Telegraph:
Seattle Sounders 0 Chelsea 2:
Match report from the American tour match at the Qwest Field in Seattle USA.
John Terry led Chelsea to victory as the English side opened their four-game US tour by overcoming a competitive Seattle Sounders 2-0 at Qwest Field.
The England captain, the subject of intense transfer speculation following a bid from Manchester City, retained the skipper's armband as Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti sent out his first side since taking over from Guus Hiddink at the end of last season.
First-half goals from teenage debutant Daniel Sturridge and England midfielder Frank Lampard were enough to see off a Seattle team led by Freddie Ljungberg in their inaugural Major League Soccer season and watched by a crowd of 65,289 in the Pacific Northwest.
Sturridge, 19, was handed a starting role alongside Nicolas Anelka in the Chelsea attack following his summer move from Manchester City and he needed just 12 minutes to get on the scoresheet for his new club.
He collected a Florent Malouda chip over the top of the Sounders defence, checked his run down the left channel to beat defender Tyrone Marshall and curled home right-footed across Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
Lampard doubled the lead in the 35th minute after Jose Bosingwa had cut in from the right to send Anelka into space on the byline, the Frenchman cutting the ball back for the midfielder to slot home.
Seattle were not without their chances, former Arsenal star Ljungberg forcing a fine save from Petr Cech just before Chelsea's second goal from a free-kick 20 yards out. The Blues keeper pushed the ball around the post at full stretch to his right from the Swede's effort.
Ljungberg forced another rearguard action just before half-time with a low drive from in front of goal and through a crowd of players that Cech blocked after Bosingwa's diving body had taken the pace off the shot.
Ancelotti kept his promise to make multiple substitutions during Chelsea's first pre-season outing and he made nine changes at half-time, retaining just Lampard and Michael Ballack from the starting line-up.
Seattle made four changes and the home side made the brightest start to the second half, Chelsea keeper Hilario flapping at a Ljungberg corner that reached sub Zach Scott at the back post. The Sounders full-back outjumped Ricardo Carvalho but sent his header past the upright.
There was further trouble for Chelsea at the back when Hilario's attempted clearance was charged down by Sebastien Le Toux in the 69th minute and ran just past the post, while minutes later Sanna Nyassi got behind the Blues defence and sent a chip onto the roof of the net.
Lampard even managed to get booked in stoppage time for a foul on Nyassi as the Blues saw out the game with a clean sheet to give Ancelotti a winning start to his Chelsea reign.
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Observer:
Daniel Sturridge sees off Seattle to give Chelsea US tour win
Seattle Sounders 0-2 Chelsea
Carlo Ancelotti tends to squirm at comparisons with Jose Mourinho, a manager with whom he endured a tempestuous relationship in Serie A, though he does at least now have something in common with the Portuguese. Some five years after the self-styled Special One began his reign as Chelsea manager with a victory over Celtic in this arena, the Italian followed suit here with a win over the local Major League Soccer franchise. The Londoners will hope this is a portent of glorious things to come.
The Seattle Sounders were brushed aside here, their initial frantic enthusiasm punctured by two wonderfully crafted goals from the visitors before the interval in front of 65,289 supporters. Daniel Sturridge, whose transfer fee from Manchester City has still to be determined by a tribunal, excelled in each, rolling off the hapless Jhon Kennedy Hurtado early on before curling a delicious shot beyond Kasey Keller and into the far corner to set the tone.
The 19-year-old's pass inside Hurtado for Nicolas Anelka to collect and pull back for Frank Lampard to tuck away was just as impressive. The Sounders, undermined by a ponderous defence, were generous opponents yet, even in this early season stroll in the sunshine, Sturridge offered plenty of positives for Ancelotti to consider. The teenager might have scored another himself, steering a low shot across Keller but beyond the far post, before departing as one of nine substitutes at half-time.
Thereafter, it was left for Andriy Shevchenko's highlights – his hair, rather than his performance – to catch the eye against a side second in the west standings of Major League Soccer, a point clear of David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy. The hosts' best moments were generally inspired by Freddie Ljungberg, the former Arsenal and West Ham midfielder seeing his best efforts scrambled away by Alex and Petr Cech, with John Terry comfortable and composed at the heart of the visitors defence.
The England captain had mustered an astute intervention on Fredy Montero in the first minute to suggest his focus was very much on Chelsea despite Manchester City's recent pursuit of his signature. The centre-half was on the sidelines wincing as Hilario almost gifted Sébastien le Toux a second-half consolation, but this was a gentle and impressive start to the Londoners' pre-season preparations.
Franco di Santo struck a post and was denied by Terry Boss from close range, with the Premier League team continuing to create the clearest chances. Lampard was their only player to feature for the full 90 minutes. Mourinho, whose Internazionale will confront his former club in Pasadena on Tuesday, had led Chelsea to a 4-2 win against Celtic here in 2004. Ancelotti will hope similar successes to those enjoyed by the Portuguese lie ahead.
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Mail:
Terry leads Chelsea to victory as Blues overcome Seattle Sounders
By Sportsmail Reporter
John Terry led Chelsea to victory as the English side opened their four-game UStour by overcoming a competitive Seattle Sounders 2-0 at Qwest Field.
The England captain, the subject of intense transfer speculation following a bid from Manchester City, retained the skipper's armband as Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti sent out his first side since taking over from Guus Hiddink at the end of last season.
First-half goals from teenage debutant Daniel Sturridge and England midfielder Frank Lampard were enough to see off a Seattle team led by Freddie Ljungberg in their inaugural Major League Soccer season and watched by a crowd of 65,289 in the Pacific Northwest.
Sturridge, 19, was handed a starting role alongside Nicolas Anelka in the Chelsea attack following his summer move from Manchester City and he needed just 12 minutes to get on the scoresheet for his new club.
He collected a Florent Malouda chip over the top of the Sounders defence, checked his run down the left channel to beat defender Tyrone Marshall and curled home right-footed across Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
Lampard doubled the lead in the 35th minute after Jose Bosingwa had cut in from the right to send Anelka into space on the byline, the Frenchman cutting the ball back for the midfielder to slot home.
Seattle were not without their chances, former Arsenal star Ljungberg forcing a fine save from Petr Cech just before Chelsea's second goal from a free-kick 20 yards out.
The Blues keeper pushed the ball around the post at full stretch to his right from the Swede's effort.Ljungberg forced another rearguard action just before half-time with a low drive from in front of goal and through a crowd of players that Cech blocked after Bosingwa's diving body had taken the pace off the shot.
Ancelotti kept his promise to make multiple substitutions during Chelsea's first pre-season outing and he made nine changes at half-time, retaining just Lampard and Michael Ballack from the starting line-up.
Seattle made four changes and the home side made the brightest start to the second half, Chelsea keeper Hilario flapping at a Ljungberg corner that reached sub Zach Scott at the back post. The Sounders full-back outjumped Ricardo Carvalho but sent his header past the upright.
There was further trouble for Chelsea at the back when Hilario's attempted clearance was charged down by Sebastien Le Toux in the 69th minute and ran just past the post, while minutes later Sanna Nyassi got behind the Blues defence and sent a chip onto the roof of the net.
Lampard even managed to get booked in stoppage time for a foul on Nyassi as theBlues saw out the game with a clean sheet to give Ancelotti a winning start to his Chelsea reign.
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