Double delight for Chelsea at Wembley.

Premier League champions Chelsea completed their FA Cup double with a narrow 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at the Wemby stadium here on saturday. Didier Drogba scored the only goal through a free kick to seal the double win for the blues. 

The match started in front of a pack stadium. Pompeys had a decent support who came out to play for pride and prove that they still belong to the premier league but it was not their day… Carlo Ancelotti‘s side had all eyes on the cup with nothing to loose. After fighting till the last match for the barclays premier league the blues wanted to finish with a double and they did. 

The first half went goal less with both the team unable to get past the net. Chelsea suffered a big blow in the 35th minute when Kevin-Prince Boateng‘s tackle injured German mid fielder Michael Ballack. WIth World Cup less than a month this can be a huge blow for him, being out of contract this may possibly be his last match for the blues. After that Drogba hit the woodwork in the 39th minute. 

Portsmouth had a brilliant chance to take the lead when Dindane skipped around Chelsea substitute Juliano Belletti and into the area and when the Brazilian bundled the Pompey striker over, referee Chris Foy pointed to the penalty spot. Unfortunately for Pompey, Boateng’s spot kick went straight down the middle of the goal and Cech saved with his feet. And just at the hour mark, Didier Drogba scored througha free kick when he shot around the wall and in off the post. Chelsea was 1-0 up which and the score line stayed till the end. The Chelsea players and fans were over joyed with the resut giving them the first ever double.

Forlan’s extra time winner ends Fulham’s dream run.

Diego Forlan‘s extra time winner four minutes from time dashed Fulham‘s hope of clinching theri maiden European title after Atletico Madrid defeated the Englisg side by 2-1. The win for the Spanish underdogs has got them a much sign of relief after ending theri 48 year title drought in Europe. With this Atletico Madrid became the fourth Spanish team to win the trophy in seven years. (including formerly known as UEFA Cup).

The match started with a pack to capacity crowd with an evenly matched suporters from both sides coming all the way from their respective countries. Atletico Madrid had the first chance at the goal when the ball hit the wood work. In just the 12th minute Sergio Agüero quickly countered on Danny Murphy‘s misplaced pass and finds Diego Forlan, who drags his shot against the foot of Mark Schwarzer‘s left-hand post. The Spanish were narrowly ahead. the signal from them was sure that they will be only attacking. Just minutes later Fulham replied with a narrow miss when  Zoltán Gera‘s volley goes high over David de Gea‘s crossbar.

Goal: Atletico finally got the break through in the 32nd minute when Sergio Agüero‘s mis-hit shot past Mark Schwarzer was diverted to Diego Forlan who made no mistake in breaking the deadlock. But again Fulham replied with leveling the score just five minutes later after Simon Davies volleyed Zoltán Gera‘s chip to the back post past  Atletico‘s keeper David de Gea. The teams went into the break all square at one all.

Second half saw many substitutions in the match, surprising for Fulham was bring back Bobby Zamora as early as  the 55th minute. Both sides tired to score but the score line stayed as it is. The match went into extra time. in the opening half, first in the 11th minute José Manuel Jurado‘s cross flicks off the head of Brede Hangeland and finds reaches Diego Forlan at the far post and steadies himself and fires back across goal, forcing Mark Schwarzer to stretch out to save. And finally in the 26th minute of the ET Diego Forlan cleverly back heeled Sergio Agüero‘s low cross to gave Atletico the vital lead in the dying minutes. The scoreline remained 2-1 much to their delight.

 

Champions Chelsea!!!

Didier Drogba‘s hat-trick and whole lot of goals from others sealed Chelsea‘s premier league title with 8-0 win over Wigan Athletic in the final league match of the season. The blues gave no chance to Manchester United who also won their last match against Stoke City by 4-0. Tottenham Hotspur secured the champions league qualifying place for Europe for the first time in decades despite loosing 4-2 against already relegated Burnley.

Terry & Co took only 6 minutes to get the first one on board when Nicolas Anelka fired the ball past the net. Second goald followed at the half hour mark when Frank Lampard had taken Drogba‘s return pass and surged into the area where he was stopped by Caldwell who grabbed a handful of the front of his shirt. The referee pointed to the spot and the Englishmen converted with no problems. The first half was over and it seemed that the title will surely be at Stamford Bridge this season. 

But Chelsea wanted more… Salomon Kalou got another one for the blues after running in from the right, coordinating with Lampard and finally getting the ball at the back of the net. In less than 2 minutes it was four for Chelsea when Anelka from out wide volleyed Ivanovic‘s crossfield ball with perfect precision across the goal keeper and to find the net. The match was not over yet, the Drogba drubbing followed with 3 back to back goals in the span of 15 minutes from the Ivorian and the things were finally wrapped up by Joe Cole in the 90th minute much to the delight of the over-joyed Stamford Bridge crowd.

 

Chelsea scored a century of goals this season which definately put them in the driving seat. Didier Drogba also the the goalden boot for the maximum number of goals in the premier league this season. He netted 29 goals in 33 games for the blues. Getting the hands on the trophy since surely 2006 must have surely brought great smiles over the whole of Stamford Bridge.

At Old trafford, Sir Alex fielded the best possible squad for the day to gain advantage upon any favourable news from London. The match started with Darren Fletcher scoring at half hour mark when Vidic directed the ball in to the crowed area where Fletcher touched the ball to get into the net. By the time United scored first Chelsea was 2-0 ahead. Second followed for United just 6 minutes later when Ryan Giggs fired close ranger past the goal keeper. Second half goals followed when Danny Higgingbotham scored an own goal for Wigan in the 54th minute. A fourth Reds goal arrived in the 84th minute when substitute Ji-sung Park produced a diving header from Giggs’ corner to make it 4-0. But the scoreline was for pride alone. By that time Chelsea has sealed the title bid with 7 goals. It was an elusive task for the red devils to win with a realtiver easier team for both of them and rest is history.

The final scores are:

Arsenal 4-0 Fulham

Aston Villa 0-1 Blackburn Rovers

Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Birmingham City

Burnley 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea 8-0 Wigan Athletic

Everton 1-0 Portsmouth

Hull City 0-0 Liverpool

Manchester United 4-0 Stoke City

West Ham United 1-1 Manchester City

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Sunderland

Wins for the reds and blues take it to the last day.

The top of the table remained unchanged after Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield while defending champions Manchester United also carried their winning form after they narrowly edged past Sunderland with a one goal advantage. After a long time some happiness around Fratton Park was seen when bottom players Portsmouth won 3-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was all playing for pride but this would go a long was helping their morale for the FA Cup.

In the exciting match at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester City came from behind against Aston Villa to beat them 3-1 thus keeping their hopes alive for the champions league football next season. The two goals in the span of 90 seconds changed the game. It was Carlos Tevez penalty in the 41st minute followed by quick shot by Adebayor who counter the visitors lead.

Chelsea put another step forward to the premier league title after thrashing Liverpool with two goals, Much was expected from the home side but it seems the reds are sailing. A foolish back pass by Steven Gerrard saw Didier Drogba easily putting the ball behind the net in the 33rd minute. Frank Lampard made it 2-0 after the break to double the blues lead. The match ended with the same score line.

At the stadium of light, Nani‘s solo goal in the 26th minute held the red devils to a narrow victory, he fired low and hard past the Scottish stopper to give United the lead making his fouth goal of the season. Wayne Rooney retured for the red devils but failed to make any major impact to put them through. The one point trail is what is pinching United. The next weekend will be like a final of a cup which will decide the champions, of course with Chelsea having the upper hand.

pic source: chelseafc.com, manutd.com

Forlan’s goal takes Atletico a step ahead of Reds.

Diego Forlan‘s goal within the opening 10 minute handed the hosts Club Atlético de Madrid a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League while in the other semi final in Germany, both Hamburger SV and Fulham had to settle for a goal less draw.

                                                                                                                 Pic source: timesonlice.co.uk

In just the 9th minute of the game, Jurado made the ball for Forlan but he completely mistimed his header but the ball fell sweetly for him and he bundled it past the scrambling duo of keeper Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher. Liverpool tried to get back in the game when Yossi Benayoun popped up in dangerous attacking positions and Steven Gerrard serving notice of his threat in the 19th minute as drove but could only hit the side netting. The scoreline stayed the same till the end with many other small chances for them. With this Atlético Madrid attempt to reach their first major European final since the 1985/86 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup but the job is half done, with just a single goal lead over the reds and the next match at Anfield in a week’s time, the proceedings may may prove difficult for the visiting team.

Hamburger SV will be happy on the result at the Hambury Arena as they were sucessfull in holding the visiting team for a goal less draw which gives them a clear away goals rule advantage when the return leg will be played at the Creavan Cottage. And one can also say that their 15+ hours journey didnt tire them psycologically. The match saw both the teams concentrating on the defence. Fulham‘s Bobby Zamora and SV‘s van Nistelrooy were given very less room to break free. Nistelrooy came close for scoring in the final minutes of the first half but that was too easy to go past the net. Now all eyes will be at the return leg which will be like a Cup semi final.

Defending champions tastes huge defeat while Bayern edges past Lyon.

Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan stalled defending champions Barcelona‘s easy run by beating them 3-1 at San Siro leaving the Spaniards with huge uphill task in the return leg at Nou Camp. While in the other match, German giants Bayern Munich narrowly won against French side Olympique Lyonnais by a sole Arjen Robben goal in the second half. One can say that the long bus journey may have made a huge impact on the visiting team with both the visitors loosing in the two matches.

Barcelona must have been watch the sucess run of their former striker Saumuel Eto’o at Inter and also the tactics of the most popular coach Jose Mourinho. The match started with a full house at San SIro. It was Barcelona who shocked the home crowd when it broke the dead lock in the 19th minute when Maxwell surges away down the left and Inter allow him too much time and space to reach the byline. Then he cuts the ball back to the speeding Pedro Rodríguez, who calmly fires a low finish past Júlio César from 12 metres. But the joy was short lived. Just 10 minutes later Inter equalised through Wesley Sneijder when he got the ball from Diego Milito in space on the left and the Dutch midfielder drives it low past the Barca goalkeeper from 15 metres. The teams went to the break with all square at 1-1.

In the second half, just three minutes after the re-start Inter took the lead for the first time in the match when Diego Milito is again the provider as he charges deep into the area and clips the pass inside to Maicon, who takes a quick touch before carving his finish across the goalkeeper from close range. And just at the hour mark Inter made it 3-1 when Diego Milito nodded past the keeper after Wesley Sneijder‘s header was misguided for the goal. With only one positive that is the sole away goal, Barcelona need to win this by 2-0 or by a minimum margin of 4-1 if they themselves concede a goal.

In the match at thw Allianz Arena, Munich a solo second half goal by Arjen Robben took the home side to a narrow victory in the first leg. He fired in a speculative effort from 25 metres that swerves viciously and wrong-foots Hugo Lloris. All that happened after Franck Ribéry and Jérémy Toulalan had been sent off. As told by the Lyon coach, the match is not over yet as Stade de Gerland has a lot to be seen with players fress from the off the field problems.

Chelsea’s step forward to the premiership title.

Chelsea are back at the top of the premiership table after a controversial goal by Chelsea‘s striker Didier Drogba took the blues to a narrow victory by 2-1 over Manchester United at Old Trafford in an early kick-off on Saturday. This has put a serious dent for the champions United to retain the league trophy. In other matches, Arsenal edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 with a 90th minute goal by Nickalas Bendtner while relegation threatened Portsmouth held Blackburn Rovers to a goal less draw at Fratton Park. 

Pre-match Manchester United knew that this one is not going to be a cake walk specially with Rooney‘s absence. Chelsea broke the dead lock in the 19th minute when Florent Malouda skipped past United defenders in style,and fired a low shot into the box where Joe Cole, who was closely held, backheeled the ball brilliantly through the legs of Evra and into the far corner. 

 

In the second Chelsea‘s lead was doubled but with a huge controversy, Just in as a substitute, Didier Drogba was clearly in offside position but the linesman was too aware to see that and as a result the play carried on, with United players protesting, and Drogba lashed into the roof of the net. the small section of Chelsea fans which came all the way from London were in peak joy. But just 2 minute later United got one back when Nani‘s ran in from the left and his low cross bounced off Cech onto Macheda‘s chest and into the net but it was looking too late. The “comeback kings” as Manchester United is known as tried their best to come level closest being Dimitar Berbatov‘s shot in the injury time which went straight into the hands of the Cech. Thus, the final Score Chelsea 2-1 Man United.

Manchester United’s four retains top position after Chelsea’s struck seven.

Manchester United completed the double over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok with an emphatic 4-0 win in the late kick-off on Saturday but not before Chelseastruck with a spectacular seven over Aston Villa at home. Meanwhile third placedArsenal’s title challenge suffered a major halt when an injury time goal by Kevin Phllips made the gunners lead go in vain and eventually they had to settle for a draw.

 

Manchester United got the lead in a pretty unusual fashion when in the crowded penalty area after Jloyd Samuelgot the ball and side footed into his own net in the 38th minute. The teams went into the break with 1-0 in home side’s favour.

Second half was truly Man United’s with three goals in it. Dimitar Berbatov got his first when a deflected ball by the goal keeper landed in his foot who simply tapped it behind the net. He got his second in the 78th minute when Nani teased Bolton defenders with some lovely footwork on
the left flank and pulled the ball back for Berbatov to complete. Finally things were wrapped up by Darron Gibson8 minutes from time when he came in as a substitute.

 

Chelsea gave a strong signals to the leaders after they thrashed Aston Villa with 7-1 scoreline. Frank Lampardnetted 4 times for the blues and Florent Malouda scored twice and one for Kalou in the win. Needless to say… but Villa equalised at 1-1 when Carew tapped a cross over the line at the far post but that was it for the visiting side.

Arsenalsuffered a major setback against Birmingham City after Samir Nasri’s 82nd minute lead was cancelled byKevin Phillips in the injury time of the match.

Other results were:

Hull City 2-0 Fulham

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Portsmouth

West Ham United 0-1 Stoke City

Wolves 0-0 Everton

Gunner’s planner since 96… Arsene Wenger.

Arsène Wenger was born on 22 October 1949  in Strasbourg and grew up in the nearby village of Duttlenheim with an older sister and brother. His parents owned an automobile spare-parts business in Strasbourg. He played as a defender for various amateur clubs while studying at theUniversity, where he completed a master’s degree in 1971. But soon after  In 1981, he obtained a manager’s diploma and was appointed the coach of the Strasbourg’s youth team.

 

 It was Bruce Rioch’s sacking in August 1996 that led to his arrival ay Highbury. And for former Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier, the then technical director of the French Football Federation, recommended Wenger to in the summer of 1996. 

He is the most successful manager in the history of Arsenal in terms of trophies and is also the club’s longest-serving manager. Wenger is the only non-British manager to win the Double in England, having done so in 1998 and 2002. In 2004, he became the only manager in FA Premier League history to go through the entire season without defeat. 

Wenger is widely regarded as one of the world’s best managers after the success he has enjoyed at AS Monaco and Arsenal. It was in his time great players like Fredrik Ljungberg, Thierry Henry , Robert Pirès, Patrick Vieira and Rémi Garde entered the gunners brigade to become one of the most sucessful team in Europe. The best thing about Wenger is the selection of players. He picks up players from many unexplored part of the world( in terms of football) and make them the headliners everywhere. 

His honours at Arsenal includes League championship 1998, 2002, 2004, FA Cup winners 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, Voted ‘Manager of the Year’ 1998, 2002, 2004 more cheer for us is that Wenger signed a three year extension to his current contract, taking his tenure at the Club to June 2011.

Rooney, Park makes way for Manchester United to the table top.

Manchester Unitedretained the table top position after winning with a narrow 2-1 score line over Liverpool at Old Trafford while their title rivals Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood park. With a game in hand, the blues are 4 point behind Manchester United who will be point clear at the top even ifChelsea wins their next match.

 

On Saturday, Arsenal comfortably beat West Ham United by 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium but not before Thomas Vermaelen was red carded and Gunners goalkeeper Manuel Almunia saved a penalty in the first half. Arsenal’s manager Sir Arsene Wenger was reported to be furious over the incident as the contact was minimum but the referee had no hesitation in sending him off.

At Old Trafford it was Liverpool who went ahead by a Fernando Torres header in the 5th minute of the match but the joy was short lived for the visitors as Wayne Rooney cancelled the reds lead in the 11th minute whenValencia ran into the box and was fouled by Mascherano inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.Rooney’s penalty kick was saved by Reina but the rebound went past the net to level the things out. The teams went into the break with a 1-1 score line.

 

In the second half, Manchester United got the much awaited lead just a minute before the hour mark whenRooney passed the ball to Darren Fletcher who gave a wonderful cross and Park Ji Sung ran past the Liverpooldefenders to head home the winner much to the delight of the home crowd. The final score remained 2-1 to putUnited on the top of the table.

Now all eyes will be on Tuesday when Chelsea will be playing bottom players Portsmouth, any obstacles for theblues here can make them pay for the title this year too…

Other results of the weekend football were:

Saturday:

Aston Villa 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Everton 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

Portsmouth 3-2 Hull City

Stoke City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham City

Wigan Athletic 1-0 Burnley

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham United

Sunday:

Fulham 1-2 Manchester City

Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Chelsea