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Played
December 8, 2009 5:45 PM GMT
December 8, 2009 5:45 PM GMT
90′ +3
FULL TIME! Unbelievable-what a shock that was. Chelsea had dominated about 85 minutes of the match yet only manage a draw from that match as Apoel's late equaliser has stunned the home team. What a result that is. Thanks for following tonight's action-have a nice evening.
90′ +2
Belletti fires a wild effort over the bar.
90′ +2
Drogba fires a low shot in from thirty yards out-tipped wide by Chiotis.
90′ +1
Lampard's pass to Borini is badly underhit and easily cut out by an Apoel defender.
90′
Drogba breaks down the left, picks out Joe Cole unmarked in the box but his sidefooted effort is saved by Chiotis.
89′
Super play by Apoel as they really stretch Chelsea with some intricate passing-Terry and Carvalho react smartly to thwart them.
89′
Poursaitidis overhits a cross which is easily caught by Turnbull.
88′
Apoel seem to fancy their chances here-body language has perked up, their fans are fired up and they are giving it a real go.
87′
Goal Nenad Mirosavljevic
86′
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! APOEL HAVE SCORED! Mikel's pass to carvalho is WAY short, and Miroslavejvic latches onto it, and runs through unchallenged to slot past Turnbull. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
85′
Yellow Card Savvas Poursaitidis
85′
GOAL...........OR NOT AGAIN! Lampard's freekick is half cleared, Borini fires a spectacular overhead kick goalwards-forcing Chiotis into a smart save. Terry follows up and fires in the rebound-only for the linesman to flag.
84′
Neat footwork from Zhirkov gets him past two defenders, before Pourssaitides brings him down and concedes a freekick on the left angle of the penalty area.
83′
Slack defending from Apoel almost gifts the ball to Lampard, who tries to slip Borini through, but a covering defender blocks the young Italian.
82′
Chelsea win a freekick after a foul on John Terry.
82′
Substitution 
Marcin Zewlakow 
Mario Breska
Marcin Zewlakow Mario Breska
81′
Pinto fires a speculative effort high and wide for Apoel.
80′
Game just getting stretched as both teams seek to attack.
79′
Super stuff from Cole and Borini. Cole collects the pass, beats his man and then rolls in the young Italian who drops a shoulder neatly before firing across goal but wide.
78′
Didier Drogba neatly collects Lampard's pass. He charges down the left flank, but his cross is woefully overhit.
77′
Lampard's throughball to Belletti is just touched away by an Apoel defender for a corner. Close though. Malouda's corner somehow beats the first man, but is eventually caught by Chiotis.
76′
Couple of speculative efforts from Malouda and Belletti fly high and wide.
75′
Decent spell for Apoel is halted when Lambidas falls theatrically after Zhirkov's challenge.
73′
Elia manages to get to the ball down the Chelsea left, but his cross is easily cleared by Terry.
73′
Substitution 
Gäel Kakuta Fabio Borini
Gäel Kakuta Fabio Borini
72′
One youngster off and another on for Chelsea. Kakuta off, and Borini on.
71′
Malouda gets free in the centre of the Apoel half. He sends a low shot wide of Chiotis goal.
71′
Substitution Kamil Kosowski Nenad Mirosavljevic
Kamil Kosowski Nenad Mirosavljevic
69′
OOO! Joe Cole gets free down the right flank, his lofted ball to the backpost looks to be going out of play but dips sharply and hits the top of the crossbar with Chiotis stranded.
67′
Mishit cross from Malouda almost runs to Lampard in the area, but Jorge does well to slide in and stop the ball reaching the midfielder.
66′
Couple of niggly fouls from Elia and Malouda just break up the flow of the match.
65′
Clash of heads between Kakuta and Elia gives us a little hiatus in proceedings.
64′
Kosowski breaks down the left, but he is well challenged by Belletti when in a decent position.
63′
Joe Cole chases to the by-line, but his cross is easily caught by Chiotis.
62′
Belletti powers down the right flank, but his low cross shot neither picks out a team-mate nor troubles Chiotis as it fizzes low across the Apoel penalty area.
61′
Mikel almost picks out Kakuta with a beautiful pass from the half-way line, Jorge backpedalling just heads the ball clear.
60′
Neat stuff from Kosowski, who tries an ambitious throughball which is easily cut out by Terry.
59′
Mistake by Belletti allows Nuno Morais in down the left. As he shapes to cross, the full back tackles him to give APOEL a corner. Turnbull comes and punches clear, but in doing so catches Didier Drogba.
57′
Back to the normal routine for Chelsea, good spell of possession-relatively untroubled.
56′
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Drogba's shot is inches wide of goal-great attempt.
55′
Drogba wins a freekick in a central area, 25 yards from goal after appearing to have been caught with a flailing arm when contesting for a high ball.
53′
Slight hint of complacency, the Morais shot and now Zhirkov just delays when clearing and almost has the ball stolen off him
51′
OOOOOOO! Apoel force Turnbull into a low sprawling stop as Morais' shot takes a big deflection of John Terry.
50′
Joe Cole picks up the ball on the halfway line, a burst pace sees him hurdle a challenge. He then fires a shot high over Chiotis' bar.
49′
Drogba is hobbling, which is another worry for Chelsea fans.
47′
Kakuta breaks down the right, his low cross is rolled across the box, but Joe Cole just fails to make contact with the cross.
46′
Chelsea have started off the second half exactly as they finished the first-totally comfortable in possession.
And we're off for the second half.
45′ +2
Half Time at Stamford Bridge. Well after APOEL scored it's been all Chelsea, and Essien's super strike, and Drogba's goal have put the home team 2-1 up. Back in fifteen for the second half.
45′ +1
Ambitious pass from Lampard seeking to put Joe Cole away behind the defence, but is overhit and goes behind for an APOEL goalkick.
45′
Two minutes added time at the end of the half.
44′
Corner for Chelsea is swung in, APOEL manage to clear but only as far as Lampard who succeeds only in firing high over the bar.
42′
The midfielder then cracks a low left footed shot from range which goes wide of Chiotis' left hand post.
42′
Half chance for Lampard is blocked by a defender and rolls tamely to Chiotis.
41′
Ball comes to Drogba, who is one on one with a defender. He knocks the ball past his man and when trying to get the ball pushes the defender and gives away a freekick.
40′
Slip from Terry lets APOEL in, eventually Kosowski's low cross is blocked by the Chelsea captain who atones for his error.
39′
Fantastic throughpass from Kakuta is perfectly weighted to Joe Cole, who just delays before shooting-allowing Jorge to put in an excellent last gasp sliding challenge to thwart the England man.
38′
Good long range shot from Malouda-35 yards out, and hit with real venom, just goes narrowly wide of Chiotis' post. The keeper looked ever so slightly relieved.
37′
APOEL players aren't happy as Elia manages to challenge Drogba and felt he hit the ball of the Chelsea striker, only for the referee to give the throw-in Chelsea's way.
36′
Really is a case of attack v defence here, with Chelsea enjoying large spells of possession and APOEL just happy to sit back and keep them at arms length.
34′
Decent spell of possession fro APOEL, without looking threatening before Mikel neatly wins the ball back for Chelsea.
34′
Substitution Altin Haxhi 
Marios Elia
Altin Haxhi Marios Elia
33′
Malouda caught offside as Chelsea look to break down the left again. Meanwhile, bad news for APOEL as Haxia is forced off and Elias comes on.
32′
Super play from Kakuta as APOEL repel a Chelsea attack, Kakuta tracks back to win the ball back and plays the ball to Mikel who finds Belletti. But his low cross is easily claimed by Chiotis.
32′
Injury Altin Haxhi
30′
Nuno Morais is unceremoniously cut down by his former team-mate Carvalho and wins a freekick near the centre circle.
29′
APOEL are struggling to retain possession now, Chelsea really pressing hard.
28′
Good defensive work from Zhirkov this time, easing Kosowski off the ball with his pass, before calmly rolling the ball back to Terry who clears.
27′
Substitution Michael Essien Frank Lampard
Michael Essien Frank Lampard
27′
Chelsea have really taken control of this match, keeping the ball with ease as they enjoy a two minute spell of sustained possession.
26′
Goal Didier Drogba
25′
GOAL!!!! Fair play to Kakuta that was super play. Kakuta dribbles from midfield, and delays his pass before putting Zhirkov in down the left side of the area. His cut back is inch perfect to Drogba who puts Chelsea 2-1 ahead. Super move.
24′
Big APOEL midfielder shoves Kakuta to the ground after the youngster almost gets onto a Mikel pass.
23′
Injury Michael Essien
22′
Yep Essien's come straight off, and look's like Frank Lampard's coming on-worrying sight for Chelsea fans.
21′
Nasty challenge on Essien leaves the midfielder struggling-looks worryingly like a hamstring problem. He's down on the turf and could well be departing this match early. His team-mates look concerned.
20′
All of a sudden the nerves have washed away from Chelsea. Drogba holds of two men and turns sharply before firing a tame shot at Chiotis.
19′
Goal Michael Essien
18′
GOAL!!! Great goal from Essien has Chelsea level. Malouda rolls the ball to Essien thirty yards from goal, he shimmies away from a defender and fires a thunderous low shot in which leaves Chiotis absolutely stranded. Stunning goal!
18′
Yellow Card Yuri Zhirkov
17′
Nasty challenge from Zhirkov earns the left back a yellow card.
17′
Once again Chelsea get free down the left, and Zhirkov wins another corner. However Chiotis comes, and flaps at the corner, but APOEL manage to clear.
16′
Better from the Cypriots-keeping the ball for about a minute or so, and toying with the home team a little in midfield.
14′
APOEL are inviting trouble here, dropping very deep. Belletti's deep cross is headed narrowly wide by Drogba. But Chelsea have plenty of room in the midfield to dictate play.
12′
In fairness to Chelsea, they have started to hit their stride. Malouda and Zhirkov are looking bright down the left and are enjoying absolutely acres of space. However Zhirkov then does well to get into the area, and screws a woeful shot well wide.
10′
GOAL!!!! OR NOT! Malouda gets half a yard down the left, picks his cross to perfection to Joe Cole who heads past Chiotis. But as he wheels away in celebration, the linesman has his flag raised. Still 1-0 APOEL.
9′
Neat interchange from Malouda and Zhirkov puts the marauding leftback away, and with Chiotis indecisive, his captain Michael heads the ball out for him.
8′
Mikel heaves into Kosowski and concedes a freekick. The Nigerian is none to impressed with the decision.
7′
Drogba is narrowly caught offside trying to pick up Malouda's through pass. The Chelsea fans seem a little stunned by the Cypriots goal.
6′
Goal Marcin Zewlakow
5′
GOAL!!!! WHAT A SHOCKER!!!!! APOEL HAVE SCORED!!!! Excellently worked move down the right involving Kosowski and Haxhi. The left back breaks free and pulls the ball right across a flat Chelsea backline who leave Zewlakow unmarked and he slots it pass Turnbull with ease. What a start!
3′
WHOA!! APOEL work an excellently worked freekick, with the ball played short, and then fed down the right to the runner who was unmarked. The ball is pulled back to Kosowski whose header hits Zewlakow whose shot is tame but forces Turnbull into an early sprawling stop.
1′
Bright little glimpse of Kakuta, he nutmegs an APOEL defender, and the ball eventually comes to Zhirkov who wins a corner. The corner is put in by Cole and Terry rises highest to head over the bar. Good early chance.
And we're off at Stamford Bridge.
As for APOEL, well they are lining up 4-4-2, and feature Nuno Morais who is an ex-Chelsea player. They will probably not have the fondest of memories of their 1-0 defeat against Chelsea in Nicosia.
Ok, well the big news for Chelsea is Gael Kakuta starting, and Terry playing-a day after his birthday, and three after he hobbled off with an injury against Man City.
Oh and tonight's referee is from Italy and is Matteo Trefoloni
APOEL Nicosia line up: Chiotis, Poursaitides, Broerse, Paulo Jorge, Haxhi, Morais, Michael, Charalambidis, Pinto, Kosowski, Zewlakow.
Substitutes are: Kissas, Papathanasiou, Satsias, Elia, Jean Paulista, Mirosavljevic, Breska.
First up it's the team news. Chelsea line up: Chelsea: Turnbull, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Mikel, Essien, Joe Cole, Kakuta, Malouda, Drogba. Substitutes are: Hilario, Ivanovic, Lampard, Anelka, Bruma, Borini, Philliskirk.
Evening all, and welcome to tonight's live commentary of the Champions League game between Chelsea and APOEL Nicosia. My name's Alex Stamp and I'll be talking you through tonight's action live from Stamford Bridge.
Match News
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