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Played
November 25, 2009 7:45 PM GMT
Estadio do Dragao
Referee: Jonas Eriksson
November 25, 2009 7:45 PM GMT
Estadio do Dragao
Referee: Jonas Eriksson
90′ +3
And that's it!!! CHELSEA WIN! IT'S ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET! It wasn't pretty, but they've consolidated their position at the head of their group, and this game has acted as good preparation for their Sunday showdown with Arsenal.
85′
Not much keep ball by Chelsea going on, you would have thought they'd be wanting to protect their lead.
83′
Is that a handball? John Terry may have gotten away with one there!
79′
Yellow Card Raúl Meireles
79′
Substitution 
Cristian Sapunaru 
E. Farias
Cristian Sapunaru E. Farias
78′
GREAT SAVE BY CECH!!! Rodriguez, off-balance, nods the ball toward the roof of the net and Cech palms it over! Oh wait, the ref has given a goal-kick. Turns out Cech didn't touch it.
77′
Ancelotti is irate on the touchline, he believes Porto have gotten away with a foul, but I couldn't make out who he was talking about.
76′
Substitution Deco Joe Cole
Deco Joe Cole
73′
Hulk with a HEADER!!! He hasn't pulled it off though.
72′
Porto looking for an instant reaction as they probe around Chelsea's box. So far, though, they have flirted with the penalty box and failed to penetrate it.
71′
Substitution Fernando Belluschi 
Fredy Guarín
Fernando Belluschi Fredy Guarín
69′
GOAL!!! Finally! But it hasn't gone to Porto, it's Chelsea who celebrate as Malouda's low cross is met by Anelka's crisp head! 1-0 to the BLUES!!!
69′
Goal Nicolas Anelka
68′
Substitution Michael Ballack Michael Essien
Michael Ballack Michael Essien
65′
HULK with the VOLLEY! Nope. Over. And wide.
63′
Ooh-er, Hulk with some eye-catching footwork. His right foot does a little jig over the ball as he looks to confuse the Blues.
62′
*Sigh* how boring.
60′
Substitution 
Silvestre Varela Hulk
Silvestre Varela Hulk
59′
When Chelsea are in possession they just don't seem intent on altering the current scoreline, it is clear Porto are the ones looking to steal top spot away from the Blues, but a goal from either side continues to look unlikely as the end product has hardly been effective.
58′
Yellow Card Michael Ballack
56′
The Hulk is stretching by the sidelines - if he is being prepared to come on maybe he can provide something incredible. Even Bruce Banner knows this game could do with it.
54′
Malouda launches an on-the-floor cross along the six-yard line but not one attacker is positioned well enough to get a foot onto the pass! That could easily have led to the opener!
52′
DECO with a shot from outside the box after some forthright ANELKA movement but the former Porto player fails to score against his old club - that's only just fizzed wide!
51′
Yellow Card Fernando Belluschi
49′
Fernando has fouled Drogba and the Ivorian must be hurt because he's given it more roll than a Hovis bap pack.
48′
Porto, like they have in the first half, adopt a positive approach, looking to exert themselves with a defence-splitting pass and a change-of-pace, but Cech continues untroubled.
46′
Porto begin the second half…
45′ +1
That's it for this half! See you in 15! Hopefully the Blues will find their friend - second gear!
45′
…in fact, I've nearly nodded off once or twice.
44′
Apart from a flurry of shots aimed at Cech, neither goalkeeper has been particularly worked this half, and Chelsea have also been fairly uninspiring.
42′
The home side enjoying greater possession, too, as Rolando and Fernando knock the ball around the central zone.
39′
Ballack and Deco inter-link well in the final third but have possession stolen away from their by a resilient Porto.
36′
Hmmm… nothing much to report here. Ricardo Carvalho is aerially-dominant, but it's a bit of a bore draw so far.
33′
Porto are getting the better of the run of play at the moment, and have upped the pace of the game somewhat as Chelsea back off.
30′
Drogba down the other end trying to volley in a strike but it's quite possible he just booted the ball OUTSIDE of the stadium. An extraordinarily high shot!
29′
BELUSCHIIIIIIII!!!!! HE'S HIT THE BAR!!!! WHAT A HIT!!!!! CECH LIVES ANOTHER DAY!
28′
Chelsea, of course, have a "top four" clash with Arsenal on Sunday, and while the Gunners have an extra day's rest, the Blues will be careful not to over-exert themselves in Portugal.
25′
Bit of handbags here as Malouda is getting hairy. Fernando of Porto was defending the other side, but things may just get pushy tonight if they're not careful.
23′
Arguably the biggest improvement to Chelsea's front-line is the creative aspect of their two strikers DROGBA and ANELKA. Past managers have elected not to field the pair together, but both can play key passes and have accumulated a good number of assists already this season. Nicolas again, in the creative role here, but he slightly overhits his pass for a goal-kick.
21′
Belluschi with a shot!!! Petr CECH saves well, AND SAVES AGAIN from the follow up! AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!!! FOUR quick blocks from the Chelsea glovesman! Good reflexes, he stayed alert well there! A warning shot fired by Porto!
20′
BALLACK!!! Carefully-placed shot by the German, but the Porto 'keeper gets mitts to it.
19′
Interesting note, DECO wins a round of applause as he goes to take a corner kick, the home fans obviously still thankful for the playmaker's past contribution to the club regardless of his new allegiance. CARVALHO receives similar treatment.
18′
Malouda and Zhirkov so far linking well on the left.
15′
Drogba with one of his own but that's high of the target… it's a corner though.
13′
ANELKAAAAAAAA!!! GOOD HIT! That troubled the glovesman!
12′
Porto in a promising position on the right hand side about to diagonally cut toward the box but the referee blows for a foul. The game has taken on a medium to slow tempo when Chelsea are without the ball.
8′
Chelsea's rearguard has been in super stifling form both within English terrain, and on the continent, but with the inclusion of Yuri Zhirkov at the expense of Ashley Cole, the balance was alleged to be upset. The Russian, however, is playing well so far, supplementing the attacking yet showing good enough discipline to return to the full back berth post haste.
7′
The play is end to end, but neither side's attacking activity has been proved potent…
5′
Rodriguez plays the nudge and move tactic down the right-hand flank, trying to knock the ball passed Ivanovic in order to evade the defender but Branislav intercepts excellently.
4′
Ivanovic's wayward cross fails to meet an attacking wider. Chelsea, though, are making full use of the width of the pitch.
3′
Falcao, back into defence for Bruno Alves, Porto are playing keep ball around the backline, just settling into the tie.
1′
JOHN TERRY wins the coin-toss and CHELSEA kick-off! The Blues skipper dons the captain's armband for an incredible 300th game this evening! At 28, you wouldn't bet against him considerably adding to that haul.
CHELSEA: 4-4D-2: Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Zhirkov; Ballack, Mikel Obi, Deco, Malouda; Anelka, Drogba.
PORTO: 4-3-3: Beto; Sapunaru, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Alvaro Pereira; Belluschi, Fernando, Raul Meireles; Varela, Falcao, Cristiano Rodriguez.
Without further ado, here are the OFFICIAL line-ups…
Hello and welcome to the LIVE Goal.commentary for Chelsea's trip to Porto! It's been a mixed week for the English representatives in the Champions League, as Arsenal cemented their top spot standing in their group while Liverpool were forced to drop into the Europa League come the New Year. Chelsea, though, can also consolidate their position in their group with a positive result at Porto!
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
14 | 4 |
|
Mario Gomez
Striker Bayern Munich |
13 | 0 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
10 | 2 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
7 | 0 |
|
Didier Drogba
Striker Chelsea |
6 | 0 |
