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Chelsea 3 - 3 Spurs


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Chelsea versus Tottenham HotspurFA Cup Quarter-Final – 11/March/07, 12:45 kick-off – Stamford Bridge

241966405_cec3cee3ed.jpgCup favourites Chelsea came from two goals at half-time behind against Tottenham Hotspur to claim a 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup quarter-finals in a dramatic London derby.Salomon Kalou was the hero, as he preserved Chelsea’s unbeaten run at home in all competitions after he fired in a sublime volley following Didier Drogba’s knock-down.The Champions had found themselves 3-1 down at half-time, following goals from Dimitar Berbatov after just five minutes, then a Michael Essien own-goal plus a clinical finish from Hossam Ghaly. Chelsea’s response came from Frank Lampard who levelled to make the game 1-1 after 28 minutes.The midfielder then fired home his 19th goal of the season 19 minutes from time, before Kalou earned Chelsea a replay at White Hart Lane.Strong favourites to win both this match and the cup itself, many speculated that the game would be one-sided – but this was far from the truth.Martin Jol brought a makeshift side to West London, yet they repaid their manager’s faith with an excellent display, which at times made Chelsea – who had battled past Porto in midweek – look woeful.José Mourinho had stated quite clearly before the game that he did not want a replay, but he had little idea as he arrived at Chelsea’s magnificent fortress that he would be forced to decide between either a replay or elimination from the only domestic competition which had eluded him since his arrival in England.The Special One decided to rest midfielder Claude Makelele for the game with a midweek trip to Manchester City in mind, and with John Terry not yet cleared by the medical staff, continued his new-found centre-back pairing of Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho, despite Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz being named in the squad. Paulo Ferreira deputised for the Frenchman at right-back, as Lassana Diarra moved into the defensive midfield position.Tottenham were much-changed from their European visit to Braga on Thursday, with Robbie Keane and Paulo Robinson the most notable of absentees. Jermaine Defoe partnered Berbatov up front and Pascal Chimbonda was rested, his position occupied by the Canadian Paul Stalteri.Anyone who fancied a quiet afternoon was in for a shock, with a six-goal-thriller as an outcome of a dazzling advertisement for English football.The game started extremely badly for Chelsea, and they trailed early as they had done so in midweek, thanks to a clinical Berbatov finish. In sparkling form, the Bulgarian smashed home past Petr Cech after excellent work from Lennon and Defoe. _42667131_ab2.jpgLampard celebrates his first goalTottenham’s midfield were crowding out Chelsea, and with their defensive outlet, Lassana Diarra being constantly marked, the Champions were confined to playing down the wings for much of the first period.Warning lights flashed, and it only took a wave of Mourinho’s wand for the tie to come alight. Some excellent footwork from Drogba led to an excellent pass from Shevchenko. The Ukrainian chested the ball down to Michael Ballack, whose scuffed shot was poked home by captain Frank Lampard to level the tie at a goal a piece.But the scoreline flattered Chelsea, who were second best for pretty much the whole first half.In fact, despite signs of birthday-boy Drogba and tricky winger Robben coming to life, Chelsea were very much second best from that point onwards. Aaron Lennon dashed down the right-hand flank and past Ashley Cole, and within his instant, Michael Essien slid the ball inadvertently into his own goal following a break-down of communication between goalkeeper and defence.With Spurs’ advantage restored, Chelsea again went searching for an equaliser.Drogba powered a cross from the right-hand side which was nearly diverted into his own goal by Michael Dawson, but a goal-line clearance from Paul Stalteri saved his captain’s blushes.It was at this point that Mourinho decided to make change. However, despite Essien and Didier Drogba both picking up injuries, he brought on Shaun Wright-Phillips for Paulo Ferreira and changed his side’s shape.But mere moments later, Spurs counter-attacked and with Chelsea’s defence at sixes and sevens, Hossam Ghaly slotted home after Berbatov had out-jumped Carvalho to find him onside. With just Cech in front of him, the Egyptian finished coolly and differing emotions on the faces of Jol and Mourinho became even more obvious.The Blues had a decent penalty shout turned down, when Drogba was apparently held back by Ghaly as he tried to turn in the penalty area, yet the referee, who was just a few metres away waved away the claims.Essien had two excellent chances to pull a goal back for the Blues, but the first, a diving head was diverted over the crossbar, and he headed marginally wide after Dawson accidentally nodded to ball in his direction. The first-half came to a close with Spurs having a 3-1 advantage at the break. Anyone who still fancied any team to come from 3-1 down and get a result from a game would normally considered a complete idiot, but of course, as José Mourinho says, “Chelsea are Chelsea” afterall.With the arrival of the second half, the Chelsea manager threw everyone forward in search of an early goal. Three successive chances befell to first and second Michael Ballack, before Lampard fired wide._42667345_ab6.jpgIs there a more prolific goalscoring-midfielder than Frank Lampard? 19 goals so far this season says no.Spurs broke once more just minutes later with the prospect of a fourth goal laid out in front of them on a plate. Lennon was superbly denied by the feet of Cech, and Defoe was distracted by Essien to allow Cech to parry away.However, pressure told, and after minutes of sheer siege on the Tottenham back four, Frank Lampard volleyed home from six yards to put Chelsea back in the hunt for four trophies. Drogba and substitute Kalou had got in each other’s way, but the ball fell kindly for Lampard who fired home his second of the game and his 19th of yet another high-scoring season.A resurgent side with a relatively unheard-of formation had suddenly filled the boots of a previously limp Chelsea starting eleven, and with Khalid Boulahrouz now in the defence, replacing Diarra, Mourinho elected to play with just 2 recognised defenders, as Ashley Cole came off for Kalou.More drama followed, including a sweet equaliser. Drogba received the ball from Shevchenko and headed to Kalou who turned and fired home on the volley.Both sides had chances to win the memorable cup tie, most falling to the hosts.Shevchenko scraped the post from 22 yards; Essien fired into the side netting through a crowd of players and Lampard thrashed the ball into the advertising boards.The best of all the chances, however, came to Jermaine Defoe who hit the crossbar after loosing his marker. Cech was beaten, but the woodwork would not let Chelsea’s unbeaten 17-year-run at Stamford Bridge come undone at the last._42667441_ab8.jpgKalou completes one of the greatest FA Cup comebacks following one of the greateast 90 minutes of FA Cup football.Squads and RatingsChelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira (Wright-Phillips 34), Essien, Carvalho, A Cole (Kalou 63); Ballack, Diarra (Boulahrouz 53), Lampard ©; Shevchenko, Drogba, Robben.Scorers Lampard 20, 70, Kalou 85.Booked Diarra Carvalho, Cole, Kalou. Tottenham (4-1-2-1-2): Cerny; Stalteri, Dawson ©, Rocha, Lee; Zokora; Ghaly (Gardener 81), Tainio; Lennon (Malbranque 75); Berbatov (Mido 65), Defoe.Scorers Berbatov 4, Essien o.g. 28, Ghaly 35, Booked Ghaly, Zokora, Lee, Stalteri, CernyRatingsPetr Cech - 7 - Good. Wasn't at fault for goals.Ferreira - 6 - Shaky. Failed to settle. Carvalho - 7 - Prolific. Looked assured.Essien - 6 - Tried. Went forward well but struggled against Berbatov.Cole - 6 - Stern. Weak defesively but went forward well.Ballack - 8 - Influential. Involved in everything.Robben - 6 - Good. Had luck down both flanks but set-plays were bad.Diarra - 6 - Decent. Did not live up to his reputation in this game.Lampard - 8 - Strong. Excellent performance from the midfield dynamo.Drogba - 7 - Quiet. Quiet by his standards on his birthday.Shevchenko - 7 - Unlucky. Lacked the pace he needed to beat his marker.Boulahrouz - 9 - Magnificant. Replaced Diarra.Wright-Phillips - 4 - Poor. Replaced Ferreira.Kalou - 7 - Scored. Replaced Cole.Overall team rating - 6Tottenham rating - 7 - their makeshift team gave Chelsea's superstars a serious sprint for their money. Outclassed them in the first half but pressure in the last twenty minutes led to their defence giving away two goals.Referee - 3 - Mark Riley was poor and did not give a certain penalty despite being metres away.StatsGoals: Chelsea 3 - 3 TottenhamShots on Target: Chelsea 6 - 6 TottenhamShots off Target: Chelsea 9 - 5 TottenhamBlocked Shots: Chelsea 6 - 2 TottenhamCorners: Chelsea 7 - 3 TottenhamFouls: Chelsea 23 - 15 Tottenham Offsides: Chelsea 1 - 5 Tottenham Yellow Cards: Chelsea 4 - 5 Tottenham Red Cards: Chelsea 0 - 0 Tottenham Tackles: Chelsea 23 - 30 TottenhamTackles Success: Chelsea 95.7% - 73.3% Tottenham Possession: Chelsea 58 - 42 Tottenham Attendence: 41,517Star Man73360.jpgKhalid BoulahrouzReactionHardly the result many Chelsea fans expected, and another game for Chelsea to play in a crowded period. José will, however, be content that he is still in the competition, and the Champions showed great spirit to grab two crucial goals. They will now look to put in a performance at White Hart Lane and get to the Semi Finals for the second successive year.The GoalsClick the links to view the goalsBerbatov 0-1Lampard 1-1Essien OG 1-2Hossam Ghaly 1-3Lampard 2-3Kalou 3-3

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