Guardian
Lampard keeps Chelsea firing on all fronts as Pompey are floored
Carling Cup Third Round
Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 4 Lampard (pen) 36, Malouda 45, Lampard 49, Kalou 64
Sachin Nakrani at Fratton Park
The Carling Cup is not a priority for Chelsea but its significance to those in charge of the team should not be underestimated. Victory in the 2005 final kick-started Jose Mourinho's bountiful spell at the club while failure to repeat the trick last season signalled the beginning of the end for Avram Grant. So Luiz Felipe Scolari was more than entitled to take pleasure from progressing past his first match in the competition.
The outcome was, in truth, never in doubt after Chelsea's starting line-up had been confirmed. Even in a weakened team places were found for Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and, for the first time since the Champions League final, Didier Drogba, and after an initially slow start, they simply marched towards victory. Lampard scored either side of half time while Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou claimed the others in a display that suggests Scolari's unbeaten streak at Chelsea will continue for some time. Chelsea will also be bolstered by the signing of the Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the end of the season.
"I am very happy with how we played," said the Brazilian. "We kept possession and the players who came into the team did very well. I am also pleased that we have now started three competitions with three wins, that is very good for us. This competition is important for us and we want to win it. If I didn't want to win I would not have even come to Portsmouth today."
Harry Redknapp struggled to hide his agitation after the match. "We had a makeshift midfield and we worked very hard but we gave away scandalous goals," said the Portsmouth manager. "The first one wasn't a penalty. After that the other goals were poor. This was always the least important game for me. We didn't want to get smashed up and we did concede more goals away than we would like."
There was further angst from Redknapp over an easy goal for Lampard just after half-time when David James parried a Kalou cross on to the England midfielder's thigh and into the net. "It was a joke goal," the manager said. Malouda's low strike just before half-time had already secured the outcome, with Kalou making sure on 64 minutes.
Portsmouth have now conceded 10 goals in their past two games but having been forced to put out a side weakened by injuries, Redknapp refused to speak of a crisis. "We did OK today and I can't complain about the effort of the players," he said. "We just have to move on now."
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Independent:
Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 4: Ballack in the dock after Blues coast
By Jason BurtThursday, 25 September 2008
Passions are usually fiery down at Fratton Park and it was the same last night with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp accusing Michael Ballack of "diving" for a penalty to give Chelsea the lead in a League Cup tie which ended in humiliation for the home side. "It was never a penalty," Redknapp complained. "He left his leg in and dived."
His sense of injustice stretched to some "joke" defending from his team which led to another of Chelsea's goals – he didn't name names but it was clearly a reference to a goalkeeping howler by David James – but it was Ballack's antics which provoked his anger. Maybe it was a smokescreen. Redknapp's complaints stretched to being down to the proverbial "bare bones" – and he is shorn of a first-choice midfield right now – but Portsmouth were, indeed, "bashed up" by a Chelsea side which oozed style and confidence.
They have somewhat appropriated headlines in this competition in recent years – from Jose Mourinho's shush gestures and then defiant salutes towards Roman Abramovich as he twice won the trophy, to Avram Grant's clueless head-scratching as he lost it last season – but all Luiz Felipe Scolari's 2008-09 version delivered was an emphatic message of superiority. The manager barely stirred himself although his players were stirring enough.
Redknapp's side are listing like a holed liner. They sank. And, in doing so, they stank. Ten goals conceded in two games without reply and an aggregate of 8-0 against Chelsea in two contests this season.
The goals came thick and fast either side of half-time. First Ballack burst onto a cut-back by Salomon Kalou to fall under Nadir Belhadj's challenge. Frank Lampard drilled the penalty low into the corner of the net.
Kalou was provider for the second, laying a simple pass in for Florent Malouda to drive a vicious shot beyond James. Chelsea's next goal was soft. A centre by Kalou was too close to the goalkeeper only for James to push it out – and straight into Lampard. The ball struck the midfielder on the thigh, just a yard out, and trickled over the line.
Portsmouth were torn apart once more when Sylvain Distin dallied in possession, Kalou stole the ball and, again, James was beaten with a low, angled shot at his near post. "Scandalous," said Redknapp. "People made mistakes who don't normally make them."
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson; Kaboul; Utaka, Mvuemba, Hughes (Wilson, 80), Belhadj (A Traoré, 69); Crouch (Kanu, 69). Substitutes not used: Ashdown (gk), Defoe, D Traoré, Little.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bridge; Belletti; Kalou, Ballack (Ferreira, 69), Lampard (Sinclair, 74), Malouda; Drogba (Di Santo, 79). Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Mikel, Mancienne, Stoch.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
*Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has bolstered his squad by signing the 33-year-old Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the end of the season.
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Mail:
Lampard gives Portsmouth a history lesson as Chelsea make their intentions clear again
By Matt Barlow
Luiz Felipe Scolari started a new course of English lessons this week, to make his language more expansive. Perfection is his goal - four trophies and a colourful vocabulary.
So far, Scolari has taken everything in his stride, including last night's introduction to the Carling Cup, a competition which has bewildered foreign managers in the past.
The Brazilian struck the balance just about right at Portsmouth, resting players, giving others a run and securing a place in the fourth round with the minimum of fuss.
But he was helped by Harry Redknapp's desire not to risk key players such as Sol Campbell and Lassana Diarra. Now Pompey's defence has conceded 10 goals in four days, following the 6-0 loss to Manchester City.
As usual, Frank Lampard was in the goals against his Uncle Harry. He scored twice, the first from a penalty, and the others came from Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou.
History also haunted Pompey in their bid to follow their FA Cup triumph with more silverware, having not beaten Chelsea in 24 attempts, stretching back to December 1960.
Chelsea, who signed Brazilian free agent Mineiro earlier in the day, have taken the Carling Cup as seriously as anyone, winning it twice under Jose Mourinho and losing last season's final to Spurs. Scolari continued this tradition.
He had youngsters on the bench and handed a debut to £9million Serb Branislav Ivanovic, but named an experienced line-up with Petr Cech in goal and Didier Drogba, who made his first start since the Champions League final.
Drogba took fewer than two minutes to get involved, unleashing a drive from the edge of the box which flashed wide. Michael Ballack picked up an early yellow card for a clumsy foul on Hermann Hreidarsson and Lampard was needed in his own goalmouth, where his last-ditch block denied John Utaka.
Chelsea's goalscoring midfielders were in more familiar territory, though, on 36 minutes. Lampard and Drogba combined to release Malouda, dashing down the left and the French winger dragged a low cross back towards the edge of the penalty area.
Ballack and Nadir Belhadj raced to the loose ball and the German was there first by a split-second. He toe-poked the ball and paused for the contact from Belhadj. Then he crumpled to the turf.
Referee Steve Bennett had little option but to point to the spot, even though Ballack had obviously played to win the penalty. Belhadj must learn. Lampard stepped up to beat James with the penalty, just as he did last month at Stamford Bridge.
Malouda made it two, seconds before the break, as Portsmouth were caught napping at a throw-in. Wayne Bridge threw it to Kalou, who nursed it back for Malouda to drill a shot beyond James.
Lampard had his second of the night, and his fifth of the season, early in the second half and it was a bizarre moment. Kalou's cross from the right somehow escaped James at the near-post, spilled onto Lampard's knee and bobbled into the net. The goalscorer gave a shrug, the referee gave a goal and, after a moment of stunned silence, the travelling fans erupted.
Kalou added the fourth, dispossessing Sylvain Distin and firing low past James. 'We want seven,' sang Chelsea supporters, a little touchy about the idea that Manchester City might be shaping up as the new force in English football.
PORTSMOUTH (4-5-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson; Utaka, Hughes (Wilson 80), Kaboul, Mveumba, Belhadj (Traore 69); Crouch (Kanu 69).Bookings: Hreidarsson, Hughes, Johnson. CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Bridge; Ballack (Ferreira 69), Belletti, Lampard (Sinclair 74); Kalou, Drogba (Di Santo 79), Malouda. Booking: Ballack. Referee: Steve Bennett.
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Mirror:
Carling Cup 3rd round: Portsmouth 0-4 Chelsea24/09/2008
Goalkeeper David James conceded his 10th goal in just two games as Chelsea cruised into the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
Chelsea picked up where Manchester City left off at the weekend by rattling four past a hapless, injury-hit Portsmouth.
Frank Lampard scored twice - the first from the penalty spot - while Florent Malouda and the eye-catching Salomon Kalou joined in the fun.
Portsmouth had not beaten Chelsea since a 1-0 League Cup victory at Fratton Park in December 1960, in the days when Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho had film fans screaming in their cinema seats.
Pompey fans have already witnessed two defensive horror shows this season, with a 4-0 opening-day defeat at Chelsea followed by a 6-0 thrashing by City just last Saturday.
And they will have been covering their eyes again at Fratton Park as a mixture of careless and comical defending gifted Chelsea another resounding victory.
Nadri Belhadj conceded a needless penalty for Chelsea's first and David James then failed to gather Kalou's cross, allowing Lampard to bundle home the third.
The Ivorian was Chelsea's most lively player all evening and then sliced through a non-existent Portsmouth defence to make it four.
"We want seven," taunted the Chelsea fans.
It has not all been X-rated at Fratton Park this season. The club celebrated their UEFA Cup debut last week - but the fixture congestion is testing Harry Redknapp's squad to the limit.
With injuries to cope with and a busy week ahead, including the return tie at Vitoria, Redknapp made five changes but even with three deep-lying midfielders they were again brittle at the back.
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari made six changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester United but he continued the club's policy of attacking the Carling Cup.
Didier Drogba returned to the starting XI alongside Lampard and Ballack while £9million defender Branislav Ivanovic was awarded a long-awaited first-team debut.
Drogba almost rifled the opening goal inside two minutes after some neat Chelsea passing on the edge of the Portsmouth box.
Portsmouth responded in positive fashion. John Utaka accelerated past Wayne Bridge but his cross was just too far behind Peter Crouch, who had started up front on his own.
Lampard was forced into a last-ditch block inside his own six-yard box after an inviting cross from Glen Johnson and Crouch crashed the rebound into the side-netting.
But that was the best of the Portsmouth chances as Chelsea began to assume control in a workmanlike, unflashy way.
Kalou squeezed his shot wide after latching onto a lofted ball from Juliano Belletti before darting into the box again and forcing Johnson into a well-timed challenge.
Chelsea manufactured the opening 10 minutes before the interval after Drogba and Lampard combined to find Malouda down the left flank.
Malouda's cross was just behind the first ranks of blue shirts flooding into the box but Ballack raced onto the loose ball.
He toed the ball forward and was brought down by a careless lunge from Belhadj. Referee Steve Bennett pointed straight to the spot and Lampard's low drive was unstoppable.
Malouda rifled Chelsea's second past James in the last minute of the half after being picked out by a clever ball from Kalou, Portsmouth's tormentor in chief.
Kalou was at it again moments after the re-start as Lampard scored his second in bizarre circumstances.
James succeeded only in deflecting Kalou's cross onto Lampard's knee and the ball dribbled almost apologetically into the net. Lampard reacted sheepishly, as if he thought the goal would be disallowed, and it was not until he raised his arm that the 3,000 Chelsea supporters positioned down the other end even realised a goal had been scored.
The tempo was pedestrian with Portsmouth, featuring three deep-lying midfielders, unable to offer anything in response.
After playing such an effective supporting role Kalou then helped himself, cutting in from the right flank to beat a non-existent Portsmouth defence and score from 12 yards.
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Telegraph:
Chelsea's Luiz Felipe Scolari makes statement of intent in Carling CupPortsmouth (0) 0 Chelsea (2) 4 By Oliver Brown
Ominous, very. On this evidence Luiz Felipe Scolari’s promise to lead Chelsea on a remorseless four-pronged pursuit of every piece of silverware open to them was no idle platitude but a chilling statement of intent.
It was the third round of the Carling Cup, for goodness’ sake — not the stage on which you expected to see John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. Not when a club of Chelsea’s resources could arguably have got by at Fratton Park with the lightest sprinkling of stardust. But Scolari hides any concern about player burn-out beneath his high regard for every strand of competition.
The result itself was not one to cause many ripples. After all, the last time Portsmouth beat Chelsea, the first episode of Coronation Street was broadcast and the farthing had just ceased to be legal tender. Then Harry Redknapp’s team remembered the 4-0 walloping they endured at Stamford Bridge last month and seemed to retreat into their shells. Even the manager has assumed an air of defeatism in describing Chelsea, claiming that their second XI could challenge for major honours.
If Portsmouth’s confidence dial had dipped dangerously low having shipped six goals at Manchester City, it was switched to the 'off’ position after this. “We want seven,” Chelsea’s support crowed after two goals from Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda’s clinical strike had taken their side out of sight.
Lampard was as alert as ever, creating all kinds of worry for his Uncle Harry. Consistently Chelsea’s pivot, he helped neuter Portsmouth’s five-man midfield and betrayed glimpses of his unerring eye for goal. When Michael Ballack was fouled by Nadir Belhadj he was the picture of composure, wrong-footing David James with his penalty to set Chelsea on their way.
Chelsea’s midfield flooded forward at will and it was simply strain that told when Portsmouth succumbed again, allowing Salamon Kalou to angle a deft cross to Malouda, who rifled his shot past James in the last minute of a one-sided first half.
While Chelsea were in the ascendant by virtue of sheer flair, fortune favoured them too.
The second half was but three minutes old when another fine pass could only be deflected by James as far as Lampard, who knew little about it as he watched the ball dribble across the line. Lampard looked half-apologetic in celebration.
It is already a hackneyed caricature to paint Scolari’s Chelsea as a version of Brazil but some of their effortless passing did put you in mind of South America. Kalou performed the next extravagant move when he cut in from the right, did a merry dance past three of Portsmouth’s inert defenders and slid a low shot home from 12 yards.
The cheek of the Chelsea chants grew. “Who needs Robinho?” was the next refrain from the away end and, indeed, the signs from this team were that they had forgotten all about losing out on the Brazilian striker to Manchester City, turning in a far less convincing display just along the south coast in Brighton.
Portsmouth not having even pride left to protect, visiting fans merely contented themselves with a rendition of “Big Phil, this way”. The wave was not forthcoming. Scolari, as he proved here, is a man of almost frightening focus.
Match details
Portsmouth (4-5-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson; Utaka, Mvuemba, Kaboul, Hughes, Belhadj; Crouch. Subs: Ashdown (g), Kanu, A Traore, Defoe, Wilson, D Traore, Little.Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bridge; Belletti, Ballack, Lampard (Sinclair 73); Kalou, Malouda, Drogba.
Subs: Cudicini (g), Di Santo, Mikel, Ferreira, Mancienne, Stoch.Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
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The TimesSeptember 25, 2008
Chelsea give Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth the bluesPortsmouth 0 Chelsea 4Russell Kempson
Chelsea may not have fond recollections of the Carling Cup, having been beaten in the final by Tottenham Hotspur last season, but it would appear that they have long banished that memory. They progressed to the fourth round, perhaps on course for a return to Wembley, with a polished and, at times, embarrassingly easy victory at Fratton Park last night.
It stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven matches and the boast of Luiz Felipe Scolari, their manager, that he would like to win a quadruple of trophies does not seem so fanciful. To start three of the competitions — Barclays Premier League, Champions League and Carling Cup — with 4-0 wins seems to be the most emphatic signal of intent.
“Yes, I am happy,” Scolari said. “We start the three competitions with three wins. All of the competitions are important to me. Any name, we want to win it. If I didn’t think about winning, I wouldn’t have put out this team.”
For Portsmouth, the conceding of ten goals in four days, having lost 6-0 away to Manchester City on Sunday, and a 0-8 goal count against Chelsea in two meetings this season suggest problems, not least in defence. An unsure display from David James, the England goalkeeper, did not help.
Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, chose not to criticise his under-strength line-up but admitted that the goals conceded were unacceptable. “They were sloppy, scandalous,” he said. “We did OK, I couldn’t fault the effort, but Chelsea are a fantastic team. It’s very difficult to contain them.”
Redknapp, though, bridled at the suggestion that his defence had as good as gone Awol this season. “Hang on,” he said. “It’s only over the last two games. Before that, we won 3-0 away to Everton, beat Middlesbrough 2-1 here and won 2-0 against Guimarães in the Uefa Cup. It’s only the past two games that we’ve leaked goals.”
Fair point, well made. Yet the Portsmouth fans who were singing “Olé, olé” at the end, when Portsmouth put together some slick passing movements, were doing so sarcastically. Chelsea were 4-0 ahead, had switched to cruise control and, such was their dominance, seemed in danger of falling asleep on their feet.
Although Scolari made six changes to the team who had drawn 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday, the starting XI was still liberally sprinkled with internationals. However, the duel between the Carling Cup runners-up and FA Cup winners of last season took time to warm up. There was little rhythm, no regular tempo, just a hotchpotch of mostly wasted effort.
Chelsea, who opened their Champions League group A programme with a 4-0 home win over Bordeaux last week, gradually asserted their authority and went ahead in the 36th minute. Nadir Belhadj and Michael Ballack chased the ball, the Algeria defender arrived a fraction late and the German tumbled a fraction theatrically.
Steve Bennett, the referee, ruled a penalty. “It wasn’t,” Redknapp said. “He [Ballack] left his leg there and dived.” No matter. Frank Lampard scored from the spot against Portsmouth in West London last month and, again, made no mistake, sending James the wrong way. On the stroke of half-time, Chelsea stretched their advantage when Florent Malouda sent the fiercest of right-foot drives skidding past James.
It looked grim for Portsmouth. Grim became impossible four minutes into the second half, when Salomon Kalou crossed from the right and James, flapping, could only divert it against Lampard’s left thigh. The ball rebounded and, as time seemed to stand still, trickled in. Bennett almost apologetically signalled the goal.
“It was a joke goal,” Redknapp said. “But I don’t want to name individuals.” Portsmouth’s display got worse, when Kalou guided past James after Sylvain Distin’s error, and Redknapp quickly consigned it to the dustbin. “Tonight’s history, we move on,” he said. And Chelsea move on to the improbable quadruple.
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): D James — G Johnson, N Pamarot, S Distin, H Hreidarsson — Y Kaboul — J Utaka, R Hughes (sub: M Wilson, 80min), A Mvuemba, N Belhadj (sub: A Traoré, 69) — P Crouch (sub: Kanu, 69). Substitutes not used: J Ashdown, J Defoe, G Little, D Traoré. Booked: Hreidarsson, Hughes, Johnson.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, Alex, J Terry, W Bridge — J Belletti — S Kalou, M Ballack (sub: P Ferreira, 69), F Lampard (sub: S Sinclair, 74), F Malouda — D Drogba (sub: F Di Santo, 80). Substitutes not used: C Cudicini, J O Mikel, M Mancienne, M Stoch. Booked: Ballack.
Referee: S Bennett.
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Sun:
Pompey 0 Chelsea 4
From ANDREW DILLON at Fratton Park
HARRY REDKNAPP accused Michael Ballack of cheating as Chelsea handed Portsmouth another hiding.
The Chelsea midfielder went down in the area under a 36th-minute challenge from defender Nadir Belhadj.
Frank Lampard scored from the spot — the first of a double — to set the Blues on the way to a romp, with Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda also hitting the target.
But angry Pompey boss Redknapp said: “He dived. That was never a penalty. I’ve seen it on video a dozen times.
“He left his leg in there and dived. It was a blow because we were sitting in there and thought we could have gone in 0-0 at half-time.
“Then all of a sudden you are 1-0 down and then it’s 2-0. But we gave away some scandalous goals.”
Pompey defender Hermann Hreidarsson was booked for a furious outburst at prone Ballack as the German skipper lay on the ground.
But Redknapp also blasted blunder keeper David James, with his team now counting the cost of conceding TEN goals in the last two games.
A James cock-up gifted Lampard Chelsea’s third which ricocheted in off his thigh as Pompey crumbled early in the second half.
The defeat comes just three days after Pompey were whipped 6-0 at Manchester City.
And Redknapp added: “People have made mistakes that don’t normally make them. Let’s hope it is out of their system now.
“You have to be at your best and at full strength to stand a chance against Chelsea. The third goal was a joke. This was our least important game and we have to move on now.”
Didier Drogba started his first match under new Chelsea boss Phil Scolari and managed almost 80 minutes following a lay-off due to a knee injury.
Midfielder Ballack is also on the way back from ankle problems and the pair eased back into action and put Chelsea firmly in control.
Ballack beat Belhadj to a loose ball and appeared to be tripped by the Algerian. But he knew what to do as soon as contact was made.
Lampard stepped up and drove his spot-kick to James’ right and after the breakthrough it became a Chelsea training session.
With their tails up, Malouda drilled home a low shot on the stroke of half-time from Kalou’s neat cut-back.
Lampard added his bizarre third within four minutes of the restart and was too embarrassed to celebrate properly by kissing the Chelsea badge on his shirt.
Then Kalou’s goal rounded off the romp with 26 minutes still to play.
Scolari said: “The Carling Cup is important to us, otherwise I wouldn’t have put out such a strong team.
“I’m pleased because we have started in three competitions with three wins.”
Pompey’s roller-coaster season has a chance to get back on track with the visit of troubled Spurs on Sunday.
And skipper Sol Campbell and leading scorer Jermain Defoe will be restored to the starting line-up.
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Express :
POMPEY HUMILIATED AS LAMPARD STRIKES - MORES BLUES FOR HARRY
By Tony Banks PORTSMOUTH..0 CHELSEA...4
Frank Lampard piled the misery on Portsmouth with two goals in their 4-0 Carling Cup demolition at Fratton Park last night.
Pompey, thrashed 6-0 at Manchester City on Sunday, had nowhere to hide last night as Lampard led the Chelsea charge, opening the scoring with a penalty in the 36th minute. Florent Malouda rifled in the second. Chelsea made it three when Lampard bundled home Salomon Kalou’s cross and the Ivory Coast striker then added a fourth.
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI says he is going for all four trophies in his first season as Chelsea manager – and he means it as his quest for the Carling Cup ended in a humiliation for Portsmouth for the second time in five weeks.
Scolari’s new style Chelsea simply brushed aside this feeble Portsmouth performance with a peerless display at Fratton Park, as two goals by Frank Lampard – one from the penalty spot – and one from Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou increased Harry Redknapp’s woes.
Under Scolari’s Brazilian blend Chelsea are now unbeaten in seven league and cup games while poor old Portsmouth have now conceded 10 goals in the space of four depressing days. scolari made six changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with the fit-again Didier Drogba starting his first game of the season.
Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic also made his first appearance since his £9million move from Lokomotiv Moscow in January – having shown great patience in a nine-month wait for his debut. Scolari, who insists every game is equally important for his side this season with every trophy, even the Carling Cup, a serious target, had been hit by injuries after the United game.
That was one reason why Chelsea went out and signed the Brazilian free agent midfielder Mineiro yesterday.
Mineiro, 33, who has been without a club since leaving Hertha Berlin in the summer, has been signed on a deal until the end of the season.
Scolari has seen his squad badly stretched in the past two weeks, losing Michael Essien for six months and then having both Deco and Ricardo Carvalho ruled out for varying spells with injuries.
Pompey, still reeling from their battering at Manchester City four days earlier, unsurprisingly made five changes.
They went into the game without a win against Chelsea since December 1960. Chelsea, beaten finalists last year under the hapless Avram Grant, showed their intent from the start as Drogba unleashed a 25-yard drive from Michael Ballack’s pass that zipped just a foot wide.
Ballack, though, was then booked for baulking Herman Hreidarsson – and from the free-kick Pompey almost replied in style, Peter Crouch’s shot on the turn hitting the side netting.
But Chelsea were beginning to click, and when Frank Lampard’s clever pass put Kalou through, the Ivorian should have done better than wastefully drive wide.
Juliano Belletti angled a shot over the bar and Ballack nodded just too high as Scolari’s team continued to press.
The breakthrough came nine minutes before half-time. As Malouda put in a cross, the Pompey defence went AWOL, and Nadir Belhadj brought down Ballack as he raced onto the ball.
Referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot as Hreidarsson furiously berated Ballack for diving as he lay prostrate.
Lampard though was coolness personified as he stroked home the penalty to give Chelsea the lead – his second spot-kick success against Pompey this season following his effort in the league on the opening day.
Just before half-time Chelsea struck again, as Kalou cleverly laid back Wayne Bridge’s throw to Malouda, with the Frenchman drilling the ball low past goalkeeper David James, who might have dealt with the shot in a better way.
Portsmouth’s calamity night continued with another defensive disaster four minutes after the break.
This time Kalou got away down to the byeline and pulled the ball back. James pushed the ball straight onto Lampard, who could hardly avoid bundling it into the empty net.
That made it eight goals conceded against Chelsea alone this season for Pompey, after their 4-0 thumping at Stamford Bridge on the first day of the season.
Redknapp’s team rarely looked like disturbing Chelsea’s utter superiority, with Crouch all too often an isolated figure up front.
Their defence capitulated again just 12 minutes later.
This time Sylvain Distin dallied on the edge of the box and was robbed by Kalou, who simply drove past the helpless James, to cap an awful night for the South Coast club.
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot Distin, Hreidarsson; Kaboul; Utaka, Hughes, Mvuemba, Belhadj (Traore 69); Crouch (Kanu 69).
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Bridge; Belletti; Kalou, Ballack (Ferreira 69), Lampard (Sinclair 74), Malouda; Drogba (Di Santo 80). Goals: Lampard 36 pen, 49, Malouda 45, Kalou 64.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
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Lampard keeps Chelsea firing on all fronts as Pompey are floored
Carling Cup Third Round
Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 4 Lampard (pen) 36, Malouda 45, Lampard 49, Kalou 64
Sachin Nakrani at Fratton Park
The Carling Cup is not a priority for Chelsea but its significance to those in charge of the team should not be underestimated. Victory in the 2005 final kick-started Jose Mourinho's bountiful spell at the club while failure to repeat the trick last season signalled the beginning of the end for Avram Grant. So Luiz Felipe Scolari was more than entitled to take pleasure from progressing past his first match in the competition.
The outcome was, in truth, never in doubt after Chelsea's starting line-up had been confirmed. Even in a weakened team places were found for Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and, for the first time since the Champions League final, Didier Drogba, and after an initially slow start, they simply marched towards victory. Lampard scored either side of half time while Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou claimed the others in a display that suggests Scolari's unbeaten streak at Chelsea will continue for some time. Chelsea will also be bolstered by the signing of the Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the end of the season.
"I am very happy with how we played," said the Brazilian. "We kept possession and the players who came into the team did very well. I am also pleased that we have now started three competitions with three wins, that is very good for us. This competition is important for us and we want to win it. If I didn't want to win I would not have even come to Portsmouth today."
Harry Redknapp struggled to hide his agitation after the match. "We had a makeshift midfield and we worked very hard but we gave away scandalous goals," said the Portsmouth manager. "The first one wasn't a penalty. After that the other goals were poor. This was always the least important game for me. We didn't want to get smashed up and we did concede more goals away than we would like."
There was further angst from Redknapp over an easy goal for Lampard just after half-time when David James parried a Kalou cross on to the England midfielder's thigh and into the net. "It was a joke goal," the manager said. Malouda's low strike just before half-time had already secured the outcome, with Kalou making sure on 64 minutes.
Portsmouth have now conceded 10 goals in their past two games but having been forced to put out a side weakened by injuries, Redknapp refused to speak of a crisis. "We did OK today and I can't complain about the effort of the players," he said. "We just have to move on now."
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Independent:
Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 4: Ballack in the dock after Blues coast
By Jason BurtThursday, 25 September 2008
Passions are usually fiery down at Fratton Park and it was the same last night with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp accusing Michael Ballack of "diving" for a penalty to give Chelsea the lead in a League Cup tie which ended in humiliation for the home side. "It was never a penalty," Redknapp complained. "He left his leg in and dived."
His sense of injustice stretched to some "joke" defending from his team which led to another of Chelsea's goals – he didn't name names but it was clearly a reference to a goalkeeping howler by David James – but it was Ballack's antics which provoked his anger. Maybe it was a smokescreen. Redknapp's complaints stretched to being down to the proverbial "bare bones" – and he is shorn of a first-choice midfield right now – but Portsmouth were, indeed, "bashed up" by a Chelsea side which oozed style and confidence.
They have somewhat appropriated headlines in this competition in recent years – from Jose Mourinho's shush gestures and then defiant salutes towards Roman Abramovich as he twice won the trophy, to Avram Grant's clueless head-scratching as he lost it last season – but all Luiz Felipe Scolari's 2008-09 version delivered was an emphatic message of superiority. The manager barely stirred himself although his players were stirring enough.
Redknapp's side are listing like a holed liner. They sank. And, in doing so, they stank. Ten goals conceded in two games without reply and an aggregate of 8-0 against Chelsea in two contests this season.
The goals came thick and fast either side of half-time. First Ballack burst onto a cut-back by Salomon Kalou to fall under Nadir Belhadj's challenge. Frank Lampard drilled the penalty low into the corner of the net.
Kalou was provider for the second, laying a simple pass in for Florent Malouda to drive a vicious shot beyond James. Chelsea's next goal was soft. A centre by Kalou was too close to the goalkeeper only for James to push it out – and straight into Lampard. The ball struck the midfielder on the thigh, just a yard out, and trickled over the line.
Portsmouth were torn apart once more when Sylvain Distin dallied in possession, Kalou stole the ball and, again, James was beaten with a low, angled shot at his near post. "Scandalous," said Redknapp. "People made mistakes who don't normally make them."
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson; Kaboul; Utaka, Mvuemba, Hughes (Wilson, 80), Belhadj (A Traoré, 69); Crouch (Kanu, 69). Substitutes not used: Ashdown (gk), Defoe, D Traoré, Little.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bridge; Belletti; Kalou, Ballack (Ferreira, 69), Lampard (Sinclair, 74), Malouda; Drogba (Di Santo, 79). Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Mikel, Mancienne, Stoch.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
*Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has bolstered his squad by signing the 33-year-old Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the end of the season.
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Mail:
Lampard gives Portsmouth a history lesson as Chelsea make their intentions clear again
By Matt Barlow
Luiz Felipe Scolari started a new course of English lessons this week, to make his language more expansive. Perfection is his goal - four trophies and a colourful vocabulary.
So far, Scolari has taken everything in his stride, including last night's introduction to the Carling Cup, a competition which has bewildered foreign managers in the past.
The Brazilian struck the balance just about right at Portsmouth, resting players, giving others a run and securing a place in the fourth round with the minimum of fuss.
But he was helped by Harry Redknapp's desire not to risk key players such as Sol Campbell and Lassana Diarra. Now Pompey's defence has conceded 10 goals in four days, following the 6-0 loss to Manchester City.
As usual, Frank Lampard was in the goals against his Uncle Harry. He scored twice, the first from a penalty, and the others came from Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou.
History also haunted Pompey in their bid to follow their FA Cup triumph with more silverware, having not beaten Chelsea in 24 attempts, stretching back to December 1960.
Chelsea, who signed Brazilian free agent Mineiro earlier in the day, have taken the Carling Cup as seriously as anyone, winning it twice under Jose Mourinho and losing last season's final to Spurs. Scolari continued this tradition.
He had youngsters on the bench and handed a debut to £9million Serb Branislav Ivanovic, but named an experienced line-up with Petr Cech in goal and Didier Drogba, who made his first start since the Champions League final.
Drogba took fewer than two minutes to get involved, unleashing a drive from the edge of the box which flashed wide. Michael Ballack picked up an early yellow card for a clumsy foul on Hermann Hreidarsson and Lampard was needed in his own goalmouth, where his last-ditch block denied John Utaka.
Chelsea's goalscoring midfielders were in more familiar territory, though, on 36 minutes. Lampard and Drogba combined to release Malouda, dashing down the left and the French winger dragged a low cross back towards the edge of the penalty area.
Ballack and Nadir Belhadj raced to the loose ball and the German was there first by a split-second. He toe-poked the ball and paused for the contact from Belhadj. Then he crumpled to the turf.
Referee Steve Bennett had little option but to point to the spot, even though Ballack had obviously played to win the penalty. Belhadj must learn. Lampard stepped up to beat James with the penalty, just as he did last month at Stamford Bridge.
Malouda made it two, seconds before the break, as Portsmouth were caught napping at a throw-in. Wayne Bridge threw it to Kalou, who nursed it back for Malouda to drill a shot beyond James.
Lampard had his second of the night, and his fifth of the season, early in the second half and it was a bizarre moment. Kalou's cross from the right somehow escaped James at the near-post, spilled onto Lampard's knee and bobbled into the net. The goalscorer gave a shrug, the referee gave a goal and, after a moment of stunned silence, the travelling fans erupted.
Kalou added the fourth, dispossessing Sylvain Distin and firing low past James. 'We want seven,' sang Chelsea supporters, a little touchy about the idea that Manchester City might be shaping up as the new force in English football.
PORTSMOUTH (4-5-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson; Utaka, Hughes (Wilson 80), Kaboul, Mveumba, Belhadj (Traore 69); Crouch (Kanu 69).Bookings: Hreidarsson, Hughes, Johnson. CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Bridge; Ballack (Ferreira 69), Belletti, Lampard (Sinclair 74); Kalou, Drogba (Di Santo 79), Malouda. Booking: Ballack. Referee: Steve Bennett.
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Mirror:
Carling Cup 3rd round: Portsmouth 0-4 Chelsea24/09/2008
Goalkeeper David James conceded his 10th goal in just two games as Chelsea cruised into the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
Chelsea picked up where Manchester City left off at the weekend by rattling four past a hapless, injury-hit Portsmouth.
Frank Lampard scored twice - the first from the penalty spot - while Florent Malouda and the eye-catching Salomon Kalou joined in the fun.
Portsmouth had not beaten Chelsea since a 1-0 League Cup victory at Fratton Park in December 1960, in the days when Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho had film fans screaming in their cinema seats.
Pompey fans have already witnessed two defensive horror shows this season, with a 4-0 opening-day defeat at Chelsea followed by a 6-0 thrashing by City just last Saturday.
And they will have been covering their eyes again at Fratton Park as a mixture of careless and comical defending gifted Chelsea another resounding victory.
Nadri Belhadj conceded a needless penalty for Chelsea's first and David James then failed to gather Kalou's cross, allowing Lampard to bundle home the third.
The Ivorian was Chelsea's most lively player all evening and then sliced through a non-existent Portsmouth defence to make it four.
"We want seven," taunted the Chelsea fans.
It has not all been X-rated at Fratton Park this season. The club celebrated their UEFA Cup debut last week - but the fixture congestion is testing Harry Redknapp's squad to the limit.
With injuries to cope with and a busy week ahead, including the return tie at Vitoria, Redknapp made five changes but even with three deep-lying midfielders they were again brittle at the back.
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari made six changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester United but he continued the club's policy of attacking the Carling Cup.
Didier Drogba returned to the starting XI alongside Lampard and Ballack while £9million defender Branislav Ivanovic was awarded a long-awaited first-team debut.
Drogba almost rifled the opening goal inside two minutes after some neat Chelsea passing on the edge of the Portsmouth box.
Portsmouth responded in positive fashion. John Utaka accelerated past Wayne Bridge but his cross was just too far behind Peter Crouch, who had started up front on his own.
Lampard was forced into a last-ditch block inside his own six-yard box after an inviting cross from Glen Johnson and Crouch crashed the rebound into the side-netting.
But that was the best of the Portsmouth chances as Chelsea began to assume control in a workmanlike, unflashy way.
Kalou squeezed his shot wide after latching onto a lofted ball from Juliano Belletti before darting into the box again and forcing Johnson into a well-timed challenge.
Chelsea manufactured the opening 10 minutes before the interval after Drogba and Lampard combined to find Malouda down the left flank.
Malouda's cross was just behind the first ranks of blue shirts flooding into the box but Ballack raced onto the loose ball.
He toed the ball forward and was brought down by a careless lunge from Belhadj. Referee Steve Bennett pointed straight to the spot and Lampard's low drive was unstoppable.
Malouda rifled Chelsea's second past James in the last minute of the half after being picked out by a clever ball from Kalou, Portsmouth's tormentor in chief.
Kalou was at it again moments after the re-start as Lampard scored his second in bizarre circumstances.
James succeeded only in deflecting Kalou's cross onto Lampard's knee and the ball dribbled almost apologetically into the net. Lampard reacted sheepishly, as if he thought the goal would be disallowed, and it was not until he raised his arm that the 3,000 Chelsea supporters positioned down the other end even realised a goal had been scored.
The tempo was pedestrian with Portsmouth, featuring three deep-lying midfielders, unable to offer anything in response.
After playing such an effective supporting role Kalou then helped himself, cutting in from the right flank to beat a non-existent Portsmouth defence and score from 12 yards.
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Telegraph:
Chelsea's Luiz Felipe Scolari makes statement of intent in Carling CupPortsmouth (0) 0 Chelsea (2) 4 By Oliver Brown
Ominous, very. On this evidence Luiz Felipe Scolari’s promise to lead Chelsea on a remorseless four-pronged pursuit of every piece of silverware open to them was no idle platitude but a chilling statement of intent.
It was the third round of the Carling Cup, for goodness’ sake — not the stage on which you expected to see John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. Not when a club of Chelsea’s resources could arguably have got by at Fratton Park with the lightest sprinkling of stardust. But Scolari hides any concern about player burn-out beneath his high regard for every strand of competition.
The result itself was not one to cause many ripples. After all, the last time Portsmouth beat Chelsea, the first episode of Coronation Street was broadcast and the farthing had just ceased to be legal tender. Then Harry Redknapp’s team remembered the 4-0 walloping they endured at Stamford Bridge last month and seemed to retreat into their shells. Even the manager has assumed an air of defeatism in describing Chelsea, claiming that their second XI could challenge for major honours.
If Portsmouth’s confidence dial had dipped dangerously low having shipped six goals at Manchester City, it was switched to the 'off’ position after this. “We want seven,” Chelsea’s support crowed after two goals from Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda’s clinical strike had taken their side out of sight.
Lampard was as alert as ever, creating all kinds of worry for his Uncle Harry. Consistently Chelsea’s pivot, he helped neuter Portsmouth’s five-man midfield and betrayed glimpses of his unerring eye for goal. When Michael Ballack was fouled by Nadir Belhadj he was the picture of composure, wrong-footing David James with his penalty to set Chelsea on their way.
Chelsea’s midfield flooded forward at will and it was simply strain that told when Portsmouth succumbed again, allowing Salamon Kalou to angle a deft cross to Malouda, who rifled his shot past James in the last minute of a one-sided first half.
While Chelsea were in the ascendant by virtue of sheer flair, fortune favoured them too.
The second half was but three minutes old when another fine pass could only be deflected by James as far as Lampard, who knew little about it as he watched the ball dribble across the line. Lampard looked half-apologetic in celebration.
It is already a hackneyed caricature to paint Scolari’s Chelsea as a version of Brazil but some of their effortless passing did put you in mind of South America. Kalou performed the next extravagant move when he cut in from the right, did a merry dance past three of Portsmouth’s inert defenders and slid a low shot home from 12 yards.
The cheek of the Chelsea chants grew. “Who needs Robinho?” was the next refrain from the away end and, indeed, the signs from this team were that they had forgotten all about losing out on the Brazilian striker to Manchester City, turning in a far less convincing display just along the south coast in Brighton.
Portsmouth not having even pride left to protect, visiting fans merely contented themselves with a rendition of “Big Phil, this way”. The wave was not forthcoming. Scolari, as he proved here, is a man of almost frightening focus.
Match details
Portsmouth (4-5-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson; Utaka, Mvuemba, Kaboul, Hughes, Belhadj; Crouch. Subs: Ashdown (g), Kanu, A Traore, Defoe, Wilson, D Traore, Little.Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bridge; Belletti, Ballack, Lampard (Sinclair 73); Kalou, Malouda, Drogba.
Subs: Cudicini (g), Di Santo, Mikel, Ferreira, Mancienne, Stoch.Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
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The TimesSeptember 25, 2008
Chelsea give Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth the bluesPortsmouth 0 Chelsea 4Russell Kempson
Chelsea may not have fond recollections of the Carling Cup, having been beaten in the final by Tottenham Hotspur last season, but it would appear that they have long banished that memory. They progressed to the fourth round, perhaps on course for a return to Wembley, with a polished and, at times, embarrassingly easy victory at Fratton Park last night.
It stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven matches and the boast of Luiz Felipe Scolari, their manager, that he would like to win a quadruple of trophies does not seem so fanciful. To start three of the competitions — Barclays Premier League, Champions League and Carling Cup — with 4-0 wins seems to be the most emphatic signal of intent.
“Yes, I am happy,” Scolari said. “We start the three competitions with three wins. All of the competitions are important to me. Any name, we want to win it. If I didn’t think about winning, I wouldn’t have put out this team.”
For Portsmouth, the conceding of ten goals in four days, having lost 6-0 away to Manchester City on Sunday, and a 0-8 goal count against Chelsea in two meetings this season suggest problems, not least in defence. An unsure display from David James, the England goalkeeper, did not help.
Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, chose not to criticise his under-strength line-up but admitted that the goals conceded were unacceptable. “They were sloppy, scandalous,” he said. “We did OK, I couldn’t fault the effort, but Chelsea are a fantastic team. It’s very difficult to contain them.”
Redknapp, though, bridled at the suggestion that his defence had as good as gone Awol this season. “Hang on,” he said. “It’s only over the last two games. Before that, we won 3-0 away to Everton, beat Middlesbrough 2-1 here and won 2-0 against Guimarães in the Uefa Cup. It’s only the past two games that we’ve leaked goals.”
Fair point, well made. Yet the Portsmouth fans who were singing “Olé, olé” at the end, when Portsmouth put together some slick passing movements, were doing so sarcastically. Chelsea were 4-0 ahead, had switched to cruise control and, such was their dominance, seemed in danger of falling asleep on their feet.
Although Scolari made six changes to the team who had drawn 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday, the starting XI was still liberally sprinkled with internationals. However, the duel between the Carling Cup runners-up and FA Cup winners of last season took time to warm up. There was little rhythm, no regular tempo, just a hotchpotch of mostly wasted effort.
Chelsea, who opened their Champions League group A programme with a 4-0 home win over Bordeaux last week, gradually asserted their authority and went ahead in the 36th minute. Nadir Belhadj and Michael Ballack chased the ball, the Algeria defender arrived a fraction late and the German tumbled a fraction theatrically.
Steve Bennett, the referee, ruled a penalty. “It wasn’t,” Redknapp said. “He [Ballack] left his leg there and dived.” No matter. Frank Lampard scored from the spot against Portsmouth in West London last month and, again, made no mistake, sending James the wrong way. On the stroke of half-time, Chelsea stretched their advantage when Florent Malouda sent the fiercest of right-foot drives skidding past James.
It looked grim for Portsmouth. Grim became impossible four minutes into the second half, when Salomon Kalou crossed from the right and James, flapping, could only divert it against Lampard’s left thigh. The ball rebounded and, as time seemed to stand still, trickled in. Bennett almost apologetically signalled the goal.
“It was a joke goal,” Redknapp said. “But I don’t want to name individuals.” Portsmouth’s display got worse, when Kalou guided past James after Sylvain Distin’s error, and Redknapp quickly consigned it to the dustbin. “Tonight’s history, we move on,” he said. And Chelsea move on to the improbable quadruple.
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): D James — G Johnson, N Pamarot, S Distin, H Hreidarsson — Y Kaboul — J Utaka, R Hughes (sub: M Wilson, 80min), A Mvuemba, N Belhadj (sub: A Traoré, 69) — P Crouch (sub: Kanu, 69). Substitutes not used: J Ashdown, J Defoe, G Little, D Traoré. Booked: Hreidarsson, Hughes, Johnson.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, Alex, J Terry, W Bridge — J Belletti — S Kalou, M Ballack (sub: P Ferreira, 69), F Lampard (sub: S Sinclair, 74), F Malouda — D Drogba (sub: F Di Santo, 80). Substitutes not used: C Cudicini, J O Mikel, M Mancienne, M Stoch. Booked: Ballack.
Referee: S Bennett.
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Sun:
Pompey 0 Chelsea 4
From ANDREW DILLON at Fratton Park
HARRY REDKNAPP accused Michael Ballack of cheating as Chelsea handed Portsmouth another hiding.
The Chelsea midfielder went down in the area under a 36th-minute challenge from defender Nadir Belhadj.
Frank Lampard scored from the spot — the first of a double — to set the Blues on the way to a romp, with Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda also hitting the target.
But angry Pompey boss Redknapp said: “He dived. That was never a penalty. I’ve seen it on video a dozen times.
“He left his leg in there and dived. It was a blow because we were sitting in there and thought we could have gone in 0-0 at half-time.
“Then all of a sudden you are 1-0 down and then it’s 2-0. But we gave away some scandalous goals.”
Pompey defender Hermann Hreidarsson was booked for a furious outburst at prone Ballack as the German skipper lay on the ground.
But Redknapp also blasted blunder keeper David James, with his team now counting the cost of conceding TEN goals in the last two games.
A James cock-up gifted Lampard Chelsea’s third which ricocheted in off his thigh as Pompey crumbled early in the second half.
The defeat comes just three days after Pompey were whipped 6-0 at Manchester City.
And Redknapp added: “People have made mistakes that don’t normally make them. Let’s hope it is out of their system now.
“You have to be at your best and at full strength to stand a chance against Chelsea. The third goal was a joke. This was our least important game and we have to move on now.”
Didier Drogba started his first match under new Chelsea boss Phil Scolari and managed almost 80 minutes following a lay-off due to a knee injury.
Midfielder Ballack is also on the way back from ankle problems and the pair eased back into action and put Chelsea firmly in control.
Ballack beat Belhadj to a loose ball and appeared to be tripped by the Algerian. But he knew what to do as soon as contact was made.
Lampard stepped up and drove his spot-kick to James’ right and after the breakthrough it became a Chelsea training session.
With their tails up, Malouda drilled home a low shot on the stroke of half-time from Kalou’s neat cut-back.
Lampard added his bizarre third within four minutes of the restart and was too embarrassed to celebrate properly by kissing the Chelsea badge on his shirt.
Then Kalou’s goal rounded off the romp with 26 minutes still to play.
Scolari said: “The Carling Cup is important to us, otherwise I wouldn’t have put out such a strong team.
“I’m pleased because we have started in three competitions with three wins.”
Pompey’s roller-coaster season has a chance to get back on track with the visit of troubled Spurs on Sunday.
And skipper Sol Campbell and leading scorer Jermain Defoe will be restored to the starting line-up.
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Express :
POMPEY HUMILIATED AS LAMPARD STRIKES - MORES BLUES FOR HARRY
By Tony Banks PORTSMOUTH..0 CHELSEA...4
Frank Lampard piled the misery on Portsmouth with two goals in their 4-0 Carling Cup demolition at Fratton Park last night.
Pompey, thrashed 6-0 at Manchester City on Sunday, had nowhere to hide last night as Lampard led the Chelsea charge, opening the scoring with a penalty in the 36th minute. Florent Malouda rifled in the second. Chelsea made it three when Lampard bundled home Salomon Kalou’s cross and the Ivory Coast striker then added a fourth.
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI says he is going for all four trophies in his first season as Chelsea manager – and he means it as his quest for the Carling Cup ended in a humiliation for Portsmouth for the second time in five weeks.
Scolari’s new style Chelsea simply brushed aside this feeble Portsmouth performance with a peerless display at Fratton Park, as two goals by Frank Lampard – one from the penalty spot – and one from Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou increased Harry Redknapp’s woes.
Under Scolari’s Brazilian blend Chelsea are now unbeaten in seven league and cup games while poor old Portsmouth have now conceded 10 goals in the space of four depressing days. scolari made six changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with the fit-again Didier Drogba starting his first game of the season.
Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic also made his first appearance since his £9million move from Lokomotiv Moscow in January – having shown great patience in a nine-month wait for his debut. Scolari, who insists every game is equally important for his side this season with every trophy, even the Carling Cup, a serious target, had been hit by injuries after the United game.
That was one reason why Chelsea went out and signed the Brazilian free agent midfielder Mineiro yesterday.
Mineiro, 33, who has been without a club since leaving Hertha Berlin in the summer, has been signed on a deal until the end of the season.
Scolari has seen his squad badly stretched in the past two weeks, losing Michael Essien for six months and then having both Deco and Ricardo Carvalho ruled out for varying spells with injuries.
Pompey, still reeling from their battering at Manchester City four days earlier, unsurprisingly made five changes.
They went into the game without a win against Chelsea since December 1960. Chelsea, beaten finalists last year under the hapless Avram Grant, showed their intent from the start as Drogba unleashed a 25-yard drive from Michael Ballack’s pass that zipped just a foot wide.
Ballack, though, was then booked for baulking Herman Hreidarsson – and from the free-kick Pompey almost replied in style, Peter Crouch’s shot on the turn hitting the side netting.
But Chelsea were beginning to click, and when Frank Lampard’s clever pass put Kalou through, the Ivorian should have done better than wastefully drive wide.
Juliano Belletti angled a shot over the bar and Ballack nodded just too high as Scolari’s team continued to press.
The breakthrough came nine minutes before half-time. As Malouda put in a cross, the Pompey defence went AWOL, and Nadir Belhadj brought down Ballack as he raced onto the ball.
Referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot as Hreidarsson furiously berated Ballack for diving as he lay prostrate.
Lampard though was coolness personified as he stroked home the penalty to give Chelsea the lead – his second spot-kick success against Pompey this season following his effort in the league on the opening day.
Just before half-time Chelsea struck again, as Kalou cleverly laid back Wayne Bridge’s throw to Malouda, with the Frenchman drilling the ball low past goalkeeper David James, who might have dealt with the shot in a better way.
Portsmouth’s calamity night continued with another defensive disaster four minutes after the break.
This time Kalou got away down to the byeline and pulled the ball back. James pushed the ball straight onto Lampard, who could hardly avoid bundling it into the empty net.
That made it eight goals conceded against Chelsea alone this season for Pompey, after their 4-0 thumping at Stamford Bridge on the first day of the season.
Redknapp’s team rarely looked like disturbing Chelsea’s utter superiority, with Crouch all too often an isolated figure up front.
Their defence capitulated again just 12 minutes later.
This time Sylvain Distin dallied on the edge of the box and was robbed by Kalou, who simply drove past the helpless James, to cap an awful night for the South Coast club.
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot Distin, Hreidarsson; Kaboul; Utaka, Hughes, Mvuemba, Belhadj (Traore 69); Crouch (Kanu 69).
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Bridge; Belletti; Kalou, Ballack (Ferreira 69), Lampard (Sinclair 74), Malouda; Drogba (Di Santo 80). Goals: Lampard 36 pen, 49, Malouda 45, Kalou 64.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
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