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.

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.

Rooney’s goal machine continues against Fulham.

Manchester United went back to the top of the table with their 3-0 over Fulham on Sunday but not before Chelsea went ahead a day before with their thumping 4-1 win over West Ham United a day before.  Chelsea are two points behind the current leaders United and the only edge they have right now is a game in hand. In another match Arsenal carried their winning form by defeating Hull City by 2-1 as they also went joint second with the result. 

 

Manchester United was prepared to face a strong Fulham side as the visitors had thrashed them 3-0 in the previous meeting. With no Giggs and Owen in the side and Scholes rested,  Sir Alex had to put some extra effort. The first half went in vain for both the teams as none could capitalise the smaller advantages in the proceedings, Berbatov header came close to scoring in the first half . Second half started with a cracker with Wayne Rooney scoring his first of the match in 30 seconds from the start. Berbatov flicked a neat header on for Rooney, who slipped a pass left to Nani. Nani then placed a perfect pass to Rooney who netted it without any difficulty. Rooney again scored to double the United’s lead in the 82nd minute  when Berbatov got the ball and after controlling, dribbling it gave the ball to Rooney to finish it. Things were finally wrapped up by Dimitar Berbatov who made it 3-0 in the 87th minute. The score line stayed till the final whistle. 

 

Chelsea was held to a 1-1 score line till half time when Scott Parker countered blues’ lead through Alex Rodrigo in the 15th minute. But there was no stopping them in the second half where they scored three more goals through Didier Drogba and Malouda to make the things clear for Chelsea. 

 Other results are:

 Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Blackburn Rovers 

 Birmingham City 2-2 Everton 

 Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Wigan Athletic 

 Burnley 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 

 Stoke City 0-0 Aston Villa    

Image 1 source: manutd.com

Image 2 source: chelseafc.com

Everton dashes Manchester United’s title hopes.

Manchester United‘s hopes to retain the premiership flag took a major blow when they lost 1-3 against Everton at Goodison park on Saturday. While their rivals Chelsea andArsenal cruised to victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderlandrespectively. At the bottom of the table Portsmouth’s survival is the top flight is almost becoming elusive after they lost 1-2 against Stoke City at home.

Leaders Chelsea went four poinst clear at the top of the table with 4 points lead over United when Didier Drogba‘s goal in each half made the task easy for the visitors. Drogba got is first in the 39th minute when Ballack slided a superb ball across the face of goal for Drogba to finish in he made no mistakes. In the 66th minute Drogba got his second in a relatively easy way when he held of two defenders before firing into an empty net.

Man United took the early lead in the 16th minute through Dimitar Berbatov who shot the ball well past the goalkeeper from six yards. Just three minutes later Everton equalised when Bilyaletdinov cleverly used Wes Brown to conceal a wicked left-foot shot that left Van der Sar still at his spot. The teams went into the break with 1-1 scoreline. Much was expected from Sir Alex who knows how to turn the tables but it was not United‘s day. In the 76th minute Dan Gosling scored through the cross from Steven Pienaar‘s cross from the left giving the home side the much awaited lead. Just when United were trying to level Everton sealed their victory with another one in the 90th minute through Rodwell giving them the much deserved victory.

Final score of Saturday’s matches are:

Everton 3-1 Manchester United
Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland
West Ham United 3-0 Hull City
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
Portsmouth 1-2 Stoke City

Manchester United first win of 2010, Chelsea strikes 7.

Finally the weather didn’t play much of spoil sport as six of the seven matches of theleague went as per schedule much to the delight of the crowd with matches ending up with too many on the scoring card. The day belonged to the leaders Chelsea who thrashed mid tablers Sunderland with 7 goals, the match was over at half time when the blues were leading 4-0.
It seems like Liverpool may now be fighting for the seventh place after their recent 1-1 draw against Stoke City leaving them only one point ahead of Birmingham Citywhose match against Portsmouth was postponed due to water logged pitch at the Fratton Park. The decision came after the official were unhappy with the ground conditions at 1000 Hours BST.

At Old Trafford, the good news seems to be coming with the return of goal keeper Edwin Van der Sar to the side andManchester United winning their first match of 2010 with a 3-0 victory over Burnley. Senegalese Mame Biram Dioufmade his dream debut for the red devils with a goal in the last minute of the match. Going into the match,Manchester United took more than an hour to score the first goal of the match as the visiting side were playing well under their new manager Brian Laws. With many missed opportuinities from both the sides, the first Goal was scored in the 63rd minute by Dimitar Berbatov when Wayne Rooney’s brilliant pass got him and he ended it with a close range left footed shot from a very acute angle which found the net thus giving relief to 75000+fans in the staduim. Second goal followed just 5 minutes later, this time it was Wayne Rooney scoring for the first time in 2010 whenBerbatov’s shot was blocked by the goalkeeper which got Rooney who found his way shot the ball in the crowded penalty area to double the lead. United sealed off the victory with a third when Mame Biram Diouf headed a free ball to score his first on his first.

Other results of Saturday were:
Tottenham Hotspurs 0-0 Hull City
Wolves 0-2 Wigan
Everton 2-0 Manchester City

Chelsea wins with a Terry Goal.

One of the toughest match of the premiership featuring Chelsea and Manchester United, the hosted just managed to win from a lone goal by John Terry from a set piece in the 76th minute. With the result Chelsea go 5 points clear and have a new rival at second place that is their London neighbours Arsenal who thrashedWolverhampton Wanderers 4-1. Gunners are now second with higher positive goal difference and they may even narrow the gap with a game in hand.

The match started in front of electrifying crowd at Stamford bridge with a heavy amount of play in the midfield. Soon in the fifth minute United’s goalkeeper Van der Sar was tested when Ivanovic shot had to be saved. Otherwise the visiting side dominated the possession but could not convert it, the first real chance came in the 29th minute when a brilliant pass by Fletcher found Giggs who shot to high over Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech. Chelsea kept on creating half chances but both the teams went into the half with a 0-0 score line.

Second half saw plenty of action and the eventual goal but before that in the 67th minute Reds’ had their best effort came. A quick free-kick from Anderson allowed Rooney to press menacingly on into the final third. He played a clever one-two with Antonio Valencia and then drilled his shot inches wide. As the situation was getting hotter on the field even little fouls were an ignitions to big fights and by the end of the match three players from both the teams were showed yellow card.
The goal finally came for the home side in the 76 minute when referee Martin Atkinson gave a foul to Darren Fletcher who had clearly won the ball from Ashley Cole. Frank Lampard took the free kick, the ball curled in to find John Terrywho headed it into the back of United net. With the result Chelsea is intact with a 100 per cent home record under Carlo Ancelotti this season that too conceding only one goal.
It was Chelsea’s day and they made everything out of it, Drogba tried his best but was checked by United every time so was the case with Anelka. A positive note for the visiting team who played well expect the decision that went against.
Other results from this weekend are:
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton Wanderers
Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Portsmouth
Manchester City 3-3 Burnley
Tottenham Hotspurs 2-0 Sunderland
Hull City 2-1 Stoke City
West Ham United 1-2Everton
Wigan 1-1 Fulham