CHELSEA 2-1 CFR Cluj: Another Forgettable Night In Europe

CHELSEA 2-1 CFR CLUJ

Well, Chelsea had been warned Cluj weren’t just coming to make up the numbers last night and so it turned out as they recorded a marginal 2-1 win to go through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

 

The first half was as dull as ditch water, with not much to write home about as Chelsea did the usual ‘huff and puff’ routine at home. I mean, they didn’t particularly look like they would lose but then again, with their attack looking about as effective as  an umbrella in a hurricane, it wasn’t the most entertaining game we’ll ever see. 

 

Any threat from Chelsea's left backs were smothered, the defence had more holes than a tramps vest and their midfield looked like they’d never met each other before the game.

 

To suggest that Joe Cole was the liveliest player and he’s probably not even match fit, is probably the best way to describe the first half.  To be fair though, I thought Mikel had a decent game although even a rush of blood to the head for him didn’t help the nerves much.

 

Still, even with  Kalou’s first half opener wiped out early in the second by a bloody good equaliser, the fact that it was now against the run of play was a good enough omen – well that and the fact Roma were beating Bordeaux.  And just when I was ranting about Scolari’s persistent delay in substitutions, on came the Ivorian to save the day.

 

Drogba, who took his time lapping up the adulation before he threw himself head first into the game, made an immediate impact.  Inspired by the substitution, Chelsea looked a lot more assured and never more so than after the winner was dispatched sublimely off Drogba’s foot and into the back of the net six minutes into his game.

 

Overall it was another forgettable game in the Champions League, but the needed win means we can breathe easy for now.

 

TEAM

Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, A Cole, Mikel (Bridge 87), Ballack, Deco, J Cole, (Belletti 74), Anelka, Kalou (Drogba 65)

Unused subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Stoch

 

Goals

Chelsea: Kalou 40, Drogba 71

CFR Cluj: Kone 56