Chelsea, Carling Cup 2007 Winner!!
Man of the match, Didier Drogba (scored twice 20',83')
The Special One, Jose Mourinho ;)
John Terry
Mon, 26th Feb 2007
Carling Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium
John Terry was carried off with a shocking head injury having surprised everyone by starting the game as Chelsea won the League Cup for the fourth time.
Didier Drogba scored both goals, and the game finished 10 v 9 after two Arsenal players and substitute John Mikel Obi were sent off for a stoppage time brawl. Chelsea also hit the crossbar twice.
Arsenal started with Baptiste picking up Makelele whenever he had possession. Chelsea started by slipping on the greasy surface.
First Lampard then Terry went down, the latter allowing Arsenal to get into Chelsea's area. Bridge cleared but Fabregas returned with a worthy shot which Cech saved well diving low to his right.
Both sides managed early chinks of openings, and Terry had to be sharp in an interception which Ballack tidied up with a wonderful first-touch to Bridge to clear again.
Cech had to be at his world class best after 10 minutes when Arsenal built an attack from a throw in their own half after the ball had got away from Shevchenko, Baptiste's shot heading for the corner, and the goalkeeper turned it outside the post with a majestic dive and sweep of his arm.
But Arsenal scored from the corner. Drogba headed out, Walcott claimed possession and played the ball into Diaby on the edge of the area who threaded a return pass into the area for Walcott to burst through and slot a confident shot past Cech into the far corner. It was his first goal for Arsenal.
It took Drogba eight minutes to equalise. Ballack provided the defence splitting pass, and the centre-forward ran on alone as Arsenal claimed offside and he was confident too, nutmegging Almunia with his firm shot after delaying to pick his spot. It was his 27th Chelsea goal of the season and his third against Arsenal at Cardiff.
Both sides continued to look dangerous when attacking. Terry, however, was beginning to find his game after a slow start.
The first booking of the game went to Denilson for tripping Essien who had beaten him. Essien showed rare emotion by smacking the ground in frustration as he had worked his way into space.
But Essien then suffered his own booking for flying into a sliding tackle recklessly on Baptiste who required treatment. Again, his problem was his feet went from underneath him just before he challenged.
Arsenal's swift passing play allowed them to get into a number of one-on-one running situations, and Chelsea's tackling had to be precise and swift. Carvalho, as ever, was outstanding at this. Behind him, Cech was outstanding with his handling.
In contrast, when Diarra and Bridge got forward to give width, Chelsea looked dangerous, but too often the ball was lost before a wide position could be worked. Being caught offside six times had broken up play as well. However, Diarra in the first truly big game of his career was giving a good account of himself.
Arsenal had slightly the edge of first-half play, but the plus for Chelsea was the form of Ballack who enjoyed arguably his best 45 minutes yet in a Chelsea shirt.
Mourinho sent Robben out for the second-half in place of Makelele and switched to 4-3-3. Robben took up post on the right touchline and within two minutes had sprinted past three challenges and so nearly set up Shevchenko.
But Arsenal created a real chance a minute later with a quick free-kick, and a pass inside Diarra for Diaby to get through one-on-one with Cech. Once again the goalkeeper was outstanding, swooping to his left to turn the shot away for a corner.
Arsenal were confident. Carvalho was booked for a trip on Aliadiere just outside the area, and although Chelsea's wall blocked Baptiste's shot, the ball wasn't cleared and Fabregas was a hair's breadth wide with his shot.
Robben had another run and turned inside Traoré before shooting only a little wide and high, but Diarra blocked Diaby's next run when beaten and became Chelsea's third booking.
Eleven minutes into the half, after another Robben sortie, Chelsea won their first corner of the game, and from it Terry dived for a loose ball and received a horrendous kick in the face. The immediate response of players from both sides to get medical staff and stretchers on stressed the seriousness of it, and he was finally stretchered away after six minutes with an oxygen mask and a head brace.
In the stand, England manager Steve McClaren left his seat to be downstairs when his captain was taken away.
Mourinho withdrew Essien to central defence and sent on Mikel in holding midfield.
Robben switched flanks and posed problems along the left. Wenger took off Traoré and sent on Eboué, switching Hoyte to the left. The Arsenal manager must have liked the look of Robben. Two minutes later he sent on his own winger Hleb for injured Diaby. Maybe he wanted someone to run at the already booked Diarra.
But in between Drogba had got away from Senderos, onside this time, from Diarra's excellent through pass and his angled shot brought a diving half-stop from Almunia who was able to scramble across and finish the job.
Robben opened up play again after 72 minutes, and fed Lampard inside him who from over 30 yards shaped up and packed a right-footed special over Almunia and with a thud against the bar. It was a moment of sheer Lampard brilliance.
Chelsea had a lucky escape when Touré raced forward late to gain an unchallenged header from a corner, but from just outside the six yard box put it over.
But as the last 10 minutes started Chelsea had a good run of play, attacking especially up the left, and it climaxed with Robben's cross and Drogba's towering header above Senderos into the far corner of the net. It was a goal which summed up his immeasurable power, athleticism and ability.
Minutes later Bridge served Robben the chance to run at Touré but the Ivorian defended brilliantly. However, his compatriot Eboue was not so technically adept and blocked the winger on the next attack, receiving Arsenal's second booking.
With two minutes left on the clock Shevchenko sprinted on to Drogba's square touch and hammered a savage shot against Almunia's bar. That would have been game, set and match.
As it was, Arsenal kept coming forward and had seven minutes stoppage time to get back into the game. But Cech was just so brilliant in coming off his line to intercept high balls into the box.
Four minutes into stoppage time an unbelievable brawl was started by Touré with Mikel. Everyone got involved including the two managers who ran on to the pitch. Touré completely lost his cool and both players were sent off. Adebayor went too for elbowing Bridge in the proceedings.
Adebayor had to be restrained as he stormed away.
Yellow cards for Lampard and Fabregas were also delivered.
The final whistle went after 12 minutes of stoppage time. José Mourinho's Chelsea has now won five trophies in two-and-a-half years.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Almunia; Hoyte, Touré (c), Senderos, Traoré (Eboué 66); Denilson, Fabregas; Walcott, Baptiste, Diabi (Hleb 68); Aliadiere (Adebayor 80).
Scorers Walcott (11).
Sent off Touré (90+5), Adebayor (90+5)
Booked Denilson (28), Eboué (87), Fabregas (90+5).
Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2) Cech; Diarra, Carvalho, Terry (c) (Mikel 62), Bridge; Makelele (Robben h-t); Essien, Lampard; Ballack; Shevchenko (Kalou 90+8), Drogba.
Scorers Drogba (19, 83).
Sent off Mikel (90+5).
Booked Essien (35), Carvalho (48), Diarra (51), Lampard (90+5).
R
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