Chelsea 3-0 Spurs

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Sunday 20 September 2009, FA Premier League Stamford Bridge, London.

Goals from Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba saw Chelsea thump London rivals Tottenham to maintain their flawless start to the new Premier League campaign.

The opening exchanges were incredibly open for a local derby, and there were presentable chances for both sides as Tottenham brought the game to their hosts. Ashley Cole opened the scoring for Chelsea; converting a sublime Didier Drogba cross from the right flank with a purposeful diving header. The Blues excelled throughout and a brilliant second half performance saw Michael Ballack convert from close range, before Drogba capped a memorable victory over the North London side with a strike his menacing performance warranted.

The result means Chelsea have maintained their perfect start to the new Premier League season, with Carlo Ancelotti's side taking eighteen points from their opening six fixtures. With Manchester City losing 4-3 at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby earlier on Sunday, it means Chelsea are the only team with a one hundred percent record, and ensures the Blues top the table ahead of the return of Carling Cup in midweek - three points ahead of Manchester United.

The Chelsea coach was quick to praise his side after their exploits, especially the performance of Frank Lampard, who was a constant thorn in the side of the visitors throughout the game. The only down side for the Stamford Bridge club was an injury sustained by Drogba in the closing minutes, but the Ivorian's premature departure did mean young Fabio Borini entered the fray to make his first senior appearance for the club.

With Drogba and José Bosingwa returning to the side following their European suspension, Salomon Kalou and Branislav Ivanovic were relegated from the starting eleven. Chelsea's famed diamond midfield featured Michael Essien at the base, Florent Malouda, Michael Ballack, and Lampard featuring as the attacking playmaker behind the front two of Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

A notable member of the Tottenham starting eleven was Carlo Cudicini, who had made over 200 appearances for the Blues in a career spanning from 1999 to last January. Presented with a special award to commemorate his ten years with the club, Cudicini would go on to make a number of fine saves to deny his former club.

It was Chelsea who threatened the earliest, when Drogba saw the ball stolen off his toe by the outstretched toe of Ledley King after Bosingwa had crossed with purpose into the penalty area. Bosingwa himself was next to try his luck; picking the ball up, the Portuguese defender roamed forward and unleashed a screaming effort which cannoned back off the near post. Cudicini may have had it covered had the shot have been on target, but it was certainly a signal from intent from Chelsea's number 17, who had enjoyed plenty of the ball in the opening minutes.

But typical of a local derby, it was the opposition who went closest to opening the scoring when a lapse of concentration saw a void develop in the Chelsea defence. Wilson Palacios threaded the ball through to Jermain Defoe, but the Premier League's top scorer was denied by the outstretched leg of Petr Cech, who did well to block the England striker's effort.

Tottenham were slowly coming into the match, and a vicious effort from Tom Huddlestone produced a fine, instinctive save from Cech, who was forced to readjust his body to block with his legs. It was a stinging effort from the Tottenham midfielder, but it was Huddlestone's partner in the centre of midfield, Jermaine Jenas, who went even closer, as his shot fizzed inches wide of Cech's upright with the goalkeeper at full-stretch. The Czech might well have stopped the effort had it have been more true of aim, but it was certainly a warning against Chelsea complacency. Lampard then headed wide at the other end from Anelka's cross as Chelsea looked to respond, before Nicolas Anelka launched an ambitious effort into the side-netting after Malouda and Essien had combined to tee up the Blues striker.

The game reached a temporary lull as the visitors took their foot off the pedal, wary of the threat Chelsea possessed. Drogba took up possession of the ball out on the right with half an hour played, and it was his sublime cross from the by-line that produced the first goal. Launching a teasing cross between goalkeeper and defender, the Ivorian celebrated as Ashley Cole met the ball with a perfect diving header that gave Cudicini no chance. It was a delightfully-simple goal that was beautifully crafted by the Blues, and a goal their first half performance deserved.

Chelsea seemed happy to play out the half in first gear; clearly comforted by the confidence of a goalscoring first forty-five minutes. Drogba shot tamely into the Tottenham wall after Palacios had clumsily conceded a freekick on the edge of the area, but the visitors managed to reach the interval without succumbing to further damage.

Lampard then fired wide with his first effort of the second half after Drogba had done brilliantly to skip away from Corluka. Lampard's effort was dragged wide, but so early in the half, things were already looking promising for Chelsea as the Blues continued from where they had left off in the first half. Tottenham skipper Ledley King then fell foul to an apparent hamstring pull as he turned suddenly whilst in pursuit of Drogba in the previous incident. Unable to continue, King was taken off and received a generous round of applause from all inside Stamford Bridge, including Ancelotti, who sportingly consoled the player as he was taken from the field on a stretcher.

An interesting incident occurred only moments later when Ricardo Carvalho appeared to foul Robbie Keane inside the area. With Keane at full gallop, the Irishman fell to the floor under contact from the Chelsea defender, yet no penalty was awarded; much to the dismay of the travelling supporters. It was a poor decision by Howard Webb, whose vision may have been blocked by the many bodies inside the penalty area.

As one would expect, Chelsea then took the lead only moments afterwards, with Ballack scoring his third goal in five Premier League starts. Drogba had made a nuisance of himself inside the area, and his volley was only half-blocked by Cudicini's parry. Lampard reacted quickest and passed to Ballack, who had the simplest of tasks of poking the ball home. John Obi Mikel came on for the German to a standing ovation from the Chelsea faithful, and no sooner had the Nigerian entered play had Chelsea scored their third goal.

On 62 minutes, a lofted through-ball from Cole gave Drogba a clear run on goal. A combination of a deft touch by the Ivorian and a toe-end from the struggling Corluka took the ball around Cudicini who was committed in going to ground, allowing Drogba to smash the ball into the empty net. Stamford Bridge erupted - this wasn't just about Chelsea returning to the top of the Premier League. This was about Chelsea battering their local rivals into submission, and the Matthew Harding Stand and the Shed End simultaneously burst into a well-timed chorus of "We hate Tottenham."

Only moments later, Assou-Ekotto clearly punched the ball inside the area as Chelsea had a penalty claim of their own turned down by Webb. The Tottenham defender blocked Lampard's dipping freekick with the illegal use of his arm, yet neither the referee nor linesman spotted the infringement. Mikel then forced a splendid save out of Cudicini, who had earlier denied Lampard with some agile goalkeeping after Lampard had tried to lob the Italian from close range. Mikel's effort was well-struck and it was a fine save from the former Chelsea goalkeeper, who recovered to push the ball away for a corner after his initial parry almost saw the ball trickle over the line.

Drogba then went off with an injury as he stretched to connect with an Anelka cross, but besides a Crouch effort that was correctly ruled out for offside, Chelsea played the game out with confidence; bossing the play and enthralling the crowd, who responded with cries of "Olé!" with each touch of the ball. Fabio Borini came on to make his Chelsea debut as a replacement for Anelka, and Kalou forced a decent low save out of Cudicini with what proved to be the final attack of the game. Chelsea were deserved victors - now bring on Queen's Park Rangers.

___________________________________________________________________

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry ©, A Cole; Essien, Ballack (Mikel 62), Malouda, Lampard; Anelka (Borini 89), Drogba (Kalou 84)

Tottenham (4-3-2-1): Cudicini; Corluka, King (Hutton 47), Bassong (Kranjcar 81), Assou-Ekotto; Huddlestone, Palacios, Jenas; Keane ©, Lennon: Defoe (Crouch 66)

The TalkChelsea.net Blues' Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 8 - Frank Lampard

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

Good report Alex. Fantastic result against our old foe, and what a blinding goal by Ashley Cole. Best left back in the World.....

[diskoviolente 425]

I am so happy with the game.

The first 20 minutes Tottenham displayed that they have a very good squad and can play impressive football me thinks. But the boys keept the nerves and trashed them in the best ever way. Drogbas goal was just class, pacefull and cheeky.

Tottenham was the first toughie, now Liverpool is the next to trash to pieces.

Oh and yes, FB, Ash is sooooooooo goooooood.

I think we got the best fullbacks in the world with Ash and Bos. Maybe he saw a fucking bee he wanted to kill with his shot on the triangle.

If that would´ve gone in, would´ve been goal of the year-contender so far...

[Steve 10,227]

Thanks Alex!!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Thanks for reading guys, I really appreciate it