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Sheff Utd 0-2 Chelsea | Sheff Utd 0-2 Chelsea |
(40 minutes later) | |
Sheffield United paid the price for a first-half penalty miss as champions Chelsea coasted to a comfortable win. | Sheffield United paid the price for a first-half penalty miss as champions Chelsea coasted to a comfortable win. |
Henrique Hilario had little difficulty in saving Danny Webber's poorly taken penalty after Didier Drogba was adjuged to have fouled Claude Davis. | Henrique Hilario had little difficulty in saving Danny Webber's poorly taken penalty after Didier Drogba was adjuged to have fouled Claude Davis. |
Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front just before the break, with a swerving free-kick that fooled Paddy Kenny. | Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front just before the break, with a swerving free-kick that fooled Paddy Kenny. |
Early in the second-half, Lampard crossed for Michael Ballack, who made it 2-0 with a powerful far-post header. | Early in the second-half, Lampard crossed for Michael Ballack, who made it 2-0 with a powerful far-post header. |
Interview: Jose Mourinho | |
If Webber had scored, the course of the game might have been different, but once he had missed, Chelsea steadily assumed control. | If Webber had scored, the course of the game might have been different, but once he had missed, Chelsea steadily assumed control. |
606: DEBATE Chelsea are looking as consistent as ever FA 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE Chelsea are looking as consistent as ever FA 606: Have your say |
Jose Mourinho's side had the better of the possession and in Lampard and Ballack, players who were able to turn that dominance into goals. | Jose Mourinho's side had the better of the possession and in Lampard and Ballack, players who were able to turn that dominance into goals. |
The one worry for Chelsea, who play Barcelona in midweek in the Champions League, was that the in-form Drogba did not emerge for the second half due to a foot injury. | The one worry for Chelsea, who play Barcelona in midweek in the Champions League, was that the in-form Drogba did not emerge for the second half due to a foot injury. |
United also lost a player in the first half, Michael Tonge limping off early on, after he fell awkardly on his ankle after tackling Joe Cole. | United also lost a player in the first half, Michael Tonge limping off early on, after he fell awkardly on his ankle after tackling Joe Cole. |
Before Drogba's withdrawal the Ivory Coast striker had a busy time of it - unusually in his own penalty area. | Before Drogba's withdrawal the Ivory Coast striker had a busy time of it - unusually in his own penalty area. |
Drogba did well to slide in ahead of Davis after Alan Quinn's cross had got past Hilario. | Drogba did well to slide in ahead of Davis after Alan Quinn's cross had got past Hilario. |
Soon after Drogba again found himself marking Davis, though this time referee Martin Atkinson ruled the Chelsea striker had fouled the United defender for a penalty. | Soon after Drogba again found himself marking Davis, though this time referee Martin Atkinson ruled the Chelsea striker had fouled the United defender for a penalty. |
To Chelsea's relief, Hilario comfortably saved Webber's underhit attempt. | To Chelsea's relief, Hilario comfortably saved Webber's underhit attempt. |
Either side of Webber's penalty, both teams claimed they should have been awarded spot-kicks. | Either side of Webber's penalty, both teams claimed they should have been awarded spot-kicks. |
Ricardo Carvalho might have been penalised for using his arm to stop Rob Hulse's jump, while after Webber's miss Chelsea appealed when Paulo Ferriera's tumbled following a Davis challenge. | Ricardo Carvalho might have been penalised for using his arm to stop Rob Hulse's jump, while after Webber's miss Chelsea appealed when Paulo Ferriera's tumbled following a Davis challenge. |
It was not until the latter stages of the opening half that Chelsea began to create clear chances. | It was not until the latter stages of the opening half that Chelsea began to create clear chances. |
A cross from Ballack almost saw Chris Armstrong put the ball into his own net as he tried to clear under pressure from Arjen Robben. | A cross from Ballack almost saw Chris Armstrong put the ball into his own net as he tried to clear under pressure from Arjen Robben. |
Kenny did well to quickly to push away Lampard's close-range header, though soon after the United keeper's reactions proved altogether slower. | Kenny did well to quickly to push away Lampard's close-range header, though soon after the United keeper's reactions proved altogether slower. |
Lampard's long-range free-kick swerved marginally and with Kenny diving too early, the ball nestled in the middle of the net. | Lampard's long-range free-kick swerved marginally and with Kenny diving too early, the ball nestled in the middle of the net. |
Lampard's goal might have had an element of fortunte about it, but there was nothing lucky about Chelsea's second. | Lampard's goal might have had an element of fortunte about it, but there was nothing lucky about Chelsea's second. |
Some slick combination play between Robben and Lampard provided the space for the England international to float over a cross that Ballack forcefully headed in. | Some slick combination play between Robben and Lampard provided the space for the England international to float over a cross that Ballack forcefully headed in. |
With a two-goal cushion, Chelsea should have won more comfortably, but Lampard shot over from a good position, while Robben was denied by Kenny after the United defence was carved apart. | With a two-goal cushion, Chelsea should have won more comfortably, but Lampard shot over from a good position, while Robben was denied by Kenny after the United defence was carved apart. |