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PORTSMOUTH RESERVES 0 CHELSEA RESERVES 2

Posted on: Tue 30 Sep 2008


Chelsea dominated in a 2-0 victory tonight (Tuesday) against Portsmouth
Reserves in a comfortable win.


During a breezy evening on the south coast, substitute Fabio Borini
(pictured) scored two second-half goals to secure the Reserves three
points, following on from the first team's recent Carling Cup success
against Portsmouth.


Carlo Cudicini played a full 90 minutes at Havant and Waterlooville FC,
while new loan signing Fabio Paim made his first start in a Chelsea shirt.


The first 10 minutes saw Chelsea controlling the game, with domination in
midfield culminating in Paim sending a shot flying over the bar.


But it was Morten Nielsen who came closest to scoring inside the first 15
minutes, when Scott Sinclair pulled the ball back to the Dane before
Pompey keeper Jon Stewart acrobatically blocked the subsequent shot.


After athletically stopping Nielsen's attempt, Stewart's next touch was an
error, as he failed to collect a simple cross, allowing the ball to bounce
across the face of goal into Paim's path.


Chelsea's recent arrival from Portugal then danced around the back-tracking
defenders before skimming the post with a low shot.


With 25 minutes gone, Portsmouth had their best chance of the game when
Chelsea were penalised for a Michael Mancienne hand-ball, allowing Jordan
Hughes to send a shot dipping over the wall, which forced Cudicini to tip
the ball over for a corner.


Sinclair, Sergio Tejera and Jacob Mellis all had chances before the half
time break, with Carl Magnay coming closest with a low, stinging shot from
the edge of the box which was deflected from danger by Steward.


As the whistle was blown on the half, Chelsea were looking strong as we
pressured the Portsmouth goal, and it was only a matter of time before the
Blues would take the lead.


Ten minutes from the restart, substitute Fabio Borini turned an Nana Ofori-
Twumasi cross behind the line to finally break the deadlock.


Minutes later Sinclair nearly made it two as he scrambled in the box with
Stewart, but the Pompey keeper's resilience was enough to deny the Chelsea
man as he blocked the ball.


As 70 minutes approached, Chelsea were passing the ball comfortably around
the midfield, with Michael Woods, Sinclair and Mellis launching shots
goalward from long range without troubling Steward.


But it was a close-range effort from Borini that doubled Chelsea's lead as
he collected a Sam Hutchinson cross before turning on the half-volley and
smashing into the net in the 73rd minute.


Confidence continued to show throughout the Chelsea side as we dominated
the rest of the game. Borini was looking for his hat-trick as he broke
into the box before sending a shot wide of its mark.


The game finished with further attempts from Sinclair, one which forced a
leaping save from Steward, who sent the ball over the bar. Another shot
spun inches wide.


Chelsea's control of the fixture creates a sound foundation for the Blues
to face AC Milan on Saturday morning.



Chelsea (4-3-3):

                               Carlo Cudicini

 Nana Ofori-Twumasi  Michael Mancienne  Carl Magnay  Liam Bridcutt(c)

           Jacob Mellis        Sergio Tejera        Michael Woods
                            (Sam Hutchinson 58)

         Scott Sinclair        Morten Nielsen        Fabio Paim
                             (Fabio Borini h-t)   (Fabio Ferriera 66)