Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Sunderland 1-2 aet
Independent:
Sunderland 2 Chelsea 1
Ki Sung-yueng strikes in extra time to knock Jose Mourinho's men out of Capital One Cup
Chelsea manager's priority is Monday’s trip to the Emirates in the Premier League as he makes eight changes to his side for Cup tie
Martin Hardy
It is why this match was another reminder that the current Chelsea is not his, not ruthless enough to see off Sunderland in the 90 minutes of normal time that were completely dominated by his team. Instead, Sunderland found glory late – twice.
First through Fabio Borini, with two minutes of normal time remaining, and then, at the very death, in the 118th minute, when Ki Sung-yueng kept his composure to drill a shot into the bottom corner of the Chelsea goal and take Sunderland to the semi-final of the Capital One Cup.
That had seemed implausible for most of the night. But then Jose Mourinho’s team are not ruthless enough, not by half, and for that, unlike his in first season at Stamford Bridge, there will be no League Cup to parade.
Mourinho had made eight changes to the side which beat Crystal Palace on Saturday. The priority by some distance remains Monday’s trip to the Emirates in the Premier League. For all their season so far has felt inconsistent and thus un-Mourinho-like, Chelsea will go above Arsenal with victory. The opportunity certainly ranked higher in importance than a Capital One quarter-final at a sparsely populated Stadium of Light.
There is not much faith left on Wearside in the midst of a campaign in which Sunderland have had as many managers as league victories. They had a penalty appeal turned down just past the half hour when Andrea Dossena’s left-wing cross appeared to strike the elbow of Cesar Azpilicueta. It would have been harsh. It certainly would have been against the run of play, with Chelsea dominant but toothless.
By the 12th minute André Schürrle, Willian and Frank Lampard had all tried efforts that did little to test Vito Mannone in the Sunderland goal.
That was how the first half finished as well, although there was a suggestion of more purpose, certainly from Willian, who in the 36th minute ended up with the ball back at his feet after starting a move on the Chelsea right. From 25 yards his angled drive, with a cluster of players in front of Mannone, went wide. That was also how another Schürrle attempt at breaking the deadlock ended, with a shot that was likewise always heading wide.
The lead came from much closer range, just 40 seconds into the second half. Cesar Azpilicueta crossed deep from the right into the heart of the six-yard area. Lee Cattermole, in his attempt to prevent Frank Lampard from getting to the ball first, could only bundle it towards goal, and over the line, despite Mannone’s effort to hook it away. Cattermole was later credited with scoring the sixth goal Sunderland have put into their own net this season. Their top scorer Phil Bardsley, the right-back Paolo Di Canio tried to banish, has scored three.
At that point Chelsea should really have ended the contest. It was certainly not through lack of opportunity that they failed to do so. Samuel Eto’o, with the goal at his mercy, shot wide. The same striker had a deflected shot strike the side netting and Kevin de Bruyne brought a fine save from Mannone with an angled drive. Lampard then shot just over the crossbar from 25 yards. Schürrle was next.
Incredibly, Sunderland’s season of struggle would be given a glimmer of light in the 88th minute, when substitute Fabio Borini drilled a shot into Mark Schwarzer’s goal to take the game into extra time.
Man of the match Schürrle.
Match rating 5/10.
Referee A Taylor (Cheshire).
Attendance 20,731.
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Guardian:
Sunderland knock out Chelsea thanks to Ki's extra-time winner
Sunderland 2 Chelsea 1
John Wardle at the Stadium of Light
Ki Sung-yeung scored a dramatic extra-time winner to send Sunderland into the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night. Chelsea controlled much of the tie and were only two minutes away from the last four when they were pulled up short by an equaliser from the substitute Fabio Borini. And, Ki, another substitute, also left it late before finding space inside the area to put a low shot past Mark Schwarzer in the 118th minute.
Chelsea looked bemused at the end, uncertain how the match had slipped from their grasp after an own goal from Lee Cattermole had left them on the brink of claiming a place in the last four in normal time.
Many in a half-empty stadium were heading for the exits when Sunderland scored an unlikely equaliser after troubling Schwarzer only once throughout the tie. A shot from Jozy Altidore was blocked, but the ball fell to Borini, who steadied himself before steering the ball into the far corner from a narrow angle. Sunderland went on to dominate extra time.
Gus Poyet hopes this victory can be the defining moment that transforms his side's season, although the last Sunderland team who beat Chelsea on the way to a League Cup final in 1995 were relegated in the same campaign.
"The players were fantastic. They gave everything and worked together so well," the manager said. "At half-time I told them to keep believing, whatever happens. We have a way of playing and if we work together as soon as we get going, we create chances. That's fundamental – they must understand that they can compete with the top teams. We have already beaten Manchester City and Chelsea. We need to believe that, whoever we're playing against."
This weekend brings a key match against Norwich City in the Premier League. "The priority was always Saturday but we got the win and it gives us some belief, it is massive for the squad," Cattermole said.
Chelsea had taken the lead in the first minute of the second half with a goal awarded to Cattermole, the sixth own goal Sunderland have scored in 11 games, although Frank Lampard also got a touch as they challenged for the ball.
With £140m of talent on their bench, the visitors appeared to be cruising into the final four until Borini's equaliser. Nonetheless, the evening had started with a degree of encouragement for Sunderland. Poyet had joked that he had considered phoning José Mourinho to ask him to leave out Eden Hazard. He didn't make the call but got his wish. The Belgian, who had mesmerised Sunderland when Chelsea won 4-3 here in the Premier League a fortnight ago, was on the bench.
Others who figured in that enthralling seven-goal encounter were also among the Chelsea substitutes as Mourinho left out eight of the team who beat Crystal Palace in their last league game.
One of the absentees – Branislav Ivanovic – was enforced through suspension, guaranteeing Ashley Cole a return as César Azpilicueta switched to right-back.
Perhaps Chelsea were marginally weakened but they certainly were not weak, with Jamal Blackman, a 20-year-old third-choice goalkeeper from Croydon being the only non-international among their 18 players. Poyet, as he promised, resisted the temptation to tinker on a similar scale with his side, although Phil Bardsley – a scorer at both ends in the earlier meeting – was among three players omitted.
Nevertheless, Sunderland needed longer to settle into any rhythm, while Chelsea's early aggression produced only routine saves for Vito Mannone from André Schürrle and Willian. Samuel Eto'o was also allowed too much space on the edge of the area but was able to produce shots that only emphasised his lack of match sharpness.
The main danger to Sunderland came from the men ranged behind Eto'o. Schürrle drove a pass across the face of the goal in the 18th minute, with nobody available to tap it in. Willian went close with an angled shot after Sunderland's marking on the edge of the box was again negligent. Schürrle was similarly off-target five minutes before the interval.
It was a first-half in which Sunderland created little, although one break by Emanuele Giaccherini was promising before it was halted by David Luiz's cynical bodycheck. The yellow card was inevitable.
Andrea Dossena, the Sunderland full-back, was also cautioned and was a central figure in the only episode when Poyet's team threatened a breakthrough in the opening half. With 32 minutes gone, Dossena's cross struck Azpilicueta on the arm just inside the area. The referee, Anthony Taylor, decided it was accidental, despite being given lengthy guidance by the Sunderland captain, John O'Shea, on the handball law.
Poyet might have sensed during the interval that Sunderland could repeat their 1985 semi-final victory over Chelsea in this competition but was given a reality check within 38 seconds of the restart. That was how long Chelsea needed to go ahead as Kevin De Bruyne set up Azpilicueta for a cross that found Lampard sliding in with Cattermole. Both got a touch but the goal was awarded to Cattermole – a decision that will be disputed by Lampard. The referee indicated it had been awarded with the help of goalline technology, which should not have been needed as it was clearly over the line.
As Chelsea looked for a second, Eto'o dragged wide after intercepting from Craig Gardner. De Bruyne also went close with a shot that was deflected on to the roof of the net.
Cattermole did his best to emulate team-mate Bardsley's feat of scoring at both ends when he was responsible for a rare Sunderland threat in the 70th minute. They finally strung together passes down the left, creating the space for Cattermole to test Schwarzer with a shot that swerved in front of the Australian, who managed to beat it away.
Schürrle, who had been involved in most of Chelsea's best moves, was a threat again in the 76th minute with a shot that Mannone dealt with well. And, while Sunderland enjoyed more possession in the closing stages, there was little in the final third to make the 20,731 crowd – half the normal league attendance – think there was a route into the semi-final.
They were hardly encouraged when Chelsea were able to send on Hazard for the final minutes but he had to play far longer than expected when Borini took the game into extra time. Ki provided the coup de grace.
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Telegraph:
Sunderland 2 Chelsea 1 (after extra time)
By Alex Davidson, at the Stadium of Light
Ki Sung-yueng punished Chelsea's wastefulness with a winner in the second-last minute of extra-time to earn Sunderland, the Premier League’s bottom club, a place in the Capital One Cup semi-finals.
Jose Mourinho’s side took a deserved lead through Lee Cattermole’s own-goal – thanks to the use of goal-line technology in the first minute of the second half and, despite passing up a string of other chances, looked poised to coast into the last four.
But former Chelsea forward Fabio Borini drove in from a narrow angle in the 88th minute to force extra-time before Ki, a winner of this competition with Swansea last season, scored a dramatic late winner.
The familiar issues of profligacy in attack and carelessness at the back returned to haunt Chelsea as they slipped to their sixth defeat of the campaign. Afterwards Mourinho highlighted the defeat at Everton as having plenty in common with this loss but it was most similar to the 3-2 defeat at Stoke City, where Chelsea outplayed their opponents but failed to kill them off and were beaten by a team that did the simple things well.
The Portuguese maintained afterwards that no reaction to the result is required but he must acknowledge that his side need to overcome the worrying traits that have undermined them all season.
While Sunderland will be reinvigorated ahead of Saturday’s game against Norwich, Chelsea’s squad go into Monday’s trip to leaders Arsenal with two hours of running in their legs and no reward.
Lee Cattermole, who impressed in front of the Sunderland defence, feels the victory will be a significant boost to his team’s chances of survival. “There have been some positive performances throughout,” he said. “It’s a great win, it’s not in the league but it gives us momentum into Saturday and keeps our season alive. The priority was always Saturday but we played extra-time and that gives us belief, which is massive for the squad.”
Gus Poyet, the manager, said: “We have already beaten Manchester City and now Chelsea and that has to be the platform to go and win on Saturday. We have to play at this level and, it doesn’t matter who you play against, if we are like this we’ll become a very difficult team to play against.”
Mourinho, who had spent the build-up bemoaning his team’s frequent ties away from home, made eight changes for a competition he wanted to win without prioritising. His side, who had won their previous nine trips to the Stadium of Light, appeared more than comfortable from the start and strolled their way through the opening minutes.
André Schürrle gave the hosts an early scare when he was picked out by Willian’s cross-field pass and drifted inside Adam Johnson before hitting firmly at Vito Mannone. The Sunderland goalkeeper also did well to gather an awkward shot from Willian before Schürrle lifted a free-kick over the bar.
Frank Lampard also missed from distance, but Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities threatened to resurface as the visitors struggled to clear Seb Larsson’s crossed free-kick, with David Luiz blocking from Emanuele Giaccherini. The hosts also had a penalty appeal turned down after Andrea Dossena’s cross hit César Azpilicueta’s arm in the area.
Sunderland’s habit of giving the ball away in dangerous areas almost saw them punished when Wes Brown was pressed and coughed up possession before Willian’s low drive flew just past the post.
Schürrle, having scuffed wide, then gave the ball away at the other end. That allowed Adam Johnson to embark on a swaggering run past Lampard and into the area only for Gary Cahill to clear impressively.
The visitors moved in front after 38 seconds of the second half. Kevin De Bruyne slid Azpilicueta in behind the Sunderland defence and the Spanish right-back drove a cross over from right. Lampard slid in with Cattermole to help the ball over the line by about a yard.
There was a slight delay before Taylor indicated that technology had helped him to award the goal.
Chelsea should have had a second when Samuel Eto’o dragged wide after making an interception. The Cameroon striker’s next effort looped up off John O’Shea and wide. De Bruyne was then denied by a fine save from Mannone.
Chelsea never put Sunderland beyond reach but looked to be coasting to victory until Poyet’s side cut them open in the 88th minute.
After the visitors gave the ball away on halfway, Jozy Altidore surged into the area and had a shot blocked by Mark Schwarzer only for Borini to thump past Luiz, who was on the line, from a tight angle.
Sunderland did all of the pressing in the extra half an hour but even that looked destined to end equal until Ki burst inside a weak challenge from Michael Essien and drove in from the edge of the area.
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Mail:
Sunderland 2 Chelsea 1 (AET): Ki unlocks Jose's defence and scores winner with two minutes left in extra time
By Colin Young
Sunderland found the way to reach the last four of the League Cup for the first time in 14 years and preserved their astonishing record of never having lost to Chelsea in a knockout competition.
Now furious Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who had thrown the door open to his fringe players, may be tempted to slam it in their faces again after a humiliating exit.
Chelsea conceded two minutes from the end of normal time when on-loan striker Fabio Borini slotted home his second Sunderland goal. But the Portuguese will know missed chances cost his side a place in the semi-finals.
They conceded a fatal second goal two minutes from the end of extra time when Ki Sung-yeung struck as Sunderland, having weathered an almighty storm, went for a deserved winner.
Chelsea, winners of their previous nine games against Sunderland, had relied upon the sixth own goal of Gus Poyet’s reign to give them a second-half lead after their stars-in-waiting had squandered numerous opportunities to put the tie beyond the Barclays Premier League’s bottom team.
Lee Cattermole was the guilty party, 46 seconds after the restart, bundling into his own net as he tried to prevent Frank Lampard reaching Cesar Azpilicueta’s teasing cross from the right.
The goal — the first to be awarded using technology in this competition, although it was well over the line — was cruel on Cattermole, who epitomises the workaholic attitude which might just see Sunderland survive this season.
Until Borini’s late equaliser, the only serious save Mark Schwarzer had been forced to make was from a long-range Cattermole drive. And the biggest cheer of the night for the 17,000-plus Sunderland fans in a crowd of 20,731 had been for the pathetic topless pitch invader when he evaded two rugby tackles.
But just after former Newcastle striker Demba Ba, a 74th-minute replacement for Samuel Eto’o, had fluffed two good chances to sink the Mackems on his return to the North East, Sunderland launched one more patient attack from their two excellent centre backs, John O’Shea and Wes Brown.
Eventually the ball broke to Jozy Altidore in the penalty area but the American striker, whose only Premier League goal to date came in the 4-3 win over Chelsea a fortnight ago, could find no way through and Schwarzer saved bravely at his feet. The loose ball fell to Borini, who hammered in from an acute angle.
Ba’s carelessness will have frustrated Mourinho, no doubt, but there were plenty more targets for his ire last night.
Mannone made routine saves to deny Andre Schurrle, Willian and Kevin de Bruyne, and was able to look disdainfully at long-range shots from the same three players as Chelsea grew increasingly desperate. After the break, Lampard twice fired over, Mannone saved from De Bruyne and parried a Schurrle shot.
The worst miss came from Eto’o who, played in by Craig Gardner’s awful back-pass on the hour, somehow managed to miss the target completely.
It was not the only contentious decision Taylor made in the first half, although his earlier one was less to the liking of Poyet and the Sunderland supporters.
It came after a rare penetrating move from the home side, initiated by Emanuel Giaccherini’s neat flick down the left flank into the path of Andrea Dossena, who advanced and crossed in the direction of lone striker Altidore.
Dossena’s centre clearly struck the elbow of Azpilicueta but Taylor ignored the protests.
O’Shea was so exasperated by the decision that he was still complaining about it as the teams headed off at half-time, with the men in black subjected to boos from unhappy Sunderland supporters.
That was all forgotten when Borini, scorer of the dramatic Wear-Tyne derby winner, struck two minutes from time after Sunderland had survived Chelsea’s sustained assault on their goal.
Sunderland kept their nerve as Ki scored in extra time to win the game - click here to see our brilliant match zone service
A thrilling period of extra time brought more chances for both sides, neither of whom seemed to fancy a penalty shootout.
Schwarzer pulled off an acrobatic save to deny Ki, while Borini fired wide from a Dossena cross. Ba squandered the visitors’ best chance when he failed to reach the goal with a poor shot.
Sunderland, who missed Scotland striker Steven Fletcher because of sickness, next face Norwich at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
That match begins a run of winnable home games for a side who are four points adrift of Fulham at the bottom of the table and will prop up the rest at Christmas.
Only West Brom have stayed up having been in that predicament in the Premier League. Poyet knows Sunderland have been given the necessary lift to repeat the feat.
Sunderland: Mannone 7, Celustka 6, O'Shea 7, Brown 7, Dossena 6, Larsson 5, Gardner 5 (Ki 63 6), Cattermole 8, Johnson 5 (Borini 74 5), Giaccherini 6, Altidore 5.
Subs not used: Bardsley, Cabral, Roberge, Mavrias, Dixon.
Yellow: Dossena, Ki
Goal: Borini 88, Ki 118
Chelsea: Schwarzer 6, Azpilicueta 7 (Essien 70 6), Cahill 6, Luiz 6, Cole 7, Mikel 5, Lampard 7, Willian 6, Schurrle 5 (Hazard 83), De Bruyne 6, Eto'o 5 (Ba 74 5).
Subs not used: Torres, Oscar, Terry, Blackman.
Yellow: Luiz, Essien
Goal: Cattermole (OG) 46
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 20,731
===============
Mirror:
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea: Ki's dramatic extra-time strike fires Black Cats into semi-finals
By Simon Bird
Ki and fellow substitute Fabio Borini score at the end of extra and normal time to take Gus Poyet's men into semi-finals
Jose Mourinho was left to rue Chelsea's lack of a ruthless streak as Gus Poyet finally discovered the Ki to success.
Ki Sung-Yueng fired Sunderland to their first League Cup semi-final for 14 years on a night when Poyet's men mercilessly exploited a succession of missed chances by the visitors to set up a possible trip to Wembley.
Mourinho was correct with his post-match verdict that his players squandered goal opportunities - Samuel Eto'o, Andre Schurrle and Demba Ba all had efforts on goal they could have converted.
But, as Sunderland bravely scrapped their way back into the game, they gave their more illustrious visitors a lesson in perseverance and how to kill a game.
It has been a long hard season for the Wearsiders' fans. Bottom of the table, sendings off, own goals (another one came here) and a managerial change have made them a tough side to follow.
Korean midfielder Ki's moment of glory, and the spirited way it came about, could yet be a catalyst for lift off in the league.
For Chelsea, it could be a catalyst for a change in style - less freedom of expression and attacking, and more defensive grind.
Ki's 118th minute winner was celebrated with gusto and capped a remarkable comeback.
Lee Cattermole netted an own goal - Sunderland's SIXTH in 11 games - in the 46th minute and looked to have sent Chelsea through in normal time.
The midfielder's slide tackle on Frank Lampard bundled the ball over the line under pressure from the England midfielder after a superb right-wing cross from Cesar Azpilicueta.
The strike was the first in the Capital One Cup to be confirmed by the Hawkeye goal-line technology system, with referee Anthony Taylor pointing to the watch that transmitted the data to him as he waved away Sunderland protests.
Chelsea were in control and appeared to be cruising through untroubled but unable to score again.
The League Cup was Mourinho's first trophy in England, and he was within two minutes of a semi-final berth when Fabio Borini struck with an unlikely equaliser.
The Italian, on loan from Liverpool, blasted in from a tight angle after coming off the bench.
He was set up by a surging run from countryman Emanuel Giaccherini, who slipped in Jozy Altidore. The American should have scored himself, but for Mark Schwarzer's well-timed intervention.
Borini's celebration lifted the mood at the Stadium of Light and Poyet's men sensed blood. They were outstanding and full of energy in extra time.
As Chelsea flagged, Sunderland took charge.
The home side came close to winning the game twice in extra time. Ki's header was brilliantly saved by 41-year-old keeper Schwarzer from Seb Larsson's cross.
Moments earlier, Ki's volley was touched on by Altidore and sub Michael Essien blocked on the line.
But with two minutes to go before a penalty shoot-out, sub Borini controlled a cross brilliantly, and teed up Ki.
He skipped inside two defenders and fired home.
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Express:
Sunderland 2 - Chelsea 1: Blues sent packing by fearsome Black Cats
SOUTH KOREAN Sung-Yueng Ki sent Chelsea crashing out of the Cup with a brilliant winner in the dying minutes of extra-time last night.
By: Niall Hickman
Ki cut inside the penalty box and delivered an accomplished finish for his first ever Sunderland goal to cap a stunning comeback for the Wearside club.
Fabio Borini, on loan from Liverpool, had equalised two minutes from the end of normal time, making no mistake from a tight angle to send the game into a thrilling final 30 minutes.
But he had a chance to settle the tie earlier, a brilliant challenge by Gary Cahill robbed him just yards from a glaring goalmouth.
Chelsea had clung on desperately to a 1-0 lead gifted to them by a Lee Cattermole own-goal in the first minute of the second half.
Incredibly, it was the sixth time a Sunderland player has scored an own-goal this season.
New goal-line technology, which was introduced this week for the first time in domestic cup football, rubber-stamped Cattermole’s goal and, although Jose Mourinho’s side were well below par in the first half, after the break they missed several glaring chances to extend their lead.
History suggested Sunderland were huge underdogs going into last night’s last-eight tie as the Blues had not lost on Wearside since going down 1-0 in October 2000.
Mind you, only a few week’s ago Mourinho’s side travelled to the North-east and were fortunate to return to the capital with a 4-3 victory.
Gus Poyet’s team could also seek some solace from the fact that the last two times they had beaten Chelsea in cup competitions they had gone on to reach Wembley, in 1985 and 1992.
Ashley Cole made a rare starting appearance for the visitors in his usual left-back berth, while the player who has replaced him, Cesar Azpilicueta, lined up on the opposite flank as Mourinho made eight changes from the side which squeezed past Crystal Palace on Saturday.
All the early incisive moves came from the visitors, although they were restricted to long-range efforts from Willian and Andre Schurrle, who both tested keeper Vito Mannone.
Frank Lampard also tried his hand from distance, but his effort sailed over the bar while, at the other end, Adam Johnson’s cross eventually fell to Craig Gardner, but he delayed too long.
Sunderland had not really troubled the Chelsea defence but, just after the half hour mark, Andrea Dossena’s cross appeared to strike Azpilicueta on the elbow yet, despite furious appeals, referee Anthony Taylor refused to award a spot-kick with TV replays suggesting Sunderland were hard done by.
The referee then booked a player from each side, David Luiz and Dossena, both for body checks, before Wes Brown uncharacteristically gave the ball away deep in Sunderland’s own half and the visitors nearly made him pay as Lampard found Willian in space on the right flank, but the winger’s fierce shot whistled across the face of Mannone’s goal.
Brown made another mistake shortly afterwards, gifting Samuel Eto’o the ball, but the former Manchester United defender raced back and retrieved possession, with Chelsea claiming their striker had been pushed in the process.
Sunderland managed their first proper shot just a minute before the break, but Giaccherini’s drive from 30 yards flew high and wide of the mark.
After just 39 seconds of the restart Cattermole unluckily broke the deadlock, via the new goal-line technology.
Azpilicueta’s cross from the right was met by Lampard at the far post, but just as the Chelsea stalwart looked certain to score, Cattermole nipped in and bundled the ball past his own keeper.
Lampard turned away in celebration, but TV replays indicated Cattermole had got the final touch.
But it was Ki, on loan from Swansea who had the final say to take his side into the semi-finals.
SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Mannone; Dossena, Brown, O’Shea, Celustka; Larsson, Gardner (Ki 63), Cattermole, Giaccherini, Johnson (Borini 74); Altidore. Booked: Dossena. Goals: Borini 88, Ki 118.
CHELSEA (4-5-1): Schwarzer; Cole, Luiz, Cahill, Azpilicueta (Essien 70); De Bruyne, Schurrle (Hazard 83), Mikel, Lampard, Willian; Eto’o (Ba 74). Booked: Luiz, Essien. Goal: Cattermole 46 og.
Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).
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Star:
Sunderland 2 - Chelsea 1: Black Cats given the Ki to the semi-finals
KI SUNG YUENG scored with two minutes remaining to secure an extra-time victory over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light tonight to claim Sunderland's place in the Capital One Cup semi-finals.
By Nick Lustig
Jose Mourinho fielded a strong starting line-up and saw his side take the lead early in the second-half as Lee Cattermole turned Cesar Azpilicueta's low cross into his own net in his attempts to deny Frank Lampard a tap-in.
But with two minutes remaining of normal time Sunderland, who put up little as an attacking force, equalised through Liverpool loanee Fabio Borini to send the game into extra-time.
And Ki was on hand to seal a famous victory late on in extra-time as he fired past Mark Schwarzer after a superb lay-off from Borini.
Chelsea began well with German forward Andre Schurrle stinging the hands of Vito Mannone with a 20-yard strike.
Mourinho's side continued to enjoy the majority of possession, but Lampard was unable to keep his long-range effort on target while Schurrle's pull back in the penalty-box evaded the Chelsea attack.
Willian was next to go close with a fierce shot that just went wide of the post as Chelsea were unable to find the break through before the half-time break.
However the Blues were in front a minute into the second-half as Cattermole, under pressure from Lampard, turned the ball into his own after a fantastic delivery from Azpilicueta.
It could have been even worse for Sunderland minutes later as Chelsea looked to secure their place in the last-four, but Samuel Eto'o failed to hit the target from close range while Mannone produced a stunning stop to deny Schurrle once more.
With just over 20 minutes remaining Sunderland hit the target for the first time in the match as Cattermole tested Schwarzer with a long-range shot that the Australian stopper comfortably held.
Chelsea were left to rue their missed opportunities as Borini fired into the bottom corner late on to bring his side level after Jozy Altidore had bustled his way through a wall of Blue shirts.
The first period of extra-time produced little with Chelsea remaining the most dangerous of the two sides.
Ki came close to putting Sunderland in front with seven minutes remaining in the final period of extra-time, but Schwarzer produced a stunning one handed save to deny the former Celtic star's header.
But Ki would not be denied as he netted with two minutes
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Crystal Palace 2-1
Independent:
Chelsea 2 Crystal Palace 1
Ramires saves Blues from famous Palace coup
Chelsea recover from defeat to Stoke last week to record nervy victory over valiant Palace
By STEVE TONGUE
While statistically nothing like the goalfest at the Etihad, which took Manchester City briefly ahead of Chelsea in the table, this was an equally open game between two sides supposed to be a world apart in ambition and ability. As the result, uncertain until the end, was also a home win, Jose Mourinho’s side went second, two points behind Arsenal, who they play a week tomorrow.
It seemed impossible that the second half could remain scoreless as the ball fizzed from end to end, above all in a manic last few minutes. But Palace, invigorated under their new manager Tony Pulis, could not force an equaliser and Chelsea, well below their best, wasted the chances to apply a flattering gloss to the scoreline.
So all the goals came before the interval, Fernando Torres and Marouane Chamakh balancing things out before Ramires struck what proved to be a winner. Whereas Chamakh’s effort was his third in successive games, Torres still has only two in the League and together with Demba Ba, who came on towards the end, and Samuel Eto’o, who did not, Chelsea’s £62 million strikers have mustered a mere five between them.
Palace have tightened up in defence since Fulham put four past them at Selhurst Park, prompting Ian Holloway’s exit. Apart from delayed reactions when Torres nipped past them to score, the journeymen Danny Gabbidon and Damien Delaney handled themselves well and near the end Julian Speroni pulled off some heroic saves.
Palace, who have not won here since 1982, lost the powerful South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi in the first quarter of the game, but young Stuart O’Keefe proved a worthy replacement as the visiting midfield fought hard to prevent Eden Hazard and Willian, who was given the central midfield role behind Torres, ever taking complete control.
“The result could have been 5-1 or 2-2,” Mourinho said, without admitting that the latter had been far more likely. Pulis could only see positives in Palace’s effort and performance. “We were a little bit on the back-foot in the first half but in the second half we pushed up and to be still in the game in the 94th minute was a credit to us,” he said.
Chelsea having conceded nine times as many goals as yesterday’s opponents in the last five games (nine against one) was one of the season’s more unlikely statistics, which was terminated when they took the lead after a dull opening quarter of an hour. Speroni only managed to push Willian’s drive onto a post and his defenders let him down in being far slower to follow in than Torres, who was there first to collect a tap-in.
The game was all the better for it, especially when Palace equalised. Chelsea had just seemed to be finding their rhythm, as Juan Mata’s clever flick allowed the rampaging Branislav Ivanovic to drive a shot just past the far post, and Michael Essien shot wide from outside the penalty area.
Just before the half-hour, however, the visitors produced a fine move across the width of the field, begun by Chamakh, who was then in position to finish it after Jason Puncheon had fed Joel Ward on the left for a low cross. Chamakh’s effort may have been slightly mishit but was still good enough to beat Petr Cech.
If that ensured that Chelsea would not improve on a poor League record of only one clean sheet since September, they did have the lead back within five minutes. Hazard had the better of Adrian Mariappa, not for the first or last time, and cut the ball back for Ramires to hit fiercely and with curl on it, Torres doing his bit by ducking out of the way.
The second half was played at a furious pace, and it was Palace who forced all the chances until the last 10 minutes. Cameron Jerome shot over the bar, Puncheon’s shot on a classic counter-attack was beaten away by Cech and then his free-kick after Essien’s foul led to a header by Delaney, clutched gratefully by the goalkeeper. With the vociferous visiting supporters behind Cech’s goal refusing to lose hope, Yannick Bolasie, on as a substitute, could not direct his header low enough and then Chelsea somehow survived an astonishing scramble.
Cech saved low down from O’Keefe, Ivanovic bravely blocked the midfielder’s follow-up and from the subsequent corner Delaney’s header slid only just wide of the near post. Chelsea had been attacking too, but without threatening until the last few minutes. After Oscar forced the ball forward, Ramires had only to roll it square to one of two colleagues, but allowed Speroni to parry. The goalkeeper then brought off an astonishing double save from André Schürrle and Ba.
Mourinho has said it would be “unacceptable” to finish the season without a trophy but his side will have to be sharper than this, starting in the Capital One Cup at Sunderland this week.
Line-ups:
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Essien; Mata (Oscar, 61), Willian (Schürrle, 80), Hazard; Torres (Ba, 83).
Crystal Palace (4-4-1-1): Speroni; Mariappa, Gabbidon, Delaney, Ward; Bannan (Bolasie, 50), Dikgacoi(O’Keefe, 24), Jedinak, Puncheon; Chamakh (Gayle, 88); Jerome.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Man of the match: Hazard (Chelsea)
Match rating: 7/10
===========
Observer:
Chelsea's Ramires scores winner in nervy win over Crystal Palace
David Hytner at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea did little to quicken the pulses and when they reflect upon a victory that was chiselled from Crystal Palace, their only real source of assurance will come from a glance at the Premier League table. It shows them sitting prettily in second place, two points off Arsenal's pace. Their next league fixture is at the Emirates on 23 December.
This was anything but pretty. Chelsea got what they needed yet it was not the antidote to their recent toils. So many of their big-name players were curiously off-key. It is rather stating the obvious but title-winning teams surely have to be better than this.
José Mourinho's players are stuttering and the manager was reduced to calling for the whistle at the end. Palace called the tune in the second half and only John Terry's remarkable intervention from in front of the line after the substitute Stuart O'Keefe had shot past Petr Cech prevented the visitors from restoring parity for a second time. Branislav Ivanovic blocked O'Keefe's second attempt.
Chelsea ought to have fashioned a little gloss to the scoreline at the very end but Ramires's fluffed square pass when clean through, and with the substitutes Oscar and Demba Ba free in front of goal, summed things up. Julián Speroni also made a marvellous double save to deny André Schürrle, another substitute, and Ba. For much of what had gone before in the second half, it was the visitors who looked the likelier scorers. Cameron Jerome fired high after an Ivanovic error; Jason Puncheon drew a save from Cech on the break and Damien Delaney headed at the goalkeeper from Puncheon's free-kick.
Tony Pulis covered every inch of the technical area and he went through agonies as his team went close to a reward. The substitute Yannick Bolasie, who made an impact, headed over when unmarked and, after the O'Keefe drama, Delaney flashed another header wide.
It was somehow disconcerting to see a Mourinho team allowing their opponents so much space. Palace have not won here for 31 years but they deserved something, as much for their spirit as anything else. They refused to play the role of stooges, despite falling behind twice. Mourinho lamented his team's inability to go 2-0 or 3-1 up, and they did have the chances in the first half. "It could have been 5-1 or 2-2," he said. It was the latter, though, that felt more likely as the game wore on.
Chelsea had shown moments of looseness in the early running. Never mind that David Luiz was nutmegged by Jerome – the Brazil defender also lost a dribble with a heavy touch. He had a strangely uncomfortable afternoon but he was not alone. Ramires and Juan Mata made errors on the ball.
Chelsea went ahead with their first attack of note and although Willian's 25-yard shot that created the goal was well struck, it was disappointing from Palace's point of view that Speroni got nothing more to it than fingertips to divert the ball on to the post. The rebound fell to Fernando Torres in a way that has not always happened during his Chelsea career and he gratefully accepted the good fortune, sweeping home his second league goal of the season.
The home team sparked briefly. Torres drove at Joel Ward, turning him inside and out; Mata's wonderful flick released Ivanovic, who shot narrowly wide, and Michael Essien tried his luck from distance. But Palace fashioned a foothold with their best moment of the afternoon. Marouane Chamakh moved the ball to Puncheon and headed for the penalty area and when Ward crossed, the striker volleyed low and left-footed into the corner of the net. It was Chamakh's third goal in three matches. He scores when he wants, according to the travelling Palace fans.
Chelsea responded. Pulis wanted a foul on Jerome at the other end but when Eden Hazard cut back to Ramires and Palace stood off him, the midfielder took full advantage. His right-footed shot from the edge of the box fizzed high past Speroni. Willian might have had another for Chelsea before the interval but he shot weakly when well-placed. Mourinho booted a kit-bag in frustration.
It was that kind of an afternoon for him. When the whistle did go and he had felt that surge of relief, he made for the Palace supporters to applaud them. They had been loud throughout to make the atmosphere in what was an entertaining derby. Chelsea squeaked home.
=====================
Telegraph:
Chelsea 2 Crystal Palace 1:
By Jeremy Wilson, Stamford Bridge
Jose Mourinho flounced and fulminated in his technical area like a dervish, suggesting none too subtly that this narrowest of victories over Crystal Palace was hardly a performance worthy of prospective champions. While Chelsea edged into second place on Saturday night, two points behind Arsenal, there is only so far they can advance on obduracy alone.
Of particular concern was the display by Fernando Torres: granted, he scored the opening goal, but it was scarcely more than a tap-in and his impact elsewhere proved so negligible that it was difficult to believe his team could continue this winter with such a mercurial talent as their solitary target man.
At one point the agitated Mourinho had to be admonished by fourth official Lee Mason for kicking a red bag full of medical equipment. It was that type of afternoon, as maddening for the manager as it was for home fans, restless for their lavishly gifted players to dispatch Palace with greater flourish.
True, these three points might be precious indeed in the final reckoning, but one would hardly have guessed from the atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge during a tense second half.
Mourinho took almost an hour to arrive for his post-match press conference as it became evident he had a detailed debrief to conduct.
With his best efforts at pseudo-profundity he said, with a shrug: “I was expecting an easy victory, I was expecting big problems. I was ready for both things. For me, this result could be 5-1 or it could be 2-2.”
Cries of “You’re not special any more” from the Palace contingent assailed him frequently, but Mourinho is reluctant to compare his second coming at Chelsea with the more garlanded glory years, describing this as a “transitional period” at the same time as keeping expectations high.
He explained: “Our philosophy of the game is different. Another club might say, 'Wait for the results to come in the near future’, but we don’t want to be like that. We want to fight for titles.”
If Chelsea are learning to value their ability to win ugly, then Palace can be grateful to the transformation wrought by Tony Pulis. Even though the manager has won only one of his first three matches in charge, there was none of the defeatism witnessed in the death throes of Ian Holloway’s tenure, as Marouane Chamakh and Jason Puncheon both offered great dynamism in attack.
“To be in the game for 94 minutes was testament to the effort of the players,” admitted Pulis, who saved particular praise for the revived Chamakh. “Marouane slows it down for us and gives us an opportunity to get runners up the pitch. It’s important for me that the players keep believing that they have got a chance.”
At least Chelsea’s first goal arrived with relative simplicity. Willian unleashed the initial strike, which Julian Speroni managed to touch on to the far post with a fingertip save, but in rushed Torres to lash the loose ball home. Mourinho, a study in sartorial elegance opposite the tracksuited Pulis, betrayed not a flicker of emotion, simply burying his hands deeper into the pockets of his voluminous coat.
Although Chelsea appeared far superior, an impression exemplified by Juan Mata’s exquisite backheel to take out two opponents at once, it was but an illusion.
As Palace toiled for the equaliser, Joel Ward swung a fine cross in from the left, with Chamakh arriving at precisely the right time to volley his finish beyond Petr Cech – the first time in his Premier League career that the Moroccan, rejuvenated under Pulis, has scored in three consecutive games.
The Palace manager celebrated exuberantly and yet his joy lasted a mere six minutes as Chelsea reasserted their authority. Eden Hazard, serenely composed throughout, took the ball inside the box and laid it back for Ramires to fire into the top corner in sumptuous style. Briefly Mourinho looked appeased, and yet his side struggled to make their advantage more emphatic.
For much of the second half Cech was forced to resist a Palace bombardment, and never more so than when he contrived a brilliant one-handed stop to keep out a powerful shot from Stuart O’Keefe. Ivanovic scrambled the ball clear, before Damien Delaney again went close with a header.
“Palace are well organised,” Mourinho acknowledged. “They always wait for the right moment to put the ball into the box.”
Fleetingly, Chelsea roused themselves in response to their supporters’ impatience, but the inspired Speroni thwarted substitutes Andre Schurrle and Demba Ba in swift succession.
Match details
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 7; Ivanovic 7, Luiz 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6; Ramires 7, Essien 6; Mata 6 (Oscar 62), Willian 6 (Schürrle 82), Hazard 7; Torres 6 (Ba 85).
Subs: Schwarzer (g), Cole, Lampard, Eto’o.
Booked: Essien, Ivanovic.
Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Speroni 6; Mariappa 6, Gabbidon 5, Delaney 6, Ward 6; Bannan 5 (Bolasie 51), Jedinak 5, Dikgacoi 5 (O’Keefe 26), Puncheon 7; Chamakh 7 (Gayle 88), Jerome 6.
Subs: Price (g), Parr, Williams, Kebe.
Booked: Chamakh.
====================
Mail:
Chelsea 2 Crystal Palace 1: Ramires rescues Blues after in-form Chamakh gives Eagles hope
By Patrick Collins
The story of a significant afternoon was captured in a single image. Crystal Palace were pressing earnestly forward, Chelsea were defending with mounting desperation and Jose Mourinho was stamping his feet, waving his arms and imploring the referee to blow the final whistle.
An hour later, he was imparting his own elaborate spin on proceedings. ‘I was expecting an easy victory. I was expecting big problems. I was ready for both things,’ he said. ‘For me, this result could be 2-2, it could be 5-1.’
After years of spouting cod psychology, Mourinho has almost perfected the patter. And yet, despite his diversionary efforts, the Chelsea manager could not disguise his dissatisfaction with his team.
‘We all know this is a transitional season,’ he said. ‘In another club, everyone would say: “Let’s work and wait calmly, the results will come’. We’re not like that. We don’t want to be like that.’
A cynic might claim that this was Mourinho’s way of lowering expectations, of reminding his paymasters that the players he has are not the players he really wants. And that cynic might well be correct.
Chelsea may be second in the table, two points off the summit, but at the moment they do not look like a side which is destined to finish on top of the heap.
Palace acquitted themselves with great credit. They improved with the match. In Marouane Chamakh they offered the most impressive player on the pitch. On a luckier day, they might well have secured and deserved that 2-2 outcome to which Mourinho referred.
But given the benefit of an early goal and carrying the confidence of their exalted position, a team of real pedigree would have solved the problems which Palace presented and progressed with wit and authority. By the close yesterday, Chelsea had run short of both qualities.
Any team which Tony Pulis turns out is, in that damning phrase, “well – organised”. They chase, they toil, they endlessly compete. Naturally, they have no real pretensions to finesse. Their first thought is to launch it long, their second, to launch it even longer. Yet when Chelsea scored their opening goal, the pattern should have been set.
It was a vaguely fortuitous affair in the 16th minute, with Willian darting across the face of the area, driving fiercely and hopefully and securing a deflection on to a post. Fernando Torres collected the rebound and scored with ease. And yet some 13 minutes later, and with scarcely an attack to their name, Palace drew level.
A ball was worked across field from the right touchline. Joel Ward appeared on the left wing, crossed low and the Chelsea defenders simply stood and watched. Chamakh took the chance with a fine drive, scoring for the third league match in succession.
Pulis said: ‘The lads have bought into what we’re trying to do. The most important thing is to galvanise a spirit within a football club. Marouane has bought into that. You’ve seen the quality, he’s a top player. The kid can play.’
Once again, just five minutes later, Chelsea were given something to build on, in this case a terrific effort from Ramires. After Eden Hazard had made a mazy run, Ramires collected the ball just outside the D and unfolded the kind of drive which is not for stopping. But once again, Mourinho’s team could not exploit their advantage. Despite having so many inventive midfield players, Chelsea did little to unravel a tenacious defence.
Palace are uncomplicated. At one stage a central defender deep inside his own half nudged a pass five yards square. Pulis exploded in arm – flailing fury on the touchline. He wanted it belted forward, for such is his way. Still, his players became more confident, more ambitious. At the front, the admirable Chamakh and Cameron Jerome ran with purpose and pace.
In the 68th minute, Damien Delaney missed a glittering headed chance of equality. In the 77th minute an even simpler opportunity was squandered, with Chamakh and Jerome stripping the defence and Stuart O’Keefe seeing his attempt brilliantly saved by Petr Cech, with Branislav Ivanovic blocking the rebound from the same player.
The Chelsea fans started to mumble their forebodings as Palace lifted the pace. As the game grew open late on, Chelsea missed their own chances, with Ramitres falling over an opportunity in a rare break and Andre Schurrle, Demba Ba and Ramires again all missing chances in the course of the same move. But it was not proceeding to plan. It was far too close for comfort. This was not how things were meant to be.
Mourinho spun his practised spiel when it was all over, but he knew how close Palace had come. One telling gesture was worth more than all his words.
Chelsea: Cech 5; Ivanovic 6, Luiz 6, Terry 6, Azpilicuta 7; Essien 6, Ramires 7; Willian 7 (Schurrle 82), Mata 5 (Oscar 62, 5), Hazard 6; Torres 5 (Ba 84).
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cole, Eto'o, Lampard.
Booked: Essien, Ivanovic.
Goals: Torres 16, Ramires 35
Crystal Palace: Speroni 8; Mariappa 6, Gabbidon 7, Delaney 6, Ward 7; Bannan 5 (Bolasie 51, 5), Jedinak 7, Dikgacoi 5 (O'Keefe 26, 7), Puncheon 6; Chamakh 7 (Gayle 88), Jerome 7.
Subs not used: Price, Parr, Williams, Kebe.
Booked: Chamakh
Goal: Chamakh 29
Attendance : 41,608
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Man of the match: Julian Speroni
==================
Mirror:
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace: Torres and Ramires on target as Blues scrape win
By Mike Allen
Jose Mourinho's side were not at their best on Saturday but still won to go within two points of Arsenal
Two points behind the leaders, the chance to be top at Christmas tantalisingly within reach, yet a sense of unease pervades Stamford Bridge.
Goals by Fernando Torres and Ramires secured the three points Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho demanded against Crystal Palace that means they could now be the side that dislodges top of the table Arsenal a week tomorrow when they meet at the Emirates.
They could. But then again...
David Luiz – playing for the injured Gary Cahill – was an absolute liability, especially in the first half when he twice kicked the ball with his standing foot and was wildly careless with the ball at times.
Juan Mata, making only his ninth League start of the season, was replaced on the hour by Oscar with good reason, while Michael Essien is not the game-dominating influence of old.
Mourinho said: “We want to build but at the same time we want to fight for titles.We are there.”
For their part, Palace showed why they had won three of their previous four matches since Tony Pulis was named manager, and why those around them at the bottom should be fearful.
Skipper Mile Jedinak is an inspiration, and Marouane Chamakh scored for a third successive game – the first time the former Arsenal striker has done that in his career. Pulis said: “The spirit of the players in the last five or six games has been fantastic and to be in the game for 94 minutes is fantastic.”
And the spirit of the Palace fans is worth noting too.
Even Mourinho turned to the visiting support at the end and applauded their efforts to get behind their team and create some noise.
The tension and unease of the home support was temporarily relieved after a quarter of an hour when a burst of speed on the edge of the area earned Willian a yard of space to shoot powerfully. Although Julian Speroni tipped the Brazilian’s effort onto the post, Torres was on hand to clean up with just his second Premier League goal of the season – sixth in all competitions.
Stamford Bridge may never have seen a home league defeat during the 68 league games through the Mourinho era, but the place has strangely lost the feeling of a fortress.
So, although it was a surprise when Palace pulled level, somehow it was no surprise at all. Chamakh and Jason Puncheon combined to feed Joel Ward on the left and his cross was met by the Frenchman with all the confidence of a man on a good scoring run.
In a season of surprises, his renaissance under Pulis is up there with the biggest of them.
The equaliser earned Pulis a hand-holding touchline tete-a-tete with Mourinho who seemed to be getting increasingly agitated by his team’s inability to dominate their relegation-threatened opposition.
But his frustration was nothing compared to what was to come for Pulis who was still waving his arms in protest at referee Mark Clattenburg’s failure to award a foul for a challenge on Cameron Jerome at one end when Chelsea scored what proved to be the winner at the other.
On the break Ramires received a pass from Eden Hazard and teed himself up on the edge of the area before firing a superb shot past the helpless Speroni.
It proved enough, but only just.
Cech made a good save to deny Puncheon who went all the way into the area from a break down the right.
Then John Terry kept out Stuart O’Keefe after his shot had beaten Cech in an almighty goalmouth scramble that saw the substitute also denied on the rebound by Ivanovic’s block.
Pulis said: “We have lost the art of defending a bit in this country, but look at Terry and Ivanovic. They were fantastic at that moment.”
From the resulting corner Delaney headed narrowly wide but as they pushed to grab the goal they richly deserved Palace left themselves open at the back.
Speroni made a brilliant double save, denying Andre Schurrle and Demba Ba before Ramires blasted the rebound into the stand.
It summed up all the doubts about Chelsea.
===============
Express:
Chelsea 2 - Crystal Palace 1: The Special One is still happy with ugly win
THIS was nothing like the feast that preceded it up in Manchester – but that didn’t bother Jose Mourinho one bit.
By: Colin Mafham
Chelsea’s Special One dismissed a performance that was far from special with a pledge that they remain potential champions in waiting. Even if they don’t look like it right now.
And with the possibility of going top if they can turn over Arsenal two days before Christmas he insisted: “At this time we are there – just two points behind the leaders – and we are here to fight for titles.
“But to be top even at the end of January is not crucial, because this race will be open until very late.”
There are some who might doubt Chelsea’s credentials to be in it at all if this is anything to go by. To be fair, Palace probably deserved a point – and the league table suggests they are relegation candidates!
Within 15 minutes man-of-the-match Willian showed the difference between contenders and survival battlers with a cracking shot that Julian Speroni could only turn onto the post. Fernando Torres was on hand to slot home the rebound.
But worries about Chelsea’s defensive frailties got a whole lot worse just short of the half hour when they let Palace back into the game.
Marouane Chamakh, a born-again striker since he moved to south London, was given far more space than he ought to have had and picked his spot perfectly.
The lead didn’t last long, though. Another sweet move involving Willian and the equally lively Eden Hazard ended with a super ball to Ramires that the Brazilian duly rifled home for Chelsea’s second five minutes later.
To their credit Palace were never pushovers and if Petr Cech hadn’t been on alert Jason Puncheon might well have levelled it after the restart.
And the same could be said soon afterwards when Damien Delaney got his head to a free-kick Chelsea really should have cleared before the ball even got to him.
No wonder Mourinho looked concerned.
With the head of steam Palace built up his defenders looked dodgier by the minute.
But for some desperate clearances, particularly a one-handed Petr Cech save from Stuart O’Keefe’s effort, the increasingly resurgent visitors would have got the equaliser they probably deserved.
To be honest Chelsea could and should have wrapped it up late on but Ramires, with the goal at his mercy, was twice denied by Speroni.
Had either of those gone in it would, however, have presented a scoreline that would have been distinctly unfair on Palace – and their so supportive fans.
They were a match for Chelsea for most of the afternoon – on and off the pitch – and if they carry on playing like this they won’t be in the relegation zone much longer.
As Mourinho added: “The game could have gone in either direction.
“The result could easily have been 5-1 or 2-2.”
Palace’s Tony Pulis didn’t disagree, adding that they largely matched their rich West London rivals and could have earned a point.
He said: “To be in the game for 94 minutes is testament to the progress we are making here.
“The spirit over the past few games has been fantastic and the lads have all bought into what we are trying to do. Now it’s important that they keep on believing in themselves.”
MAN of the MATCH: Willian – had a hand in both Chelsea goals and put in a real shift until he was surprisingly substituted.
CHELSEA: Cech; Ivanovich, Luiz, Terrry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Essien; Mata (Oscar 62), Willian (Schurrle 81), Hazard; Torres (Demba Ba 83).
PALACE: Speroni; Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Mariappa; Dikgacol (O’Keefe 26), Jedinak; Bannan (Bolasie 50), Jerome, Puncheon; Chamakh (Gayle 87).
Ref: Mark Clattenburg Att: 41,608
=====================
Star:
Chelsea 2 - Crystal Palace 1:
Ramires fires Jose Mourinho's men into second place
CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho complained his side were not flying, his strikers could not score and life was in freefall.
By Tony Stenson
So what happens? They are now up to second place in the Premier League. Jose plays mind games well but he’s right. His side are not playing well. But at least he has a striker who scored.
Not that Fernando Torres did much else and was replaced late on by Demba Ba.
They certainly weren’t at their best and you were left wondering if Palace played well or Chelsea didn’t. In the end, you settled for a bit of both.
The Blues also had keeper Petr Cech to thank for denying Palace three times.
One save in particular in the 78th minute from Eagles substitute Stuart O’Keefe was crucial as they were being battered by a late revival from a side that has climbed off the floor to fight.
Eden Hazard and Willian were both influential throughout for Chelsea but there was a distinct lack of quality throughout in the Blues’ play.
Passes to Torres were often hit too late or too long for him to make an impact.
Michael Essien looked out of sorts in his holding role while Juan Mata, once Chelsea’s golden boy, struggled again and was eventually replaced by Oscar.
This once majestic midfi eld player’s partnership with Mourinho cannot go on. He needs a level of support that he is surely not receiving at the moment.
Tony Pulis’ Palace, who had won their two previous games, did not look a side Championship.
More of this under their new boss and there could be light at the end of the tunnel rather than an oncoming train.
Their defence refused to back down, especially Damien Delaney, and in Cameron Jerome they had a striker who never went into hiding.
Chelsea’s bench looked like a Who’s Who but Palace’s was more Who They? Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Oscar, Samuel Eto’o and Andre Schurrle all presented the kind of back-up clubs like Palace can only dream of.
But they battled hard until Chelsea’s class kicked in.
Willian took a 16th-minute pass from Hazard, cut inside and then fi red a 25- yard shot that Julian Speroni could only tip on to a post and Torres rifled home.
Two minutes later Branislav Ivanovic was through on Mata’s pass but his shot whistled across the Argentine’s goal.
Palace defender Kagisho Dikgacoi limped off on 25 minutes to be replaced by O’Keefe.
They have certainly been lifted by the arrival of Pulis and there was a steel in their tackles and new confi dence when attacking.
None more so than in the 29th minute when Jason Puncheon whipped the ball out wide to Joel Ward whose cross was turned home by Marouane Chamakh.
Chelsea replied heavily on long punts forward to Torres while Palace passed their way forward intelligently.
Pulis was criticised at Stoke for his long ball but the old fox showed he has other tricks in his armoury.
But Willian and Hazard combined again after 35 minutes to set up Ramires for a juicy 20-yard shot that he gleefully accepted to put Chelsea back in front. He later dedicated the goal to his son David on Twitter.
Puncheon brought the best out of Cech with a 54th-minute blockbuster and Delaney worked the keeper again soon after with a powerful header.
Ramires should have scored Chelsea’s third in the 88th minute when totally clear but he got his feet in a tangle and Speroni smothered. He then pulled off another great save from the Brazilian when it was easier to score.
Mourinho is relishing the thought of going to Arsenal next Monday and once again being the talk of football.
The Special One believes there is no better time to overhaul a two-point deficit to go top of the Premier League.
Mourinho said; “For some clubs they plan for the future and claim they are in transition but we are in football to win trophies. It is in our DNA.
“People say we are not the same as when I was here last time, but we are all different now.
“It is not important to be top by the end of December, even January, but it is it nice. This game didn’t go the way I expected.
“I thought that we would win well but Palace fought hard, hit the long ball and then supported their forwards. I thought their fans were magnifi cent too.”
Pulis said: “It’s tough when you go into a club and are playing catch-up and then you go against the likes of Chelsea. It is very, very difficult.
“In the last five or six games the lads have been fantastic.
“We played a bit off the back foot at the start but then we had them hanging on. If we continue to show spirit like that we have a chance.
“I thought Chamakh was first-class. He was at Arsenal and Arsene Wenger doesn’t buy players who can’t play and he is showing that. The lads are getting on well together and he is part of it.”
======================
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Steaua Bucharest 1-0
Independent:
Chelsea 1 Steaua Bucharest 0
Demba Ba helps Chelsea cling on to top group but they again operate without a safety net
Demba Ba scores via a scuff off his shin, but it was not the victory that manager Jose Mourinho wanted
Robin Scott-Elliot
A straightforward if scrappy victory over Steaua Bucharest meant it was job done: Group E won and a place among the top seeds for Monday’s draw for next year’s knockout stages secured. But this was not the victory – against one of the worst sides that will be seen at Stamford Bridge this season – Mourinho wanted.
The manager has bemoaned his side’s inability to kill off matches – it cost them dearly at Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday – and there were moments when he must have feared it could do so again.
Not that their progress to the last 16 was ever seriously threatened, but Mourinho would have wanted more. The same issues that have shrouded recent performances clouded Mourinho’s side again: moments of sloppiness at the back, imprecision in midfield and up front a desperate lack of clinical finishing. It was a match that would have happily got lost in the fog that clustered over the capital for much of the day.
Demba Ba, the night’s chosen striker, did score, via a scuff off his shin, but then scooped over a glorious second-half chance. Minutes later, when he conceded possession cheaply, Mourinho stood on the touchline and gently shook his head. Don’t expect to see Ba against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
With a run of eight games in the next three weeks – taking in four competitions – Mourinho made the promised changes. He prefers not to use the word rotation, saying it brings the air of a weakened team and Jose doesn’t do weakness. But he spun the wheel seven times from the side beaten at Stoke on Saturday. Ashley Cole started for the first time in five weeks, since being dropped after the defeat at Newcastle, and behind him the 41-year-old Mark Schwarzer made his Champions League debut
He would have hoped, and like most here probably expected, that Chelsea would punish a Steaua side who arrived in London without a Champions League group stage win in 22 games.
A series of early corners, none comfortably dealt with by the Steaua defence, provided a good idea of what was coming. Sure enough, Willian whipped in another corner, Oscar, horribly unattended, flicked the ball on, Steaua’s Daniel Georgievski and Ba contested it at the far post and it ended up in the visitors’ net. TV replays eventually showed Ba’s shin had made the final contact.
It was a messy goal to suit a messy opening half, one dominated by Chelsea, who retained around 70 per cent of possession as the visitors sat back in numbers. But though Chelsea had the ball and the control, as at Stoke and Everton, two of their three Premier League defeats, they were not clinical enough.
In the Premier League they were made to pay and here they could have been again denied an interval lead. John Obi Mikel, who had a careless match, was caught in possession after Steaua cleared yet another corner and, with the defence out of position, Gabriel Iancu was given a clear run on Schwarzer’s goal only to slide a left-foot shot wide.
It was a let-off and it brought Mourinho off his seat to scold his players. They reasserted themselves, with Branislav Ivanovic and Frank Lampard going close.
Ba should have converted Ivanovic’s cross early in the second half but shot over from close range. André Schürrle replaced Oscar and produced most of the few bright moments in the second half, with Eden Hazard heading over after the ball broke to him following a run by the German. The Belgian and Oscar, as well as Mourinho, were targeted by a green laser from the crowd. It was a rare example of anything finding its target, and when Ba did find the net again in the closing moments, he was offside.
Man of the match Schürrle.
Match rating 4/10.
Referee G Rocchi (It).
Attendance 40,000.
===============
Guardian:
Chelsea perform in fits and starts but still manage to beat Steaua Bucharest
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea have claimed this section and will return to domestic distractions with a victory to pep bruised confidence, even if edging out Steaua Bucharest did little to undermine José Mourinho's pre-match assessment that his team should not be considered contenders. This was a humdrum occasion to conclude a plod of a group. Drastic improvement will be needed in the knockout phase when teams of proper pedigree await.
There was little to illuminate the contest, despite one Steaua fan's best efforts with a laser pen from high up in the east stand. Stewards were dispersed to identify the culprit late on, the green dot having been fixed on figures from Mourinho to Oscar, and then Eden Hazard to Willian, and he was arrested post match. "I was aware of it, but I cannot worry about things like that during the game," said Mourinho. "I don't know if it creates any kind of problem. I felt it a couple of times, but I felt no pain. So I kept going."
The home supporters might have preferred him to point the way to goal given the chances passed up by their side. The hosts were hampered here by familiar frailties. They remain a team who struggle to kill off opponents effectively, forever hinting at an avalanche of goals but delivering only a dusting. Four chances had been passed up in the opening 10 minutes before the game's solitary goal was bundled in, apparently by Demba Ba, though the visitors' Daniel Georgievski appeared to have had the clearest touch. Certainly he skulked away with guilt etched across his face.
Uefa dithered over the scorer's identity throughout the remainder of the first half, studying who had had the final touch once Oscar had flicked on Willian's corner. They eventually opted for the Senegalese, perhaps out of sympathy for the toils endured by Chelsea forwards this term. Had they stuck with their original assessment, Georgievski would have ended the evening as Chelsea's joint top scorer in the competition this term, having also netted an own goal in the first match between the sides in Bucharest. The Australian-born Macedonia international will be mightily relieved these sides' paths will not cross again this season.
Ba will be thankful for Uefa's generosity, as he had a goal rightly ruled out for offside, and somehow contrived to spoon over Willian's excellent low cross from just inside the six-yard box as a second, more clear-cut reward beckoned. The sight of Hazard nodding over an open goal rather summed it up, the home side's slick approach play forever running aground in the finish.
Crystal Palace are due here on Saturday, a fixture that would normally have the host forwards salivating. Yet Tony Pulis's side have conceded only once in five games and, bolstered by that stingy record, will surely come intent to frustrate. They may find the locals exasperate easily if an early advantage is not forthcoming.
This was all too low-key, a reflection perhaps of the scenario in the group but also due to news that Schalke had taken the lead against 10-man Basel in Germany, which meant a draw was enough for the home side to win the group. "At half-time we were at the limit and I'd told the players that, if we conceded and Basel scored, we'd be second," said Mourinho. "But after what happened in Germany, a point was enough so we didn't have to risk or do silly things, just control the game. This is a competition too important in terms of prestige – and the financial situation – for you to do silly things. You have to play safe. So it was not a fantastic performance, but it was also comfortable."
Chelsea will cling to a clean sheet after last week's traumas, when six goals were shipped to Sunderland and Stoke in the Premier League, even if a revamped back-line endured some uncomfortable moments en route.
Ashley Cole and David Luiz were featuring for their club for the first time since 2 November, with Mark Schwarzer the oldest ever Champions League debutant at 41, but the rejigged and rusty rearguard strained to stay secure at times. They should have been pierced just before the quarter-hour mark, Gabriel Iancu scuttling beyond John Terry and on to Georgievski's slipped pass to gain a clear sight of goal. But he dragged his shot wide of the far post, and that was as close as the visitors came.
Chelsea might have eased further ahead towards the close, but there was no end product to complement Willian's rapid approach play or the late gliding menace supplied by André Schurrle. Mourinho will take some encouragement from the impression being made by that combination of creators behind his front man, but there is plenty to be done before the Champions League resumes in the new year. Chelsea have topped an uninspiring group. The hard work is still to come.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2013/dec/11/champions-league-chelsea-steaua-gallery
======================
Telegraph:
Chelsea 1 Steaua Bucharest 0:
By Matt Law, Stamford Bridge
Chelsea secured their progression into the knockout stages as Group E winners with an uninspiring victory against Steaua Bucharest, courtesy of a Demba Ba goal.
The nature of the win summed up Chelsea’s Champions League campaign so far. Having lost home and away against Basle, Mourinho’s men produced the bare minimum to top a group that should really have been far more comfortable.
Their position at the top of the group means they can now be drawn against Didier Drogba’s Galatasaray, AC Milan, Olympiakos, Zenit St Petersburg or Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 draw on Monday.
Mourinho would be forgiven for simply wanting the most comfortable draw, but instead he wants Drogba to be given a Chelsea return. Drogba’s last act for Chelsea was converting the penalty in the shoot-out which won the Champions League in May last year, before bringing his eight years with the club to an end.
“We have difficult teams,” Mourinho said. “You have the Russian champions, the Greek champions. A German team, Leverkusen, is always very difficult. The Turkish champions with ‘King Didier’ and Milan.
“I think Didier deserves to come here. I think he deserves a reception here even better than mine, when I returned as manager, because he deserves much more than me. He deserves to come here and get the reception I got against Hull City, but for Didier it should be double or three times better and bigger than I had. I know what I felt. I think he deserves that. So, yes, Galatasaray is difficult. Very difficult. But I’d like Didier to be back here and feel what I felt.”
Mourinho does not rate Chelsea among the favourites to win the Champions League and admits that his team must grow up between now and the knockout stage. “We have to grow up, step by step,” Mourinho said. “We go into new matches now for some of my players. Some of my players didn’t play any games in the knockout stage of the Champions League, they played in the group and the Europa League, so it will be a different scenario for some of them.
“Let’s go for the last 16. If we win, we go into the quarter-final and, with only eight teams, we can think a different way. We had one target, which was not to win the Europa League again, and that target is done. Now we have to do the best we can in the Champions League. But now we must forget the Champions League until February, March 2014, and let’s work to improve the team and get results in the English competitions. When we get those results, we’ll be preparing ourselves for the next stage of the Champions League.”
At least a striker was on the scoresheet for Mourinho last night, as Ba scored Chelsea’s winning goal.
Ba also amused Mourinho and most of the Stamford Bridge crowd by missing the easiest of chances. But the Portuguese was not so amused at having a laser aimed at him and his players.
There was even confusion over whether or not Ba had scored. First Ba, then Daniel Georgievski and finally Ba again were credited with the 10th-minute goal.
A Willian corner was headed on by Oscar and the ball looked to have been bundled into the net by Ba, who was named as the goalscorer by the Stamford Bridge stadium announcer.
But the scoreboard showed Georgievski as netting an own goal, with Ba celebrating nonetheless – perhaps hoping Mourinho would be convinced that one of his forwards had actually scored.
Uefa was convinced, as the name of the opening goalscorer changed to Ba shortly before half-time.
Ba must have thought he would double his and Chelsea’s tally after the break, but blazed over from six yards. Mourinho smiled at that squandered chance, but looked on stony-faced when the Senegal international side-footed wide late on.
“It wasn’t a fantastic performance, it was a comfortable performance,” Mourinho said. “It’s enough. We did enough to win, enough to win without a kind of difficult moment. I think if we’d scored the second goal we’d jump to another performance.
“We didn’t have to risk or do silly things, just control the game. This is a competition too important in terms of prestige and financial situation that you cannot do silly things. You have to play safe. So it was not a fantastic performance, but it was also comfortable.
“I was aware of the laser. I don’t know if it creates any kind of problem. I don’t know. During the game I felt it a couple of times, but not big. In the game I cannot be worried with that. I felt the green. I felt no pain. So I kept going.”
Sunday, December 08, 2013
Stoke 2-3
Independent:
It is not just Manchester United who are suffering in this gloriously unpredictable Premier League campaign. In a week of buried hoodoos at Old Trafford, Stoke City ended their own 38-year wait for a League victory over Chelsea thanks to a spectacular last-minute goal by the substitute Oussama Assaidi.
The Moroccan winger, on loan from Liverpool, had not scored a Premier League goal before yesterday but came off the bench to earn Stoke an unlikely victory as he stepped in from the left and curled a wonderful shot past Petr Cech and into the far corner. It was a goal that brought the roof off the Britannia, and will have been celebrated at Anfield too, given that Chelsea’s defeat means they slip below Liverpool into third place.
“I said he had to be ready if called on to make an impact, but I hadn’t anticipated such an impact,” said the Stoke manager, Mark Hughes.
It was an outcome that had appeared impossible during an opening half-hour dominated by the visitors, yet with just Andre Schürrle’s ninth-minute goal to show for their dominance, an exasperated Jose Mourinho suggested afterwards that he could already see it coming. After half an hour we should be winning three- or four-nil, and we weren’t,” the Chelsea manager said. “You have to kill the game.
“I can compare the first half with the first half at Everton and Newcastle,” he added, likening it to those two earlier losses. “Exactly the same – chances, chances, chances. We are not a physical team, we are not a team with the conditions to defend against physical teams. We have to score when we have the game in our hands.”
He is right about Chelsea needing to score. They have conceded more goals in 15 League games this season – 17 – than they did in the whole of Mourinho’s triumphant first season at Stamford Bridge in 2004-05. And to leak three against Stoke, who had scored just five in seven previous home League games under Hughes, underlines their vulnerability.
None of that seemed a concern when Schürrle took a pass from Jon Obi Mikel and turned Ryan Shawcross one way then the other before unleashing a low, angled shot past Asmir Begovic. Yet for all of Chelsea’s control that killer touch was missing. Ramires shot over twice, while the ineffectual Fernando Torres – later replaced by the almost as ineffectual Demba Ba – failed to reach Juan Mata’s ball across the six-yard box.
Three minutes before the break, Stoke were level. When Marko Arnautovic swung over a corner, Cech came off his line but failed to get anywhere near the ball. It dropped to Peter Crouch, who shot through Cech’s legs, past Ramires and into the net.
Hughes, celebrating his first notable victory as Stoke manager against his former club, said. “Chelsea gave us a bit of a run-around in the first half and we had to hang on in there. In the second half I thought we were excellent, and the two goals we scored were outstanding.”
The first of those arrived five minutes after the restart as Jonathan Walters shrugged off Cesar Azpilicueta on the right and fed Stephen Ireland, a substitute for the injured Charlie Adam, who bent a lovely shot in off the far post.
Chelsea responded quickly as Schürrle pounced on a half-cleared free-kick, sending a fierce drive beyond Begovic. The German might have had a hat-trick – he struck the crossbar before a calf injury forced him off – but instead the late twist came at the other end.
Line-ups:
Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Cameron, Wilson, Shawcross, Muniesa; N’Zonzi, Whelan; Walters (Assaidi, 84), Adam (Ireland, 18), Arnautovic; Crouch.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Mikel (Lampard, 70); Schürrle (Eto’o, 70), Mata, Hazrd; Torres (Ba, 60).
Referee: Jonathan Moss.
Man of the match: Wilson (Stoke)
Match rating: 8/10
===================
Observer:
Stoke City's Oussama Assaidi nets dramatic late winner against Chelsea
This was José Mourinho's first experience of managing at this venue and it is one he will not look back on with even a hint of fondness. Standing inside his technical area as Stoke's supporters wildly celebrated a late winner that was as stunning as it was unexpected, the Portuguese's mood became as black as his coat. He scowled in silence, with the words that eventually followed only adding to the sense that this had been a dark day for Chelsea's Special One.
Mourinho spoke with a mix of fury and frustration as he reflected on how his side had failed to record a fourth league win in succession having taken the lead through André Schürrle's neatly taken 10th-minute strike. They subsequently dominated possession and territory, with their attacking trio of Schürrle, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard causing havoc for the hosts with their clever movement behind lone striker Fernando Torres, but, as Mourinho said, failed to "kill the game".
Stoke took advantage by equalising near the end of the first half through Peter Crouch, scored again soon after the break through Stephen Ireland and then, after Schürrle had got a second for the visitors, secured the fifth and final goal of this pulsating contest though Oussama Assaidi's 90th-minute thunderbolt.
"After half an hour we should have been winning three or four," Mourinho said. "We were playing so well, it was easy, and normally you kill the game, but we didn't. I can compare this game to the Everton and Newcastle ones [Chelsea's other league defeats this season] – chances, chances, chances and we don't score. On top of that we made defensive mistakes. That is why we lost."
Stoke deserved tremendous credit for how they turned a seemingly certain defeat into their second league victory since 31 August. The hosts could not cope with Chelsea in the early stages and it came as little surprise when Schürrle, having collected Mikel John Obi's pass, hit a low edge-of-the-area drive past Asmir Begovic following some poor defending by Ryan Shawcross.
Mark Hughes, the Stoke manager, could soon be seen ordering his players to make more of an effort in closing down their tormentors in blue but, as the first half went on, the hosts showed little sign of getting back into the match. Cue much surprise, then, when Crouch pounced on 42 minutes, converting Marko Arnautovic's corner with a scrappy strike from an unmarked position in the centre of Chelsea's area.
It was a careless way for the visitors to concede and clearly galvanised the hosts, who dominated the early stages of the second half and were rewarded for their efforts when Ireland, on as a first-half substitute after Charlie Adam had to go off injured, scored with a curling drive from just outside the area. The home fans broke out in raucous song but they were to be silenced shortly after when Schürrle struck again, drilling a long-range drive past Begovic after Crouch had inadvertently cleared Mata's free-kick into the path of the 23-year-old in what was undeniably his most effective display for Chelsea since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
From there the match became increasingly stretched and, as Chelsea lost further control, Steven Nzonzi became a more effective presence in the centre of Stoke's midfield. It was from his cross that Ireland wasted a golden chance to make it 3-2 and at the other end, Schürrle rattled the bar with a curling drive before being taken off with a calf injury.
It was frantic stuff and there was to be a breathtaking conclusion when substitute Assaidi cut across the Chelsea area and hit a right-foot drive that flew into the far corner. It was some moment for the Moroccan, who is on a season-long loan from Liverpool, and understandably put Hughes in upbeat mood. "This is a great result for us," the Stoke manager said. "They gave us the runaround but we stuck in there and put on a real performance. We have set our standards today and now we have to maintain that."
Mourinho, in contrast, has to lift those of his own side. They have conceded 17 league goals, two more than in the whole of the 2004-05 season, the manager's first at the club, while in attack the Londoners continue to look blunt. Torres was again ineffective while Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o, who came on as substitutes, also made little impact. The three strikers have scored four league goals between them this season.
Asked how he can get more goals from his frontmen, Mourinho replied: "I don't know." He will need to find answers if Chelsea, who could find themselves seven points behind Arsenal, are to maintain their challenge.
=================
Telegraph:
Stoke City 3 Chelsea 2
By John Percy, Britannia Stadium
Oussama Assaidi was not even born the last time Stoke defeated Chelsea in the league but his sensational winner was enough to leave Jose Mourinho admitting “we are in trouble”.
Assaidi settled an absorbing encounter with a wonderful strike in the final minute as Mourinho was left to reflect on the profligacy of the forwards he has inherited and an opportunity wasted to close the gap on leaders Arsenal.
Mourinho trudged out of the Potteries with the look of a man on the brink of a mini-crisis and his response when asked how he can get his strikers to start scoring – “I don’t know” – suggested a much greater problem could be on the horizon.
Chelsea should have been out of sight by half-time but have now conceded six goals in two games and could be seven points behind Arsenal if Arsène Wenger’s team defeat Everton on Sunday.
They had appeared on course for their ninth win in the past 11 games against Stoke after Andre Schurrle’s early goal, in a first half Chelsea dominated, but the home team responded with a resilient performance that was a throwback to the gritty days of their early years in the Premier League under Tony Pulis.
And just when Stoke appeared content for a deserved point, Assaidi, signed on loan from Liverpool, cut inside to beat Petr Cech and condemn Mourinho to his third league defeat of the season. John Terry will not look back fondly on his 33rd birthday.
Mourinho was at a loss to explain what he had seen. “You don’t want me to criticise my player’s mistakes. I can’t. You can,” he said. “The problem is we didn’t score goals and we conceded goals, that was the mistake. After half an hour we should have been winning by three or four.
“We were playing so well, it was so easy and you find spaces, creating so much, you have to kill the game.
“But we are playing well. To be where we are, and you see us in relation to Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool, we are not doing badly even in term of points in the league.
“But we are not a physical team, we are not a team who can defend against physical teams. We need to score goals.”
The last time Stoke defeated them in the league was 1975 when Mud were No 1 with Oh Boy. There have been chastening defeats along the way, and Stoke might have feared another one when they fell behind after 10 minutes. An avalanche of Chelsea goals looked possible then.
It had seemed that there was nothing on as Schurrle received the ball from John Obi Mikel 30 yards out but the German international easily bypassed Ryan Shawcross, twice, before arrowing a low shot across Asmir Begovic into the bottom corner.
Schurrle’s goal, his second for Chelsea, set the tone for the half as his side took control. Eden Hazard, so inspired against Sunderland on Wednesday night, produced another menacing performance, constantly finding space as he tiptoed his way through Stoke’s midfield.
Chelsea had chances to increase their lead, with Juan Mata shooting straight at Begovic before Ramires lofted the ball over the crossbar.
“You’re going down with United” chanted the Chelsea fans, yet Mourinho clearly seemed perturbed at only being a goal ahead, frequently displaying his repertoire of extravagant gestures.
His anxiety proved well-founded. Stoke, who lost Charlie Adam through injury in the early stages, had offered little but equalised three minutes before half-time. Marko Arnautovic’s corner was not cleared and Crouch reacted quickest to turn and shoot under Petr Cech.
While that goal was scruffy, Stoke’s second was exquisite, six minutes into the second half. Jon Walters advanced down the right and sent Stephen Ireland clear. The midfielder curled a wonderful shot into the far corner.
Their lead lasted barely two minutes, however. Mata’s free-kick ricocheted off Crouch in the area and Schurrle’s half-volley gave Begovic no chance. Schurrle almost had a hat-trick, bending a shot that struck the top of the bar, before being substituted for Samuel Eto’o with an injury.
It was now a riveting game and Ireland wasted a decent chance before Frank Lampard, a substitute, failed to trouble Begovic with a free-kick.
Assaidi then produced a moment of magic to secure Mark Hughes only his second league win since August and it was no less than his side deserved.
The manager said: “It’s a great result for us and I thought it was a fantastic game but I would say that. We need a bit of credibility because we are trying to change things.
“There will be days when we are not particularly good with what we’re trying to do, but we have set our standards today and we have to maintain that.”
Team details
Stoke Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Muniesa, Nzonzi, Whelan (Palacios 86), Walters (Assaidi 84), Adam (Ireland 18), Arnautovic, Crouch. Subs: Pennant, Jones, Wilkinson, Sorensen. Booked Crouch, Walters, Assaidi, Ireland. GoalsCrouch 42, Ireland 50, Assaidi 90.
Chelsea Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Mikel (Lampard 70), Schurrle (Eto'o 70), Mata, Hazard, Torres (Ba 59). Subs Cole, Essien, De Bruyne, Schwarzer. BookedTerry. Goals Schurrle 10, 53.
Att 25,154.
Referee J Moss (W Yorkshire).
===============
Mail:
Stoke 3 Chelsea 2: Brilliant late Assaidi goal puts brakes on Mourinho's title charge
By Malcolm Folley
Sometimes, the most obvious issues at a football club do not need forensic examination.
At Chelsea, Jose Mourinho is having his patience stretched by the presence of three goal-shy strikers: Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o.
After all, three played against Stoke for various amounts of a game stolen from Chelsea by a 90th-minute winning goal of star quality by substitute Oussama Assaidi, Mourinho was asked: ‘How can you get your strikers to score?’ And he replied, starkly: ‘I don’t know.’
And when asked what the difference is between his successful first spell in charge of Chelsea, Mourinho added: ‘A few very important differences. 'But I have the squad I have and I have to try to get the best out of them. We are in trouble.’
Between them, Torres, Ba and Eto’o have claimed four goals in the Premier League and none of them have been scored away from home.
It is a pitiful return from players privileged to be playing in a team illuminated by the talents of Eden Hazard and Juan Mata.
‘Are the strikers good enough?’ someone else persisted, as Mourinho digested a loss that could be made more damaging should Arsenal defeat Everton this afternoon to give them a seven-point lead over Chelsea.
Mourinho tried to defend Torres, Ba and Eto’o as best as he could.
‘They are players trying to give everything to the team, they are working hard and fighting hard. I can’t criticise them.’ Or rather he will not criticise them, at least not in public.
Even so, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for Torres, Ba and Eto’o to be excused simply because they are industrious.
On Saturday, Torres, who began the game, was the only one of the trio who emerged with a semblance of credit.
Understandably, Mourinho was unamused that a third game had been lost in spite of the excellence of football Hazard, Mata and Andre Schurrle had conspired to produce to make the first half a chastening experience for Stoke.
The evidence of what happened was still available to him on instant recall. ‘It was exactly the same at Everton and Newcastle this season,’ said Mourinho.
‘I think this team is a team that has to capitalise in goals from the production of the football we are playing. After half an hour, I could see this result coming. We should have been winning three-nil, or four-nil and we weren’t.’
'We had to just hang in there and we did. From our point of view, it was a huge result. We set standards today which, if we maintain, will make us difficult to beat.
‘I know that people will say we needed a little bit of credibility, as people are suggesting we are not doing as well as we should. I’d argue that we are not a million miles away from what we want to do here.’
Undeniably, Hughes received a manful response from his players after Chelsea had taken a 10th-minute lead through Schurrle, who turned Ryan Shawcross one way, then the other, before he buried a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
The game at this point belonged to the vision and artistry and Hazard and Mata.
However, it takes only a moment’s lapse of concentration to hurt a team in the Premier League. And in the 42nd minute, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech meandered into no-man’s land at a corner to allow Peter Crouch to find the net.
Five minutes after half-time, Stoke forged ahead through substitute Stephen Ireland, who threaded the ball inside the far post. But Schurrle equalised with another fiercely driven shot from outside the area. Normal service had been restored, or so thought the Chelsea fans.
Yet to Stoke’s credit, they were unflustered and their fans were rewarded with a quite magnificent goal from long range from Assaidi.
It is not only scoring goals that is giving Mourinho a headache, it is stopping them. Chelsea have now conceded 17 goals, two more than when they won the Premier League in 2004.
‘That was a different time, a different league,’ said Mourinho. It was — a time when the goals came from Didier Drogba.
FORWARDS GO COLD BUT AT LEAST ETO'O IS PIPING
Jose Mourinho has been complaining that his strikers have been going cold. But substitute Samuel Eto’o has perhaps been taking his manager’s words too literally, for as Chelsea were shivering at Stoke, their veteran Cameroon hit man was warming up on the sidelines with that good old-fashioned British staple, the hot water bottle!
In fact, so cold was the former Barcelona raider that he needed two just to ward off the chill.
====================
Mirror:
Stoke 3-2 Chelsea
On-loan Oussama Assaidi nets late winner as Potters come from behind to record famous win
Oussama Assaidi’s celebration told you everything. The Moroccan midfielder ripped off his shirt and ran to jump into the arms of his manager Mark Hughes.
With one dramatic 90th-minute swish of his right foot, the 25-year-old had not only got his first goal in the Premier League – but had set a landmark for his boss.
Since taking over in the summer, Hughes has talked a great game about bringing in expansive football, but has failed to deliver results to back it up.
And when Chelsea were pinging the ball around in the first half yesterday, lapping up a lead provided by a brilliant early strike from Andre Schurrle, it looked like more trouble was in store.
The visiting fans were gleefully asking “Where’s your famous atmosphere?” and a subdued Britannia Stadium crowd were wondering whether they were starting to miss Tony Pulis.
Then Peter Crouch got a scruffy equaliser, Stephen Ireland gave them the lead – and though Schurrle got Chelsea level it merely set the stage for substitute Assaidi’s fantastic winner.
“He was disappointed when I left him out of the team but I told him to be ready to make an impact if he came on,” said Hughes.
“Even I didn’t anticipate he would make such an impact, but I’m delighted that he did.
“It is a big result for us. We have set our standards today and we need to maintain them if we can keep those levels.
“We are doing things differently and it takes time to understand but today the crowd were fully behind what we did.”
Throughout the Pulis years when everybody else hated facing the Potters’ ordeal by long throws and corners at the Britannia, Chelsea were the one club who never found it a problem.
In five seasons they won four times and drew once, and last year put on a dazzling exhibition with a 4-0 romp. So if there was a sign of how bad things have got for Jose Mourinho yesterday, it was that his side spent the last 15 minutes trying to find a winner by lumping long balls up to Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba.
That was meat and drink to Ryan Shawcross, and in the end Stoke could argue they deserved their first league victory over Chelsea since 1975.
It hadn’t started that way. Schurrle drifted into space after nine minutes to pick up a pass from Ramires, twist away from Shawcross and arrow a left-foot shot beyond the reach of Asmir Begovic.
And from there, Schurrle, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata produced a dazzling array of passing that pulled the home side to pieces.
The trouble was there was no end product. Ramires missed a couple of shots, Fernando Torres was consistently a couple of yards off the pace to reach chances, and suddenly just before half-time Crouch pounced.
Straight after the break Ireland, an early substitute for injured Charlie Adam, speared a left-foot shot home from the edge of the box after Jon Walters had been too strong for Cesar Azpilicueta. Schurrle’s second goal came five minutes later with a thumping volley after a free-kick bounced to him off Crouch’s knees, and the German then hit the bar.
But beyond that Chelsea never really looked like finding a winner and Stoke drew more and more inspiration from the strength of Shawcross and the calm handling of Begovic.
Mourinho’s team have now conceded more goals this season than they did in the whole of his first year in charge of the club.
“You have to kill the game when you are playing so well and we didn’t,” was the Chelsea manager’s brutally honest assessment.
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Express:
Stoke City 3 - Chelsea 2: Oussama Assaidi the assassin slays Chelsea
Even the Special One could provide no answers. His strikers cannot score goals and his defence is leaking them.
Chelsea let slip a game which should have been won after half an hour but Jose Mourinho was not surprised because he saw their weaknesses at both ends.
They let Stoke plunder a victory and the visitors’ manager not only saw it coming but was powerless to prevent it.
Chelsea’s strikers have now scored just four goals between them in the League this season – Fernando Torres and Dema Ba one each and Samuel Eto’o two.
At the other end Mourinho’s men have conceded 17 – including six in their last two away games – two more than the 15 they let in during the Portuguese boss’s first season in charge in 2004-5!
Asked how he could get his marksmen scoring regularly, the Chelsea manager shrugged his shoulders and said: “I don’t know.They’re working hard for the team. When they do that you can’t criticise them.
“As for the defence we cannot compare this team with the one I had in my first season. You cannot compare different generations and different periods.
“I cannot criticise my players’ mistakes. I can’t. You can.”
It looked like a question of how many Chelsea would score after Andre Schurrle put them ahead in the 10th minute.
Peter Cech acknowledged his error with a raised hand after he came off his line and suddenly stopped in trying to reach Marko Arnautovic’s corner. The keeper’s moment of hesitation proved crucial and Peter Crouch was able to stab the loose ball home through a crowded six-yard box.
The German twisted and turned past Ryan Shawcross before beating Asmir Begovic with a low shot.
The expected deluge though never materialised. Mourinho’s men dominated the rest of the half but showed no incisive edge.
Even so it was difficult to see Stoke finding a way back into the game until they were gifted an equaliser.
Six minutes after the restart the scoreline took on an even more unbelievable look. Stephen Ireland, who had replaced the injured Charlie Adam in the first half, picked up a pass from Jon Walters and cleverly bent the ball around Gary Cahill into the corner of the net.
The visitors complained bitterly that Walters had pushed over Cesar Azpilicueta in the build-up but their protests were waved aside by referee Jonathan Moss.
Chelsea were stung into an immediate response and when Juan Mata’s free-kick came back off Crouch’s knees, Schurrle crashed a fierce left-foot shot past Begovic.
The German’s final contribution was a stunning drive which rattled the crossbar before he was replaced by Samuel Eto’o and the Londoners’ goal threat diminished. Mourinho later revealed that Schurrle had a damaged calf.
Stoke thought they had blown their chances when Ireland lifted a good chance over the bar in the 68th minute but the final twist was yet to be delivered.
Oussama Assaidi came off the bench and onto the centre stage to score an 89th minute winner.
The Moroccan, on loan from Liverpool, cut inside from the left and powered his shot into the top corner.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: “The lads recovered very quickly from the disappointment of going behind. They gave us a run around in the first half but we stuck in there.”
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