Saturday, Mar 22, 2003 chelsea官網
There’s nothing like the first warm and sunny Stamford Bridge afternoon of
spring to bring the feeling that the end of season run-in is truly underway.
And there’s nothing like a 5-0 tonking the opposition to send out the message
that Chelsea intend to take all that is within our grasp from this campaign.
It wasn’t a totally cruise control performance today but with the Chelsea
defence imperious enough to prevent Man City launching one single effort on
target and plenty of invigorating attacking play on display, it was without
doubt a game to send the Chelsea majority in the 41,105 crowd away in a mood to
match the weather.
Believe it or not, we laboured for the first 15 minutes, City matching us in
possession and forward advances. Stanic ran too far underneath a chance to head
in a far-post corner in the first minute and in retaliation, Foe drove a shot
across the face of the Chelsea goal after Benarbia had sent him behind the
Chelsea defence.
But steadily we shifted up the gears and the chances began to come. Lampard
drove in a long-shot which Schmeichel took two attempts to grab and a couple of
returned passes carved a swathe through the City defence for Zola to shot too
high.
The ever-imposing Danish keeper then had to be quick off his line to fly-kick
away as Gudjohnsen closed in on him and midway through the half, he was diving
for the first time to keep out a Gudjohnsen shot after the Chelsea man had
controlled a misdirected Hasselbaink effort and worked a shooting chance.
A Chelsea breakthrough was looking increasingly likely, especially with Zola
finding the possession and time in his withdrawn role that he lacked at West
Brom. The little wizard was pulling a whole fistful of strings.
Gallas curled a first-time shot over after Zola had picked a giant hole in
City’s three-man defence on 34 minutes and two minutes later, the opening goal
came.
It was Zola, needless to say who was the inspiration, collecting the ball on
the left some ten yards outside the area. He cut inside Wright-Phillips with
ease and curled the sort of ball towards the far post which for once,
Schmeichel couldn’t race out and gobble.
In fact the City keeper and defender Distin rather misread the whole situation
between the two of them, allowing Hasselbaink a stabbed volley from only five
yards out which Schmeichel failed keep out. Jimmy’s brand new white boots had
brought an end to his recent goalless spell!
As the break approached, Zola had Schmeichel diving full length to tip round
but it was only a short stay of execution. Not for the first time this season,
Le Saux whipped in an undefendable corner and John Terry powered a header home
from close range. Cue ‘Terry for England’ chants all around Stamford Bridge.
At the re-start, Goater came on for the wholly ineffective Fowler and straight
away came City’s best chance of the game. Anelka headed down to an unmarked
Jensen but with an embarrassing reluctance to use his right foot, the left
wing-back took two touches on his less appropriate right and skewed his shot
lamely wide. The game then briefly became a disjointed affair as the two
managers decided to deploy all their substitution resources. Zenden replaced
Le Saux, Belmadi came on for Horlock, Jihai Sun for Wright-Phillips and Cole
for Hasselbaink.
Before Jimmy was withdrawn however, he made another important contribution.
Whipping over a corner from the left on 58 minutes, he saw his ball flicked on
by John Terry at the near post and Stanic stoop to conquer the City defence at
the back stick. It was Mario’s fifth from a corner this season.
The changes were completed when Zola was allowed to rest his legs for Tuesday
night with 25 minutes to go, De Lucas taking his place.
Zenden now tried his luck from 40 yards after Cole had scooped a ball skywards
and Schmeichel was forced to dirty himself again. This was followed by what
must be one of the best team goals of the season.
It came on 68 minutes and was the result of three perfectly weighted passes
and a pass of a finish from Frank Lampard. Morris took out two midfielders with
a ball forward to Lampard. He moved it on to Cole who held the ball while Frank
continued his run and the return ball was released at the perfect moment. It is
was calmly slipped past Schmeichel to send Stamford Bridge into raptures
Ten minutes later, a long ball forwards was flicked on by Stanic and Gallas of
all people was the one running on to it. He beat Schmeichel to the ball and
chipped in for the fifth.
By this stage, any City threat had long since fizzled out and when they did
advance, John Terry was colossal in repelling them. On a day of five goals (of
which he of course scored one) this defender had a good case to be Man of the
Match. City barely won an aerial ball in attack all game.
Zenden wanted to get in on the act and bashed in a long shot as time ran out
which the now overworked Schmeichel once again dived to block. But five goals
had more than made then point (and points).
As already listed, Man City’s Sun had not long come out- making his entrance
as a sub midway through the second-half. Well this Sun went back in again
pretty soon after for a second bookable offence in the last minute. The misery
of the Man City fans (who to their credit mostly stayed and took their
punishment to the end) was complete.
So our biggest win of the season, five different scorers and a fourth ‘double’
completed.
Bring on the Arsenal!!
Paul Mason
呼.....好多啊...努力看完吧..
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