Closed Benfica 0-1 Chelsea

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Nevermind Kalou, apparently getting the result needed also turns embarrassing games into displays of tactical intelligence and defensive solidity.

This game is easily one of the 5 worst I've seen this season and despite the inspiring performance by David Luiz we could have easily been 2 down in the second half.

That's a bit extreme don't you think? The effectively only had a only two real chance to score that Petr and DL saved.

[tmessy 139]

hahaha wish we could play torres behind torres, he would score a ton of goals hahaha!!!

great result, but where was mata in this game???

[Rambo 1,729]

Malouda could have done the same amount of tracking back but add more pace as well as midfield flow

What's your point? He didn't even play.

[Kostas 1,468]

That's a bit extreme don't you think? The effectively only had a only two real chance to score that Petr and DL saved.

Those two chances plus Terry's handball (which was a pen to me) look much worse when compared to the squat we created in the first 75 minutes and especially the football we (didn't) play.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Another good performance by Mikel.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Tell yous what, if bobby was given the full time job and allowed to refresh the team for,next season id be happy. Chels legend and willing to mix it up when its needed. Keep him here Rom

[capriccioso 2,545]

hahaha wish we could play torres behind torres, he would score a ton of goals hahaha!!!

I'll get me coat.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Those two chances plus Terry's handball (which was a pen to me) look much worse when compared to the squad we created in the first 75 minutes and especially the football we (didn't) play.

Aye, i don't think we played well, especially in the 2nd half. We did well last 15 minutes of the 1st half though.

But we got the job done somehow, we played better at Napoli and lost 3-1

[zolayes 14,489]

hahaha wish we could play torres behind torres, he would score a ton of goals hahaha!!!

great result, but where was mata in this game???

we have run him into the ground...opposition know he needs to be targetted ,,,not rocket science when he is our main creator ,,,next is Torres

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Those two chances plus Terry's handball (which was a pen to me) look much worse when compared to the squat we created in the first 75 minutes and especially the football we (didn't) play.

was never a pen mate

[Henrique 9,133]

Liverpool won it back in 2005, perhaps we can do the same this season.

[Superblue 6,372]

Robbie got it SPOT ON tonight.

David Luiz was unbelievable. It's a nice dilemna the club seems to have at the moment. I think Cahill and Luiz are the stand out centre backs ahead of Terry, but we are getting the clean sheets when Terry plays alongside one of them. It is certain now though that we no longer rely on Terry being fit every game.

Big mention to Ferreira aswell tonight. He is a solid, reliable defender and made their most dangerous player Gaitan look pretty ordinary for large patches.

Happy for Kalou scoring the goal. He gets bashed like crazy on these forums and somebody questioned what he did all game...he tracked back and worked bloody hard. At the end of the game their right back was whizzing past Sturridge the last few minutes, and considering Sturridge's pace he could have easily kept up with him but just coasted. This was why Kalou was preferred to Sturridge tonight and he put a shift in.

Torres gives so much more than Drogba, end of.

Top 4 is very slim now so let's concentrate on this and the FA Cup and start resting some players in the league. Ashley Cole and Terry could do with a rest, and Mata desperately needs a rest, he looks burnt out. Meireles or even Malouda can play the advanced midfielder role against Villa, or even revert to a deeper three in midfield.

[Ollie 4,400]

I'm really shocked at Benfica. I knew we were favourites to go through but if we were really firing, we woulda won 3-0 and completely stone dead killed the tie already. Benfica at home in a UCL quarter final, absolutely awful blunt performance. Napoli woulda smashed this lot. I don't usually act over confident but this tie is as good as done, now i can see why Drogba reacted like he did if he indeed did do that on purpose. That was almost like watching Man Utd against Schalke last year, embarrassingly easy for such a big high pressured away leg.

Robbie got the team right because Benfica were so poor, simple as that. I will give us credit tho because we were very good in spells but i don't think many teams at home would let us have such a comfortable ride.

The goal was nice, Nando did brilliantly to give Kalou the chance, he was in the right place. He was by far our worst player in the whole game Kalou but he was there when it mattered. Luiz was just immense, the guy has been pure class in the last 2 months and he's who i'd give my MOTM. Also a special mention to Ferreira, not played for a while but was never troubled and looked Solid. Master stroke from Robbie putting the EX Porto lads in to stir it up a bit lol. And then Ferriera off, Bosingwa on, Porto for Porto. Apparently Meireles got involved with the fans too at H/T. Nothing like football rivalries.

JT probably shoulda give away a pen with the hand ball but the Luiz's one was no chance. John's hand was out so it coulda easily been given but we thoroughly deserved the win regardless of anything else that happened in the game.

Perfect scenario = Win the game whilst playing fringe players and giving all the main men a rest. What a perfect, PERFECT night. Barca round 20 (feels like it) here we come!

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Nah I don't think Terry handball was a penalty. Those are never given. Essien's was given because his arm was raised way over his head. Terry's were not by his side but still in a natural position which shouldn't be given if he's so close.

Handball from a distance, penalty regardless cause you should have got it out of the way. But if it's close range where it isn't humanly possible to react that fast then they look if it's in a natural position or not and Terry's were in a natural position. Should not be penalized for that.

[capriccioso 2,545]

It's best for both parties if Mata is given a week fully off, including training. Send him down to Spain for a holiday, let him refresh himself mentally and physically and then we'll have him primed for the semi finals and the run in.