Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo headed the Barclays Premier League strugglers in front, but Drogba, in his first Blues match for a month, snared a point for the table-toppers when he drilled home a contested free-kick just before the interval.

Hull started confidently, winning corners on the left and right inside two minutes.

Chelsea repelled them safely but Stephen Hunt’s delivery looked dangerous and the home side were assured in the opening minutes.

In the ninth minute Frank Lampard had the first chance of the match, capping a nice passing move with a swerving shot at goal. Boaz Myhill could only parry it to Nicolas Anelka 10 yards out but the Frenchman fluffed his finish.

Drogba was also off-target as he blazed wide soon after.

Hunt was looking dangerous down the left for Hull and Branislav Ivanovic appeared unsettled by the bustling Irishman.

Chelsea should have taken the lead 25 minutes in when Deco’s crossfield ball set Ivanovic free on the right and he arrowed a cross into the Hull area. Michael Ballack timed his run perfectly but headed tamely and straight at Myhill from close range.

Hull continued to give as good as they got, though, with crosses from Hunt and George Boateng both causing problems.

It was, then, no great surprise when Mouyokolo outjumped a number of Chelsea defenders to head home Hunt’s 29th-minute corner.

Anelka and Deco failed to beat Myhill with low drives as Chelsea fought back and Anthony Gardner made good ground to dispossess Drogba as he shaped to shoot.

With three minutes to go before the break the Ivorian striker lashed home the equaliser with a free-kick from just outside the penalty area.

Gardner missed a glorious chance to restore the lead before the break when he headed Tom Cairney’s flighted free-kick over from just a couple of yards.

John Terry was booked a minute after the restart for an ungainly leap with Jozy Altidore and it was almost a costly foul.

Hunt again sent in the cross and Altidore was left free in the box six yards out. He stooped to head goalwards but it looped up softly off the back of his head.

Ivanovic forced another parried save from Myhill in the 50th minute but when the loose ball was cut back across goal Lampard skied his shot.

There was more to worry about for Hull as the hour-mark approached. First Drogba and then Terry drew Myhill into action with strong headed efforts as the hosts failed to clear a corner.

Five minutes later Amr Zaki came off the bench for his second Tigers appearance and immediately had some joy as he got the better of Yuri Zhirkov to reach the byline.

Ancelotti introduced a fresh playmaker of his own with 19 minutes to play, Joe Cole replacing the off-colour Ballack.

Chelsea’s defending at set-pieces continued to falter as Hunt and Mouyokolo combined again with a near-post corner, though this time the defender headed wide.

Drogba was also off-target in the 77th minute, heading over Ivanovic’s curling delivery as last man Myhill charged off his line.

Drogba was booked late on for a frustrated flick at Paul McShane and Myhill ensured the Tigers held on to a valuable point as he stretched to save Daniel Sturridge’s late strike.

Source + Pic: premierleague.com

A stoppage time goal from Andres Iniesta earned Barca a 1-1 draw on the night and on aggregate and sent the Catalans into a final meeting with Manchester United at the end of this month on the away goals rule.

Chelsea had legitimate grounds for complaint after being denied at least two good penalty appeals by the referee – who was still considered good enough by UEFA to officiate at last year’s Euro 2008 championships – but that will not be regarded as any excuse by UEFA when they come to judge Drogba’s conduct.

Ovrebo had to be escorted from the pitch by a platoon of stewards with Drogba apparently bent on a physical confrontation.

To compound his intimidating behaviour, the Ivory Coast international then turned to a television camera and screamed into it, describing the official as a “f-ing disgrace.”

Chelsea are also likely to be in hot water with UEFA after infuriated fans threw flags at the officials and the Barcelona bench on the final whistle.

However, Drogba is unlikely to be punished by his club as manager Guus Hiddink said he understood that emotions after such a match run high.

“I can fully understand the players reaction as long as they don’t touch him (the referee),” said Hiddink, who won the European Cup – the predecessor of the Champions League – with PSV Eindhoven.

“Emotions are running high as they have seen several occasions the referee turn down appeals.

“There is loads of energy and adrenalin out there.”

The Dutchman, though, stopped short of backing up claims by Chelsea players that they had been conspired against by UEFA, who did not want a second successive all-English final.

“Yeah, well you can never prove this. It was said out of emotion.

“Three occasions they saw that no penalty was awarded, like for instance when (Florent) Malouda) was grabbed inside the box…that was a clear penalty.”

Hiddink, who has insisted that he is just a temporary replacement for the sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari and will return to coach Russia at the end of the season, said that whilst the penalties should have been awarded, his team also had to accept they had other chances slip by – most notably Drogba scuffing a chance in the second-half.

“I am still very disappointed but it is not easy to analyse a game when the adrenalin is still flowing.

“We should have scored in certain open situations.

“However, there were three clear penalties. The boys feel – well I won’t say what they really feel – that it was an injustice.

“One should ask UEFA why they put this referee in to run this game. Yes the red card for (Barcelona defender) Eric Abidal was difficult to call but there was a clear handball by Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.

“If the referee was blocked off from seeing it clearly he always has the assistant referee to consult with. The Drogba shirtpulling incident in the second-half, well we can let that one go because that cancels out the Thierry Henry moment in the first leg (Henry was fouled in the area but Barcelona didn’t get a penalty).”

Pique, who most likely will play against his former club Manchester United in the final as Barcelona will be missing three first choice defenders in Abidal, fellow fullback Daniel Alves and the injured Rafael Marquez, for his part admitted the ball had hit his arm.

“The ball touched my arm. The referee decided it wasn’t a penalty and one has to respect the referee’s decisions.”

Source: soccernews.com

Pic: teamtalk.com

Petr Cech was outstanding as Chelsea held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp. And so becoming the first side in 50 games to restrict the Spanish side from scoring on their home ground.

Cech produced several fine stops to keep the Blues in the tie as Guus Hiddink‘s men defended superbly throughout ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge a week on Wednesday.

After a cagey opening 30 minutes, in which Barcelona enjoyed plenty of possession but could not break down a solid visiting defence, the game suddenly sparked into life.

Thierry Henry cut in from the left and fired straight at Cech before testing the Blues stopper again with a much fiercer effort moments later as Barca finally began to create some openings.

But it was Chelsea who should have broken the deadlock in the 39th minute when Rafael Marquez’s weak back pass allowed Didier Drogba a free run on goal but the striker’s half volley was well saved by Victor Valdes, who was also equal to the Ivorian hitman’s follow up.

Michael Ballack flicked a header over the bar as Hiddink’s troops began the second half with more intent, while Barca were forced into a reshuffle when Marquez was forced off with a knee injury to be replaced by Carlos Puyol.

Lionel Messi, mostly on the fringes of the game, volleyed over the bar from 16 yards while Dani Alves forced Cech into another smart stop as Barca began to find their fluency again. Although a booking for Puyol for a challenge of Florent Malouda means the experienced defender will be missing for the second leg at Stamford Bridge a week on Wednesday.

Samuel Eto’o missed a great opportunity to give Barcelona the lead with 20 minutes to go when he outpaced the visiting defence but the outstanding Cech produced another excellent stop.

But the best chance of the game fell to substitute Bojan in the 90th minute when the young striker headed over the bar from close range, while moments later Cech smothered an effort from Alex Hleb as Barca ended the night frustrated and goalless – the first time they have failed to score at the Nou Camp all season.

Afterwards boss Guus Hiddink felt his Chelsea side did a remarkable job of stifling Barcelona.

“Barcelona play beautiful football and possession is crucial to their game,” said the Dutchman.

“The only thing they couldn’t do was find a goal and I think Petr Cech did a good job defensively.

“They couldn’t create the big chances and we were a little bit unlucky with Didier in the first half, but we have to accept that they posed more of a threat. We fought very bravely.

“We know this is the only team in the world that can immediately take advantage when you lose your discipline and punish you. The guys did very well.

“The only thing we would like to have done is to have more possession and pose more of a threat, but this is one of the best teams in the world.”

Barcelona travel to Stanford Bridge for the second leg, without their star defenders Puyol and Marquez, the men from London will surely have a quiet air of optimism when the sides clash once again on Wednesday.

Source: football365

The Serbian defender – only playing because of the injury to first-choice right-back Jose Bosingwa – scored his first goals in a Blue shirt as Guus Hiddink’s team brought the Reds fine run of recent form to a crashing halt.

Fernando Torres gave Rafael Benitez‘s side an early lead but two headers either side of half-time from Ivanovic and a Didier Drogba strike put Chelsea into the driving seat ahead of next week’s return leg at Stamord Bridge.

The Reds’ reward for a fast start was the opening goal in the sixth minute. Dirk Kuyt pulled Alex’s clearance out of the Merseyside sky before the Dutchman’s superb backheel sent Alvaro Arbeloa clear down the right. The full-back was precise in his delivery, picking out Torres, who stroked the ball past Petr Cech from 12 yards out.

Chelsea could and should have been level immediately. Solomon Kalou robbed Fabio Aurelio before feeding Drogba, who smashed the ball straight at Pepe Reina when one-on-one with the hosts’ keeper.

Florent Malouda’s low, left-footed drive from the edge of the box drifted narrowly wide of Reina’s post midway through the opening period, while Torres’ curler at the other end came equally as close moments later.

Drogba wasted his second golden opportunity in the 28th minute when he blasted over from close range but despite the prolific Ivorian’s wastefulness, Chelsea hauled themselves level six minutes before the break.

Florent Malouda’s corner landed on the edge of the six-yard box and Ivanovic evaded the attentions of both Xabi Alonso and Martin Skrtel to plant a firm header past Reina.

Liverpool came desperately close to retaking the lead within seconds of conceding when Kuyt left John Terry for dead on the right-side of the box but Cech rescued his side, sprinting off his line to block the Dutchman’s effort.

The frenetic pace of the game continued in the early exchanges of the second half, and Drogba finally managed to hit the target five minutes after the break. However, with Reina beaten by the Blues’ striker’s low effort, Jamie Carragher recovered to clear off the line, preserving parity for the hosts.

Blues’ captain John Terry collected a caution on the hour-mark, earning the defender a suspension but Chelsea recovered from the blow of losing their skipper for the second leg by taking the lead in the 62nd minute.

Liverpool failed to learn from their earlier mistake and it was Ivanovic again who nodded home, this time from Lampard’s corner.

Things quickly got worse for the hosts when a sublime move culminated in Chelsea’s third on 66 minutes.

Michael Ballack’s slide-rule pass sent Malouda clear on the left, and his low, driven cross was smashed home from close range by Drogba.

Liverpool desperately sought a way back into the tie but Chelsea looked the more likely to increase their lead on the break.

Hiddink’s troops leave Anfield in control of the tie, with Liverpool now needing to score at least three times in west London next Tuesday.

The Blues went into the last-16 return leg with a one-goal advantage but that was soon wiped out by Vincenzo Iaquinta’s 19th-minute strike.

But the visitors levelled on the stroke of half-time, moments after referee Alberto Undiano had ruled that a free-kick by Didier Drogba had not crossed the goal line in the 44th minute.

That decision appeared harsh but it was soon irrelevant as Frank Lampard’s shot came down off the underside of the bar for Michael Essien to bundle home.

Juventus restored their lead on the night when Undiano awarded the Italian side a 74th-minute penalty for handball by Juliano Belletti.

However, Chelsea battled back for a second time when Drogba prodded home a cross from Belletti in the 83rd minute to give the Blues a 3-2 aggregate win.

The Serie A giants knew an early goal was a requirement if they were to get themselves back into a tie that kicked-off in Chelsea’s favour thanks to Drogba’s match-winner at Stamford Bridge.

Pavel Nedved was twice down injured in the opening eight minutes. The first time after a collision with Essien and the second when he came off worst in a clash with Nicolas Anelka.

He was replaced in the 12th minute by Hasan Salihamidzic after failing to respond to lengthy treatment on the sidelines.

Nedved’s loss as a bitter blow to the Juve cause as he had been the architect of their fine start.

But Chelsea’s worst fears were realised in the 19th minute when Iaquinta put the Italians level on aggregate.

The Juve forward was put clear by David Trezeguet and lashed an angled dive beyond Petr Cech.

Guus Hiddink’s side were guilty of far too many misplaced passes as they tried to get themselves back on level terms on the night.

Instead it was Juve who continued to set the pace of the game and John Terry had to be alert to keep Trezeguet from getting on the end of a Del Piero pass in the 39th minute.

However, in the 41st minute, Anelka found himself with the perfect chance to test Buffon when the ball fell at his feet on the edge of the penalty area.

But despite having the luxury of time and space, the Frenchman’s effort almost hit the corner flag.

It had been a dreadful display by the English side who had shown a complete lack of ideas and invention in the opening half. But it was all to change inside two crazy minutes.

Chelsea were at the centre of controversy in the 44th minute when a free-kick from Drogba was clearly over the goal line but not given by Undiano or his assistants.

But seconds later it was immaterial as Frank Lampard’s shot hit the underside of the bar and Essien, playing his first game since being injured last September, bundled the ball home for the equaliser.

Essien’s goal had capped a fine comeback for the midfielder who ruptured his knee ligaments on international duty with Ghana last September.

His goal left Juventus needing to score twice to progress to the quarter-finals at Chelsea’s expense.

Chelsea were understandably put under pressure by the Italians when the second half began.

Former Blues boss Claudio Ranieri stood inside the technical area as his side toiled away without success.

The Stadio Olimpico had lost its first-half fervour and Chelsea took advantage of the change in atmosphere to put more pressure on the home side.

In the 54th minute, Giorgio Chiellini was shown a yellow card for upending Ballack but this time Drogba’s free-kick fell kindly into the waiting arms of Buffon.

The home crowd then voiced their disapproval when Ranieri replaced goal-scorer Iaquinta with Sebastian Giovinco in the 61st minute.

Cech was then shown a yellow card after a shot from Giovinco deflected off Jose Bosingwa.

The Chelsea ‘keeper handled the ball outside the penalty area as he tried to prevent it going for a corner.

In the 65th minute Cech atoned for his error with a flying save to keep out a header from Trezeguet.

Del Piero’s cross had eluded the Chelsea defence and although Trezeguet found power with his header, Cech was equal to the task.

Moments later Chelsea replaced hero Essien with Juliano Belletti. The Ghanaian midfielder was clearly not fit enough to finish the game.

Juventus hopes were hampered further when Chiellini was sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling Drogba.

But referee Undiano was then at the centre of more controversy for awarding a penalty to Juventus in the 74th minute after Belletti was adjudged to have handled a free-kick by Del Piero.

The Juve striker sent Cech the wrong way from the spot to give the Serie A side renewed hope.

But it was soon crushed by Drogba who side-footed a low cross from Belletti into the net in the 83rd minute to cap a fine night for Chelsea.

Source: Teamtalk.com

Following on from the crucial Premier League win at Aston Villa on Saturday, the Blues made it two wins out of two for new boss Guus Hiddink, while ex-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri has work to do ahead of the return leg in a fortnight if he is to guide his Serie A side into the last eight at the expense of his former employers.

Drogba’s early strike made the difference for the hosts, whose only regret may be not turning their territorial domination into a bigger advantage to take to the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

The Blues began on the front foot, and stayed there for the entire first period.

Salomon Kalou tested Gianluigi Buffon’s handling with an effort from outside the box in the third minute, shortly before Jose Bosingwa’s right-wing cross was headed over from close range by Drogba.

The Ivorian made amends however in the 12th minute with the opening goal. Kalou’s threaded pass from outside the box was pounced upon by his compatriot and the Blues striker made no mistake in firing past Buffon on the turn from just inside the box.

Drogba failed to test Buffon again when he mistimed his leap to meet Frank Lampard’s inswinging corner kick in the 16th minute while Juve finally found some fluency in attack midway through the opening period when Alessandro Del Piero’s shot on the turn forced Petr Cech into a fine diving save.

Drogba wasted another headed opportunity just after the break when he was picked out by Bosingwa’s cross from deep on the right before Buffon fielded Lampard’s drive from outside the box shortly before the hour mark.

Cech had to be alert to keep out Amauri’s 70th-minute header while Anelka’s 25-yard drive whistled past the Juve post as the Blues looked to increase their lead with four minutes remaining.

Substitute David Trezeguet then miscued a volley moments later but the Bianconeri will not be too dispirited to leave London with only a one-goal deficit and the tie still far from over.

Source: teamtalk.com

New Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink believes Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba can play in the same team – if they show defensive as well as attacking qualities.

Anelka marked Hiddink’s first game in charge by scoring the winner against Aston Villa – his 21st goal of the season. Victory pushed the Blues ahead of Villa into third spot in the Barclays Premier League.

Previous Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari had been reluctant to play Drogba and Anelka in the same team. However, Hiddink said: “You can only play good attacking football when everyone knows their job defensively.

“We have quality players like Anelka and Drogba and, when they have the spirit to work defensively for the team, then you can also the play the way we like tolay.

“They are the first defensive line and must join in with the midfield in having defensive responsibilities.

“If they are willing to do that there is no problem with using their strong qualities offensively.”

Hiddink also insisted he had seen no divisions amongst the players in the build-up to the game.

He said: “We have worked very hard physically and also strategically. Everyone has been very professional. I have not seen any division in the group.”

As regards Chelsea’s 1-0 victory, Hiddink said: “I am satisfied with the performance and the result, especially against a team like Villa who have had a very good record recently. They have not been beaten in the league for a long time.

“In the first half we were very dominant and the only criticism is that we did not finish the game off.

“In the second half they came at us with their big strong guys in the air but we were also a bit too static when we had the ball in possession.

“We can improve a little bit but I am very pleased and satisfied to get that game in our pocket.”

Villa boss Martin O’Neill felt a third game in six days after cup ties with Everton and CSKA Moscow had taken its toll on his side.

He said: “It sounds like an excuse but I do believe the three games in quick succession took their toll. At the beginning, we looked leggy and Chelsea got into their stride very quickly.

“We got a bit of momentum before half-time and had a lot of possession in the second half without creating too many chances.

“I am disappointed with the setback but we are far from finished. I suppose it is a sign of how far we have come that we are disappointed at being fourth in the table.

“We have some quality players. You get disappointments but we will bounce back and there is not a dent in our belief.

“I thought we could win today. I still thought that at half-time. In terms of effort and determination they have given everything.

“The top four teams have the squads to cope with hectic schedules and it is something we will have to learn as well. But we are still in there fighting.”

Meanwhile match-winner Anelka hopes Chelsea’s win can kick-start a winning run under Hiddink.

He told Sky Sports 1: “We showed it last week and again, today, we showed a lot of character because it was a hard game.

“It is good for all the players and for the new coach as well because we can continue this winning way and we hope we can win more games.

“It is going to be difficult but we think it is possible. We hope we are back in the race.”

Source: www.football365.com