Brief: Chelsea 2 – MSK Zilina 1
Chelsea went into this 5th game of the Champions League group ‘F’ match against MSK Zilina looking to get back to winning ways after the last two league defeats against Sunderland and Birmingham.
Carlo Ancelotti decided on giving some senior players a rest and started with a lot of the youngsters (Turnbull, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Sturridge, McEachran and Kakuta) whilst keeping experience in all areas with Ivanovic and Ferreira at the back, Malouda in midfield with Ramires and, Drogba up front.
With Marseille winning in Moscow before our game kicked off, the two teams going through had been decided and, all bar a shock result tonight, Chelsea would go through as group winners so, the pressure was off a little giving Carlo a chance to give the kids a bit more playing time.
After 18 minutes though, Zilina took a shock lead through Bello with their first attack on the Chelsea goal. This sparked Chelsea into life and despite several efforts on goal, we once again failed to make it count and went in a goal down at halftime.
Ancelotti bought on Kalou for Kakuta in the second half and Chelsea started as they had finished the first half looking for that equaliser and sure enough, 6 minutes in, and Sturridge gets the first Chelsea goal.
Drogba nearly made it 2-1 on the 60 minute mark, when a 25 yard free kick hits the crossbar and then Van Aanholt hits the post from just outside the area, and it’s starting to look like another game where the chances are not going our way.
Sturridge is replaced by Anelka on 73 minutes and we are all anticipating quarter of an hour or so of an onslaught on the Zilina goal.
Malouda firing against the side netting and, Drogba heading over in the final ten minutes until finally, Malouda gets onto a downward header from Drogba to make it 2-1.
Jacob Mellis replaced Josh McEachran in injury time and the game ended with Chelsea’s fifth win and 100% record in Group ‘F’ and, go through to the knock out stages as group winners with Marseille away still to play.
“Win or Lose – Up the Blues”
Champions League Table “Group F” – correct as of 23rd November 2010
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Chelsea | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 15 |
| 2 | Marseille | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 9 |
| 3 | Spartak Moscow | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 6 |
| 4 | MSK Zilina | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 17 | -15 | 0 |