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EMILE DEALS A BIG TITLE BLOW
By Tony BanksChelsea 1 Wigan 1
Emile Heskey struck a dramatic injury-time equaliser to stun Chelsea as Wigan boss Steve Bruce did his old Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson a huge favour in the title race.
Michael Essien had given the Blues a second-half lead at Stamford Bridge that seemed as if it would keep the pressure right on the leaders, after Joe Cole came on at half-time to give his team a much-needed spark.
Chelsea manager Avram Grant has often been accused of picking the wrong team in this long and troubled season. He did it again last night as he left Cole on the bench, mindful obviously of Thursday’s crunch game at Everton.
Grant realised his mistake as his team laboured against Wigan. On went Cole, up stepped the tempo and Essien rifled in a 55th-minute goal.
But Heskey scored from close range in the second minute of added time to leave Chelsea five points behind United having played the same number of games.
Chelsea have complained long and hard about this schedule of two games in four days, but have had to like it and lump it.
Grant, though, is fortunate in that he has the depth of squad to cope – hence the seven changes from the side who ousted Fenerbahce from the Champions League last week.
There was no Frank Lampard, and no Didier Drogba – who could even be struggling for Thursday’s game at Everton having aggravated a knee problem.
But Petr Cech was back, complete with chin-guard as well as skull cap, just nine days after gashing open his chin in a training accident. Much more of this and Cech will have to take to the field in a full suit of armour.
But Chelsea knew that if they won both these games this week they would be level with Manchester United, setting up an epic title decider when Ferguson’s side came to Stamford Bridge a week on Saturday. The stakes were high.
Chelsea went into the game last night on the back of a run of 16 games unbeaten in the league. But Steve Bruce’s Wigan were not out of relegation danger – starting last night’s game just five points above the danger zone.
This has been the sort of game that the Chelsea machine of late just rumbles through. And it started with Nicolas Anelka glancing Salomon Kalou’s cross an inch wide.
But Wigan were stubborn and in no mood to go quietly, Paul Scharner seeing his goalbound shot only just blocked. Then Antonio Valencia let fly from the edge of the area, and Cech did superbly to turn the ball round the post.
Then it was Chris Kirkland’s turn to save his side, as the Wigan keeper quite brilliantly arched back to claw Anelka’s header out and over the bar when a goal looked certain.
It was clear that the Frenchman was Chelsea’s main goal threat – but Wigan’s massed ranks were not making it easy. It was also pretty clear that this was going to be another case of grinding a result out.
Before the break it was Josip Skoko’s turn to thwart the hosts, hacking the ball off the line when Scharner looked set to turn the ball into his own net. But the frustration was growing. There was scattered booing as Chelsea trooped off at half-time. Grant threw on Joe Cole in an attempt to provide more invention. Wave after wave of attacks then battered the defence Wigan, as Grant’s men desperately sought the win they needed.
The consequences of failure, for Grant in particular, were dire. He knew he had to win either the league or the Champions League to keep his job. But without Lampard or Drogba there was little spark – even though the impish Cole livened things up.
Surely Wigan had to crack as the pressure mounted. But as Mikel John Obi flicked on a corner, John Terry’s volley cannoned back off the bar. Then Kirkland produced one of the saves of the season as he somehow kept out Kalou’s point-blank range shot. It was in vain.
A minute later, the ball was fed in to Anelka, who held onto it and shielded superbly, and then set up Essien, who rifled the ball into the corner. The relief was almost tangible.
It was hard on Kirkland, who then stopped Cole’s piledriver and dived bravely at the feet of Essien.
Cech then saved brilliantly to deny substitute Antoine Sibierski – but there was one further sting in the tail from Heskey.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Terry, Alex, Bridge; Essien, Mikel, Ballack; Kalou, Anelka, Malouda (J Cole 46). Goal: Essien 55.
Wigan (4-4-2): Kirkland; Melchiot, Boyce, Scharner, Kilbane; Valencia, Palacios, Skoko (Koumas 56), Taylor (King 79); Bent (Sibierski 64), Heskey. Booked: Koumas, Valencia. Goal: Heskey 90.
Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Heskey leaves Chelsea's hopes in tatters
David Hytner at Stamford BridgeTuesday April 15, 2008The Guardian
Fifteen years have elapsed since Alex Ferguson, then without the knighthood, and his Manchester United assistant Brian Kidd lost their minds in celebration on the Old Trafford pitch, after a craggy-faced central defender stunned Sheffield Wednesday with two late headers which proved decisive in the race for the championship.Steve Bruce is still fondly remembered by the red half of Manchester after his heroics propelled United to the first title under Ferguson and last night, after a pulsating 90 minutes, he was at it again to help his former manager towards his 10th.
Bruce's Wigan Athletic had played a full part in a nervy occasion for Chelsea but in the second minute of injury time they brought the home side to their knees. Wigan don't score too many away from home and before last night had only mustered two in the league since January 2. But Emile Heskey's volley from the substitute Jason Koumas' precise centre triggered scenes reminiscent of April 1993. Bruce charged on to the pitch, eyes wide with delirium, as his club's survival hopes received a shot in the arm.For Chelsea, though, this was a kick in another area. Avram Grant wandered lost on the touchline, struggling to come to terms with the setback. His team had led through Michael Essien but could not kill off a spirited Wigan. As boos swirled around the stadium, Grant sent on Andriy Shevchenko as a 93rd-minute substitute. The home crowd howled and, not for the first time, voiced their belief that he didn't know what he was doing.
Grant does know, though, that failure to win at Everton on Thursday night, in a match cruelly rescheduled for television, might spell the end of Chelsea's dogged title challenge with United scheduled to visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday week. United will now be dreaming of winning the title at the home of their rivals.
"We have to beat Everton; if we don't it could be very difficult," Grant said. The Israeli has never won the hearts of the home crowd, many of whom continue to pine for his predecessor, Jose Mourinho, and there was only loneliness for him here. When the team wins the players enjoy the plaudits but when they falter the finger of blame always seeks out Grant.
He was shorn of Didier Drogba because of the striker's knee injury and, half an hour before kick-off, he lost Frank Lampard, who had to rush from the ground after a member of his family fell seriously ill. Grant claimed that the tactical rejig at short notice had "affected" his players.
Grant, though, with an eye on the Everton game, had also rotated his personnel and he was later forced to defend himself. "We are at the end of the season, we have many games and we have to keep the players fresh," he said. "I do it all the time."
There was defiance from Grant. "We are still in it," he insisted. "We will keep on fighting. We needed United to have a bad result anyway and also lose to us at Stamford Bridge so it hasn't changed so much. The players still believe we can win the title."
After United's dramatic victory over Arsenal a little over 24 hours previously, however, the timing of this result felt like a fatal blow to Chelsea's hopes. Wigan, well drilled and bristling with endeavour, enjoyed a purple patch midway through the first half when Petr Cech, back in the team after his facial injury and wearing a protective chin strap to go with his head guard, saved from Antonio Valencia. Nicolas Anelka had most of his team's first-half opportunities - Chris Kirkland clawed one looping header acrobatically to safety - while Josip Skoko kicked one Chelsea chance off his own line.
But it was not until Grant introduced Joe Cole at half-time that Chelsea enjoyed some urgency. Wigan felt the pressure. From a Juliano Belletti corner, John Terry volleyed against the crossbar; shortly afterwards, Salomon Kalou was denied at point-blank range by a wonderful Kirkland block. The breakthrough was coming and it arrived when Cole's cross was held up by Anelka. His cushioned lay-off invited Essien to strike from just inside the area and the Ghanaian's aim was unerring.
Stamford Bridge exhaled but Wigan refused to lie down. The substitute Antoine Sibierski marauded through but could not direct his shot past Cech and, after Kirkland had denied Essien at the other end, Heskey produced his coup de grâce.
"As you can imagine, he [Ferguson] has been on the phone," smiled Bruce. "He phoned me twice before the game and twice before the Arsenal game. They have been his only calls all season. Four times! I've also had a few calls from friends in Manchester. In fact, I can feel my phone going now ..."
The voice on the other end was surely Glaswegian, and delighted.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mail:
Heskey hands the title to Fergie as Wigan grab last-ditch levellerChelsea 1 Wigan Athletic 1
Avram Grant started the week like a man preparing for duel. After Arsenal crumbled at Old Trafford, the unassuming Chelsea manager looked Sir Alex Ferguson in the eye and predicted Manchester United would crack.
He backed this up by confidently claiming his team would snatch the title by winning the final five games of their turbulent campaign. He said he had the strongest team, when everyone was fit.
Then he did the strangest thing. He made seven changes to keep some legs fresh for the trip to Everton on Thursday and the risk backfired spectacularly as Emile Heskey scored an equaliser two minutes into stoppage time to wipe out Michael Essien's opener.
It was Chelsea who had cracked.
Steve Bruce erupted from his seat, bouncing on to the pitch with his fists pumping in the air.
Memories flashed back 15 years when a stoppage- time goal by Bruce secured a comeback win for Manchester United against Sheffield Wednesday, three crucial points in their title bid.
Ferguson and his assistant, Brian Kidd, danced on to the pitch that day. Kidd sank to his knees in delight. This time it was Bruce the manager skipping over the touchline to celebrate a priceless point in Wigan's fight against relegation.
It did not require a great leap of imagination to picture a beaming Fergie at home in front of his television, raising a glass of red in honour of his former skipper.
"He has phoned me four times in the last four months," revealed Bruce afterwards. "Twice before we played Arsenal and twice before we played Chelsea."
Under Bruce, Wigan have now taken points from Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. United are five points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League with four to play.
The realisation of this was sinking in for supporters as they left Stamford Bridge in stunned silence.
There had been jeers and anxiety in the first half as Grant's weakened team struggled to impose themselves on Wigan. The home team were booed into the break.
The Chelsea boss, who shifted uneasily from foot to foot in his technical area, admitted the first-half problems may have been caused by a dressing room shock before the game, when Frank Lampard withdrew from the team after learning his mother had been rushed to hospital. He was replaced by Juliano Belletti.
Wilson Palacios, handed the task of smothering Chelsea's passing, denied their holding midfielder, John Mikel Obi, the time and space to dictate the rhythm of the game.
Palacios covered every blade of grass in the first half.
Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland was also in brilliant form. He made an incredible save from Nicolas Anelka's looping header in the first half and kept the score down after the break when the introduction of Joe Cole had given the home team extra impetus.
Cole injected the urgency missing in the first half when Wigan had looked comfortable, even dangerous at times. Petr Cech, back in the team nine days after requiring 50 stitches in a facial wound and wearing a special chin strap fitted to his protective headgear, saved from Antonio Valencia.
But for 20 minutes at the start of the second half, the Blues threatened to overrun Bruce's team. John Terry rattled the bar from Belletti's corner, and Kirkland made a miraculous save to deny Salomon Kalou.
Frantic last-ditch challenges kept Chelsea at bay until Essien strode forward from midfield to collect a lay-off from Anelka and whip a right-foot shot beyond Kirkland. It was his fifth of the season and relief swept around Stamford Bridge.
The race was still on; there would be a duel after all. Or so it seemed. Grant's team, however, could not kill the game. Joe Cole and Anelka flashed chances wide and Bruce made brave changes in search of a point. Kirkland saved again, this time from Essien.
After wins for Bolton and Fulham last weekend, the Latics had been sucked back towards relegation zone. Bruce threw on Jason Koumas, Antoine Sibierski and Marlon King in search of a goal.
Sibierski had a chance, two minutes from time when King forced the ball to him in front of goal but Cech dropped to his left to protect his team's lead. For a matter of minutes, it seemed the wounded hero would keep the title dream alive.
Then Koumas collected a ball on the left as the game ticked into its 92nd minute. He delivered a world-class centre which swerved between the keeper and his central defenders.
Heskey pounced at the back post, thumping a side-foot volley into the net. Wigan moved six points clear of the drop zone.
It was too late for Chelsea to react. Two precious points were gone and they trooped from the pitch after their 80th consecutive Premier League home game without defeat feeling nothing but dejection.
Grant's own role in his team's downfall will once again be scrutinised. But first he must lift his team for a game at Goodison Park. Chelsea cannot lost more points. They cannot lose the plot.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 6; Belletti 6, Alex 6, Terry 6, Bridge 6; Essien 8, Mikel 5 (Shevchenko 90), Ballack 6; Kalou 6, Anelka 6, Malouda 5 (J Cole 46, 7).WIGAN (4-4-2): Kirkland 7; Melchiot 6, Boyce 6, Scharner 6, Kilbane 6; Valencia 8, Skoko 7 (Koumas 56, 6), Palacios 6, Taylor 6 (King 79); Bent 6 (Sibierski 64, 6), Heskey 7.Booked: Koumas, Valencia.Man of the match: Michael Essien.Referee: Andre Marriner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mirror:
YOU BLUE IT, AVRAM BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TWO-HORSE RACE CHELSEA 1 WIGAN 1 THE ACTION FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE Heskey's so pesky as Grant's title dream is looking a nightmare By Martin Lipton
If You can't beat Wigan, you can't win the title Avram. And there is no answer to that.
Just as Joe Cole and Petr Cech looked to have got Chelsea out of title jail last night they suffered a nightmare kick in the teeth that leaves one Manchester United hand on the crown.
Grant'smoody Blues, hit by the late loss of Frank Lampard, seemed to have got away with it after Cole's introduction sparked a second half improvement.
Michael Essien's strike, following great work by Cole and Nicolas Anelka, seemed to be enough as Chelsea created enough chances to win the match.
But deep into stoppage time, and after Cech had justified Grant's gamble by making a brilliant low save from Antoine Sibierski, the Chelsea defence allowed Emile Heskey to slam home Jason Koumas' cross.
Steve Bruce celebrated the point that could keep Wigan up. But now even if Chelsea win all their games, including that clash with United, it will not be enough unless the Old Trafford side blow up. Fergie can crack open the champagne now.
Grant had been planning to rest his big names but was forced into a late extra switch, with a family illness seeing Frank Lampard replaced by Juliano Belletti and Essien moving into midfield. Even so, had Anelka taken what looked like a sitter inside the first five minutes, it would surely have been a stroll.
Salomon Kalou twisted past Kevin Kilbane and Anelka rose well six yards out only to glance his header wide of the exposed target.
The miss appeared to undermine the Blues who became distinctly edgy as Wigan, led by winger Antonio Palacios, had a real go.
John Terry threw himself in front of Paul Scharner's shot after an Emile Heskey lay-off and on 20 minutes Cech, helmet, chin strap and all, shovelled a dangerous Palacios shot round the post for a corner.
Long range strikes from Alex and Belletti were unconvincing and when Michael Ballack was beaten to a Belletti cross by Josip Skoko, the grumbles became full-throated moans.
Anelka thought he had scored as he looped a header from Florent Malouda's dinked cross over Chris Kirkland who somehow flipped the ball away.
And 10 minutes from the break they were denied again. Skoko, challenging Kalou for Belletti's corner, could only head towards his own goal but with Kirkland beaten, Ryan Taylor scooped off the line and over the bar. The boos rang out loud and clear at the interval.
The watching Hugh Grant has given performances less wooden but Cole's introduction, in place of Malouda, sparked a reaction.
His first touch led to a shot blocked and while a series of attacks down the right failed to find a target, the goal was coming. Terry smashed Cole's corner against the bar before Kirkland made a great save to thwart Kalou.
But the Wigan wall cracked on 55 minutes. Cole played in to Anelka, who tried to turn but decided to lay the ball into the path of Essien on the edge of the box for a right-footer that flew past Kirkland.
Chelsea looked to be cruising from there but Heskey's late strike changed everything.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech 7; Belletti 6, Alex 6, Terry 7, Bridge 7; Essien 7, Mikel 5, Ballack 6; Kalou 6, Anelka 6, Malouda 5 (J Cole, 46, 8)
Wigan (4-4-2): Kirkland 7; Melchiot 6, Scharner 7, Boyce 6, Kilbane 6; Valencia 6, Taylor 6 (King, 79, 6), Skoko 5 (Koumas, 55, 6), Palacios 6; Bent 5 (Sibierski, 64, 5), Heskey 6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Emile Heskey wrecks Chelsea's title challengeBy Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (0) 1 Wigan Athletic (0) 1
Humiliation engulfed Avram Grant, cries of "you don't know you are doing" reverberating around the Bridge as Chelsea effectively surrendered the Premier League title race. It was Emile Heskey's injury-time equaliser that cancelled out Michael Essien's opener, and Grant cut a dejected figure as he sloped down the tunnel.
Having squandered Jose Mourinho's inheritance, the Carling Cup and FA Cup, Grant now faces mission impossible in the Premier League. Chelsea lie five points behind Manchester United with four games left. The way Chelsea are playing so unconvincingly under Grant, Sir Alex Ferguson's side could well seal the title here on April 26, the ultimate indignity for Grant.
Grant had made the bizarre decision to keep the effervescent Cole in reserve until the break. Stamford Bridge was close to ferment, calling constantly for Cole. When he arrived, he immediately brought skill and invention to Chelsea's attacks, helping create Essien's strike, and the Bridge was left wondering why he had not started.
The opening period had hardly lifted the spirits, Grant's men playing like strangers in the night. The Chelsea employee whose first-half work most impressed was the in-house television man, who somehow found enough highlights for the half-time package.
For 45 minutes, it was stultifying fare, with Chelsea fans singing endlessly for Joe Cole, who had been kept in reserve by Grant until the break in preparation for Thursday's trip to Everton. Within 30 seconds, Cole had sent Essien charging down the inside-right channel and also tried a shot at goal, which flew into a thicket of white shirts.
When Cole then geed up his team-mates, gesticulating animatedly, the fans responded. Here was someone willing to take the game to Wigan, to ensure United did not enjoy a procession. Here was some trickery Chelsea's attacking moves craved. His 54th-minute cross from the right set the scene for Chelsea's breakthrough, Nicolas Anelka nudging the ball back to Essien, whose 20-yard shot flew past the unsighted Chris Kirkland.
Cole's introduction proved the timeliest of tonics, a shot in the arm to the sluggish Blues, keeping the flickering flame of their title ardour alive. Until then a subdued mood permeated the Bridge, as if Chelsea felt their dream disappeared with United's fightback against Arsenal the day before.
Grant had been forced to juggle his midfield at the last minute when Frank Lampard left the ground, the club citing "family reasons" for the midfielder's sudden absence. At least Chelsea fans had the reassuring sight of the returning Petr Cech, not that they could see much of their battle-scarred goalkeeper. "He's got two masks, he's our No 1" declared the Bridge's excited master of ceremonies.
Cech quickly reminded everyone of his class with a low save from Antonio Valencia's drive. Full of confidence until Cole's arrival, Wigan impressed early on, all hard-working 4-4-2, all balls down the channels for Marcus Bent and Emile Heskey to chase. Heskey soon laid the ball back to Paul Scharner, whose shot was blocked by John Terry.
Chelsea enjoyed good first-half chances, particularly Nicolas Anelka, who was starting as Grant rested Didier Drogba. Anelka's first opportunity arrived from a terrific move down the right, Alex and Michael Ballack combining to send Salomon Kalou sprinting at Kevin Kilbane. A winger by tra de, Kilbane was caught out as Kalou cut inside.
His cross was well-judged, but Anelka made a mess of it, flicking it badly wide.
The Frenchman almost scored with his next chance, meeting Florent Malouda's dinked cross with a looping header that Kirkland did superbly to claw over.
Chelsea were inching closer. When Josip Skoko headed back under pressure, Ryan Taylor cleared off the line. Scharner, impressing throughout, did well to slide in and prevent Essien's driven pass from reaching Anelka.
A wave of restlessness briefly swept through Chelsea fans, particularly when Wayne Bridge was nutmegged by Mario Melchiot, formerly of this south-west London parish. When Chelsea players then over-cautiously shepherded the ball back to Cech, disapproving cries tumbled from the Matthew Harding Stand, briefly intensifying at the break.
Joe Cole settled Chelsea nerves. Terry went close. Kalou saw a close-range shot saved brilliantly by Kirkland, who stood no chance when Essien came calling, prompted by Cole.
Steve Bruce shuffled his pack, introducing Jason Koumas and Antoine Sibierski, changing to 4-5-1 and relying on Heskey to take on Terry and company. The initiative remained with Chelsea, whose creativity flowed almost exclusively from the busy feet of Cole.
Scharner continued to thwart Chelsea, leaping high to intercept a Cole free-kick as it dropped towards Alex.
Chelsea's reliance on Cole was confirmed when Ballack was presented with a promising free-kick opportunity, but the German lifted the ball into the crowd. Cole almost showed Ballack the way shortly afterwards, again eluding Kilbane. Cole scampered into the box, but his right-footed shot flew narrowly wide.
Bruce acted again, withdrawing the midfielder Ryan Taylor and sending on another striker, Marlon King. Sir Alex Ferguson would have been proud of Bruce, his old defensive warhorse.
The changes almost worked late on when King flicked the ball on to Sibierski, whose low shot was saved by Cech. On a night when both keepers excelled, Kirkland then made a stunning stop from Essien.
But then came Heskey, sliding in at the far-post to meet Koumas expert cross. Bruce danced on the pitch. Doubtless Ferguson permitted himself a little jig in front of his TV. The race is all but run.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Times:
Chelsea have to take it on the chin as Emile Heskey proves costlyChelsea 1 Wigan 1
When the mob turn they tend to do so in an instant, as Avram Grant discovered to his cost last night. The boos that greeted the end of a goalless first half acquired a hard and angry edge when Emile Heskey scored a dramatic equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time, dealing a huge blow to Chelsea’s championship chances and gifting Manchester United control of the Barclays Premier League title race.
Steve Bruce’s celebrations at the goal that could secure Wigan Athletic’s Premier League future were thoroughly merited, but the biggest winner of the evening was his former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, whose United side hold a five-point lead with only four matches remaining.
Chelsea got what they deserved after a dreadful first half and a lack of ruthlessness in the second after Michael Essien had given them the lead in the 55th minute. The unpalatable prospect of United retaining their title at Stamford Bridge on Saturday week is a suitably brutal punishment. Grant’s fate could be far worse, although given the extraordinary storylines and sub-plots that repeatedly consume this remarkable club the notion of him saving himself by winning the Champions League cannot be discounted.
The home jury appears to have already returned its verdict, however, and seems to be in agreement about his fate, with those closest to the dugout abusing the first-team coach with shouts of: “You don’t know whatI forced changes from the side who beat Fenerbahçe last week backfired - with Bruce, the Wigan manager, pointing out that the absence of Joe Cole in the first half gave the visiting team a huge help - but circumstances also conspired against him, particularly in the withdrawals of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
Chelsea were grateful for the remarkable return of Petr Cech, likened to Zorro by the club’s eccentric stadium announcer, but performing heroics more reminiscent of The Man in the Iron Mask in making a late save from Antoine Sibierski before Heskey’s equaliser. Suspicions that Grant was skating on thin ice had been confirmed during an inauspicious opening, which was subdued even by the standards of many matches at Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea fans were so bored during an opening 45 minutes that ended with boos being directed at their own players that they resorted to singing tiresome songs about Liverpool slums, suggesting that they too had their minds on other matches to come.
Chelsea’s only real chances of the first half fell to Nicolas Anelka, who for all his class has yet to make a significant contribution for his new club since his £15 million move from Bolton Wanderers in January. Anelka scored 11 goals in a poor Bolton side before Christmas, but has managed just two for Chelsea - not least because he is used mainly as an understudy to Drogba – and the lack of sharpness showed.
The France striker wasted a great opportunity in the fifth minute when he headed Salomon Kalou’s cross across the face of goal, but was unfortunate to be denied 22 minutes later when Chris Kirkland, the Wigan goalkeeper, made a brilliant diving save to his right from another close-range effort.
Anelka was not helped by an appalling lack of support from his wingers, with Florent Malouda so poor on his first league start for two months that he was substituted at half-time. The France winger has bags of ability as he demonstrated against England in Paris last month, but question marks remain about his attitude.
It was not as if Chelsea had any reason to be complacent as Wigan also enjoyed a period of sustained pressure that, with more fortune, could have yielded a goal. Paul Scharner had a shot blocked by Alex, but the best chance fell to Antonio Valencia, who brought a smart save from Cech low down at his near post. Not for the first time, Chelsea were indebted to his bravery.
The introduction of the effervescent Joe Cole in place of Malouda at half-time succeeded in raising Chelsea’s tempo, as if they remembered that they were still in contention. The England player is irrepressible even when out of form and made an immediate impact, lifting the crowd’s spirits with a shot across goal in the 46th minute. Cole’s teammates responded to his seemingly endless energy, with John Terry hitting the bar with a left-foot volley and Kalou denied by another great save from Kirkland before the damn broke. Cole, inevitably, was the creator, crossing from the right to Anelka, who held the ball up long enough to create the space for Essien to score with a neat drive from the edge of the area.
Essien had a chance to win the game, but failed to beat Kirkland and Heskey made him pay a heavy price. As always with Chelsea they cannot be written off, but two matches in the space of six days in Liverpool is not a mission they will undertake with high hopes given their recent history of misery on Merseyside.
Chelsea (4-3-3): P Cech – J Belletti, Alex, J Terry, W Bridge - M Essien, J O Mikel (sub: A Shevchenko, 90min), M Ballack – S Kalou, N Anelka, F Malouda (sub: J Cole, 45). Substitutes not used: Hilário, C Pizarro, S Wright-Phillips.
Wigan Athletic (4-4-2): C Kirkland – M Melchiot, E Boyce, P Scharner, K Kilbane – L A Valencia, J Skoko (sub: J Koumas, 56), W Palacios, R Taylor (sub: M King, 79) – E Heskey, M Bent (sub: A Sibierski, 64). Substitutes not used: M Pollitt, M Brown. Booked: Koumas, Valencia.
Referee: A Marriner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sun:
Chelsea 1 Wigan 1
By MARK IRWIN
Published: 14 Apr 2008 TIME to go Avram. The title race is over and now it is just a matter of time before Chelsea begin the search for yet another new boss.
Emile Heskey’s equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time has effectively handed the Premier League title to Manchester United.
And Avram Grant is now on borrowed time after being booed off by fans still yearning for the Special One.
Like the Peter Sellers character in the film Being There, Grant continues to give the impression of a man who has somehow ended up in a job way beyond his capabilities.
And last night he was finally found out as his desperate attempts at team rotation turned into a 90-minute resignation letter.
As Heskey’s shot hit the back of Petr Cech’s net, Grant stood on the sideline scratching his head in bewilderment.
“You don’t know what you’re doing,” chanted the Stamford Bridge crowd. And at that precise moment, it was hard to argue with them.
Seven of the team who had beaten Fenerbahce in the Champions League in their previous game were given the night off, with only Frank Lampard’s absence enforced by a family illness.The others were all sitting behind the dug-out, rested for what was supposed to be the more difficult trip to Everton on Thursday.
But this disaster means the Blues are now FIVE points behind United with four games to go.
So even three points at Goodison will not be enough to save Chelsea’s title chances and Alex Ferguson’s troops can virtually wrap it up at the Bridge on Saturday week.
No wonder Fergie had been phoning Steve Bruce with some big-match advice ahead of this game.
As it turned out, it was Grant who could have done with a helping hand as the Wigan boss got his tactics spot on while Chelsea were left floundering by their manager’s tinkering.
The Israeli denied he under- estimated a team fighting for their Premier League survival.
But it was only with the introduction of Joe Cole as a half-time sub that Chelsea briefly sparked into life.
They should have been ahead on five minutes but Nicolas Anelka headed a glorious opportunity wide after Salomon Kalou had skinned Kevin Kilbane out wide.
Then goalkeeper Chris Kirkland thwarted Anelka with a magnificent 26th-minute save when he arched himself backwards to claw a looping header over the bar.
Another opportunity came and went 10 minutes before the break when Paul Scharner headed Juliano Belletti’s corner towards his own goal but Ryan Taylor cleared off the line.
When the half-time whistle blew with the game still goalless, Stamford Bridge reverberated to the sound of boos.
It was hard to believe that this was a team going for a Premier League and Champions League double.
For while United had been roared on to a crucial victory by an emotional crowd just 24 hours earlier, the atmosphere inside the Bridge was flatter than Sienna Miller.
And once again it was Grant who was getting it in the neck as the search for a scapegoat intensified. At least he had the common sense to listen to his critics and send on Joe Cole for the second half.
Within seconds of his introduction, the England winger had a shot charged down by Kilbane as Wigan dropped ever deeper.
John Terry smashed a shot against the bar and Kalou was denied by another magnificent Kirkland save.
But the tide had turned and Wigan’s fortress was finally breached in the 55th minute.
Inevitably it was Joe Cole who started the move with a low cross in to the feet of Anelka, who laid the ball off to Essien.
And this time even Kirkland was left powerless by the Ghanaian’s powerful shot. Finally some relief for the fans — but not for long.
Essien should have wrapped the game up in the 89th minute but his close-range shot from Anelka’s pass was thwarted by yet another extraordinary save by Kirkland.
It should not have mattered.
But seconds later it did. Jason Koumas’ deep cross from the left eluded Terry and Heskey forced his way ahead of Wayne Bridge to convert.
You could almost hear the sound of the champagne corks popping in Manchester.
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morning papers fenerbahce home

Indy:
Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0 (Chel. win 3-2 on agg): Ballack lives up to billing but Chelsea fail to shineBy Jason BurtWednesday, 9 April 2008
Just like the good old early Abramovich days at Stamford Bridge. A raucous European night and, on the final whistle, a rendition of "Kalinka", that popular Russian folk tune about a Slavic goddess and juniper berries that Chelsea used to play because they thought it pleased the club's owner.
But that is where the echoes end. There was no swagger and precious little drama as Chelsea – post Claudio Ranieri and post Jose Mourinho – reached their fourth Champions League semi-final in five years under their billionaire philanthropist.
This was no epic quarter-final, against a limited Fenerbahce, who failed to provide any real threat but ended up running Chelsea close. This was no touchline tussle between coaches of huge ability and greater ego.
And yet. And yet Chelsea, under Avram Grant, have now gone as far in this competition as the Doomed One, Ranieri, or the Special One, Mourinho, could ever take them. And who knows? A final in Moscow is the prize and maybe, just maybe, Grant, the assuming, over-promoted coach that he is, can be the man to fulfil his master's wishes. "Kalinka" will sing out again then even if Roman Abramovich is not, really, thought to be a great fan of the tune.
There were more songs last night with Fenerbahce, their 3,000 exuberant fans an impressive singing, dancing sea of yellow and black hope throughout, replying to Chelsea's celebrations with a taunt. "Liverpool, Liverpool," they sang, a reminder that Chelsea have fallen twice at the next stage to the opponents they now face.
There is a school of thought afoot about Grant. And it's one that, joke or no joke, claims that because he doesn't appear to know what he is doing at times then he's just the coach to out-manoeuvre a meticulous planner in Rafael Benitez, who appeared to have the sign over the equally meticulous Mourinho.
Certainly some of Grant's changes last night appeared a little odd and, for a while, he risked unbalancing his team so much that they almost permitted the Turkish champions back into the encounter. In the end there were two saves by Hilario, the stand-in goalkeeper, who emerged after Carlo Cudicini limped off midway through the first-half with a strained hamstring. To add to Petr Cech's facial injury, it means Chelsea are now down to their third-choice stopper. Hilario the hero? He was when he scooped out Gokhan Gonul's close-range shot and beat away Colin Kazim-Richards' long-range belter.
Neither stop was convincing but then it was in keeping with a Chelsea performance in which Michael Essien acquired the booking that means he will miss the first-leg of the semi-final. By the end Didier Drogba was falling theatrically to the turf and involving himself in arguments with opponents in an effort to waste time.
Chelsea over-turned last week's deficit but, after sweeping ahead through Michael Ballack's well-placed header, they really should have swept their opponents away. The way in which the German midfielder apparently effortlessly reached Frank Lampard's free-kick, in the fourth minute, again brought recollections of Mourinho's claim that here was a man who could win Chelsea the ultimate prize. And then, barely four minutes after that, Joe Cole smartly clipped Salomon Kalou's low cross only for his shot to ricochet against the post.
Chelsea had the momentum and they should have pressed on. Second and third goals should have followed but despite a rising shot from Drogba and three rapid breaks from Kalou, nothing happened. The loss of Cudicini may have been a factor but, then, surely not. Even so, Hilario's early involvements were to scramble after a first-time shot from Semih Senturk and then stand rooted as Lugano met Alex's free-kick. Unmarked, the central defender headed wide.
By now Chelsea were becoming progressively ragged. Twice more Drogba shot weakly from prime locations before a miscued clearance by Hilario nearly sent Deivid through. Ricardo Carvalho's rapid intervention snuffed out the threat. The lack of cohesion prompted Grant to withdraw Kalou. Suddenly Chelsea's formation appeared confused and Fenerbahce seized the initiative.
On came the former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman. Surely he wouldn't score? It appeared he would have a chance when, inside the area, Deivid headed towards him but, again, Carvalho was quick to the danger. It was becoming a little too nervy, a little too tense. It appeared self-inflicted. Ballack had warned that Chelsea were, at times, their own worst enemies, believing games were too easy and suffering because of it. It appeared this might, just, become another such occasion.
But soon after his caution, for dissent of all things, Essien made a positive contribution. He worked his way down the right, out-muscled the covering defender and slid the ball into the six-yard area where it was met by Lampard. The midfielder had endured a disappointing evening but he hammered the ball in from close range.
Even then a goal by Fenerbahce would have forced extra-time. They pushed on but, fortunately for Chelsea, didn't have the wherewithal to accomplish the task. Chelsea were through. The blue and white flags were waved aloft and the supporters could look to another semi-final and maybe, this time, the final itself. They will have to play better but that's been said all season and Chelsea could still achieve a unique double.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini (Hilario, 25); Essien, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole; Ballack, Makelele, Lampard; Kalou (Belletti, 58), Drogba, J Cole (Malouda, 85). Substitutes not used: Shevchenko, Mikel, Alex, Anelka.
Fenerbahce (4-3-2-1): Volkan Demirel; Gokhan Gonul, Lugano, Edu, Gokcek Vederson (Bilgin, 89); Maldonado (Kezman, 60), Aurelio, Kazim-Richards; Deivid, Alex; Semih Senturk (Boral, 75). Substitutes not used: Serdar Kulbilge (gk), Yasin Cakmak, Onder Turaci, Selcuk Sahin.
Referee: H Fandel (Germany).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mail:
Ballack now the head boy: Chelsea in semi-finals as German nets earlyChelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0 (agg 3-2)
By NEIL ASHTON
Michael Ballack, a Champions League runner-up with Bayer Leverkusen and a winner with Bayern Munich, has the look of a champion again.
Instrumental in last month's 3-0 victory over Olympiacos in the second round last month, Ballack's fourth-minute header secured Chelsea's place in this year's semi-final.
The German midfielder, increasing in influence with each passing week, was the difference between the teams against Fenerbahce as he dictated the tempo and, with it, the course of Chelsea's season.
Avram Grant's side were nervous, but only Liverpool now stand between them and a first appearance in the final.
The opposition in the last four will be better than anything Fenerbahce could offer last night, but their remarkable unbeaten home record, stretching back 68 games, could prove decisive.
They may have to rely on the rusty instincts of their third-choice goalkeeper Hilario, but there is a resilience about them, and their persistence paid off last night.
Just under 50,000 Fenerbahce fans helped bring Chelsea to their knees last week and they brought a little bit of their fanatical support with them to London, with over 4,000 fanatics making it to Stamford Bridge, dreaming of a place in the semi-final.
They deserved their moment in paradise, when goals from Colin Kazim-Richards and Deivid in last week's first leg gave Zico's side the advantage after a remarkable second-half fightback in Turkey.
They got a rude awakening last night. Chelsea were irresistible from the off, rivalling their awesome first half performance in Turkey last Wednesday and underlining it with a goal.
It came from Michael Ballack, beautiful in the first half last week and flaky after the break, after just four minutes.
Lampard scuttled over to the right to take Chelsea's first free-kick of the game and Ballack beat Mehmet Aurelio at the near post to turn the ball past goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.
That was almost as easy as it was last Wednesday, when Chelsea put in the best first-half shift under Avram Grant's leadership.
It is too soon to talk of a return to the golden years, when Gianfranco Zola would leave 40,000 Chelsea's supporters worshipping every elegant touch, flick with the outside of his boot and mesmerising move.
That was then and this is now — Chelsea, the refined long-ball team, powering their way towards the semi-finals of the European Cup for the fourth time in five years.
They believe, as they believe every year, that their time has come in this competition. The Big One — the date with destiny, the day when they can truly reach for the stars — has always eluded them over the last four years.
Moscow was the backdrop to this tense, often absorbing, second leg and, just in case Chelsea needed reminders of their targets, Roman Abramovich had made it to Stamford Bridge with the missus in tow.
He met Ballack's opening goal with an approving look, but Fenerbahce were not overawed.
Conceding a goal in the opening four minutes was not in Zico's gameplan, but keeping it tight after that certainly was.
They escaped when Didier Drogba's curled effort cleared the bar and were given hope when Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini limped off midway through the first half.
It was rotten luck for Grant, who lost Petr Cech for the rest of the season with a facial injury on Sunday.
Now Chelsea's fate is in Hilario's hands. The Portuguese keeper had not played for the first team since the first leg of the Carling Cup semifinal against Everton, but the stakes have been raised a bit since then.
Fenerbahce centre half Lugano nearly pulled out an ace when he rose above Chelsea's static defence to meet Alex's lofted free-kick, but he sent his header wide of Hilario's post.
Chelsea knew 1-0 would be enough to see them through, but Zico's side refused to panic.
They had Salomon Kalou sussed long before the break, sending him down blind alleys and looking for a chink of light themselves.
Semih Senturk, in for dropped miscreant Mateja Kezman up front, kept himself busy, chasing lost causes and creating a nuisance of himself.
Chelsea could not afford to relax. They did that in Turkey and look what happened then.
Drogba could have doubled Chelsea's lead at the start of the second half, swivelling inside the area after collecting Michael Essien's cross, but he sent his strike into Demirel's grateful arms.
Chelsea's nervous flag-waving fans were subdued, clock watching and counting down the minutes until Herbert Fandel signalled that they had made it through to the last four.
Essien was booked for throwing the ball away, meaning he will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final, but it was he who got to the byeline and crossed for Frank Lampard to secure Chelsea's last-four place with the second goal, tapped in from just three yards out. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Michael Ballack and Chelsea's familiar territoryBy John Ley at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (1) 2 Fenerbahce (0) 0Agg: 3-2
Another year, another semi-final. For the fourth time in five seasons, Chelsea reached the last four of the Champions League and they enjoyed some Turkish delight, albeit with two hardly impressive displays. At least it offers the club another - some would argue, their best - chance to finally claim their Holy Grail that is Europe's greatest domestic prize.
Michael Ballack, a losing finalist with Bayer Leverkusen against Real Madrid in the final of 2002, delivered the early, telling goal and, in the closing stages, with Fenerbahce desperately pressing for an equaliser, Frank Lampard added a second.
Ultimately, the hero of the tie was an unlikely one. With Petr Cech already out, second-choice goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini limped off early in the game and his replacement, Hilario made two stunning late saves to deliver Chelsea into the semi-final and a third meeting with Liverpool in four years. They will not require an incentive.
Ballack had warned, a day earlier, of the importance of making no mistakes, of starting well and the German did not disappoint. He has a habit of striking when the iron is hot, witnessed by his sixth-minute goal against Olympiakos in the previous round. And on a night of raw passion and stirring emotion, Ballack delivered again, his glancing header from Lampard's free-kick so perfectly placed that Volkan Demirel, the Fenerbahce goalkeeper, was left motionless on his line.
It was the perfect start and almost made better four minutes later when Salomon Kalou's probing run on the left offered Joe Cole a chance and he was thwarted only by the width of the left post.
Fenerbahce had dropped former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman to the bench and promoted Colin Kazim-Richards to the team after the former Bury, Brighton and Sheffield United striker had put a dent in Chelsea's European aspirations by scoring the equaliser in Istanbul last week.
That Chelsea had recovered in six of the previous 10 European ties in which they had trailed offered promising portents and Ballack's goal served to suggest another similar outcome.
Had Chelsea taken their chances in Istanbul, they would not have gone into this tie behind. This time they took advantage of their early dominance and Fenerbahce, once again backed by their wonderfully colourful and vociferous supporters, were visibly shaken by the set-back.
But, just when everything appeared to be going Chelsea's way the curse of the goalkeeper struck again. Just two days after Cech had undergone facial surgery on lacerations caused by a stray boot in training, his replacement, Cudicini, pulled his right hamstring with a long kick.
Immediately, the Italian knew he could continue no longer, meaning that Hilario, Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper, was thrust into the fray, with only 25 minutes played. Fenerbahce soon put pressure on his goal with Lugano delivering a 31st-minute header narrowly wide.
He does not play often but he has appeared this season, his last start coming against Everton in the Carling Cup in January. Fenerbahce soon put pressure on his goal with Lugano delivering a 31st-minute header narrowly wide.
Chelsea began the second half ahead but, as in Istanbul, they had failed to turn their advantage into goals. The away-goal advantage was hardly comforting so when, in the opening two minutes of the second half Kalou headed weakly and Didier Drogba directed a shot straight at Demirel, the portents for Chelsea were worrying.
With the tension evident, Chelsea called for experience in the shape of Juliano Belletti, for Kalou. Avram Grant's decision, with a defender on for a forward, was a calculated gamble. The fact that the Brazilian scored the winning goal for Barcelona in the 2006 final - against Arsenal - was not lost on the manager.
Fenerbahce responded by introducing Kezman and the intensity increased with both sides knowing that if there was to be another goal, in all probability, it would win the tie.
The end was both nervous and entertaining. Fenerbahce refused to surrender and when Gokhan Gonul prodded the ball forward, Hilario had to dive to his right to save. Seconds later the Portuguese made another tremendous save, from Kazim Kazim.
Before the end Michael Essien was cautioned and will miss the semi-final first leg, but the Ghana international made a lasting impression, his determination and cross from the right allowed Lampard a tap in to confirm Chelsea's place in the last four. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Times
April 9, 2008
Michael Ballack keeps his head as Chelsea march onMatt Hughes
Avram Grant’s mildly daunting job description is to win the Champions League while playing the best football on the planet. But Roman Abramovich may let him off the hook for the latter if he achieves the former.
Chelsea’s owner will certainly forgive and forget the grim grind of this chaotic quarter-final win if it leads to his “Blue Army” invading Moscow on May 21, but they must first establish mastery over the red half of Merseyside.
The first-team coach appeared ignorant of recent history when he had to be asked three times last night whether Chelsea could make it a case of third time lucky against Liverpool, but, for everyone else at the club, those two semi-final defeats remain a recurring nightmare. Even José Mourinho, the former manager, is still haunted by Luis García’s “ghost goal” three years ago, never mind last season’s penalty shoot-out exit.
It is fitting that Chelsea must beat Liverpool to secure passage to the Luzhniki Stadium because such an accomplishment would finally allow Grant to step out of the shadow of his predecessor. Abramovich has staked his reputation on the unlikely prospect of an ordinary boy surpassing the achievements of the Special One, but certain factors are in Grant’s favour.
Even the redoubtable John Terry admitted to being intimidated by the Anfield crowd 12 months ago, but it will be less potent in the first leg in a fortnight, with Chelsea enjoying the advantage of playing the decisive match at Stamford Bridge on April 30, although Liverpool’s biggest weapon could simply have been replaced by another, namely Fernando Torres.
Whatever happens, Grant has done enough to keep his job for another year because he has already matched Mourinho’s achievements in the Champions League and Barclays Premier League last season and could yet surpass them. The softly spoken Israeli is not one for making valedictory statements, but he was well within his rights to point out the progress that has been made since he was appointed in September. “I took over after a poor result against Rosenborg in the Champions League, with five teams ahead of us in the Premier League,” he said. “I said I believed we could do good things this season and we’re close.”
Grant was wise to resist crowing too loudly after a disjointed performance, however, as Fenerbahçe caused the odd moment of panic. Ironically, much of Chelsea’s play came from the Mourinho manual of winning ugly, only without the control. After Michael Ballack had gone some way to calming nerves with a fourth-minute header, Chelsea endured moments of anxiety, notably when Hilário, who replaced the injured Carlo Cuducini in the first half, was called on to make two smart saves in the 83rd minute, before Frank Lampard settled things with his eighteenth goal of the season four minutes later.
The England midfield player had had a poor game, but his goals remain priceless, something for the club to keep in mind when contract negotiations resume in the summer. Such was their frustration that many of the home fans turned on Didier Drogba midway through the second half because of his fitful finishing and reversion to the role of a “diving diva”. It was significant that Grant refused to defend him afterwards, suggesting that he is already preparing for life without the Ivory Coast striker next season. “People said before we couldn’t win without Drogba, but now we can,” he said.
Chelsea had begun with the same pace and purpose that they had produced in the first half in Istanbul, but again failed to sustain it, so it was just as well that they took an early lead. Lampard’s free kick from the right was met powerfully at the near post by Ballack, with the Germany captain rising imperiously above Edu for his sixth goal of a season that began only in December after a long-term injury.
With Ballack driving them forward, Chelsea briefly pushed for a second, but, other than a couple of speculative shots from Drogba and a drive by Joe Cole against the post, they created little of note.
Fenerbahçe were emboldened by the sight of Cudicini limping off with a hamstring injury in the 26th minute, presenting Hilário with a first Champions League appearance of the season that the Portuguese seemed unprepared for when he stood flat-footed as Lugano’s header flashed wide of the near post just before half-time. Although clearly jittery, Hilário stood firm when it mattered, making good saves from Gökhan Gönül and Colin Kazim-Richards in close succession.
Given his unease under the high ball, however, Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, should give serious consideration to starting with Peter Crouch again if Hilário, the third choice, remains in goal in a fortnight. Chelsea will be hurt, too, by the absence of Michael Essien from the first leg after he was booked late on.
Given his supposed love for entertaining football, Abramovich may have wished he was at Anfield last night, although the Russian does have at least one reason to be pleased with himself. Since he bought the club, Chelsea have established themselves as the most consistent side in the Champions League, with four semi-final appearances in five years, but they must improve considerably to lift the trophy he craves above all others. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lampard's late show ensures Chelsea's safe passageDavid Hytner at Stamford BridgeWednesday April 9, 2008The Guardian
There were 67 minutes on the giant scoreboards last night when the Chelsea support voiced their solution to the increasingly nervous performance in front of them. "Attack, attack, attack" came the staccato chant.Avram Grant did not take the hint. The Chelsea manager seemed content to cling to the slender advantage that Michael Ballack's early header had given his team and, as Fenerbahce swept forward, Chelsea diced with their Champions League lives.
Had Henrique Hilario, on for the injured Carlo Cudicini, not smuggled the substitute Ugur Boral's volley past his post as Chelsea anxieties were at their height, or moments later beaten away Kazim Kazim's rasping drive from distance, it might have been Fenerbahce eyeing a semi-final date with Liverpool. Grant resolutely stuck with five in his midfield in the second half and when he withdrew Joe Cole the home crowd howled.In the event, however, Frank Lampard belatedly cut through the tension when he tapped home from Michael Essien's cross and Grant could savour the result, if not the serenity of the performance. Chelsea are in the last four of Europe's elite competition for the fourth time in five years and facing familiar foes. Might Grant yet succeed where his predecessor Jose Mourinho failed and plot a path past Liverpool and into the final?
Grant's team had made the perfect start, Ballack glancing in Lampard's free-kick after only four minutes. It was the German's sixth goal since returning to the side in December. Having had the chance to kill the tie in the first leg, after also fashioning an early goal, the expectation was that Chelsea would do so this time. Joe Cole struck the inside of the post, Ballack forced Volkan Demirel to save and a sign of Chelsea's early dominance was the sight of Alex, the Fenerbahce captain, dropping from his withdrawn attacking role into defensive midfield to search for possession. Didier Drogba, on one of his infuriating nights, twice went close in the first half, and had further chances in the second.
Yet slowly Fenerbahce gained a foothold. They might only have threatened in the first half when Lugano rose unchecked to head Alex's free-kick wastefully wide but, the longer the second half wore on, the more it appeared that Chelsea were skating on thin ice.
Grant's preservation instincts took hold. When Salomon Kalou was forced off with a knock just before the hour, the Israeli sent on the right-back Juliano Belletti and moved Essien, who had filled the defensive position, further forward. Not by much, though. Essien was asked to hold the right flank and, with Joe Cole on the left and three midfielders bunched tightly in the centre, Drogba cut an isolated figure up front.
The Fenerbahce manager, Zico, promptly sent on Mateja Kezman, the former Chelsea striker, for Claudio Maldonado, the defensive midfielder. His second change provided fresh width on the left, in the shape of Ugur Boral. Fenerbahce sensed their moment.
Lugano watched his shot take a deflection and, with Hilario rooted, Chelsea hearts all around the ground skipped as the ball wriggled wide. There was more to come. An unholy scramble inside Hilario's area was hacked to safety and then came the efforts from Ugur Boral and Kazim. Hilario's save from Ugur Boral might have been unorthodox, as he scrambled frantically across his line, but it was highly effective.
Grant accepted that his tactics had invited Fenerbahce forward and offered them the initiative, and, although he was quite correct to praise his defenders, he could be accused of having only one eye on the game when he claimed that Fenerbahce did not create any chances.
Ultimately, though, nobody could dispute that the result was all-important. Grant might be failing to deliver on his promise of exciting football, after the functional thrills of the Jose Mourinho years, but his record, the cold, hard currency of results, bears scrutiny.
Progress came at a cost. With Petr Cech out for at least two weeks with his facial injury, the last thing Grant needed was Carlo Cudicini to pull up midway through the first half with a hamstring injury, which looked serious. Hilario, the third-choice goalkeeper, bounded on and, though his kicking was unconvincing and there were nervy moments in his defence, he emerged with credit. Grant will rely on him and the youngster Rhys Taylor over the next couple of weeks as Chelsea attempt to close on Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
Grant also lost Essien for the first leg of the semi-final at Anfield, after he was needlessly booked late on to incur a suspension for throwing the ball down in frustration. Chelsea got there in the end and nobody will dispute that they were the better team over the two legs. And there will be no complaints about his methods if Grant can break the cycle of despair against Liverpool.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mirror :
BALLACK & LAMPS GRANT A SENSE OF DEJA BLUE
CHELSEA 2 FENERBAHCE 0 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL SECOND LEG, STAMFORD BRIDGE:CHELSEA WIN 3-2 ON AGG By Martin Lipton
Avram Grant lived to fight another day at Stamford Bridge last night - but if he has any fingernails left, the Israeli was probably the only one in SW6.
Michael Ballack's fourth-minute header and a late strike from Frank Lampard turned out to be just enough for the jittery Blues as they put their fans through the emotional wringer before claiming a third semi-final against Liverpool in four years.
The German was on the spot to nod home Lampard's free-kick and two minutes from time the England midfielder's 18th of the season from a Michael Essien cross killed off the Turks.
It gives Grant the chance to do what Jose Mourinho could not - beat Rafa Benitez to take his side through to the biggest prize in club football.
But without two sensational late saves by third-choice keeper Hilario, brought on when Petr Cech's deputy, Carlo Cudicini limped off midway through the first half, Chelsea would not have had the platform for Lampard's killer moment, as Grant just did enough.
Ballack's opener came after Joe Cole, impish and determined, was brought down wide on the right. When Lampard played in the ball to the edge of the six yard box, Ballack stole in front of marker Mehmet Aurelio to glance home a header.
Ballack was ecstatic, the Bridge on fire, and with Fenerbahce once again all over the place at the back, Chelsea looked to finish off the tie.
Essien, fit after a back scare, was blasting down the right while Salomon Kalou did a similar job on the other flank and when he destroyed Gokhan Gonul in the eighth minute, Joe Cole toe-poked against the post.
Ballack, a study in perpetual motion, was the next to strike for goal as he brought keeper Volkan Demirel to his knees to gather, before Didier Drogba curled his effort inches too high. First-leg match-winner Deivid headed wide for the Turks before Cudicini's hamstring twanged, which forced Grant to send on Hilario.
Suddenly, it was all getting twitchy as Fenerbahce sensed the nervousness and when centre-half Lugano rose unchallenged to meet a free-kick by skipper Alex, he should have done far better that head tamely wie.
Drogba, after linking with Cole, tested Volkan once more, yet with the Turks growing in confidence, Chelsea desperately needed to chisel out a second. Kalou had the opportunity to do so after a surging run down the left but after taking Lampard's return ball, his shot was horribly weak.
Grant had to pitch it right at the break and his side came out with the required attitude, Drogba spinning onto Cole's ball inside to shoot left-footed straight at Volkan.
Cole was seeing plenty of the ball, while Essien galloped up in support, yet the killer pass was not quite there and the nerve ends began to be exposed.
The England man, released by Lampard, almost picked out Kalou before Volkan bravely dropped on the ball at Ballack's feet after neat work by Drogba.
Both managers then made changes, Juliano Belletti replacing Kalou while Zico sent on former Chelsea player Mateja Kezman as the tension was raised another notch, the home side aware one mistake could be fatal.
With the crowd demanding more and the anxiety levels reaching a peak, they needed John Terry to stand tall with a couple of vital clearances in front of Hilario.
It was desperate stuff at times, as the ball zig-zagged through the Chelsea box, although Drogba's free-kick brought a superb stop from Volkan. But without Hilario's two brilliant saves to deny first Gokhan Gunol and then Colin Kazim-Richards, Lampard's close-range finish would only have meant extra-time. That's how close it was.
Chelsea: Cudicini (Hilario, 26), Essien, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, J Cole (Malouda, 86), Drogba, Kalou (Belletti, 58).
Fenerbahce: Demirel, Gonul, Lugano, Edu, Wederson (Bilgin, 90), Maldonado (Kezman, 60), Aurelio, Kazim-Richards, Deivid, Alex, Senturk (Ugur, 75).
CHELSEA V FENERBAHCE
BLUES EDGE IT BUT STUTTER
BALL POSSESSION
CHELSEA 52%
FENERBAHCE 48%
FACE TO FACE
3 Corners 1
4 Offside 1
73% Pass completion 78%
31 Tackles 23
19 Fouls 19
2 Cards 0
5 SHOTS 5
off target 9
on target 2
MAN OF THE MATCH
Michael Ballack (CHELSEA) 7
VILLAIN OF THE MATCH
Gokhan Gonul (FENERBAHCE) 5
ANORAK
Chelsea have only lost once at the Bridge in the last 26 Champions League games
Chelsea's last 10 in Champions League
Before last night, Chelsea had only won four of their last ten games in the Champions League
April 2, 2008: Fenerbahce (a) L1-2
Mar 5, 2008: Olympiakos (h) W3-0
Feb 19 2008: Olympiakos (a) D0-0
Dec 11, 2007: Valencia (h) D 0-0
Nov 28, 2007: Rosenborg (a) W4-0
Nov 6, 2007: Schalke 04 (a) D 0-0
Oct 24, 2007: Schalke 04 (h) W2-0
Oct 3, 2008: Valencia (a) W2-1
Sep 18, 2007: Rosenborg (h) D1-1
May 1, 2007: Chelsea (h) W1-0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sun:
IAN McGARRY (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate)
AVRAM GRANT has the chance to do what Jose Mourinho couldn’t — beat Liverpool in a Champions League semi-final.
The Premier League is now guaranteed one team in the final in Moscow on May 21.
And Grant will be desperate to give the Blues their revenge over Rafa Benitez’s Reds.
Midfield ace Frank Lampard has twice felt the pain of of semi-final defeats by Liverpool in the last three years.
So when he tapped in the goal against Fenerbahce, you could understand his delight.
He wheeled away to celebrate his 87th-minute strike and you could forgive him a brief look up to the stadium scoreboard.
There in big letters Chelsea’s destiny was confirmed in the scoreline from Anfield: Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2.
Lampard, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Didier Drogba are the men who most feel they have a score to settle with Liverpool following Luis Garcia’s controversial goal in 2005 then last season’s penalty shootout heartbreak.
But Chelsea will have to up their game on this showing.
They made heavy weather of a contest last night, again failing to kill off rivals.
In the first leg in Turkey, Drogba was guilty of wasting possession and chances as Blues lost 2-1.
But the Ivory Coast striker was out to prove a point and got stuck into the Fenerbahce defence. After four minutes he forced Vederson into conceding a free-kick on the left of the penalty box.
Lampard, making a club record 51st Champions League appearance, flighted a perfect cross to the six-yard area and Ballack headed precisely into the far corner.
For Chelsea it was better than just a draw at that point. Their away goal — scored by Fenerbahce’s Deivid — already had them in the semi-final if the score were to remain the same.
Zico’s Turkish side started the contest just as nervously as they had at home a week previously. They gave the ball away cheaply and in dangerous areas making Chelsea look like world beaters without having to try too hard.
And Chelsea should have doubled their advantage after eight minutes when Salomon Kalou wriggled free of his marker and neatly cut back to Joe Cole.
The England midfielder was equally cute to dink his shot to Volkan’s near post but it wasn’t quite enough and the ball rebounded off the upright. Chelsea were rampant and Ballack moved unchallenged across the 18-yard line and his reverse pass almost put Lampard in.
As the game wore on Fenerbahce realised the tie was there for the taking though.
Brazilian playmaker Alex found Deivid in the box but his header was woefully wide of the target.
After the freak injury sustained by Petr Cech in training on Sunday, Grant must have thought that was it for bad luck with keepers. But Carlo Cudicini strained a thigh muscle while taking a goal kick in the 26th minute and signalled to the bench he could not go on.
Cue Portuguese keeper Hilario. He looked sluggish when Lugano’s header grazed his post in the first half but twice in the last 15 minutes he made brilliant stops to keep his side in the tie.
Without the safety net of a second goal, Chelsea looked uncomfortable.
Lampard threaded a through-ball to Joe Cole whose cross beat everyone except Kalou who was then chased to the corner flag by the keeper.
Clearly anxious, Grant changed his formation by taking off Kalou and bringing on Juliano Belletti at right-back which allowed Essien to move into midfield.
Immediately, Zico reacted and took off his defensive midfielder Maldonado and replaced him with Mateja Kezman.
The ex-Chelsea striker received a more than cool welcome from the home fans who shared their manager’s slight sense of panic.
Again Fenerbahce found space and men with ease in the Chelsea area but a lack of urgency meant they failed to capitalise.
Drogba almost sealed it 11 minutes from time but once again Volkan was equal to his shot from a free-kick.
Gonul’s shot was brilliantly scrambled away by Hilario who then denied former Coca-Cola kid Colin Kazim-Richards — a first-leg goal hero for the Turkish side.
Essien, who was booked and will now miss the first leg of the semi-final, found Lamps in the six-yard box and he made no mistake.
It sparked wild celebrations at the Bridge and now later this month they face one week that will shape their destiny.
In between the ties with Liverpool, they have a potential League decider at home against Manchester United.
It’s a scenario even Hans Christian Andersen could not have scripted after Mourinho left the club following a meek draw at home with Rosenborg last September.
The world seemed a very dark and hopeless place for Chelsea then making the excitement now all the more unbelievable.
After two dreadful semis between the sides, Chelsea and Liverpool owe the nation a good one before one of them progresses to the final.
Rule Britannia in Russia? Let’s hope so. But put on a show in the semi-final first. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Daily Express:
BALLACK HEAD START IS HOW TO TALK TURKEY
By Frank Wiechula
Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0
ROMAN Abramovich’s dream of seeing his Chelsea reach a first Champions League final in his native Russia stayed right on nerve-shredding course.
Michael Ballack, after just four minutes, and Frank Lampard, three minutes from the end of normal time, scored the all-important goals to book a precious semi-final slot – the Londoners’ fourth in the last five years in the competition billionaire owner Abramovich covets more than any other.
But the Blues were worried late on as substitute keeper Hilario – who came on after 25 minutes for the injured Carlo Cudicini – had to keep out shots from Gonul Gokhan and Colin Kazim-Richards as Fenerbahce threatened a massive upset.
But Lampard soothed those nerves with his finish, and now all Chelsea have to do to confirm their place in Moscow Luzhniki’s Stadium for the big one on May 21 is get past semi-final opponents Liverpool.
It will not be easy as the Merseysiders, who defeated Arsenal in the other quarter-final, have knocked Chelsea out of the last four in 2005 and 2007.
The prophetic Ballack had insisted the day before that Chelsea would love to make a fast start against the Turks.
And the German was as good as his word, heading in Lampard’s free-kick from the right with unerring accuracy.
Fenerbahce were stunned and only the foot of the left-hand post saved them from going even further behind five minutes later. Salomon Kalou combined with Joe Cole and the England man’s instinctive close-range effort hit a post.
Moments later, on the opposite flank, Fenerbahce keeper Volkan Demirel had to dive low to keep out a Ballack drive as Chelsea threatened to put the contest to bed by the half-hour mark.
Fenerbahce partially weathered the storm and created their first attack. From a free-kick, Deivid – who netted the winner a week ago – headed well wide from Alex’s set-play.
Chelsea were lifted by the return after injury of centre-back Ricardo Carvalho and leading scorer Didier Drogba – who both missed Saturday’s Premier League victory over Manchester City.
Cudicini retained his place in Chelsea’s goal after Petr Cech’s freak weekend facial injury sustained in training, which required surgery and 50 stitches.
Drogba almost made it goodnight Fenerbahce with an excellent 21st-minute effort.
The lone Chelsea striker cut inside Gokhan on the edge of the box and curled a tremendous right-footer inches past the top of the far upright.
But Chelsea’s smooth progress suffered an unnecessary jolt after 25 minutes when Cudicini was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury, the Italian being replaced by Hilario.
It was only the Portuguese reserve’s sixth senior appearance of the season and he almost picked the ball out of the net six minutes later.
An Alex free-kick fell perfectly for Lugano, on his own on the right flank, inside the box. But the Fenerbahce man headed a gilt-edged opportunity just wide and Chelsea escaped.
At the other end Demirel had to be on his toes to keep out a sweeping low Drogba drive after the Ivory Coast international expertly linked up with Joe Cole.
Chelsea needed that second goal, and Kalou and Frank Lampard combined at threatening pace after 40 minutes, only for Kalou to supply a weak final effort.
Drogba forced another fine stop from Demirel with a neat swivel and left-foot shot on the edge of Fenerbahce’s area after right-back Michael Essien had drilled over a low cross.
Joe Cole created more uncertainty in the Fenerbahce area with a low 54nd-minute centre which drew Demirel out of his goal and Essien set up another opening for Drogba, who found Ballack in the box, but the German was just crowded out on 55 minutes.
Fenerbahce brought on former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman on the hour, but Chelsea, marshalled superbly by skipper John Terry at the heart of the defence, stayed firm.
Drogba kept Fenerbahce occupied at the opposite end, again forcing Demirel to go to ground to keep out his 66th-minute effort.
Essien – who had been booked a moment before, thus ruling him out for the first leg of the semi-final – created the clinching second goal three minutes from time.
He worked his way into the box, tight to the byline, and laid the ball back perfectly for Lampard to ram home Chelsea’s second.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cudicini (Hilario 25); Essien, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Makelele; J Cole (Malouda 85), Lampard, Ballack, Kalou (Belletti 58); Drogba. Booked: Essien, Carvalho. Goals: Ballack 4, Lampard 87.
Fenerbahce (4-3-2-1): Demirel; Gokhan, Lugano, Edu, Vederson (Bilgin 89); Maldonado (Kezman 60), Aurelio, Kazim-Richards; Alex, Deivid; Senturk (Boral 75).
Referee: H Fandel (Germany).

sunday papers man city away

The Sunday TimesApril 6, 2008
Nervous Chelsea maintain pressure on Manchester UnitedManchester City 0 Chelsea 2 Paul Forsyth at Eastlands
VULNERABLE they may be under the guidance of Avram Grant, but Chelsea’s title hopes are still alive. An own goal by Richard Dunne, and a more conventional strike by their own Salomon Kalou, extended an unbeaten league run that stretches back to December, and narrowed the deficit by which they trail Manchester United to just two points.
Any lapse in concentration, like that which nearly cost them against Middlesbrough last week, and eventually did in Turkey four days later, could be fatal at this stage of the season, but here they are, with five matches left, still breathing down Manchester United’s neck. The pressure is now on Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to win their game in hand against Middlesbrough this afternoon.
“If you ask Sir Alex, he will tell you that we have put them under pressure for the last three months,” said Grant. “We have won about 80% of our games, which is the form of champions, but they are also doing very well. I don’t think they will win it until the end of the season.”
A Freudian slip perhaps? United, certainly, will not be unnerved by this Chelsea display, however effective. Gifted an early goal, they allowed their opponents to take the initiative, and only came to life after a second had settled the outcome.
Unlike their luminous yellow shirts, it was functional rather than flashy, as professional as it needed to be.
As demonstrated against Fen-erbahce, Chelsea seem to lose the matches in which they play best, and win those that are a grind. As Grant pointed out last night, when they beat City 6-0 in November, they were seventh in the league. “We have come a long, long way,” said the manager. “Now there is only one team ahead of us.”
With one eye on this week’s second leg, Grant made wholesale changes, resting Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho, who were not even on the bench, and drafting in Shaun Wright-Phillips. The home support warmly applauded their former winger beforehand, and again when he was taken off early in the second half, which was maybe a measure of his contribution.
Thanks to Arsenal’s lunch-time draw with Liverpool, Chelsea had slipped to third in the league without kicking a ball, so the goal they were handed after only six minutes came as a welcome filip. Dunne has been told by his manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, to put contract talks on the back burner, and focus instead on his football, but the captain’s response was overshadowed by an own goal. When Kalou, surging towards the penalty area, was brought tumbling to the turf, the ball broke to Michael Essien, who in turn fed Nicolas Anelka wide on the right. When the former City striker cut the ball back into the box, Dunne attempted a sliding interception that succeeded only in diverting the ball past Joe Hart.
It was one of those goals that came before the match had been able to take shape, which was just as well for Chelsea, who found themselves on the back foot for the rest of the first half. Although dangerous on the break, where Nedum Onuoha twice had to thwart Anelka with an outstretched boot, the visitors were asked several times to take desperate measures at the back.
Stephen Ireland would surely have converted a cutback from Benjani Mwaruwari had it not been for Juliano Belletti’s block that sent the ball spinning over the bar. And Ashley Cole’s scissor kick off the line prevented the equaliser young midfielder Michael Johnson deserved after a neat exchange with Ireland.
Johnson has had a frustrating time of it since undergoing an operation last November, but his contribution here was a reminder of what he can do. Although he snatched an early volley over the top, his delicate touches in the middle of the park, intelligent balls wide and timely dashes forward unsettled Chelsea, as did the left boot of Martin Petrov.
One of his trademark efforts sailed narrowly past the upright from all of 30 yards, and a free kick from the corner of the penalty box curled just a fraction too much. If, as expected, City’s interest in Ronaldinho comes to nothing, this man will do to be getting on with.
Chelsea, though, were a different proposition in the second half, especially after they had doubled their lead. Essien’s cute reverse pass on the edge of the area took a deflection on its way to Kalou, who was composed enough to round the goalkeeper and slot over the line.
If a second goal was more than Chelsea deserved for a strategy based largely on counter-attack, they responded to the comfort zone with a spell of sustained pressure that confirmed their superiority. When Anelka, their biggest attacking threat, was presented with a chance almost identical to Kalou’s, he hesitated long enough to let England Under-21 goalkeeper Hart pluck the ball from his feet.
Then, when Frank Lampard picked out the Frenchman in the box, he was twice denied by the goalkeeper. Not only did Hart touch his header on to the bar, he lunged back to claw the dropping ball off his line.
A damaging passage of play for City then took a physical toll when Onuoha had to be stretchered off. The challenge by Essien was harmless enough, but the defender dislocated his shoulder in the fall. While he was taken to hospital, City’s hopes of salvaging anything were beyond repair. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Chelsea refuse to give up on Premier LeagueBy Derick Allsop at the City of Manchester Stadium
Manchester City (0) 0 Chelsea (1) 2
Love him or loathe him, no one can dispute Avram Grant has kept Chelsea in a Premier League marathon that was surely reduced to two contenders yesterday.
Hours after Arsenal's latest and seemingly fatal stumble, the self-proclaimed Un-Special One shuffled his resources again and came up with a formation that had too much guile and penetration - albeit with a healthy helping of good fortune - for Manchester City.
Richard Dunne, City's generally dependable captain and central defender, contributed to Chelsea's title mission with an own-goal and inadvertent collaboration in the creation of the second, scored by Salomon Kalou.
City had their moments, particularly during a 15-minute period of the first half, yet ultimately had their goalkeeper, Joe Hart, to thank for averting a more substantial defeat.
Chelsea were content to take the three points with a minimum of effort, closing to within two of leaders Manchester United, who visit Middlesbrough today. Grant's planning now turns to their next home match, the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Fenerbahce. Chelsea trail 2-1 but have fresh players to recall and even those who put in a shift here were scarcely extended.
Given the strength and flexibility of Chelsea's squad, they look eminently capable of emerging as United's challengers for the top prizes in England and Europe.
Grant said: "We have come a long way, but still one team is in front of us. I don't know if it will be enough to win every game. We need to do our job. I don't know whether it is better to play before United. We just need to do our job."
City's season, so bright and promising in its infancy, is in danger of ignominious disintegration. Their miserable day was compounded by a dislocated shoulder and wrist injury for the excellent Nedum Onuoha.
City's task became onerous in just six minutes. Chelsea's composed approach play carried them into the penalty area and Nicolas Anelka's low cross was turned past Hart by Dunne in his desperation to cut off the supply to Michael Essien.
Onuoha's intervention denied Anelka the opportunity to capitalise on Essien's service before City managed to venture out of their own territory and launch a series of assaults. Most of them disturbed the top tier rather than Carlo Cudicini until Gelson Fernandes eventually dirtied the Chelsea goalkeeper's gloves.
Another crucial challenge by Onuoha checked Anelka's break as Chelsea reminded City of their threat. Undeterred, Sven-Goran Eriksson's team pressed forward again, Stephen Ireland and Michael Johnson going close and Martin Petrov forcing Cudicini into a splendid save. For all City's endeavour, they were relieved not to go further behind when Kalou lofted over a beckoning goal. He atoned for that wretched miss early in the second half, combining cleverly with Essien and accepting another assist from Dunne before walking the ball around Hart.
The City goalkeeper somehow spared his side further damage, taking the ball off Anelka's toe, then tipping the striker's header on to the crossbar and clearing off the line.
Best moment: Joe Hart’s fantastic save to tip former City striker Nicolas Anelka’s header on to the bar.
Worst moment: The freakish injuries that put the excellent Onuoha in hospital last night. Another defensive nightmare for Sven.
Man of the match
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) 8
Scored Chelsea's second goal
Set up one chance
Completed 82 per cent of his distribution---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mail:
Dour one is now special one: Grant takes a lesson from Mourinho's old play bookManchester City 0 Chelsea 2
By Joe Bernstein
Avram Grant does not sound like Jose Mourinho very often but, in the afterglow of a hard-earned win at Eastlands, he very definitely laid down the title gauntlet to Sir Alex Ferguson.
A goal in each half, with plenty of dogged defending in between, took Chelsea to within two points of longtime leaders Manchester United with a tasty encounter between the two scheduled for Stamford Bridge on April 26. No wonder the Dour One came over almost as bullish as the Special One as Chelsea extended their incredible league run to just one defeat in 26 matches.
"I think if you ask Alex he will say we have been putting them under pressure for a while," said Grant. 'We have the record of champions over the past three months. When I arrived, we were five points behind Manchester City, we were behind Liverpool and other clubs, too.
"We have been playing without a lot of important players since January as well, but the squad have brought us to this point. Psychologically, I'm not sure if it's better to play first or second [United meet Middlesbrough today], but now that we've won, I think it's better to play first."
Grant promised to change Chelsea when he replaced Mourinho in the autumn. Instead of all-out entertainment, however, he is threatening to grind his way to silverware just as his predecessor would have done.
City skipper Richard Dunne put into his own net to gift Chelsea the opening goal after six minutes. The home side threatened an equaliser for long periods after that, but a clinical finish by Salomon Kalou in the 53rd killed the contest. A dislocated shoulder and possible broken wrist late on for Nedum Onuoha, who required nearly five minutes' treatment before he was carried off in clear distress, summed up the dismal second half of City's season.
"It is always awful when you lose but I am less depressed than when we were beaten at Birmingham a week ago," said manager Sven Goran Eriksson. "We showed spirit against a good team and made more chances than them."
However, ambitious owner Thaksin Shinawatra will want to see an improvement on one win in seven games if he is to trust Eriksson with the summer war chest.
Home fans generously applauded their former heroes Shaun Wright- Phillips and Nicolas Anelka on to the pitch before kick-off, but it was not long before the grumbling began.
Anelka was given time in the penalty area to deliver a low cross towards Michael Essien. And the only reason it did not reach the Ghanaian was that Dunne foolishly slid in and stuck out a left leg to divert the ball past goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The Irishman's forlorn expression told its own story. It was the fifth owngoal of his City career, nearly as many as the six he scored at the other end in more than 300 appearances.
City fans must have feared a repeat of the 6-0 drubbing they suffered at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season. But, inspired by Martin Petrov, they instead had numerous chances to level. Petrov was denied by Carlo Cudicini with a stinging shot and set up Benjani and Stephen Ireland with excellent crosses that were not capitalised upon. Ashley Cole then headed off the line from Michael Johnson.
Having weathered the storm, Chelsea sealed the points early in the second half on a breakaway. Mourinho would have been proud. Poor Dunne was involved again, deflecting Essien's pass into the path of Kalou. Once free, there was no doubting the Ivory Coast forward would score as he rounded Hart before tapping in. That was game over and it was left to Hart to keep the score down with two excellent stops from Anelka, as Chelsea moved down the gears to save themselves for Tuesday's key Champions League home tie against Fenerbahce. However disappointed City felt, the result was put into perspective when Onuoha fell awkwardly after tangling with Essien and dislocated his shoulder. The pain-stricken defender was offered oxygen before being carried off and taken to hospital.
The result means Chelsea can begin to dream of being champions for the third time in four seasons.
"You never know in football," said Grant, when asked to consider the possibility. "If I knew what would happen in this game, I would gamble and be a millionaire."
There is always Eriksson to bring them down to earth, though. "Chelsea are strong but so are Manchester United. If I had to bet £10 on it, I would go for United," he smiled. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Indy:
Manchester City 0 Chelsea 2: City Dunne and dusted by Chelsea
Own goal helps Londoners keep up pressure on Manchester United as Eriksson's team look forward to end of seasonBy Guy Hodgson at the City of Manchester StadiumSunday, 6 April 2008
Chelsea have five matches to catch Manchester United at the top of the Premier League, and if they are all as easy as this they will have every chance of succeeding. This makes it eightgoals for and none conceded against Manchester City this season; who needs friends with opponents like these?
This was a stroll on a cool but sunny afternoon for Avram Grant's team against a City side who have won one match in their last seven and who, apart from a 15-minute spell before half-time, looked like they cannot wait for the season to end. Slow, sloppy and dull, just about the only imagination anyone with Sky Blue affiliation showed came from the announcer on the public address system, who billed the start of the second half as "the push for Europe". Push for mid-table mediocrity more like.
City gave the visitors a goal start when Richard Dunne put through his own goal after six minutes, and although Michael Johnson had a shot cleared off the line they never seriously suggested they would discomfort Chelsea. Instead the visitors made the points safe when Salomon Kalou dribbled round Joe Hart in the 53rd minute.
The romp pushes Chelsea, who rested Ricardo Carvalho, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba, to two points behind United, who face Middlesbrough this afternoon, and ensured they will go into Tuesday's Champions' League quarter-final second leg against Fenerbahce with two prizes very much in mind.
"Now we have to hope for a good result at Middlesbrough," Grant said. "I never know whether it's better to play first or second but I know it's always best to play first and win."
The City manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, also struck a positive note. "I'm less depressed than I was a week ago," he said, referring to the lame 3-1 defeat at Birmingham City. "It was impor-tant for the players to know they can play good football against a team like Chelsea."
City lost 6-0 at Stamford Bride in October so the portents were not good, and they looked even less promising after six minutes. They had endured almost unceasing Chelsea possession without alarm when Michael Essien moved forward and then passed to Nicolas Anelka on the right. Even then, there seemed little danger from a low cross until Dunne slid in to clear but instead thumped the ball past his own goalkeeper from10 yards.
Chelsea would have taken advantage of more sloppiness in the home rearguard but for two immaculate tackles on Anelka from Nedum Onuoha. It appeared City were dozing their way to another reverse until they woke up after half an hour and could have scored twice. First Juliano Belletti stopped a goal-bound shot from Stephen Ireland, then Ashley Cole cleared off his line from Johnson.
Despite the number of incidents round the goalmouths, the first half had been played at a pedestrian pace, but the introduction of Joe Cole for the disappointing Shaun Wright-Phillips brought an injection of thought if not pace and a notable sense of urgency from Chelsea. Their second goal, after 53 minutes, came almost immediately after the substitution when Essien placed a clever through- pass that deflected off Dunne into the path of Kalou. The Ivory Coast striker coolly went round Hart and rolled the ball intothe net.
Suddenly the shackles were off Chelsea and they could have scored twice more within two minutes. First Hart flicked the ball away from Anelka's feet as he bore down on goal, then the City goalkeeper tipped Anelka's header on to the bar and recovered well to scoop away from his line when the ball hit his back.
After that Chelsea could ease up with Fenerbahce in mind, secure that the gauntlet has been thrown in the champions' direction. Who will win the title? The answer from the City manager was unexpected. "If I had a £10 bet," Eriksson said, "it would be on United."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chelsea stay in hunt as Kalou hits target
Jamie Jackson at EastlandsSunday April 6, 2008The Observer
Chelsea deserve a little of the stuff they sometimes lack - goodwill - for at least keeping the Premier League title race alive with this victory, which maintains the pressure on Manchester United. They deserved this win, though their performance was, like the match, hardly vintage. Still, with Arsène Wenger fielding a virtual second string against Liverpool earlier in the day who could earn only a draw, Avram Grant's team deserve credit for a surge that has not included a league defeat since 16 December.
There had been a shock before kick-off nestling in the opening column of Sven-Göran Eriksson's programme notes. 'I was really disappointed with our defeat against Birmingham last weekend... It happens from time to time that a team does not play well, but when that happens,' wrote the City manager, no doubt to the mood music of a Swedish hairdryer, 'it is vital to at least show maximum effort and I'm not sure that is what I saw on Saturday.'Eriksson hiding any passion he may have is a hoary old topic, of course. But to be talking about the tame 3-1 defeat at Birmingham seven days later was a fair indication he still had a fume on.
Well, that took about six minutes to get a whole lot worse. His team had hardly touched the ball when Salomon Kalou wandered down the centre of City's midfield before laying the ball off. In doing so, the Ivory Coast forward fell awkwardly, but referee Chris Foy allowed what proved to be a good advantage. The ball came to Nicolas Anelka on the right and the former home favourite - who had received more cheers than boos before kick-off - played it into the area. Michael Essien had made a run, but was not needed because Richard Dunne, maybe unaware the midfielder was a few yards away, panicked and finished past Joe Hart.
Although Chelsea dominated this opening period, encouragement came for City. After 14 minutes, Michael Johnson skied a volley from close range following a weak header by Juliano Belletti. Martin Petrov went closer with a sweet 30-yard shot and Mwaruwari Benjani then headed over when free inside the area. Gelson Fernandes also made goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini think, with a long-range effort.
Chelsea's approach to attack throughout the first half was to get Frank Lampard on the ball and wait for Anelka or, in lesser fashion, Shaun Wright-Phillips to make the break behind the home defence. After 23 minutes, the routine worked well - the England midfielder playing the striker in with the outside of his right foot. Nedum Onuoha's intervention as the Frenchman shaped to shoot was timely.
Chelsea, though - and surprisingly for a team led by John Terry - were standing off the home team too much and Grant's team should have paid the price around the half-hour as City created a series of chances.
First, Benjani raced down the right and his pull-back, via Terry, found Stephen Ireland. But he could not finish. Seconds later, Petrov's dipping effort with his left foot was denied a place in the net only by a Cudicini fingertip. Michael Johnson went nearest when his cross, from close in on the left, was cleared off the line by Ashley Cole, following a deflection by Alex. But no goal came and, at the break, Chelsea were heading for the three points.
That prospect blossomed further eight minutes into the second half. City's defence was slumbering when Kalou and Essien swapped one-twos, the second of which clipped Dunne's heel and, when Kalou made it 2-0, the Irishman had added an assist to the earlier own goal.
That compounded Eriksson's frustrations and hardly helped to kindle hopes of European football here next season, though at least the blue half of this city could watch on, knowing defeat for their team would mean the title still needed to be won by Manchester United.
Chelsea should have had a third when, again, the Lampard-Anelka axis created an opening for the latter. This time, Lampard stood the ball up for his team-mate with a delicate cross from the right and the header from Anelka was superbly tipped on to the bar by Hart. The City goalkeeper then somehow plucked the rebound away from the striker and to safety.
By the 75th minute, the atmosphere in the City of Manchester Stadium - hardly lively at the best of times - had become soporific. Eriksson had also used up his attacking options by introducing Felipe Caicedo for Ireland, having earlier switched Darius Vassell for Elano.
It all made little difference, though. Eriksson's next programme notes should contain more despair at a season now dying, while Grant and his team might still snatch the title.
Man of the match: Joe Hart
Was not to blame for either goal and made a series of saves that at least provided damage limitation for Manchester City's goal difference by keeping the score down. England need a keeper and, while judgment is sometimes offered too hastily on a young prospect, Hart is worth keeping an eye on.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

morning papers fenerbache away

Mail:
Chelsea blow it big time as Bury old boy sparks Fenerbahce fightbackFenerbahce 2 ( Kazim-Richards 65, Deivid 81) Chelsea 1(Deivid 13 og)
By NEIL ASHTON
From the complete first-half display to a complete disaster, Avram Grant needed some convincing answers after Chelsea surrendered their unbeaten record in this season' s Champions League.
How, exactly, can Chelsea turn in the Perfect Performance in the opening 45 minutes and buckle the moment Fenerbahce dared to dream?
Typically, Chelsea's manager did not have the answers. "I don't know what to say," said Avram Grant. They were not good enough, not by a long chalk. That would have been a fairer assessment.
"This is not a bad result," he went on. Oh yes it is. You snooze, you lose, and that is exactly what Chelsea did against one of European football's emerging teams.
Chelsea should have been out of sight by the time Colin Kazim- Richards, who began his career at Bury and is known as Kazim Kazim in Turkey, equalised. Instead, they could be out of the competition and the inquest begins here.
Chelsea appeared unbeatable in the first half. They were awesome. Simple as that.
Michael Ballack was brilliant, seamlessly switching the ball from defence to attack, and a walking advert for German engineering. Slick, smooth and so easy on the eye. Then he went missing in the second half. Inevitably, he was not alone.
Defeat re-opens some old wounds, of course. The Chelsea manager will not appreciate the reminders, but defeats against Manchester United and Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League, Tottenham in the Carling Cup Final, Barnsley in the FA Cup and now Fenerbahce are brought sharply into focus. Ouch.
Zico undid them in the same way as he did during 88 glorious caps for Brazil: with class and with composure.
Fenerbahce did not panic when Deivid's outstretched boot steered Florent Malouda's cross into the net. Instead, they responded in the same way they have done all season in this competition.
Football grounds rarely come more hostile than the Sukru Saracoglu. Just under 50,000 Fenerbahce fanatics were on the backs of this Chelsea team, whistling them whenever they were in possession and screaming for glory and goals whenever Zico's side won it back.
The atmosphere was poisonous and Fenerbahce went on the attack.
These are the kind of games UEFA dreamed of when they launched this competition in 1992.
Zico's team beat Anderlecht, Inter, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow — all champions of their respective countries — on their way to a second-round knockout tie with Sevilla. They went on to power their way past the UEFA Cup holders in Turkey, beating them on penalties in the second leg and setting up this mouth-watering tie against Chelsea.
Stamford Bridge will be electric for the second leg on Tuesday. It has to be. Nothing less will do, not after this implosion.
There can be no more mistakes. There is no longer any margin for error as Grant gears up for the game that will determine his future as Chelsea manager.
Forget the League and catching Manchester United. Realistically, the Champions League remains their best chance of success, but a place in the semi-final is no longer guaranteed.
They were on their way when Malouda's cross was deflected beyond Victor Demirel in the 13th minute, but Ballack's failure to convert just after the break offered Fenerbahce a shaft of light.
The midfielder, a Champions League runner-up with Bayer Leverkusen and a winner with Bayern Munich, controlled the tempo, sitting in for Lampard whenever he roamed forward or setting off in support of Didier Drogba, Joe Cole or Malouda.
His ball set Drogba free in the last minute of the first half, but Demirel came out brilliantly to clear on the edge of his own area. He saved his side, but now Chelsea need saving.
Kazim-Richards, who scuttled around English football with Bury, Brighton and Sheffield United before Zico took a chance on him, rattled Chelsea's cage with a wonderful strike in the 64th minute.
Ricardo Carvalho was caught cold and Kazim-Richards, on as a substitute, caught him out. Nice work from the kid who joined Brighton when a fan won a competition by league sponsor Coca-Cola that gave the club £250,000 to buy him. He ripped Chelsea apart, crushing their dreams with a first-class goal.
His finish was impressive, but not a patch on the winner. It was a wonderful shot, but Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was at fault, failing to leave the ground in time to stop Deivid's strike finding its way into his top right-hand corner.
Petr Cech would have stopped it, no question. Deivid spotted the path to glory nine minutes from time and his 30-yard strike had the accuracy of a tracer bullet.
Grant said: "We wanted to play the second leg at home and that will be good for us.' That is what Sevilla said in the second round, Avram. Look what happened to them.
FENERBAHCE (4-3-3): Volka 6; Onder 6, Lugano 6, Edu 6, Vederson 7; Maldonado 5, Aurelio 7, Boral 6 (Kazim-Richards 54min, 7); Deivid 8, Kezman 6 (Senturk 72, 6), Alex 6. CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cudicini 6; Essien 6, Carvalho 5, Terry 7, A Cole 6; Ballack 8, Makelele 7, Lampard 6 (Obi 76); J Cole 6 (Anelka 85), Drogba 6, Malouda 6. Man of the match: Deivid. Referee: Claus Bo Laursen (Denmark). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Chelsea lose grip as Deivid floors GoliathBy John Ley in Istanbul
Fenerbahce (0) 2 Chelsea (1) 1
Chelsea's Champions League dream was punctured on an improbable and dramatic night in the cauldron that is the Sukru Saracoglu stadium. Leading by an early own goal from Fenerbahce's Deivid, Chelsea conceded their first in 11 hours 26 minutes of European football to a player born in Leytonstone, schooled in Walthamstow and given his early chance at Bury's Gigg Lane, and then lost the lead to a villain turned hero.
Colin Kazim-Richards, known in Turkey as Kazim Kazim, came on in the 54th minute and, within 11 minutes, had given Fenerbahce hope of remaining in the competition. The story is an improbable one; he was signed by Brighton after a fan won a Coca-Cola-sponsored competition - he is known as the Coca-Cola Kid - to give the club £250,000 to buy a player.
And when, in the 81st minute Deivid unleashed a 30-yard drive into the top left-hand corner, Fenerbahce could rightly feel confident of progressing to the semi-finals and leaving the position of Avram Grant in question.
The game was turned on its head when Kazim-Richards latched onto Mehmet Aurelio's long pass, left Ricardo Carvalho in his wake with one touch to control and another to finish. If that rattled Chelsea, they were torn apart by a quite stunning second goal.
Having handed Chelsea the advantage, Deivid redeemed himself when he struck a wonderful right-foot drive beyond Carlo Cudicini to turn this part of Istanbul into a cacophony of noise and celebration. Next Tuesday's return will be fascinating.
Grant recalled Frank Lampard, fit after recovering from a virus, for his 50th appearance in the Champions League, and kept faith with Didier Drogba in attack, leaving former Fenerbahce striker Nicolas Anelka having to settle for a substitute's role. Grant also opted to play Michael Essien at right-back, rather than in his more accustomed midfield role.
It was only the fourth time this season that the Ghanaian had played in defence, most recently in the valuable 2-1 win over Arsenal. But he will have been mindful that it was a position the African occupied a year ago, when Chelsea gained a valuable 2-1 victory over Valencia in Spain. Florent Malouda was also recalled, for his first start since he featured in the FA Cup defeat at Barnsley, with Salomon Kalou on the bench.
The path to the quarter-finals has been an impressive road, made more notable by the fact that Chelsea began their latest European crusade with a worryingly inept 1-1 draw at home to Rosenborg under Jose Mourinho.
That less-than-special performance was followed 24 hours later by the Portuguese manager's departure, and the introduction of Grant. Not the most popular choice, and the Stamford Bridge jury is still out on his appointment, but a sustained challenge for the Premier League, boosted by the victory over Arsenal, and unceasing success in the Champions League has given his position greater credence.
When, late on Monday night, Grant and his squad arrived in Istanbul, they were greeted not by 'Welcome to Hell' banners, but a bunch of flowers and polite applause. The atmosphere last night was less gracious; the shrill whistles and all-around sound in this wonderful stadium was designed to test the strongest eardrums, with the Sukru Saracoglu stadium a sea of black and yellow. Such an intimidating atmosphere was in remarkably stark contrast to the muted ambience at Stamford Bridge for Sunday's laboured 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.
Chelsea's 1,000 fans - the club sent back 1,200 tickets - were hemmed into a corner of the stadium and, despite attempts to rally their team, they were constantly drowned out. There was no doubting the atmosphere was an advantage to the Turks, who threatened for the first time in the sixth minute when Kezman and Alex combined for Gokcek Vederson, but Cudicini reacted the quicker and saved the moment.
Chelsea, though, were less intimidated by the opposition, with Claude Makelele outstanding in an anchor role, and when Michael Ballack fed the freshly shaven-headed Joe Cole soon afterwards, the England forward's cross was cleared. Seconds later, Cole, seeing goalkeeper Volkan Demirel off his line, attempted a chip that lacked force.
But they maintained the pressure and, in the 13th minute, claimed a valuable early advantage when Deivid, wearing the No 99 shirt, turned the ball into his own goal. Standing off Chelsea, Fenerbahce allowed the visitors to press, and when Ashley Cole sent the ball forward, Ballack dummied, Frank Lampard pushed it forward and Malouda's delivery was intercepted by Deivid, the Brazilian unwittingly directing into his own net. The wall of silence that greeted the goal was equally stunning.
Five minutes later, Essien ventured forward to direct a shot over the bar, Fenerbahce responding briefly with a timid effort from Mehmet Aurelio. But when Essien sent a high cross to Drogba, he had time to claim a second goal instead of heading wide. Lampard, too, had a good chance against a side who struggled to maintain possession.
Volkan saved well to deny Drogba, in the 30th minute, and then shot wide when he should have taken advantage of four team-mates rushing alongside.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The TimesApril 3, 2008
Colin Kazim-Richards ensures plenty of hard work ahead for ChelseaFenerbahçe 2 Chelsea 1
Matt Hughes in Istanbul
Roman Abramovich will live in hope that Avram Grant’s turbulent reign at Stamford Bridge has not found permanent expression in this second-half car crash. At the moment, it appears as though it is a fitting summary.
Cruising to victory while playing some of their best football of the season, Chelsea suddenly were on the end of a shock defeat after conceding two goals in the space of 16 minutes, the first from Colin Kazim-Richards, a former Football League striker whose lack of European pedigree is shown by the fact that his first transfer was the result of a competition sponsored by Coca-Cola.
The Chelsea first-team coach cut a sorrowful figure while failing to provide a reason for the defeat, although few others present could offer a plausible explanation, other than the blindingly obvious — Fenerbahçe took their chances.
It is Grant’s fate that he is blamed for all that goes wrong regardless of whether it is his fault or not. Good managers find a way to win matches they should have lost, while poor ones lose games that were there to win. On this occasion, however, such analysis does him a disservice.
Grant is in the invidious position where credit for success will be given to his players, whereas blame for any failure is thrust firmly at his door, but the men on the pitch should take responsibility on this occasion. Chelsea created enough chances to win several matches but failed to take advantage, thwarted by casual finishing and several outstanding saves from Volkan Demirel.
Didier Drogba was particularly culpable, although Grant could be criticised, too, for failing to make a change after Fenerbahçe came back into it in the second half. The introduction of John Obi Mikel for a tiring Frank Lampard was a case of too little, too late.
The ultimate irony is that, for much of the night, Grant appeared to have got all the big decisions right, with Michael Ballack outstanding on his return to the side and Michael Essien getting through the work of two men at right back as he frequently stepped into midfield to drive his team-mates forward. Even Florent Malouda contributed on his first appearance for the club since the FA Cup defeat away to Barnsley four weeks ago, with his cross from the left silencing the crowd as Deivid put through his own net in the thirteenth minute.
Chelsea had started confidently enough, with Claude Makelele dictating the pace in midfield and Joe Cole providing a good outlet down the right and, after taking the lead, they dominated. Essien hit the crossbar with a powerful drive from 30 yards, Drogba headed across goal from the Ghanaian’s hopeful cross and then brought a smart save from Volkan after a clever ball from Ballack.
Chelsea’s biggest problem at that time appeared to be overconfidence, the only possible explanation for Drogba’s poor decision to shoot from the edge of the penalty area when Essien was unmarked in space to his right. Other than their own profligacy, Chelsea’s only moment of concern in the first half came when Mehmet Aurélio burst down the right and Ricardo Carvalho failed to reach his cross. Fortunately for them, so did Mateja Kezman.
Drogba spurned a great chance to kill the game just before half-time, shooting straight at Volkan after another magnificent through-ball from Ballack, a miss that proved costly when Fenerbahçe improved. Alex headed wide and Kezman aimed an overhead kick straight at Carlo Cudicini before Kazim-Richards grabbed the equaliser with a goal that could have been inspired by Neil Warnock, who signed him for Sheffield United.
Aurélio’s long ball caught Chelsea by surprise, no wonder given they had not conceded in this competition for more 11 hours, with Kazim-Richards outpacing Carvalho to shoot past Cudicini. If Grant’s sudden elevation to this level was a surprise, then that of Kazim-Richards has been even more astounding — the 21-year-old scored only nine goals in three seasons with Bury, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United before moving last summer to the country of his mother’s birth.
Spurred on by their fans, Fenerbahçe pushed for a second and were rewarded in the 81st minute when Deivid atoned for his own goal by beating Cudicini with a swerving shot from 30 yards. Chelsea still have it in them to progress, but if they fail to do so, the Champions League could claim the scalp of the club’s second manager this season.
Fenerbahçe (4-4-1-1): Volkan Demirel – Önder Turaci, Edu, Lugano, Gökcek Vedersen – Deivid, C Maldonado, Mehmet Aurélio, Ugur Boral (sub: C Kazim-Richards, 54min) – Alex – M Kezman (sub: Semih Sentürk, 72). Substitutes not used: Serdar Kulbilge, Yasin Cakmak, Kemal Aslan, Ali Bilgin, Selcuk Sahin.
Chelsea (4-3-3): C Cudicini – M Essien, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole – M Ballack, C Makelele, F Lampard (sub: J O Mikel, 76) – J Cole (sub: N Anelka, 86), D Drogba, F Malouda. Substitutes not used: Hilário, P Ferreira, S Kalou, S Wright-Phillips, Alex.
Referee: C B Larsen (Denmark). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Indy:
Fenerbahce 2 Chelsea 1: Grant's sweet dream of glory shaken up by Coca-Cola Kid
Glenn Moore at the Sukru SaracogluThursday, 3 April 2008
Chelsea's apparently serene progress to the Champions League semi-finals was shaken up last night by the "Coca-Cola Kid". Colin Kazim-Richards, who was once transferred as a result of a competition by the sponsor, last night wrote another chapter into his extraordinary journey from Leytonstone to the banks of the Bosphorus.
The former Bury, Brighton and Sheffield United striker was brought on 53 minutes into a quarter-final first-leg tie which Chelsea had utterly dominated. He conjured the 64th-minute equaliser which transformed the match. A previously outclassed Fenerbahce team scored again, through Deivid, 10 minutes from time, giving themselves hope of becoming Turkey's first European Cup semi-finalists.
Having been gifted a lead by Deivid's 12th-minute own goal, Chelsea had enough chances to win comfortably. While they will still expect to progress after Tuesday's second leg at Stamford Bridge, they will be angry at their failure to put this tie to bed.
"I don't know what to say," said a bemused and frustrated Avram Grant. "We played such good football we deserved to win three- or four-nil. One minute of sleeping and they are back in the game. Even then [Michael] Ballack had a great chance for 2-1, then they score from 25 metres.
"Normally it is not a bad result when you score away, 2-1 is not a bad result, but it is disappointing because of our performance. Our play was good, but football is a game of results."
Zico, Fenerbahce's coach, responded: "The score is how it ends. If you don't get the score you wish for it is because you don't take your chances."
The first of Chelsea's 15 attempts on goal came after 11 minutes when Volkan Demirel caught Joe Cole's chip. A minute later Florent Malouda broke into the box and pulled the ball back only for Deivid, the back-tracking Brazilian striker, to turn the cross inside his own near post.
The goal knocked Fenerbahce's confidence and soon quietened, relatively speaking, the crowd. That had been one of Chelsea's pre-match aims. With only the hardiest of their supporters braving the Sukru Saracoglu, Chelsea were almost as bereft of vocal support as England had been in the Euro 2004 qualifier here, when away fans were banned.
As a consequence the match began with every Chelsea touch being accompanied by ear-splitting whistling and every Fenerbahce move prompting high-decibel cheers. Chelsea's dominance lowered the volume and they should have silenced the crowd entirely. Michael Essien, playing at right-back, hit the bar after 17 minutes from nearly 30 yards and Didier Drogba threatened three times.
Midway through the half he out-jumped Onder Turaci to Joe Cole's cross but headed wide. He then took a pass from Ballack, turned his man and brought an excellent save from Demirel. The goalkeeper denied Drogba again shortly before half-time, sprinting from his goal to hack the ball clear from the striker's feet, 25 yards out. With Frank Lampard, after a bout of head-tennis in the home box, also going close Chelsea should have made the game safe. All Fenerbahce had to offer were a clutch of wide and not very handsome long shots.
It was a poor response from a club who are almost as ambitious as Chelsea, being bent on regional, if not global domination. Aziz Yilidrim, their chairman, said prior to this match: "Fenerbahce are going to be one of the greatest clubs ever. We will be like Chelsea, Milan or Real Madrid in 10 years. This is inevitable." Shave his head and it could have been Chelsea's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, doing the talking.
It might be imagined that the pre-requisite for such status would be a European Cup or two but, like Chelsea prior to the arrival of their current owner, Roman Abramovich, Fenerbahce are yet to even reach a Champions League semi-final. The expensive hiring of Roberto Carlos and Zico is aimed at ending this omission. The former, however, was not fit enough to make the bench last night and, like many a great player turned manager, Zico found it difficult to replicate from the dug-out the influence he once had on the pitch.
The interval did offer an opportunity for the Brazilian to revive his team.
"I told my players: 'be confident, trust in yourselves'," he said. Alex soon went close with a glancing header but Chelsea remained in control with Demirel again denying Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho shooting over.
Enter Kazim-Richards, London-born of an Antiguan father and Turkish-Cypriot mother. He is believed to want a return to England and quickly used this stage to showcase his quixotic talents. Mehmet Aurelio dropped a searching ball over the head of Carvalho and Kazim-Richards produced a superb finish.
Grant did not immediately blame Carvalho, noting: "We did not press the ball in midfield. When you are dominant you do not feel the danger but in football you must concentrate all the time."
Lampard, to his obvious displeasure, was withdrawn. The central midfield needed stiffening, Lampard had been sick all week and Ballack had played well. Yet it was Ballack who then wasted a clear chance to restore the lead and the substitute, John Obi Mikel, who should have been quicker to close down Deivid before the No 99 hit a stunning 30-yard winner that left the tie very much in the balance.
"The important thing is to be in the next round," said Grant. "We can win at home." Zico countered: "Chelsea have to come forward to beat us; this is an advantage for us."
Fenerbahce (4-3-2-1): Volkan Demirel, Onder Turaci , Lugano, Edu, Gökçek Vederson;Maldonado, Aurelio,Ugar Boral (Kazim-Richards, 54); Deivid, Alex,Kezman (Senturk, 72). Substitutes not used: Sedar Kulbilge (gk), Yasin Cakmak, Kemal Aslan, Bilgin, Selcuk Sahin.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Ballack, Makelele, Lampard (Mikel, 76); J Cole (Anelka, 85), Drogba, Malouda. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Ferreira, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, Alex.
Referee: C Bo Larsen (Denmark).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Deivid strike sends Chelsea home with a headache
David Hytner at the Sukru SaracogluThursday April 3, 2008The Guardian
Chelsea only have themselves to blame. Having walked tall in one of Europe's footballing cauldrons, they had the opportunity to move this quarter-final tie beyond the reach of Fenerbahce, the exciting if slightly raw champions of Turkey.Although the goal that gave the visitors the lead carried a slice of fortune, Deivid diverting into his own net, it represented fair reward for the team's nerveless start and laid the foundations for a first-half siege. Yet Chelsea passed up a fistful of chances and were left to lament their profligacy.
The tide turned in the second half, following the introduction of Kazim Kazim, the forward better known to English audiences as Colin Kazim-Richards, from his stints at Bury, Brighton and Sheffield United. He was once nicknamed the Coca-Cola Kid after a Brighton fan won a competition sponsored by the soft-drink firm to secure transfer funds for his club. Albion spent the £250,000 on Kazim, a Londoner by birth who qualifies for Turkey through his Turkish-Cypriot mother.Kazim, who has altered his name to fit his new surrounds, put the sparkle into Fenerbahce and plundered his first goal for the club. Then came the blow that rocked Chelsea to their core, a 35-yard strike in a million from Deivid. As the Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini clutched at thin air and sensed the top corner of his net swelling, Chelsea realised that next Tuesday's return leg at Stamford Bridge would be fraught with peril.
"I don't know what to say," said Avram Grant, the Chelsea manager, as he digested not only the amazing turnaround but the first goals his team had conceded in seven Champions League fixtures and their first reverse of the European season. "We deserved to be three or four up, then we go to sleep and concede a goal and then we lose from 25 metres. Normally this is not a bad result because we scored away from home but it doesn't feel like that. It will be nervous [at Stamford Bridge]. I just can't believe we didn't win. We certainly deserved to."
Grant remained confident that progress could be smoothed into the semi-final - Fenerbahce might boast a 100% home record but they have been less impressive on their Champions League travels - yet the potential for a seismic shock has been fuelled.
"There is one truth," said Zico, the Brazil legend and Fenerbahce manager. "And that is that Chelsea have to come forward in the second leg to beat us. This is an advantage for us because we are a team that always looks for goals."
There was no evidence of Fenerbahce's offensive potential in the first half, only Chelsea's fluent movement which helped to fashion a glut of chances. Their goal came when Florent Malouda, who played for the first time since the FA Cup debacle at Barnsley, crossed low and hard and, to his horror, Deivid sent the ball skidding past his helpless goalkeeper Volkan Demirel at the near post. Chelsea promptly went for the jugular and only the woodwork, loose finishing and Volkan's reflexes stopped them from becoming unassailable.
Michael Essien advanced from his unfavoured right-back role to clip the top of the bar from 25 yards and after Didier Drogba had powered a header wide, the Ivorian striker rolled Gokcek Vederson and lashed high for the near top corner. Volkan turned smartly behind. Just before the interval, Drogba hared on to Michael Ballack's through-ball and was only denied by Volkan's bolt from his penalty box.
Zico denied that he feared the worst at half-time. "I always tell my players that as long as they breathe, they are alive," he said. However, the crowd, who made the senses tingle at kick-off with the ferocity of their chanting, needed something to spark them, in what was arguably the biggest game in the club's history. Never before have Fenerbahce advanced so far in Europe's elite competition.
Kazim provided it. After Ballack had drawn a smart save from Volkan on the counter-attack, and with Fenerbahce having established a foothold in the game, the crowd lost themselves in frenzy when Kazim struck with fairytale timing. The 21-year-old fastened on to a pass from Mehmet Aurelio, leaving Ricardo Carvalho in his wake, to crash a left-footed finish past Cudicini.
Grant lamented a miss by Ballack almost immediately - the German midfielder shot too close to Volkan when well placed - but the pendulum had swung abruptly. Grant replaced Frank Lampard, who had been prominent, to the midfielder's chagrin, as Fenerbahce sensed the writing of the latest chapter in their remarkable campaign.
Kazim almost created a goal, his weighted cross from the right picking out Deivid, unmarked at the far post. He miskicked but when a longer shot at redemption presented itself, his aim was unerring. "If you cannot make the score you want, it's because you cannot take your chances," said Zico. "We took ours."
Grant has said that he "will not rest" until he takes Chelsea to the Champions League final. Sleepless nights loom before next Tuesday.
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