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Played
August 6, 2011 3:00 PM BST
Referee: Craig Thomson
August 6, 2011 3:00 PM BST
Referee: Craig Thomson
Rangers 1-3 Chelsea: Daniel Sturridge double sees visitors recover from loss of early goal to end pre-season in style
Young Englishman continues to stake claim for a regular role at Stamford Bridge as two clinical finishes turn pre-season clash in the favour of Andre-Villas Boas' side
Getty Images
By Chris Myson at Ibrox Stadium
Two clinical finishes from Daniel Sturridge helped Chelsea to recover from a goal behind to comfortably beat Rangers 3-1 in their final pre-season friendly at Ibrox.
The match burst into life when Nikica Jelavic headed the hosts into an early lead, but two Daniel Sturridge goals, both capitalising clinically on defensive errors, soon had Chelsea ahead going into half-time.
The second half started quietly, but the Premier League side continued to dominate possession and Florent Malouda came off the substitutes' bench to make it three. Frank Lampard missed a penalty moments later as the visitors wasted a chance to make what perhaps would have been an unjust three-goal victory.
In the end, though, Chelsea were worthy winners and boss Andre-Villas Boas will be happy with how his debut pre-season has gone at the helm.
The Gers came into the game hoping to find some momentum after their disappointing exit from the preliminary round of the Champions League. First-team stalwarts such as Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Nikica Jelavic all played and there was also a first start for Kyle Bartley since he returned to the club on loan from Arsenal.
For Chelsea the match represented their final opportunity in pre-season before the start of the Premier League season next weekend. The Blues named a near full-strength side, with Fernando Torres, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry all amongst the starters and Alex, who has been struggling for fitness, a welcome name on the teamsheet in defence.
The game kicked off with Ibrox filled to capacity and a boisterous home crowd, while the visitors from London also had their usual strong away following behind the goal.
It was the hosts who broke the deadlock with a goal after just six minutes. Captain Steven Davis surged from midfield and found Steven Naismith on the right hand-side. The winger crossed for Jelavic, who made no mistake with a powerful header past an exposed Petr Cech.
Chelsea attempted to respond, Torres set up John Obi Mikel after Cole’s cut-back, but the holding midfielder could only volley straight at McGregor.
The visitors continued to rally in the immediate aftermath of conceding a goal, Bartley was controversially adjudged to have fouled Torres, but Cole’s free-kick deflected harmlessly wide for a corner.
The equaliser did arrive soon enough. Young Gers full-back Jordan McMillan failed to clear under pressure from Lampard and the ball ricocheted to Sturridge at the far post, who made no mistake with a thumping finish into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Chelsea were in complete control of possession at this point and a second goal followed soon after because of another defensive error. Kirk Broadfoot needlessly dallied on possession and was punished in clinical style by Sturridge, who robbed him before cutting inside to comfortably beat McGregor for his second.
The visitors were rampant at this point and on 33 minutes some great play from Torres saw him beat two men before teeing up Salomon Kalou, whose curling far-post effort was impressively saved by a diving McGregor.
After a quiet opening to the second half, it was the home team who threatened first when Lee Wallace’s cross was headed clear by Terry only as far as Juan Ortiz, who volleyed poorly off target.
Chelsea continued to have more of the ball, but it was not until the 67th minute that they seriously threatened substitute goalkeeper Neil Alexander’s goal after the break when Didier Drogba, fresh off the bench, turned sharply from 18 yards out and fired just wide.
The third goal the visitors’ play deserved soon arrived. Good work from Anelka on the right ensured he found Drogba inside the box, and the Ivorian’s tight turn and cross allowed Malouda, under little pressure, to head home inside the near post.
It should have been four for the visitors on 75 minutes. Drogba surged into the box and was clearly upended by Ortiz inside the box, but Lampard struck a poor spot-kick and Alexander saved comfortably diving to his right, to keep the score respectable.
Chelsea wasted another chance to net a fourth late on when two substitutes combined. Yossi Benayoun threaded a superb through-ball to Anelka, but his tame effort rolled straight to Alexander.
The home side had the last meaningful attempt on goal, John Fleck unleashing a piledriver from 25 yards that forced good work from Cech as an entertaining encounter drew to a close.
Two clinical finishes from Daniel Sturridge helped Chelsea to recover from a goal behind to comfortably beat Rangers 3-1 in their final pre-season friendly at Ibrox.
| Bet: | Returns: | Rangers £15.00 | Draw £35.00 | Motherwell £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Rangers £15.71 | Draw £35.00 | Motherwell £70.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Rangers £14.00 | Draw £43.30 | Motherwell £85.00 |
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The match burst into life when Nikica Jelavic headed the hosts into an early lead, but two Daniel Sturridge goals, both capitalising clinically on defensive errors, soon had Chelsea ahead going into half-time.
The second half started quietly, but the Premier League side continued to dominate possession and Florent Malouda came off the substitutes' bench to make it three. Frank Lampard missed a penalty moments later as the visitors wasted a chance to make what perhaps would have been an unjust three-goal victory.
In the end, though, Chelsea were worthy winners and boss Andre-Villas Boas will be happy with how his debut pre-season has gone at the helm.
The Gers came into the game hoping to find some momentum after their disappointing exit from the preliminary round of the Champions League. First-team stalwarts such as Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Nikica Jelavic all played and there was also a first start for Kyle Bartley since he returned to the club on loan from Arsenal.
For Chelsea the match represented their final opportunity in pre-season before the start of the Premier League season next weekend. The Blues named a near full-strength side, with Fernando Torres, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry all amongst the starters and Alex, who has been struggling for fitness, a welcome name on the teamsheet in defence.
The game kicked off with Ibrox filled to capacity and a boisterous home crowd, while the visitors from London also had their usual strong away following behind the goal.
It was the hosts who broke the deadlock with a goal after just six minutes. Captain Steven Davis surged from midfield and found Steven Naismith on the right hand-side. The winger crossed for Jelavic, who made no mistake with a powerful header past an exposed Petr Cech.
Chelsea attempted to respond, Torres set up John Obi Mikel after Cole’s cut-back, but the holding midfielder could only volley straight at McGregor.
The visitors continued to rally in the immediate aftermath of conceding a goal, Bartley was controversially adjudged to have fouled Torres, but Cole’s free-kick deflected harmlessly wide for a corner.
The equaliser did arrive soon enough. Young Gers full-back Jordan McMillan failed to clear under pressure from Lampard and the ball ricocheted to Sturridge at the far post, who made no mistake with a thumping finish into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Chelsea were in complete control of possession at this point and a second goal followed soon after because of another defensive error. Kirk Broadfoot needlessly dallied on possession and was punished in clinical style by Sturridge, who robbed him before cutting inside to comfortably beat McGregor for his second.
The visitors were rampant at this point and on 33 minutes some great play from Torres saw him beat two men before teeing up Salomon Kalou, whose curling far-post effort was impressively saved by a diving McGregor.
After a quiet opening to the second half, it was the home team who threatened first when Lee Wallace’s cross was headed clear by Terry only as far as Juan Ortiz, who volleyed poorly off target.
Chelsea continued to have more of the ball, but it was not until the 67th minute that they seriously threatened substitute goalkeeper Neil Alexander’s goal after the break when Didier Drogba, fresh off the bench, turned sharply from 18 yards out and fired just wide.
The third goal the visitors’ play deserved soon arrived. Good work from Anelka on the right ensured he found Drogba inside the box, and the Ivorian’s tight turn and cross allowed Malouda, under little pressure, to head home inside the near post.
It should have been four for the visitors on 75 minutes. Drogba surged into the box and was clearly upended by Ortiz inside the box, but Lampard struck a poor spot-kick and Alexander saved comfortably diving to his right, to keep the score respectable.
Chelsea wasted another chance to net a fourth late on when two substitutes combined. Yossi Benayoun threaded a superb through-ball to Anelka, but his tame effort rolled straight to Alexander.
The home side had the last meaningful attempt on goal, John Fleck unleashing a piledriver from 25 yards that forced good work from Cech as an entertaining encounter drew to a close.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In BST
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
5 | 1 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
5 | 0 |
|
Heiðar Helguson
Striker QPR |
5 | 0 |
|
Jason Roberts
Striker Blackburn |
4 | 1 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Manchester United |
4 | 0 |
