[Liverweb] Chelsea Match Report

Liverweb FA Cup Match Report

Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Kewell,
Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Garcia, Crouch

Subs Used : Cisse for Crouch (69), Traore for Kewell (78), Morientes
for Garcia (81)

Subs Unused : Dudek, Hamann

Ref : Graham Poll

Att : 64,575

---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

The Reds deservedly went through to the FA Cup final with a more
than convincing two one win over Chelsea. A full Old Trafford ground
saw the two sides go head to head for a fifth time this season. The
atmosphere was upped before the game and the pressure was really on.

The Reds defended the end with their own fans in during the first
half and kicked off. Chelsea lined up with a very narrow formation
and the first thoughts as you sat their were that we could get at
their back line using the full width of the pitch. With a player
like Harry Kewell on the pitch for the Reds we had a perfect man for
the job as well. On five minutes Kewell did attack his man only to
see his cross go just to far in front of Crouch and Garcia.

At the other end a couple of minutes later Hyypia nearly set up
Crespo but the Reds managed to clear for a corner from which Drogba
headed wide of the goal. On thirteen minutes the Reds nearly scored
through Alonso. His cross-shot with pace nearly had Cudicini beaten.
One touch either way would probably have done the trick but Cudicini
managed to deflect the ball away to safety.

The Reds were the better side and dominating the midfield by using
good width and trying to get Kewell on the ball whenever possible.
On eighteen minutes though the Reds really should have gone behind
when Drogba came back from an offside position to get on to a ball.
With only Reina to beat he somehow spooned the ball wide and he
became a laughing stock in front of the travelling Kop.

The Reds took the lead minutes after the Drogba chance and it was
well deserved as well. The Reds were awarded a free kick on the edge
of the area as Terry lunged with studs showing towards Garcia. It
was a lucky free kick but you take what you get like that. John Arne
Riise rolled the ball to Gerrard who stopped it and Riise then bent
the ball through the wall and in to the back of the net. A great
goal for the Reds and they were away.

The Reds went from strength to strength with the goal. Harry Kewell
picked the ball up on the right hand side on twenty six minutes and
ran at his man. He took him on and cut inside the box but his low
shot failed to trouble the keeper.

On thirty four minutes the Reds had another opportunity. This time
it was thanks to a loose back header from Terry which gave Crouch a
chance to challenge the keeper. Both men collided but as Terry
cleared the ball both men stayed down and needed treatment. For some
reason Crouch had to go off the pitch to come back on at this point.
Someone explain this rule when in this instance a man from both
sides goes down and just because one is a keeper he stays on but the
other goes off.

The Reds continued to dominate the play and look the side more
likely to score a second than Chelsea equalise. On forty one minutes
Chelsea conceded a free kick on the left side as Geremi stood on
Alonso. The game seemed to be simmering just below boiling point for
a time as Chelsea seemed to think the whole world was against them.

In first half stoppage time Garcia really should have doubled the
Reds' lead. Kewell found himself in acres of space again and put in
a deep cross to the back post. Gerrard took the ball down and after
taking on Del Horno pulled the ball back for Garcia but the Spaniard
skied his shot way over the bar.

The half time interval saw one Chelsea change with Del Horno staying
off the pitch and Arjen the diver Robben coming on. Chelsea got the
game underway again as the Reds looked to build on their lead. The
fear was that non stop pressure would come the Reds' way now but it
didn't materialise straight away. The Reds continued to be the
better side.

That said Chelsea did have the ball in the net on forty nine
minutes. Arjen Robben whipped in a superb free kick which John Terry
headed in at the back post. However Graham poll was quick to
disallow the goal for climbing on Riise and in fairness Terry didn't
complain too much.

On fifty three minutes the Reds converted their dominance to a
second goal. Steve Finnan took a throw from just inside his own
half. Two Chelsea headers later and Garcia was on a free run to
goal. Just as Terry closed in Garcia hit an absolute pearler to send
the Reds into cup final heaven.

The Reds went from strength to strength now and forced Chelsea in to
all the right moves to get them back in to it. On the hour mark
Kewell broke down the left and chipped a ball for Garcia on the edge
of the box. Garcia lashed a volley on target but Cudicini put it
round for a corner.

Chelsea were quick to make the changes and Cole and Duff soon
replaced Geremi and Crespo. The move did finally give some impetus
to the Blues but the two goal cushion was good for the Reds to have.
On sixty eight minutes Robben went on a great run where he took on
three Reds before shooting straight at Reina. It was a warning sign
though. The Reds then brought on Cisse for Crouch as the Reds looked
to use the players pace on the counter.

Chelsea got a foot hold back in to the game on seventy minutes as
Drogba headed a goal which was so avoidable. Riise headed a cross
straight up in to the air where Reina tried to stretch to but missed
and Drogba headed in to the empty net. Now it was certainly game on.

Chelsea now threw everything at the Reds. We just didn't get hold of
the ball enough for a period but in all the time Reina was rarely
called in to exceptional play. The Reds were forced in to another
change on seventy six minutes when Kewell went down injured. Kewell
hobbled off with the physio but the Reds' change wasn't quite ready.
A minute later and Traore came on to restore the eleven-a-side.

Jose Reina picked up a yellow card on eighty minutes when he was
adjudged to have time wasted - which was probably right. Morientes
came on for the last nine minutes in place of Garcia to freshen
things up and did more in that time then Cisse did in all his time
avoiding the ball.

On eighty seven minutes the Reds were temporarily down to nine men
as Sissoko went down injured. He limped off with the physio and
Gerard followed suit with cramp. The Reds though were soon back to
full strength again.

There were five minutes of added time at the end of the game but for
all that time Chelsea created one golden chance. In the final minute
Joe Cole found himself free in the area just eight yards out only to
lash his shot over the bar.

As the final whistle blew the Reds all raced down to the Reds fans
and celebrated another trip to Cardiff. Some of them were there for
the first cup final in Cardiff and some will return for the last one
as well. A great win and one that the Reds well and truly deserved.

MotM : Harry Kewell - took advantage of the space given to him and
showed his great potential going forward. Hyypia and Carragher were
there usual rocks at the back and Sissoko again broke up so much of
the play.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

Match Stats
Chelsea Liverpool
60% Possession 40%
5 Shots On Target 3
5 Shots Off Target 4
3 Blocked Shots 0
8 Corners 3
7 Fouls 16
5 Offsides 2
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0

For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
Liverweb is your one stop site for everything LFC

Get News updates on Liverpool and Liverweb by joining it's mailing list
To join send an email to liverweb-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Liverweb - your one stop site for everything LFC

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/liverweb/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
liverweb-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/