Telegraph:
Chelsea new boy Yuri Zhirkov scores on debut in pre-season fixture against AC Milan
Chelsea may not have added greatly to their squad this summer – that elusive marquee signing is remaining elusive – but their £18 million man, Yuri Zhirkov, made an immediate impact on his debut in the early hours of this morning here in Baltimore. By Jason Burt at the M&T stadium, Baltimore
The Russian international scored the winning goal to defeat AC Milan 2-1 and impressed, playing on the left of midfield, delivering several dangerous crosses. There were also high-quality goals from Didier Drogba and, for Milan, Clarence Seedorf.
Zhirkov's contribution was all the more noteworthy given he has only just linked up with the rest of the Chelsea squad on their pre-season tour to the United States, which ends tomorrow (Sun) in Arlington, Texas, when they face the Mexicans of Club America. That match will determine who will win this four-team tournament, the World Football Challenge, as both clubs have now defeated the Italians of AC and Inter Milan.
Sport on television For Chelsea's new manager Carlo Ancelotti this was a victory made all the more satisfying as it was gained against the club he left at the end of last season after eight years as coach. Milan, too, were desperate for the win and it meant it was a contest made more competitive than the usual pre-season friendly. Indeed neither Ancelotti nor his successor, Leonardo, who he had recommended for the post made a substitution at half-time in contrast to the wholesale changes that have occurred in previous games. At the end several Milan players held their heads in disbelief that they had lost.
Ancelotti admitted that Chelsea had, at times, struggled as Milan, with Clarence Seedorf dominant until he was substituted, often the more threatening.
"It was a difficult game because Milan played well, moved very well on the pitch," Ancelotti said. "Chelsea found it difficult in midfield because we didn't find the right positions. But the team worked hard on the pitch and we're happy for the victory, as normal, but we know we also need to improve. We have to work. The victory was also important because the atmosphere is good in the team. For this, we are happy. Both teams played well, a good match, a good show."
Ancelotti was delighted with Zhirkov's performance although Florent Malouda, who gave way for the 25-year-old, may have been a little more concerned. He has real competition for his place. "It wasn't a surprise," Ancelotti said of Zhirkov. "He's a very good player and, for sure, he found it difficult on the pitch in the position he was in, but that's normal. You have to work with the team. It was important for him to score a goal, and we know he's a very good player. This tournament has happened at the right time for us. We've played against very good teams and there's a very good atmosphere here. For us, it's nice to play in the USA at this moment."
Chelsea took the lead in the seventh minute when Drogba caught out the Milan goalkeeper, Zeljko Kalac, with a rasping right-foot shot from around 30 yards. Kalac, who went on to have a poor match, reacted slowly and was surprised by the power of Drogba;s shot. The goal shocked Milan into action and after Petr Cech blocked, with his outstretched leg, a shot by Andrea Pirlo, who has been coveted by Chelsea, the rebound fell to Ronaldinho.
The Brazilian had one of those wonderful cameo games – there was a brilliant nut-meg of John Obi Mikel in the second-half followed by a sloppy pass as he turned round to admire his work – but his over-head kick struck his team-mate Marco Boriello. Soon Seedorf had chipped goalwards, only for Branislav Ivanovic to head of the line, before the Dutch midfielder connected, first-time, with Ronaldinho's smart layoff to beat Cech.
At the start of the second-half Drogba released Nicolas Anelka who dragged his low shot wide while Zhirkov's header, from Frank Lampard's corner, was headed off the line by Thiago Silva. Seedorf volleyed over, after a wonderful exchange of passes with Ronaldinho, before Zhirkov scored.
The goal came after a shot by substitute Andrei Shevchenko, was beaten out by Kalac only to Lampard's whose effort was blocked. It fell to Zhirkov who drove the ball low into the net.
There was a frenzied finale with Cech punching away a header by Filippo Inzaghi and Oguchi Onyewu, another substitute and the only American on the pitch, wasted a free header.
At the end Ancelotti and Leonardo embraced.
"To play against Carlo is something very special," the Milan coach said. "We're such good friends, so that's why it was so special. Two of the best teams in the world and we've worked together for so many years, so it was exciting today." It was also, at the M&T Stadium and with a crowd of 71,203, the first time the venue, usually used for American football, had sold out.
Teams:Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Bosingwa (Hutchinson, 90), Terry, Ivanovic, A Cole; Belletti, Mikel, Lampard, Zhirkov (Mancienne, 85); Anelka (Shevchenko, 63), Drogba (Pizarro, 75).AC Milan (4-3-1-2): Kalac; Oddo, Nesta (Onyewu, 68), Thiago Silva (Kaladze, 77), Zambrotta (Jankulovski, 75); Flamini, Pirlo (Gattuso, 71), Seedorf (Abate, 64); Ronaldinho (Di Gennaro, 79); Pato (Inzaghi, 81), Boriello (Zigoni, 68).
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Mail:
Chelsea 2 AC Milan 1:
Zhirkov is Carlo's diamond as Russian Ronaldinho nets debut winnerBy Matt Barlow in Baltimore
Yuri Zhirkov certainly knows how to endear himself to his new manager, scoring the winner on his Chelsea debut to make sure Carlo Ancelotti beat his former team.
Ancelotti celebrated the third victory out of three friendlies on this pre-season tour of the USA and the Blues play their final fixture against Mexico's Club America, in Dallas on Sunday. He has now beaten both Milan teams inside a week, his old foe Jose Mourinho and Inter on Tuesday and his old friends at AC Milan.
Milan's Brazilian maestro delivered a series of flicks and tricks which impressed the American audience, including an audacious nutmeg on John Obi Mikel, which he promptly ruined by trying to pass the ball while looking back at the Chelsea midfielder and gave it away. But it was Zhirkov who made the key contribution, driving the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards after shots from Andriy Shevchenko and Frank Lampard had been blocked.
'It wasn't a surprise,' said Ancelotti. 'He is a very good player but he found it difficult on the pitch in the position he was in. That's normal. You have to work with the team. It was important for him to score a goal.'
Zhirkov, an £18million signing from CSKA, joined his new team-mates this week after finally obtaining a work permit. He played on the left of the midfield diamond which looks set to be the hallmark of Ancelotti's Chelsea team. Nicolas Anelka partnered Didier Drogba in attack and it was Drogba who brought the 70,000 capacity crowd inside Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium to their feet with a blistering strike from 35 yards in the seventh minute. Milan took 20 minutes to find their rhythm and could have gone further behind, with clumsy Aussie goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac misjudging crosses and handling poorly.
Slowly the Italians started to knit passes together and Andrea Pirlo, one of Ancelotti's favourite sons, unleashed a drive which Petr Cech was unable to hold. Clarence Seedorf was unfortunate when a wonderful chip cleared Cech only to hit the bar but it wasn't long before the Dutch midfielder had lashed Milan's equaliser into the top corner from the edge of the penalty box.
Ronaldinho rattled the bar again, with a free-kick after Branislav Ivanovic had wiped out Alexandre Pato from behind with a challenge which was definitely not friendly. Zhirkov reacted quickly to grab Chelsea's second and Cech made a fine save to deny Filippo Inzaghi in the final minute.
Ancelotti moves on to Texas with his plans taking shape and his team looking fluent.
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Guardian:
Didier Drogba's stunning strike helps Chelsea to victory over MilanZhirkov scores on debut to seal 2-1 win
A glorious goal from Didier Drogba and another from the debutant Yuri Zhirkov allowed Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti to get the better of his former club Milan in Baltimore.
Drogba produced a stunning shot from distance after seven minutes which was cancelled out by Clarence Seedorf before half-time. Zhirkov then restored Chelsea's lead midway through the second half and this time there was no way back for their Italian opponents.
Juliano Belletti gave Milan a scare with just three minutes on the clock, unleashing a shot from outside of the box which forced a save from Zeljko Kalac.
There was little the Milan goalkeeper could do to stop Drogba's opener four minutes later, however. The Ivory Coast striker took everyone by surprise with a sublime strike from around 35 yards out which blazed into the top left corner.
It took a while for Milan to recover from the blow, but they slowly worked their way into the contest and Petr Cech made his first save after 19 minutes, using his feet to turn away Ronaldinho's effort.
The alarm bells really started to ring for Chelsea 10 minutes later when a lovely passing move set up Seedorf for a chipped shot which came back off the crossbar. And the Serie A side were back on level terms after 37 minutes thanks to Seedorf, who spanked a first-time strike from Ronaldinho's lay-off high into the net from 18 yards.
Milan hit the woodwork for the second time after 57 minutes with Ronaldinho unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet.
But Chelsea kept their heads, and their patience was rewarded 11 minutes later when Zhirkov capped his first appearance with a goal. The Russian capitalised on a game of pinball in the Milan area which began when Andriy Shevchenko's shot was parried by Kalac to Frank Lampard. His effort was also cleared by the Milan defence but only as far as Zhirkov who finished the job from the edge of the area.
Milan could have snatched a draw in stoppage time but Cech tipped Filippo Inzaghi's effort over the bar.
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Sun:
From IAN McGARRY in Baltimore
CARLO ANCELOTTI celebrated a meeting with his old club by claiming another impressive victory. But it was a less than friendly encounter with the Chelsea manager's former team in Baltimore.
The result made it three wins out of three for Ancelotti in this pre-season tour of America.
Just like they have in their first two matches in the States, Chelsea took an early lead.
And the man who struck first against Inter did the damage against Milan.
Didier Drogba was given the ball by John Terry and acres of space by the Milan defence before smashing a 35-yard drive into the top corner after just seven minutes.
It was almost a carbon copy of his goal against Jose Mourinho's side last Tuesday night and confirmed the striker is already raring to go.
Unlike their city rivals, however, Milan looked very up for this match and the goal stirred them into action.
Andrea Pirlo had a shot saved by Petr Cech, but Ronaldinho then began calling the tune, and after 38 minutes the Rossonieri were level.
The Brazilian dripped a perfect lay off to Clarence Seedorf, who drilled a bending shot past Cech.
It was much the same story after the break. Ronaldinho smacked the bar with a brilliant free kick from range and Pato was hacked down by Ivanovic.
Nicolas Anelka should have scored when Drogba put him in on goal but he scuffed his shot wide of the far post.
The breakthrough did come after 69 minutes, when Blues' new boy Yuri Zhirkov scored.
Shots from Shevchenko and Lampard were blocked before Russian international Zhirkov fired a low show past Zeljko Kalac.
It was just reward for the debutant, who was industrious throughout an impressive first game.
Pippo Inzaghi had a header brilliantly saved by Cech in the last minute but it was too little too late.
Ancelotti resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes until late in the match, when victory over the club he bossed for eight years was in the bag.
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