Chelsea 1 - 1 Rosenborg

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Chelsea 1- 1Rosenborg

18 September, UEFA Champions League, Stamford BridgeRosenborg of Norway held out to a 1-1 draw with English giants Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their opening game of the 2007/08 Champions League campaign. A crowd numbering less than 25,000 turned up to witness a lacklustre first half, as Chelsea failed to breakdown the Norwegian champions. With major goal threats Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba missing due to injury and a lack of confidence affecting the Chelsea camp, it was no surprise to see the West London club reduce ticket prices.Alex made his debut with Ben Haim on the bench, and Juliano Belletti was favoured at right-back against a team that had a small number of famous faces, including former Liverpool defender Bjorn Tore Kvarme. But despite the FA Cup holders' superior firepower and possession, they only managed to hit the target once as even the woodwork managed to frustrate the home team - efforts by Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou both hit the post in the second half after Andrei Shevchenko had cancelled out the opening goal by Miika Koppinen, who turned in Sapara's excellent delivery from the flank.Michael Essien fired wide for the home side in the only chance of the opening quarter-of-an-hour, and Chelsea were made to pay for their lack of clinical finishing as Rosenborg took a shock lead at Stamford Bridge. Matters were made worse when news filtered through of Valencia's lead against German side Schalke - the other two teams in Group B.Chelsea began to mount a comeback, as Alex headed narrowly over from a Malouda corner, but Chelsea's lack of a genuine target man was apparent as both Salomon Kalou and Andrei Shevchenko shot wide from outside of the area.Yssouf Kone nearly made it 2-0 to the away side moments into the second half, as he gave the ball to Tettey, but the Rosenborg midfield shot wastefully over on 51 minutes from 12 yards out. Chelsea needed a goal desperately, and moments later Andrei Shevchenko hit home for the first time this campaign; heading home from Florent Malouda's cross. It was now only a matter of time until the second Chelsea goal broke Rosenborg fans' hearts.But the Norwegian side had an inspired goalkeeper between the sticks in Hirchsfeld, who made an excellent stop from a low effort by Juliano Belletti; getting two hands to the Brazilian's cross with Shevchenko and Malouda bearing down on him.Malouda then rattled the post with a stinging effort from eight yards; the Frenchman opting for power rather than placement, which left the Rosenborg goal shaking.But stout defending proved to be Chelsea's undoing, as John Terry moved up field to play as a striker. But Salomon Kalou's delightfully-swerving shot from inside the area clipped in the inside of the post and was cleared as Chelsea were left dismaying over several wasted opportunities. The Rosenborg rearguard stood strong, with goalkeeper Hirchsfeld making some vital stops whenever his backline was breached. The full-time whistle sounded, with Chelsea continuing their stuttering start to the season.Chelsea: Cech, 6 Belletti, 7, Terry, 6, Alex, 6, Ashley Cole, 6, Joe Cole, 7, Makelele, 6, Essien, 6, Malouda, 7, Shevchenko, 7, Kalou, 6Subs Used: Ben Haim, 6, Wright-Phillips, 6Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Sidwell, Obi, Ferreira, Sawyer.Booked: Alex. Rosenborg: Hirschfeld, Koppinen, Basma (Kvarme 46), Dorsin, Strand, Riseth, Skjelbred (Iversen 84), Tettey, Sapara (Konan 69), Traore, Kone.Subs Not Used: Hansen, Stoor, Lago, Nordvik. Booked: Dorsin, Kone. Goals: Koppinen 24. Att: 24,973 Ref: Laurent Duhamel (France).