Brondby 0 - 2 Chelsea

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Brondby 0 - 2 ChelseaFriendly - 31 July - Brondby Stadion - 19:05 kick-offNormal service was resumed, as Didier Drogba's fine brace ensured Chelsea left Denmark with a fourth pre-season win and the perfect tonic for pre-Community Shield nerves.The Ivorian hit home just six minutes from time to seal the win, after he had out-jumped former Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Stephan Anderson to put the Blues ahead just after the half-time interval.Drogba impressed greatly throughout the game, pulling off some brilliant tricks and flicks, but was also amongst a large number of Chelsea names who had solid games in the Danish capital. Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole both had excellent games in the full-back positions for the FA Cup winners and Claudio Pizarro was highly influential, as he set up Drogba's second goal with a deft flick to claim an assist.Mourinho elected to give the now-fit Cole a start at left-back, and the England International managed to last sixty-four minutes of his first pre-season outing. Completing the back-line were the defensive partnership of Ricardo Carvalho and the impressive Tal Ben Haim, and Glen Johnson in the right-back slot. Carlo Cudicini started in goal after missing out at Ibrox and looked assured behind his unfamiliar back-line. Sidwell and Lampard's midfield partnership continued, with the former slotting just in-front of his England colleague in the midfield trio which was completed by John Obi Mikel. Up front, Drogba began as the lone striker, supported on the wings by the energetic duo of Malouda and Shaun Wright-Phillips, two players who have greatly impressed and shone their qualities this pre-season.The Brondby side was not an unfamiliar one to some - goalkeeper Stephan Anderson was on the wrong side of a 2-0 result at the Valley against Charlton Athletic in the 2005/06 league campaign. Madsen, Nielsen and Mikkelsen have also represented their countries at International level.Whilst the performance was at times nowhere near Chelsea quality, the result will give the players the lift they needed after two difficult affairs without victory, against Feyenoord and Rangers respectively. However, the second-half performance was up-to-scratch and would have impressed José Mourinho, especially with the tempo of play in the final quarter-of-an-hour.However, the game will be seen as more of a work-out for the players than a competitive game with a victory being compulsory, as several members of the first-team squad got another 90 minutes under their belt and improved their partnerships with team-mates. However, a noticeable absentee from the starting eleven was Captain John Terry, so Frank Lampard would wear the Skipper's Armband for the game against Brondby.To great comic effect, the huge buzz inside the stadium was complimented by the very considerate actions of the Brondby supporters to convert their insults towards the Chelsea team into English. This would only inspire the Blues onto victory, however.For the first fifteen minutes, the fitter and more impressive Brondby starting eleven gave Chelsea the run-around. It was not until six minutes had past that they registered their first effort on goal; an opportunists’ strike in the form of a volley outside the area by Martin Ericsson.The game was the perfect opportunity to display Chelsea's new alternative white kit, featuring adidas' three-stripes design. However, Tal Ben Haim's kit was suddenly turned a nice shade of green and brown as he threw himself at the approaching Morten Duncan, whose shot was fiercely parried away by the impressive and sharp Carlo Cudicini, who had enjoyed an excellent pre-season, especially against Feyenoord.Wright-Phillips has his effort directed towards Drogba, who can't connect with the ball.The Blues gathered their thoughts and regained possession for much of the next fifteen minutes, although they were doing very little with it. It was not until 23 minutes that the first Chelsea opportunity came. Lampard unleashed Wright-Phillips, whose dragged shot-come-cross fell to Drogba, but the ball skimmed over the outstretched boot of the Ivorian and away to safety.Glen Johnson had an excellent effort sail just wide, as Lampard once more unlocked the Brondby defence for the second time in five minutes. The young right-back lobbed the approaching goalkeeper, but his shot carried too much pace and floated several feet wide of the Brondby far goal-post.With just twenty-nine minutes played, Mourinho was unhappy with the performance. Sacrificing John Obi Mikel, who had made several earlier mistakes, Wright-Phillips and the quiet Malouda exchanged the flanks for the wide midfield positions, as Claudio Pizarro partnered Drogba upfront in a 4-4-2 formation.Steve Sidwell received a booking for not retreating after a free-kick was awarded to Brondby. The kick was weak, and Cudicini gathered with ease. On the stroke of half-time, Malouda was hacked down outside of the area. The former Lyon man was adamant contact was made inside the area, but the referee awarded only a yellow card for the ferocious challenge of Rasmussen, and a free-kick for Chelsea. Drogba took the kick, but his bending effort had little pace. Whilst beating the wall, it landed comfortably in the arms of Anderson, who barely had to move.Malouda was substituted at half-time by Mourinho, who also exchanged Cudicini for Cech at the interval.Cole's introduction immediately sparked a Chelsea revival. Drogba's effort was deflected onto the roof of the net by a Brondby defender, but two minutes later the Ivorian ruthlessly dispatched yet another Chelsea goal.Glen Johnson supplied a brilliant floated ball from the flank, which Drogba fairly contested with Anderson. The Ivorian out jumped the goalkeeper and headed home to put Chelsea one goal to the good. Pizarro had been involved in the build-up. It was his pass that found the unmarked Wright-Phillips, who took on the approaching left-back. Drawing the player out, he slipped the ball to Johnson who had cleverly ran into the full-back position, and was free to deliver a ball to the waiting Drogba.The home fans were not happy, and certain Drogba had fouled the goalkeeper. However, replays suggest Drogba did not use his arms to obstruct the goalkeeper, and the goal was a perfectly legal one.Drogba heads home under pressure from Anderson.Petr Cech was untested until Kasper Lorentzen was left unmarked in the penalty area after lax defending by Johnson. The right-back had drifted to the opposite flank to cover for Ashley Cole, leaving Lorentzen in acres of space. However, with just Cech to beat, the midfielder shot wide after mis-hitting the ball.Chelsea continued to press following Ashley Cole's substitution, with Sam Hutchinson impressing once more. Anthony Grant was awarded a first taste of pre-season action with twelve minutes to go, replacing Steve Sidwell. Jack Cork also replaced Lampard, giving Drogba the Captain's armband.Scott Sinclair, another late substitute, nearly added a second with 82 minutes gone. His mazy run left him with just the goalkeeper to beat, but a defender recovered well to block his shot.The Blues wrapped things up when Drogba scored a brilliant second goal. Cole picked up the ball on the edge of the centre-circle, and ran forward thirty yards before passing to Drogba. The Ivorian showed great skill and played a one-two with Pizarro which was highly reminiscent of the two-touch play between Chelsea's top goalscorer last term and Lampard in the FA Cup final, which led to Drogba's winner in extra-time.The Peruvian slipped Drogba in, and the Ivorian made no mistake in hammering the ball past the substitute goalkeeper.Pizarro had a quiet introductory fifteen minutes, but was very sharp after the break.Moments later, a superb Joe Cole freekick was brilliantly saved by Tornes, and the goalkeeper denied Pizarro a first Chelsea goal moments later with a fine parry.2-0 was not the scoreline most predicted, but the win comes as a welcome gift ahead of the Community Shield final against Manchester United.Squads and RatingsChelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini (Cech 45); Johnson, Ben-Haim, Carvalho, A Cole (Hutchinson 64); Mikel (Pizarro 29), Sidwell (Grant 78), Lampard © (Cork 82), Malouda (J Cole 45) Drogba, Wright-Phillips (Sinclair 70).Goals Drogba 61, 84Booked SidwellBrøndby (4-4-1-1): Andersen(Tørnes 67) ; Randrup, Howard, Nielsen © (Williams 78), M Rasmussen (Rytter 45); Mikkelsen (Jorgensen 45), Spelmann (Gislason 45), Daugaard (Lantz 45), Madsen (Lorentzen 45); Ericsson (Retov 45); MD Rasmussen (Katongo 64). Booked M Rasmussen, LantzChelsea RatingsCech - 7 - Incredibly sharp, made two excellent sliding challenges.Cudicini - 7 - Dominant performance in the first-half.Hutchinson - 6 - Played well for the last half an hourBen Haim - 7 - Another great display by Ben Haim.Carvalho - 7 - Simply not his day, but looked assured with Terry.Johnson - 7 - Was brilliant going forward but left defensive gaps too often.A. Cole - 7 - Yet again, Ashley Cole was impressiveLampard - 7 - Played some excellent balls.Sidwell - 7 - Had a very strong game.Wright-Phillips - 7 - Nothing special, he did the simple things brilliantly, however.Mikel - 5 - Uncharacteristically lazy performance, needs to regain fitness.Sinclair - 7 - Once again, Scott did himself proud with a top performance.Cork - 6 - Came on for Lampard and did very well.Grant - 6 - Had little to do, but was quietly effective. Did not put a foot wrong.Joe Cole - 8 - Excellent display, he turned the gameMalouda - 7 - Not a great performance, played better in the 4-3-3Drogba - 7 - Quiet and ineffective, despite the showboating.Pizarro - 8 - Hugely impressive display by Pizarro, involved in everything. Referee - 5/10 - Fair game.Chelsea - Stats - Brondby2 - Goals - 06 - Shots on Target - 29 - Shots off Target - 72 - Blocked Shots - 14 - Corners - 211 - Fouls - 132 - Offsides - 21 - Yellow Cards - 20 - Red Cards - 0 52% - Possession - 48% Star ManJoe ColeViews of the Blues

2-0 at full-time, the second half performance was an improvement but still not great.I think Joe Cole was brilliant and obviously Drogba was impressive. Pizarro had a few good touches and nearly scored but their goalkeeper made a great save. Joe Cole had a cracking shot from a free-kick as well, which was superbly saved.Johnson had a decent game and Ash Cole looked really sharp for the first hour as well.Not a bad result, performance was lacking but the win itself will give the team some confidence heading into the Charity Shield.

And good to see we don’t have to rely on JT to score lol. First half was just appaling, second half hell of a lot better and 2 good chances towards the end. Least we finish on a high