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Alex Dimond's Chelsea Special: Efficient Blues Do Just Enough To Win
Group D sewn up, and plenty of energy saved for the weekend's big clash...
Nov 25, 2009 5:05:11 PM
On paper, it was a dead rubber (at least in terms of knockout qualification). Inside the stadium, it was a dead atmosphere. On the pitch, well, it was a deathly dull performance from both sides.
Ultimately it was only Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka who injected a flicker of life into a less than memorable game against Porto, scoring the only goal in the 69th minute.
The Frenchman nodded home from point-blank range after a cross from compatriot Florent Malouda — who was arguably the game's top performer.
It was the third time the striker has scored the decisive goal in just five Champions League games this season.
But this was not a game worth much analysis.
Of the two sides, it was Porto who showed more of a desire to get a decisive goal, one they needed if they were to overcome the Blues at the top of Group D.
And while Chelsea displayed enough to remand observers of their superior overall quality, in general they seemed happy to make life difficult, confident in the belief their opponents would not find a way past.
Other than Fernando Belluschi's bar-clattering first-half drive, the home side never quite looked like disproving that notion.
In the end Anelka's goal was a bonus, rendering the final group match against APOEL Nicosia on December 8 insignificant. Rotation will be the order of that day.
With one eye clearly already on the weekend's visit to Arsenal, however, Chelsea got exactly the result they wanted in Porto — with the minimum effort expended.
"A draw would have been a good result, but we were coming here to win the game," captain John Terry said after the game.
"Coming here is always going to be difficult, they are a very good side, but we dealt with it well and got the result we wanted."
Their manager was pleased with the night's work, especially after making a number of changes from the weekend's victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers and seeing Yuri Zhirkov and Didier Drogba come through 90 minutes.
"We scored the goal and then controlled the rest of the game," Ancelotti said.
"I changed some players from the last match, so the team is in good condition."
The Italian then revealed that Frank Lampard might even be fit enough to start against Arsenal at the weekend.
On tonight's evidence, however, even after two weeks out the Englishman will barely be more rested than many of his team-mates.
Alex Dimond, Goal.com UK
Ultimately it was only Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka who injected a flicker of life into a less than memorable game against Porto, scoring the only goal in the 69th minute.
The Frenchman nodded home from point-blank range after a cross from compatriot Florent Malouda — who was arguably the game's top performer.
It was the third time the striker has scored the decisive goal in just five Champions League games this season.
But this was not a game worth much analysis.
Of the two sides, it was Porto who showed more of a desire to get a decisive goal, one they needed if they were to overcome the Blues at the top of Group D.
And while Chelsea displayed enough to remand observers of their superior overall quality, in general they seemed happy to make life difficult, confident in the belief their opponents would not find a way past.
Other than Fernando Belluschi's bar-clattering first-half drive, the home side never quite looked like disproving that notion.
In the end Anelka's goal was a bonus, rendering the final group match against APOEL Nicosia on December 8 insignificant. Rotation will be the order of that day.
With one eye clearly already on the weekend's visit to Arsenal, however, Chelsea got exactly the result they wanted in Porto — with the minimum effort expended.
"A draw would have been a good result, but we were coming here to win the game," captain John Terry said after the game.
"Coming here is always going to be difficult, they are a very good side, but we dealt with it well and got the result we wanted."
Their manager was pleased with the night's work, especially after making a number of changes from the weekend's victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers and seeing Yuri Zhirkov and Didier Drogba come through 90 minutes.
"We scored the goal and then controlled the rest of the game," Ancelotti said.
"I changed some players from the last match, so the team is in good condition."
The Italian then revealed that Frank Lampard might even be fit enough to start against Arsenal at the weekend.
On tonight's evidence, however, even after two weeks out the Englishman will barely be more rested than many of his team-mates.
Alex Dimond, Goal.com UK
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