UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Group F: MSK Zilina 1 Chelsea 4: BACK WHERE Roman Abramovich's big Chelsea adventure began seven years ago the 2010 vintage ended with a comfortable win that kick-started their quest finally to claim the Champions League in the eighth season of the Russian's ownership. Yet if the scoreline indicated this was a stroll against MSK Zelina, whom Chelsea defeated here 2-0 in August 2003 in a play-off to reach the group stages, there was enough sloppy defensive play to worry Carlo Ancelotti as sterner tests await.
John Terry had reiterated on Chelsea TV before kick-off he was desperate to win the one competition that has eluded him and the club in the Abramovich era. “Until we win that trophy I’m not going to die a happy man, that’s a fact,” he said. “I owe it to every Chelsea fan because of what happened in the final in Moscow two years ago. I let the fans, players and the club down by missing the penalty.”
Energy is also required as a season begins to age, injuries are collected and stamina of key personnel begins to wane. With an eye on this Ancelotti gave Ashley Cole the evening off and played Yuri Zhirkov at left-back while he selected Daniel Sturridge to operate on the right of the front three and Yossi Benayoun on the left of the Italian’s trio in midfield.
Sturridge appeared nervous, miscontrolling most possession he received, and was unable to find his range with the two decent opportunities to shoot that he was handed during the first half. Before his second-half strike his team-mates had been ruthless and after 12 minutes Benayoun created Michael Essien’s opener. The Israeli sprayed a pass down the left to Nicolas Anelka, who had peeled wide from his central position in the attack. The Frenchman’s pull-back into the area found Essien and, from near the penalty spot, he hit a third goal in two games.
Chelsea continued to find joy down the Zilina right, with Ancelotti occasionally prowling the technical area to remind Terry and his gang to move the ball quickly through this area. Their second arrived from a Florent Malouda pass which found Anelka and, while his left-foot shot was powerful and across Martin Dubravka, the goalkeeper should not have allowed it to pass under his body. Chelsea, having appeared a little open when Zilina attacked down their left, were now coasting.
Minutes before half-time Terry orchestrated the period’s slickest move, stepping into midfield before lacing a pass that removed Lubomir Guldan, the home right-back, for Zhirkov to race into the area. Earlier Anelka had helped himself to a second when Malouda’s corner was headed against the bar by Terry, before the striker finished the rebound.
At half-time Pavel Hapal may have encouraged his men by reminding them of Admir Vladavic’s 43rd-minute shot that forced Petr Cech into a sharp save. But at this juncture he would have been quietly praying for damage limitation. This hope lasted three minutes of the second half. Benayoun played Sturridge in and the forward applied his after-burners to leave Jozef Piacek and Pecalka floundering before he swerved around Dubravka and scored with a smart finish.
Consolation came for the Slovakian champions when Cech waved at a cross uneasily and the ball bumped from the head of a surprised Alex and rolled towards the Chelsea goal where Tomas Oravec slid in to touch home.
Concern crumpled Ancelotti’s features as he continued to stalk the sideline. Terry and Alex had become hesitant, Anelka’s control was clumsy and the sense was, if Zilina could squeeze another goal, then the closing half hour would be interesting. Guldan indicated how fortune can change when the right-back rose to head past Cech, but the effort was wide of the left post. If the first half had centred on Guldan’s tribulations, it was Cech’s turn to find an unwanted spotlight turned to his efforts.
At the close Gael Kakuta, the Dutch defender Patrick van Aanholt and the 17-year-old Joshua McEachran were on the field. They represent Chelsea’s potential next generation. But the here and now is all about this team finally winning the European Cup.
GuardianService
MSK ZILINA:Dubravka, Guldan (Angelovic 79), Piacek, Pecalka, Mraz, Jez, Babatounde, Rilke (Poliacek 57), Ceesay (Majtan 61), Vladavic, Oravec. Subs Not Used: Krnac, Leitner, Sourek, Vittor.
CHELSEA: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov, Essien, Mikel, Benayoun (McEachran 79), Sturridge (Kakuta 61), Anelka, Malouda (Van Aanholt 88). Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Ramires, Ferreira, Kalou.
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland).
Next up:
Tuesday, September 28th
Chelsea v Marseille
Spartak Moscow v MSK Zilina
