned to Stamford Bridge yesterday, having not been seen at a Chelsea match since the 2-1 win over Arsenal on March 23.The club's billionaire owner had been in Russia on political business in recent months and even missed the Champions League semi-final win against Liverpool.His absence may have added to the uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of Avram Grant but, after yesterday's game against Bolton, he visited the players' dressing room to show his support.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Guardian:
Chelsea walk tall despite falling short at the last
Chelsea 1 Shevchenko 62 Bolton Wanderers 1 Taylor 90
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
Any sense of choking anticlimax which might have strangled Chelsea appeared to have eased by the time the squad strolled through their post-match lap of honour in the sunshine. The likelihood of their pursuit of Manchester United yielding a third Premier League title had always been slim. In the end those efforts did indeed prove futile, though there were still smiles from the players and appreciation from the fans in the aftermath. Forget failure; there was some satisfaction to be had in coming close.
To have extended the race into the final 10 minutes of the season, as Chelsea effectively did here, represented a considerable achievement, and one clearly recognised by Roman Abramovich, present for the first time since March 23, as he clapped from his box then shared his appreciation with the team in the dressing room.
The mood of optimism had briefly flared when a wild rumour swept around the arena after almost 20 minutes, emanating in the Shed End, that Wigan led in Lancashire. Ryan Giggs' 80th-minute goal for United at the JJB ultimately pricked the mood here for good.
The real news Chelsea had to savour was the possibility that John Terry's dislocated elbow, sustained in an early aerial clash with his own goalkeeper, Petr Cech, might not rule him out of the Champions League final in Moscow next week.
The joint had apparently been "popped back in" in the ambulance as the Chelsea captain was whisked away for an x-ray. The centre-half was back for the stroll on the turf after the final whistle, his arm in a sling and his mood defiant, with the possibility of a European Cup still to be lifted. United will confront a side sustained by self-belief in Moscow rather than a team left crestfallen and deflated.
There was even appreciation from the supporters, perhaps not raucous, but noticeable nevertheless, for Avram Grant. The Israeli embraced his children, held his arms aloft to those in the stands, and can focus with relish on the trip to Russia in the days to come. Didier Drogba, an ice pack strapped to his left knee, will need to be rehabilitated swiftly. Yet even the Ivorian mustered a smile after the game, hauling a topless and tattooed fan from the stands to be photographed with Michael Essien and Claude Makelele on the touchline.
That the home side had failed to win this contest, surely the bare minimum requirement, hardly seemed to matter with the destiny of the title having been decided in the north-west.
Chelsea might well have been tighter in the final exchanges had events at Wigan taken a more favourable course. Realisation had dawned on the hosts by the time Alex's poor clearance fell to Matthew Taylor in the penalty area, deep into stoppage-time, for the Bolton midfielder to scuff an equaliser beyond the Brazilian and through Cech's legs. They merited reward of a kind for their tireless efforts. If they were a side who had been celebrating survival all week, as Sir Alex Ferguson had suggested, then professionalism had demanded this display.
Bolton have been flimsy at times this season but there was no fancy dress on the pitch - Gary Megson even borrowed a Chelsea baseball cap to protect his pate from the sun, but he taped over the home side's badge. His team gave everything to frustrate Chelsea and Ferguson could have no complaints. Taylor also struck the bar with a looping header, Ashley Cole scrambling Stelios Giannakopoulos's follow-up from the line, although theirs was an approach born of solid defence.
Gretar Steinsson and Joey O'Brien tackled feverishly, Gary Cahill and Andrew O'Brien were superb at the centre of defence and Ali Al Habsi excelled in goal. Megson had included two substitute goalkeepers on the bench, with Ian Walker suffering from a stomach bug and Jussi Jaaskelainen deemed necessary in case either Al Habsi or his deputy could not feature, but the Omani blocked almost everything Chelsea flung at him.
His touch over from Drogba's battered attempt while the game was still goalless prompted wailed fury in the stands. He was just as athletic in touching Florent Malouda's shot, looping up off Cahill's attempted block, on to the crossbar as Chelsea sought reward.
It took over an hour before Bolton cracked. An inability to clear a corner left them exposed, Frank Lampard's shot across the area veering beyond Jlloyd Samuel for Andriy Shevchenko, having been summoned from the bench at the interval, to touch in at the far post.
Abramovich sprang to his feet, hope rekindled in the knowledge that a Wigan goal to claw United back to parity was all it would take for Chelsea to squeeze breathing space at the top. United's second from Giggs dashed such aspirations.
Chelsea's title challenge had always been a game of catch-up, with points having been surrendered early in the campaign, but a 21-match unbeaten league run stretching back to mid-December remains remarkable. Grant can take satisfaction in that achievement, but for this club real solace can be found in Moscow. The chance to make history remains.
Man of the match Gary Cahill
The captain was outstanding as he attempted to nullify Didier Drogba, with this an inspirational performance to douse the home side's aspirations
Best moment The early clearance from near his goalline which set the tone for Chelsea's afternoon of frustration ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mail:
Close but no cigar, Avram - Shevchenko strike not enough for Chelsea in race for titleChelsea 1 Bolton 1
By NEIL ASHTON
One down, one to go. Chelsea's assault on the Barclays Premier League is offically on hold until August 17, but Moscow is all that matters now. "We've lost the league, but we still have the biggest trophy of all to come and hopefully we can bring it back for the Chelsea fans," admitted John Terry when he soldiered on to the Stamford Bridge pitch.
Memories fade fast, especially when the team has just been pipped to the Premier League title. They were close, but not close enough.
United have their hands on a tenth Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson and Avram Grant's team will re-adjust their sights over the next ten days. Getting their hands on the European Cup would be a fitting trade off.
"The league title was never in our hands," admitted Grant. "We wanted to win it, but the Champions League was always something we could affect. We have to be proud of what we have done this season."
They did their bit in this title race, hoovering up points at a frightening rate after they were beaten 1-0 at Arsenal on December 16 2007. Jousting with United to the bitter end, they only just lost out.
Chelsea's manager is 21 games unbeaten in the Premier League and he has never been afraid to remind anyone who will listen. "Don't go Avram," screamed one young fan as he relucantly made his way around the pitch at the final whistle to take in a polite round of applause for Chelsea's manager.
His future is not for now. That will be decided at a later date, when the team returns from Moscow on May 22, but the team have certainly done their bit. "I had to be polite to the fans because my children were near me," joked the Chelsea manager.
Still there is finally some acceptance of his achievements, as well as his existence.
Overhauling United was always against the odds. By the time Andriy Shevchenko scored for the first time this year, United were already ahead. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 43rd goal of the season from the penalty spot and the game was up. Or was it?
Midway through the second half, Stamford Bridge erupted. Roman Abramovich, in the stands for the first time since they beat Arsenal on March 23, demanded answers. Good to see you, Roman.
Fans were glued to their transistor radios, others phoned home, but it was a false alarm. United were still in front and Chelsea would have to settle for being second best.
They are not used to this, not after Jose Mourinho led them to two league titles, two Carling Cups and an FA Cup in three hugely successful seasons. They want more and no doubt they will get it, whoever is the manager.
Abramovich was in the dressing rooms after the game, patting the players on the back and reminding them that all is not lost. When Arsenal fell apart in March, Chelsea stepped in and made a fist of it. No-one can fault them for that.
They were typically workmanlike yesterday, taking their time to assert their authority over a Bolton team who were all but safe. Gary Megson frequently demanded to know the score from Reading, Birmingham and Fulham, but Bolton deserve an eighth successive season in the top flight.
Typically, they made it tough for Chelsea. They know no other way, especially after being schooled under Sam Allardyce. Next season, they will continue their education in the Premier League. Is there any other place to play?
"I have been here for 28 games and never had a single complaint from my players and they have never complained about our approach," admitted Megson. "We have problems that need sorting out, but I'm delighted we can sort them out as a Premier League club.
"For the last 18 games of the season we have done well, but there are problems. Since January 1 2007, we have beaten only two teams from the top half of the table - Manchester United and West Ham."
They did not come close to breaking Chelsea's 83 match unbeaten run in the league at Stamford Bridge, but they made Grant's side work.
Shevchenko, of all people, put Chelsea in front when he swept home Frank Lampard's misplaced shot from outside the area. Abramovich could barely believe it, but the goal was good. About time, it has to be said.
Chelsea's supporters dared to dream, but Ryan Giggs ended their title ambitions when he scored 10 minutes from time. Concentration was gone and so were Chelsea. Alex failed to clear a routine corner and Matthew Taylor struck the equaliser. That settled the Premier League title, but Grant is gearing up for Moscow.
"We're in the Champions League final - Mr Abramovich must be very sad," added Grant with more than a hint of sarcasm.
The European Cup is certainly the one they want. Now they just have to win it. Official.
Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Joe Cole, Drogba, Malouda. Subs: Cudicini, Shevchenko, Obi, Kalou, Belletti. Bolton: Al Habsi, Steinsson, Andrew O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Davies, Joey O'Brien, McCann, Nolan, Taylor, Diouf. Subs: Walker, Jaaskelainen, Meite, Giannakopoulos, Cohen. Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
morning papers newcastle away
The Times
May 6, 2008
Avram Grant sparks Chelsea into life
Avram Grant sparks Chelsea into life
Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2
Martin Samuel
Martin Samuel
One of the teams performed a slightly self-conscious lap of honour at the end of this match, but not the justified one. The bouquets and plaudits deserved to be thrown and offered to Chelsea, whose players have made what could have been a dismal, depressing season for English football memorable for the right reasons.
Had the European Championship debacle been followed by disappointment in Europe and a tired, predictable chase for the Barclays Premier League title, the 2007-08 season might have fizzled out, a damp squib from every angle. Instead, the first all-English final in the Champions League will be preceded by the most exciting final day of the league in the modern era, with Chelsea locked on points at the top of the table with Manchester United, with all the delicious permutations that implies.
No Premier League season has ever been this close, indeed, only two have gone to the final day with the destination of the title still to be decided, and statisticians were forced to trawl back through four decades to find a final set of fixtures as beautifully poised.
The last comparable date was May 11, 1968, when Manchester United and Manchester City were joined at the hip on 56 points at the top of the old first division. Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Sunderland, Manchester City won 4-3 away to Newcastle United and the prize went to Maine Road (although United stole their thunder, and how, in the European Cup final some days later). There have been other occasions when rival teams have played games in hand at a later date, collected the trophy from a beach as Derby County did in 1972, or played catch-up in an incredible head-to-head match as Arsenal managed to do away to Liverpool in 1989, but in terms of nail-biting spectacle, people with radios glued to their ears, false alarms and the potential for emotional turmoil at opposite ends of the country, this is as good as it gets.
Bookmakers, with their flint-hearted dedication to the bottom line, make United odds-on favourites, thanks to a vastly superior goal difference, but one slip, one hint of nervousness from the league leaders away to Wigan Athletic and Chelsea are in position to take advantage when they play at home to Bolton Wanderers. These three points at St James’ Park ensured that Sir Alex Ferguson will be made to work to the end of his 38 matches if he is to retain his title, which is as it should be, but so rarely is.
Set against Chelsea’s achievement in turning what many regarded as a foregone conclusion into something akin to Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty fighting to the death on Reichenbach Falls, Newcastle’s lap of thanks to the supporters for their continued indulgence in treating twelfth place as a big whoop seemed somewhat out of place. After Michael Owen, the Newcastle striker, was denied by John Terry’s clearance off the line in the 28th minute, Newcastle were outplayed in the second half once Chelsea’s players had life breathed into them by Avram Grant, the first-team coach, during the interval.
Until then, it had been a strangely listless affair, with Chelsea seemingly unconvinced that the title was within their sights, and failing to produce even a hint of a goalscoring chance before the 34th minute, when Michael Ballack shot wide after failing to bring a pass by Michael Essien under control in a good position. Nicolas Anelka was equally ineffectual two minutes later and when Chelsea’s players returned to the dressing-room it was to be greeted with the rare sight of a furious Grant, reminding them that this was no time for half-measures.
A different Chelsea then emerged, with faint hearts such as Florent Malouda suddenly efficient, particularly with set-pieces from the right. In the 49th minute, Malouda’s corner was headed wide by Ricardo Carvalho, in the 53rd minute an identical delivery led to Terry, the Chelsea captain, hitting the bar with a header. Shaken by Chelsea’s revival, Abdoulaye Faye, the Newcastle defender, dived in when confronted with Malouda on the run and provided Chelsea with a sufficient gap to conjure a grandstand finish next weekend.
The free kick was crafted or cock-up, depending on your point of view. Malouda stepped over the ball, Didier Drogba stepped up, hesitated as if slightly confused, took a pace back and curled in the ball, directly on to the head of Ballack, who had lost Alan Smith, his marker. Steve Harper, the Newcastle goalkeeper, had no chance and, the odd skirmish around the Chelsea penalty area aside, the visiting team barely looked troubled after that. Twice, in the 71st minute, Terry cleared and Newcastle returned fire, but on the first occasion Obafemi Martins shot wide and on the second Owen could not get a touch on an effort by Nicky Butt.
After that, having weathered the briefest of storms, Chelsea set course for home. The introduction of Frank Lampard as a replacement for the woeful Anelka — he must be the only player who looks worse having left Bolton to be a Champions League finalist — paid dividends and, in the 81st minute, an exquisite exchange of passes, of a variety we are frequently told Chelsea cannot play, ended with Lampard slipping the ball through to Malouda, who scored the goal his second-half performance deserved.
The sole worry for Chelsea took the form of a second-half injury to Carvalho, the central defender, who was adequately replaced by Alex in the short term earlier in the season. Long term, he is crucial if Chelsea are to give the next three weeks their best shot and the mild consternation on the Chelsea bench when he insisted on walking from the field, rather than being carried, suggested as much. Tiny margins have never been so important. One chance, one miss, one goal, one mistake, might decide it.
So take a good look, missus, there will never be another one like this. Well, not for 40 years, maybe.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Star:
CHELSEA SHOW REAL BALLACKS!
6th May 2008 By Danny Fullbrook
Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2
MICHAEL Ballack inspired Chelsea to take the title race to the bitter end.
When the Blues needed someone to step up to the plate, the German delivered once again with the opening goal against Newcastle.
Frank Lampard had shown nerves of steel in the Champions League against Liverpool, scoring the definitive extra-time goal which took Chelsea to Moscow.
But yesterday at St James’s Park, the whole of the Blues machine showed real bottle to pile the pressure on Manchester United.
There was no way this lot were going to give in without a fight.
And now it is a toe-to-toe duel on the last day of the season.
Chelsea are at home to a now safe Bolton, while United take on Wigan on a bumpy pitch at the JJB Stadium. Pick your winner.
Chelsea have chased and chased United and now the Premier League goes into the final day with two teams separated at the top only on goal difference for the first time ever.
Skipper John Terry revealed there were harsh words at half-time in the Chelsea dressing room after an insipid first half from Avram Grant’s team.
The manager and his coaching staff slaughtered their team as they were in danger of throwing away the points. But whatever was said, it worked a treat.
Chelsea came out, revved up through the gears and simply blew Newcastle away.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s team had faced the easier task of playing West Ham at home at the weekend, when Alan Curbishley’s team went down 4-1.
Chelsea knew they had to react and in the 60th minute they did just that.
Abdoulaye Faye fouled Florent Malouda on the right side of the penalty area.
Didier Drogba took a stuttering run-up to the free-kick and his delivery found Ballack unmarked and the midfielder headed past Steve Harper. Last season, the German was nowhere to be seen at this stage.
It was against Newcastle with four league games to go that he picked up the controversial ankle injury which ruled him out of the run-in and the Champions League semi-finals.
This time around he is firing on all cylinders.
Ballack scored the two goals against Manchester United last weekend in a game Chelsea just had to win, and his breakthrough yesterday was equally as important.
It was his ninth goal since Boxing Day when he returned from injury. Ballack has been in this situation before, but this time he hopes it will be a happy ending.
In 2002, when he was at Bayer Leverkusen, his team lost the German Bundesliga on the last day of the season to Bayern Munich, the European Cup Final to Real Madrid and even the German Cup.
Chelsea will hope the powerhouse midfielder will be their lucky omen this time rather than a curse as an unlikely European Cup and Premier League double is still in sight.
Nobody thought Chelsea really stood a chance when they were still five points behind United in March.
But their second goal against Newcastle wrapped up the points to give them a glorious chance to land their third title in four years.
Lampard, who had started the game on the bench, ended a mesmerising passing movement in the 82nd minute by slipping the ball through to Malouda.
As Harper came flying off his line, the French winger slid the ball home under the goalkeeper’s body for his first strike since the opening day of the season when he scored against Birmingham.
The only downside for Chelsea was that Ricardo Carvalho was forced off with what looked like concussion after a clash with Alan Smith. Grant had made five changes from the starting 11 against Liverpool last Wednesday.
Joe Cole was on the bench, while Salomon Kalou, Ashley Cole and Claude Makelele were omitted.
In the opening half it looked like it was a change too far, especially as Nicolas Anelka was played wide right rather than up front.
The result was a disjointed first half in which Kevin Keegan’s team should have taken the lead.
Their best opportunity came in the 28th minute when John Terry cleared brilliantly off the line.
Newcastle’s three-man strike force of Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka and Michael Owen combined to create a great chance.
First, Martins chested down Jose Enrique’s long ball in the area, before it ran through to Viduka.
The Australian’s shot was saved by Petr Cech, who raced off his line.
With bodies strewn about the Chelsea penalty box, a fast-arriving Owen side-footed his effort towards the right-hand corner of the unguarded goal.
But Terry anticipated the danger and moved across the goal-line to kick clear.
Owen had Newcastle’s other great opportunity of the opening 45 minutes when Nicky Butt lifted a ball over the top of the Chelsea defence.
The little England striker chose to volley it first time but cleared the bar instead of threatening Cech’s goal.
It was all change after half-time as Carvalho headed over and then Terry hit the crossbar before Ballack’s goal.
Whatever happens now, more bums than ever will be squeaking on the final day of the season.
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Telegraph:
Chelsea prove they are the real deal
By Henry Winter at St James' Park
Newcastle United (0) 0 Chelsea (0) 2
Newcastle United (0) 0 Chelsea (0) 2
Manchester United remain favourites for the title, courtesy of their superior goal difference, but such is the closeness of the race that the Premier League have ordered that two sets of winners' medals be minted for 'Showdown Sunday'.
The real trophy is being taken to the JJB Stadium, where United face Wigan Athletic this weekend, but the Premier League are leaving nothing to chance and will have a replica at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea host Bolton Wanderers.
This may simply be a copy of the original, but there is nothing fake about an enthralling championship chase involving the thoroughbreds of Chelsea and Manchester United.
Whatever the displeasure within football over the way in which Avram Grant replaced Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, nothing can detract from the reality that his strong, lean machine of a team are pushing United all the way to the line.
Grant acted decisively at a key moment yesterday, demanding his players raise their tempo at the break, and also making a significant tactical switch that built the platform for this deserved victory.
As if heralding Grant's change, the St James' DJ played Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond and it was a diamond formation that duly glistened for Chelsea. With a narrow midfield, and Michael Ballack in the hole behind Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea laid siege to Newcastle's area, pouring through the middle in blue waves.
Cometh the hour, cometh the German: Ballack headed home his ninth of the season before Florent Malouda added a second. In all probability, United will need to win at Wigan, because Chelsea surely boast too much belief and firepower for Bolton.
In the run-up to Sunday's date with destiny, the conspiracy theorists will have a field day with the Wigan-United game coming under the microscope. Anyone who knows Wigan's manager, Steve Bruce, will realise that it is not in his mentality to tell his players to ease up, simply to help out his old United manager.
Bruce's first love, Newcastle United, only briefly threatened to do Ferguson a favour yesterday. Before the sheer power and quality of Grant's players ground them down, Newcastle's hopes flickered brightest in the earliest stages.
Looking organised and confident in Kevin Keegan's 4-3-1-2 formation, Newcastle did sit a little deep, but their work-rate was impressive, with Joey Barton a disciplined, energetic presence in midfield and even Mark Viduka tracking back to put a tackle in. Keegan's verdict on the team's future, with Shangri-La being fifth place, seemed gloomy. Michael Owen and company have perked up under Keegan.
Pulling the strings behind Viduka and Obafemi Martins, Owen's clever movement occasionally caught out John Terry and his fellow defenders. When he raced on to Nicky Butt's lob over Chelsea's back four, the Gallowgate stood in anticipation of an expert finish, but Owen flicked his volley into a frustrated crowd.
Martins' wriggling runs often lacked thought but his pace and touch also worried the visitors. And if Habib Beye had got his radar working, Newcastle would have been ahead.
Certainly Chelsea were indebted to Petr Cech and Terry to thwart Newcastle midway through the half. Cech spread himself brilliantly to block Viduka's shot but still the danger did not ebb. Owen, fastest to the rebound, shot goalwards but there was Terry, the rock of ages, stationed on the goal-line to clear.
It was the type of determined defending that has characterised Terry's career, but it also showed his intelligence, instantly realising that Cech was exposed on saving from Viduka; Terry immediately dropped back to protect the untended goal. Such tiny details shape a game's destiny.
Down the other end, Steven Taylor relished his physical duel with Didier Drogba. Even a late challenge from the Chelsea striker, who left his foot in on the Newcastle centre-half, must have felt almost like a compliment to Taylor, albeit a painful one.
So Chelsea seized control. Michael Essien, again outstanding, this time in a midfield role, shot wide. Ballack skewed an effort wide. So did Anelka. John Obi Mikel fired over. Only Nicky Butt's wonderful tackle then thwarted Drogba. When Viduka hobbled away at the break, Chelsea's hopes increased.
The siege began. Ricardo Carvalho headed wide. Terry headed Malouda's inswinging corner on to the bar. TWith an impressive away contingent raising the steel rafters of St James', the black-and-white dam finally yielded on the hour.
When Abdoulaye Feye clipped Malouda's heels on the edge of the area, the Frenchman dummied the free-kick and Drogba lifted the ball in. Ballack, so deadly in the area, escaped from Alan Smith to glance an unstoppable header past Steve Harper.
The lead gained, Grant removed Anelka, introducing Frank Lampard, who received warm applause from Newcastle fans following the recent tragic death of his mother. Lampard ran into midfield and ensured Chelsea kept the ball and the lead.
One scare needed negotiating, Owen prodding Butt's pass just wide, but the force remained with the Blues. When Lampard gained possession with eight minutes remaining, the England international beautifully slid the ball down the inside-left channel and Malouda swept Chelsea's second past Harper.
Down at the Premier League HQ, two miles from the Bridge, plans were being changed for the final weekend. "The practical difficulties of the title race going into the final day of the season means that the Barclays Premier League trophy will be on stand-by at both the JJB Stadium and Stamford Bridge," said a Premier League spokesman last night.
By dusk next Sunday, when the dust has settled on a thrilling season, a set of unused winners' medals will head for the furnace as the Champagne corks pop elsewhere.
Premier League last-day deciders
1994-95: Blackburn lost 2-1 at Liverpool but were still crowned champions as they finished one point ahead of Manchester United, who drew 1-1 at West Ham.
1995-96: United clinched the title with a 3-0 win at Middlesbrough, finishing four points clear of Newcastle, who had squandered a 12-point lead and drew with Tottenham on the last day.
1998-98: United fell behind at home to Tottenham but won 2-1, taking the championship by a point from Arsenal, who beat Aston Villa at home.
2007-08 deciders: Sunday: Wigan v Manchester United, Chelsea v Bolton.
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Indy:
Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2:
Ballack drives Chelsea onward to set up tightest of title finales
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
They are the shadow across Old Trafford. Their pursuit of Manchester United has been relentless and they will not be flicked aside to accommodate a convenient procession for Sir Alex Ferguson's would-be champions. If Chelsea told us one thing yesterday, it is that United will have to beat Wigan Athletic on Sunday to be sure of the title because these boys in blue are in no mood to capitulate until the very last moment of the season.
The Premier League title race goes to the last day with the two main protagonists level on points for the first time in the top flight since 1968 – when Manchester City edged out Manchester United for the title.
Ferguson can never have believed that it would be a matter of goal difference that would separate his team from the rest but that is in all likelihood what he must hope for, because no one seriously believes that the great blue machine will falter at home to Bolton Wanderers on Sunday. For Ferguson it will be like winning an election on second preference votes, but by now he will settle for victory on any terms.
Avram Grant's team are the form side of the Premier League, rumbling along like the Jose Mourinho team of old and seemingly capable of everything but overturning a Manchester United goal difference that is 17 goals better off than their own. Chelsea will need a cricket score to win the title if United beat Wigan – a margin of 18 goals should do it if Ferguson's team win, let's say, 1-0.
But there is plenty for Ferguson to worry about should his side not rise to the occasion at Wigan. The JJB Stadium is not exactly regarded as one of English football's most passionate crucibles of history and pride, but come Sunday it will be the stage for a cliffhanger of a game of such significance that Ferguson's old end-of-season "squeaky bum" description does not do it justice.
There is nothing for Chelsea to lose and everything for Manchester United to toss away. If Ferguson's team blow it, then their trauma will undoubtedly set the tone for the European Cup final in Moscow 10 days later. He is up against Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager and a Manchester United player for nine years of his distinguished career. Bruce left United in 1996 with his third Premiership winners' medal, although not before he had seen his club throw away a title at Upton Park the year before when they failed to beat West Ham and ceded the league to Blackburn Rovers on the last day of the season.
With a win Bruce's team could still take 12th place from Newcastle, although if Wigan are victorious on Sunday it is fair to say that will not be what everyone remembers from the day.
It is Grant who has won 15 and drawn five of his last 20 Premier League games, an extraordinary record in anyone's terms. Yesterday the Chelsea manager protested that his team were "human beings, not computers" when he was asked to explain their below-par first-half performance.
In the second half they played much more as if they had been programmed by computer, unyielding and remorseless in their dispatching of Newcastle.
Once again it was Michael Ballack, a man who epitomises the vorsprung durch technik element of Chelsea better than any other and the man who scored his side's first goal. The Germany international is flourishing at the end of the season, driving his team on, and ironically it may have much to do with what happened at St James' Park a little more than a year ago that has played a part in his rejuvenation.
On 22 April 2007 he was carried off the pitch with a chipped bone in his left ankle that threatened to end his career. He did not play again for Chelsea until 19 December and is performing now like a player who is reaching the peak of this season rather than one who is hanging on for dear life at the end. This was his third goal in his last two league games, including the two in the win over Manchester United 10 days ago. Ballack's goal just after the hour was simply nodded past Steve Harper with the merest twist of his neck, a beautifully worked free-kick from the right from Didier Drogba that found its target perfectly. Perfect in so much as the Ivorian had only to stagger his run-up slightly to confuse the Newcastle players in the area. It was those Manchester United old boys Nicky Butt and Alan Smith whom Ballack eluded so easily and in that moment was distilled much of Newcastle's insipid performance.
Michael Owen did have a shot cleared off the line by John Terry in the 28th minute but that was really Newcastle's only attack of any note. They bid their farewell to St James' Park for the season at the end of the game with a kind of embarrassment – so desperate had much of this game, the second half in particular, been for them. Kevin Keegan's name boomed down from the stands, the devotion of his own supporters the one thing the Newcastle manager has that Grant could conceivably envy.
Even so, Grant meddled with the Chelsea team at his peril yesterday. Nicolas Anelka was sent out to play on the right side of midfield and did a good job of playing himself out of contention for the European Cup final team.
He will not be eligible to play against Bolton under the terms of his January transfer. The biggest worry for Grant will be the back injury to Ricardo Carvalho which forced his substitution. He is one player they cannot be without in Moscow. Florent Malouda tucked in the second goal eight minutes from time when he was played in by Frank Lampard who started the game on the bench.
From an inauspicious start, Chelsea had taken this game by the throat and come to dominate it. In that sense it was rather like the title race itself, although in that particular competition it is Manchester United who hold the whip hand. They, after all, have the goal difference. But it is Chelsea who have the momentum.
Goals: Ballack (61) 0-1; Malouda (82) 0-2.
Newcastle United (4-3-1-2): Harper; Beye, Taylor, Faye, Enrique (N'Zogbia, 78); Geremi (Duff, 71), Butt, Barton; Owen; Viduka (Smith, h-t), Martins. Substitutes not used: Cacapa, Forster (gk).
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ferreira, Carvalho (Alex, 79), Terry, Bridge; Mikel; Anelka (Lampard, 66), Essien, Ballack, Malouda; Drogba (Shevchenko, 86). Substitutes not used: J Cole, Cudicini (gk).
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Booked: Newcastle Faye, Enrique; Chelsea Terry, Malouda.
Man of the match: Ballack.
Attendance: 52,305.
United or Chelsea?
To win the title, Chelsea must win while Manchester United lose or draw, or draw while Manchester United lose. If both teams win, lose or draw, Manchester United will win the title owing to their vastly superior goal difference.
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Mail:
Blues brothers Ballack and Malouda keep Chelsea's hopes alive with victory at Newcastle
Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2
By MATT LAWTON
By MATT LAWTON
As well as having a team that continues to match Sir Alex Ferguson's men stride for stride, Avram Grant appears to possess a hairdryer as well.
He said he gave Chelsea's players something of a rollicking during the half-time interval here yesterday and, my, how well it worked. Two goals, the extra two points they needed and the chance to really pile the pressure on to Manchester United.
Until then, Chelsea seemed to be struggling. Exhausted, no doubt, after 120 minutes of intense Champions League battle with Liverpool that followed the previous weekend's fiercely contested league encounter with United.
Either that or they had watched United crush an inept West Ham side on Saturday and convinced themselves that there is no way they will drop points at Wigan this weekend.
Ever the optimist, Grant clearly did not see it that way. Not least because he had rested six of those who started at Stamford Bridge during the week.
Even if the championship remained, and indeed remains, very much in United's hands, it had not yet slipped from their grasp and Grant clearly made the point. Does he show his temper? 'Sometimes,' he said yesterday.
Kevin Keegan might now be bored to tears, but what an afternoon Sunday promises to be. Very much a case of what Ferguson calls 'squeaky bum time' and far more so for United than it will be for Chelsea. United have everything to lose, Chelsea everything to gain.
This provided further evidence to support Grant's recent claim: that Chelsea are coming into form at exactly the right time; that they have returned to their ruthlessly efficient best with that deadly combination of power and predatory precision.
Certain players now appear invincible, not least Michael Ballack. He scored both goals against United and added another in the 61st minute yesterday, seizing on Didier Drobga's cleverly executed free-kick with an impressively simple header.
At the business end of the season, Ballack is clearly cashing in on the rest that coincided with an eight-month injury absence between April and December last year.
The German looks frighteningly fresh and every bit as dominant as he has for club and country in the past.
When you look at Chelsea's midfield — at Frank Lampard, John Mikel Obi, Claude Makelele and Michael Essien as well as Ballack, you look at an immensely strong and physical unit that will worry Ferguson in the Champions League Final in Moscow.
If matches are won and lost in midfield, United seem to have their work cut out.
Lampard has had much to contend with in the wake of his mother's death and it was said yesterday that he was too mentally drained to start this match.
When he did come on, however, he was also terrific, delivering a quite brilliant pass that enabled Florent Malouda to add a second goal for Chelsea in the 82nd minute.
Judging by this, Chelsea will beat Bolton easily on Sunday and United must realise as much, just as they must realise that only a win will do at the JJB Stadium against a side that have already damaged Chelsea's title challenge with that 94th-minute equaliser at Stamford Bridge last month.
That said, things were different then. Wigan still needed points to protect their Barclays Premier League status and it is a former United captain rather than a Chelsea one who manages them.
Steve Bruce covered his office wall in photographs from Old Trafford when he was in charge at Bramall Lane and the idea of him now denying Ferguson a 10th Premier League title will be unthinkable for some.
Will he not remember how he felt at Upton Park in 1995, when defeat against West Ham handed the title to Blackburn?
Grant said he believes in the sporting 'tradition' of the English game and for that reason he was determined to see his side make this the most exciting end to a season in years.
His side began the match poorly and were lucky to survive an early scare when John Terry denied Michael Owen with a clearance off the line.
But a few harsh words and a slight tactical reshuffle after the break and Chelsea were a completely different side.
From the right flank they were particularly dangerous, having threatened first with a header from Ricardo Carvalho and then with an effort from Terry that struck the crossbar.
When Abdoulaye Faye then brought down Malouda, Drogba delayed his free-kick for a split second, the Newcastle defence fell for it and Ballack nipped in ahead of Alan Smith to head his side into the lead.
After that, as well as the goal from Malouda, came the changes that so depressed Keegan. On went Lampard.
On went '£28million' Andriy Shevchenko.
And on marched Chelsea towards what everyone except Keegan will consider a thrilling finale next weekend.
NEWCASTLE (4-3-1-2): Harper 6; Beye 5, Taylor 6, Faye 5, Enrique 5 (N'Zogbia 78min); Geremi 5 (Duff 71, 6), Butt 6, Barton 6; Owen 6; Viduka 5 (Smith 45, 5), Martins 5.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 7; Ferreira 6, Carvalho 7 (Alex 79), Terry 7, Bridge 6; Essien 7, Obi 6, Ballack 8; Anelka 5 (Lampard 66, 7), Drogba 7 (Shevchenko 86), Malouda 6. Booked: Terry, Malouda.
Man of the match: Michael Ballack.
Referee: Steve Bennett.
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The Guardian
Chelsea make the case for a grand finale
Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2 Ballack 61, Malouda 82
Kevin McCarra at St James' Park
Kevin McCarra at St James' Park
Chelsea yet again paced themselves beautifully to stay in step with Manchester United. The reigning champions cannot exactly dread Sunday's trip to Wigan Athletic when a victory will secure the title on goal difference, but they will go there with a discomfiting sense of claustrophobia because of Avram Grant's team. Breathing space ceased to exist when Sir Alex Ferguson's squad lost at Stamford Bridge 10 days ago.
Newcastle United could not divert Chelsea from their course and received confirmation of their suspicion that recent improvement reflected the limited nature of the opposition. The scope of Grant's squad is great. The players may have been harangued at half-time but it had always been probable that their talent would break loose at some point.
For the first time the Premier League goes into its final day with two clubs divided purely by goal difference. Chelsea had no doubt they would bring the competition to a head in that manner and felt free to alter the line-up so that Frank Lampard cropped up merely as a substitute and Joe Cole did not take to the field at all.
That expertise included the element of calculation that undid Newcastle. The opener, after an hour, had its origins in the free-kick that Florent Malouda induced from Abdoulaye Faye. After that came some feigned hesitation to fracture the defence's concentration before Didier Drogba lifted the ball in for Michael Ballack to get in front of the substitute Alan Smith and tuck a downward header into the net.
Newcastle did have sporadic opportunities, usually involving Michael Owen. Early in the match he had volleyed over on the turn after a high ball over the back four by Nicky Butt. After 28 minutes José Enrique's cross was forced against Petr Cech by Mark Viduka and the rebound was met by Owen, but Terry blocked the attempt on the line.
The scavenger's instinct is undiminished in Owen and no one else on the field would have caught the scent of a goal as he did in the 73rd minute when he hared after a skipping mis-hit drive from Butt, but could do nothing more than help it over the byline. Not even the injury that forced Ricardo Carvalho from the field after 80 minutes awakened a faith in an equaliser among the home support.
Two minutes afterwards Chelsea put on a demonstration of their formidable ability. That incident alone could have provoked Kevin Keegan's doom-laden observations about the eternal domination of the existing top four. Still, the passing between Michael Essien, Ballack and Lampard was sharp and so absorbed defenders that they barely noticed Malouda moving into space to gather a ball from the England midfielder and shoot low past Steve Harper.
The race for the title is not making Keegan's pulse race. He has evidence to underpin an argument about the predictability of the upper reaches of the table now and, in his opinion, for all time. Keegan, of course, had no reason to reflect that there seems to be even fewer feasible contenders for the title in, say, Italy or Spain than there are in England as each new campaign starts.
This Premier League will come to a close in a blaze of public fascination with Sunday's drama. Much of the football population is sure to express a dislike for the vulgar affluence of Chelsea and, for that matter, United but that will not stop anyone from being intrigued by the outcomes at the JJB stadium and at Stamford Bridge, where Bolton Wanderers will be vastly relieved that, thanks to goal difference, they are in effect relegation-proof.
The experience in the Chelsea ranks was telling when the time came to impose themselves. A bawling-out in the dressing room did no harm but the potential had to be lurking in the side if it was to be tapped. There was an immediate crispness as the passes continually found their target and Newcastle were allowed no respite.
There was the uncommon sight, too, of Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as a pairing in the middle of the attack. The Frenchman had not begun a match in the same line-up as the Ivorian since the Carling Cup final on February 24 and even then he had opened, as he did yesterday, in a wide role.
It would be appealing to see how Anelka and Drogba evolved as a pairing, particularly since their talents are so complementary. Nonetheless it is a combination that will probably be denied the right to evolve. There is scant appetite in modern football for risk-taking in attack. Chelsea, even so, are an outstanding side and they are due gratitude for an absorbing pursuit of United that barely appeared feasible during the disruption when Jose Mourinho made way for Grant.
Tightest for 40 years
Chelsea's victory means that for the first time since 1968 the two leading teams in the top division will go into the final day of the season level on points. Forty years ago Manchester United and Manchester City were neck and neck as they began their last matches on May 11. City, under the joint management of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison, won the championship after securing a dramatic 4-3 win against Newcastle United at St James' Park. Their local rivals were beaten 2-1 at Old Trafford by Sunderland but went on to reach the final of the European Cup, in which they defeated Benfica.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Express:
GRANT STILL ON THE LEVEL WITH FERGIE
By Niall Hickman
Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2
SIR ALEX Ferguson and Kevin Keegan might not be bosom buddies, but that nearly changed yesterday as the Chelsea machine spluttered to a victory that keeps the title race open to the final day of the season.
The Blues were not at anything like their best. And if Michael Owen had shown anything like his clinical form of recent weeks we could be talking about the title being in Manchester United’s locker already.
As it is, Avram Grant’s Chelsea bravely kept their hat in the ring with goals from Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda.
Keegan’s Magpies were certainly fired up. Although Chelsea endured a scare, this 2008 version under Grant are experienced in the dark art of winning while not playing at their best – just as they were with Jose Mourinho.
Owen fluffed entirely convertible chances including an early miss that suggested it was not going to be his day. But Newcastle should not be chastised as they put in 90 minutes of absolute effort. What they were up against is a team who can turn it on like a tap. Chelsea looked a bedraggled outfit in the first half but for 15 minutes after the break they ran the show, and it was then that Ballack produced his crucial opener.
To their credit, Newcastle fought back. But the visitors weathered the storm and came up trumps in the end with a strike of spellbinding class through Malouda. Maybe it was even a goal good enough to win the title.
Grant chose a strange line-up by reducing regulars Frank Lampard and Joe Cole to the bench. Lampard attended his mother’s funeral on Friday while Cole has been somewhat subdued in recent weeks.
Newcastle manager Keegan kept faith with the ultra-attacking 4-3-3 formation that has secured his club’s Premier League status via a seven-match unbeaten run.
A full house greeted the players, with Chelsea knowing that defeat would hand the title to United. All the Old Trafford players who have been texting one-time team-mate Nicky Butt in the past week were nearly jumping off their armchairs as Owen could, and maybe should, have presented Newcastle with an early lead.
Butt sand-wedged a delightful through-ball to Owen, who caught Chelsea napping only to sky his volley high and wide with just Petr Cech to beat.
The response was an inaccurate punt on goal from roughly similar territory by Malouda, but it was the Magpies who were making all the early inroads.
Owen had another chance, but this time he was thwarted by John Terry. Mark Viduka’s shot was brilliantly blocked by Cech, but the loose ball fell kindly to Owen, who from 12 yards tried to pick his spot only to see the recovering Terry make a terrific stop on the line.
Chelsea looked second best and Terry’s booking, for a blatant body check on Owen, underlined their frustrations.
Like all high-class teams, though, they regrouped and before half-time gave a hint of what was to follow.
Malouda found Ballack on the edge of the box. The German might be renowned for his coolness under pressure – witness his spot-kick against United a fortnight ago – but on this occasion he controlled the ball badly and sliced his shot wide.
A period of pressure led to Terry smacking the bar with a firm header from Malouda’s corner. Then, though, Chelsea took the lead.
Abdoulaye Faye handed the Blues a free-kick on the right flank, which Didier Drogba delivered into the box. Ballack rose above substitute Alan Smith and headed home.
Obafemi Martins fired inches wide and Butt’s mis-hit shot seemed certain to be converted by Owen only for the striker to fail yet again. But Chelsea made sure of a nail-biting end to the championship race – locked together with United but behind on goal difference – as a simply breathtaking five-man move began with Terry and finished with the ball in the back of the net, courtesy of Malouda’s confidence in front of goal.
They have gone 20 league games without tasting defeat – title form indeed.
Newcastle (4-3-3): Harper; Enrique (N’Zogbia 78), Beye, Faye, Taylor; Butt, Barton, Geremi (Duff 71); Owen, Martins, Viduka (Smith 46). Booked: Enrique, Faye.
Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho (Alex 79), Bridge; Malouda, Mikel, Ballack, Essien; Drogba (Shevchenko 87), Anelka (Lampard 66). Booked: Malouda, Terry. Goals: Ballack 60, Malouda 82.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
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Mirror:
Mirror:
Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea: The title race goes to the wire Michael Ballack was again Chelsea's hero as the Londoners took the Barclays Premier League title race down to the final game of the season.
The German, whose double against Manchester United last week took them level with their rivals at the top, broke a stubborn Newcastle with a crucial 60th-minute opener at St James' Park.
But it was not until Florent Malouda added a second eight minutes from time that the points were safe as the spirited Magpies did their best to preserve a seven-game unbeaten run.
They had needed the help of the crossbar to keep out John Terry's 53rd-minute header, but had it not been for the Chelsea skipper's goalline clearance 16 minutes before the break, Michael Owen would have fired the home side ahead.
Newcastle had their chances to level as time ran down with Obafemi Martins seeing his blistering effort deflected just wide by Ricardo Carvalho.
However, Chelsea's class was ultimately made to tell on a day when Kevin Keegan was given the best illustration yet of how far his side has to go to compete an a level playing field with the big boys.
Avram Grant's men head into next weekend's clash with Bolton knowing victory might not be enough to lift the trophy if United win at Wigan, because of their inferior goal difference, but they have a chance.
It was perhaps testament to the turnaround in fortunes engineered by Keegan on Tyneside that his opposite number opted to change formation as well as personnel in the search for three points.
Out went Ashley Cole, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, and Salomon Kalou from the side which clinched a place in the Champions League final and in, among others, came Malouda and Nicolas Anelka.
They were deployed in a three-pronged front line either side of Didier Drogba, but such was the tenacity with which the Magpies defended, none of the trio managed to put pressure on goalkeeper Steve Harper.
Indeed, their best chance of the first half fell to Ballack 10 minutes before the break when he ran onto Michael Essien's measured pass, but sliced a left-foot shot harmlessly wide.
In fact, most of the half's better chances fell to Newcastle, who perhaps made more of a lesser share of the possession.
Owen left England team-mate Terry for dead with just six minutes gone to collect the imperious Nicky Butt's pass, but lifted his first-time effort over Petr Cech's crossbar.
But with Martins making life intensely difficult for Paulo Ferreira down the Chelsea right, the Magpies threatened repeatedly and might have taken the lead with 29 minutes gone.
The Nigerian controlled a high ball superbly on his chest for Mark Viduka to stab in a shot which Cech saved, but the rebound seemed to fall invitingly to Owen.
The £17million man steered his shot firmly towards goal but Terry was in exactly the right place at the right time to save his side.
Chelsea responded by pinning Newcastle back inside their own half, but Harper was able to watch long-range efforts from Anelka and Mikel John Obi sail wide of the target, and it was the Magpies who finished the first half the stronger.
Viduka's failure to re-appear after the break - he is due to have an injection for a persistent Achilles problem - prompted Alan Smith's introduction, but it was the visitors who went close when Carvalho headed Malouda's 50th-minute corner wide.
However, Terry went much closer three minutes later as Chelsea started to turn the screw.
Malouda was the provider once again with another right-wing corner, and this time his captain climbed highest to thunder a header against the bar as Newcastle enjoyed a huge slice of good fortune.
But they finally fell behind on the hour when Ballack met Drogba's free-kick unmarked in front of goal to glance home a close-range header.
Lampard replaced Anelka with 24 minutes remaining as Grant adopted his more accustomed 4-4-2 formation, but it was Newcastle who almost hit back as the game entered its final 20 minutes.
First Martins saw Carvalho deflect his shot inches wide with Cech stranded, and then Owen only just failed to connect with Butt's mishit effort in front of goal.
Harper pulled off a smart reaction save to deny Ballack from distance and the game was anything but over.
However, Malouda's neat finish from Lampard's 82nd-minute pass cemented the win as Newcastle's resistance was finally broken.
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Sun:
By SHAUN CUSTIS
By SHAUN CUSTIS
FROM a bollocking to a Ballacking.
Lacklustre Chelsea were read the riot attack by manager Avram Grant and his coaching staff at the break.
Their second-half response, led by midfield ace Michael Ballack, was emphatic as the German colossus ensured the Premier League title battle goes right to the wire.
Never before have we got to the final day with two teams on equal points as Chelsea and Manchester United are.
Due to their superior goal difference, a United win at Wigan — managed by old-boy Steve Bruce — would mean they retain their crown.
But they cannot rest with the Blues on their heels, especially as Grant’s men will surely beat Bolton at home in their last game.
Kevin Keegan says this is the most boring league in the world because of the top four’s dominance but, make no mistake, it will be nail-bitingly exciting next Sunday.
For his part, Ballack is finishing the season in storming form, strutting around the pitch and bossing the game the way he has done for years in a German shirt.
It has taken a while for the Chelsea fans to see the best of him but they are getting it now.
Ironically, Ballack’s Chelsea career hit rock bottom at St James’ last April when, after a number of poor performances, he suffered a chipped bone in his ankle which kept him for eight months. Former boss Jose Mourinho was furious when Ballack took matters into his own hands and had surgery.
Even 10 days ago, when Ballack was arguing with Didier Drogba over a free-kick against Manchester United, it seemed an apparently fragile team spirit was cracking.
But Ballack’s double gave Chelsea a 2-1 win against United and here yesterday he and Drogba combined to fire their team to success.
On the hour, Drogba clipped over a free-kick and Ballack glanced a header beyond Steve Harper. Eight minutes from time Chelsea wrapped it up with a lovely passing move started by Michael Essien to Ballack and on to sub Frank Lampard who slotted a beautifully weighted ball into the path of Florent Malouda.
The Frenchman did not have to break stride and slipped the ball past Harper to finish off Newcastle.
The first half had belonged to the Toon from the moment Michael Owen lofted Nicky Butt’s chip just over the bar. Skipper John Terry then had to hack off the line from Owen after Mark Viduka’s flick was blocked by Petr Cech.
The visiting Blues fans were seriously worried but the home truths at half-time had the desired effect on the title chasers and Terry’s thundering header against the bar was the prelude to Ballack’s opener.
The lively yet on occasions frustrating Obafemi Martins had a left-foot shot deflected just wide and Owen failed to connect with a bouncing ball as he stretched out his right leg. But then Malouda struck to make it safe.
Newcastle went on a lap of honour at the end to salute the fans who have had a difficult time of it this season.
They were going to be returning in August with renewed optimism but will have been depressed by what Keegan had to say in his after-match interviews.
Newcastle fans are eternal optimists. The club might never win anything but the dreamers believe all things are possible.
Keegan was seen as the Messiah who could take the club back to the promised land battling for the Premier League title again — but he has rather kiboshed that one.
The reality is going to hurt deeply.
PETR CECH: Czech stopper looked assured as ever. Brilliant close range save denied Martins on 28 minutes and had little to do after that. 6
WAYNE BRIDGE: Rare run-out for the full-back with Ashley Cole rested. Got forward well and was hardly tested defensivley with Newcastle playing without any width. 6
RICARDO CARVALHO: Helped form a rock-like central partnership with Terry. Was tested all afternoon by Martins and Owen but held firm in style. 7
JOHN TERRY: Skipper led by example and was dominant throughout. Relishes these type of games and smacked the bar early in the second half with a superb header. Booked. 8
PAULO FERREIRA: Just stuck to the task in hand and hardly put a foot wrong. Cool on the ball and always on hand to snuff out danger. 6
FLORENT MALOUDA: Patchy performance from the French winger who showed some nice touches but failed to really impose himself until clinical strike made the game safe. Booked. 7
JOHN MIKEL OBI: Kept the Blues ticking nicely in midfield by keeping it simple. Strong in the tackle and protected the back-four superbly well. 7
MICHAEL ESSIEN: Together with Ballack and Mikel helped Chelsea rule in the middle of the park. Contributed all over the pitch. 7
MICHAEL BALLACK: German midfield machine popped up with yet another vital goal to show how important he is for Avram Grant’s men. Played his part in second strike too. STARMAN. 8
NICOLAS ANELKA: French ace is not a right winger and showed it. Floated into the middle after the break but it was no surprise when he was replaced by Lampard. 6
DIDIER DROGBA: Hitman worked his socks off for the cause without any real end product. Found Taylor a very hard nut to crack. 6
SUBS:
Lampard (for Anelka, 65) 7, Carvalho (for Alex, 79) 6, Drogba (for Shevchenko, 85) 6. (yes I know !)
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