Andrei Shevchenko rescues Chelsea
By Henry Winter
Sport.Telegraph, 19th September 2007
If you don't make an omelette right, you end up with egg on your face. Jose
Mourinho's pre-match talk about needing the correct ingredients was spot on.
The absence of the injured Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba deprived Chelsea
of the required cutting edge and scrambled their hopes of a straightforward
passage through Champions League Group B.
Peter Kenyon's club keep talking about wanting to become the No 1 club in the
world, but they need to sell out Stamford Bridge and see off modest European
visitors like Rosenborg. How they miss Lampard and Drogba, who would put more
fans in the stands and more goals in the opposition's net.
Chelsea's lowest crowd in four years, only 24793, saw Miika Koppinen strike
in the first half, exploiting lax defending at a set-piece, an area where
Mourinhos's side used to be so obdurate. Only Andrei Shevchenko's 53rd-minute
equaliser, as well-received as it was well-taken, saved Chelsea from complete
embarrassment.
As a flurry of boos greeted the final whistle, Rosenborg's players ran
across to their small contingent of supporters to celebrate a famous point.
Norwegian radio commentators filled the airwaves with eulogies to Koppinen
and company. One half-expected one of these microphone-wielding heirs to the
late, great Bjorge Lillelien to launch into: "Jose Mourinho! Jose Mourinho!
Can you hear me? Your eggs sure took a helluva beating tonight!"
Chelsea had only one goal to show from two-thirds of the possession.
Rosenborg scarcely saw the ball, but used it spectacularly in the 24th
minute. Largely under siege, the Norwegians sought to attack on the counter,
and one swift break elicited a hugely profitable free-kick in the right-back
area where Juliano Belletti had more than once been caught out.
As Marek Sapara stepped up to address the dead-ball, Chelsea's defenders
should have paid heed to the Slovakian's pen-pic in the programme. The
warning was clear, Sapara described as possessing "a lethal right boot in
set-piece situations". So it proved. Sapara's right foot crashed into the
ball, sending the free-kick swerving towards the near-post. Koppinen nipped
in ahead of John Terry and flicked the ball brilliantly past Petr Cech.
Delight, and a touch of surprise, gripped the visiting contingent. As
Koppinen was mobbed by jubilant team-mates, the knots of Norwegian supporters
celebrated loudly. Rosenborg fans had an engaging "hi ho, hi ho, it's off
to work we go" chant borrowed from Snow White's Seven Dwarfs, and they
launched into it with gusto.
Chelsea were left to rue Sleepy's presence in their defence. Belletti, the
new boy from Barcelona, is a creature driven to attack, a trait that gifted
space for Abdou Traore to charge into. The Ivory Coast attacker even
threatened a goal, placing a low shot just wide of Cech's goal.
Belletti brings real energy down the right, and simply needs time to settle
in defensively. In the middle, Terry has still to build a proper understanding
with the other newcomer, Alex, and must surely miss the injured Ricardo
Carvalho's shrewd reading of unfolding danger.
For all the hysteria that will attach itself to Chelsea's failure to win,
there is not a lot wrong with the team that the return of Drogba and Lampard
would not rectify. It was a miracle that Chelsea trailed at the break; 12
attempts on goal, but only one on target told its own story. Drogba and
Lampard would have turned all that attractive approach work, much of it
emanating from the lively Florent Malouda, into goals.
Blue waves rolled relentlessly towards the Shed End without finding a way
through. Salomon Kalou headed over. Michael Essien shot into the empty seats.
Roar Strand cleared Malouda's shot off the line after good build-up work
by Shevchenko. Chances came and went, again and again. Alex headed over.
Joe Cole, Kalou and Shevchenko all shot wide. Groans spread around the Bridge.
Rosenborg snapped into tackles, refusing to allow Chelsea's band of stars
to settle. Malouda found himself tightly marked by Rosenborg's right-back,
confirming that you are never alone with a Strand.
Smoke certainly poured from the Norwegian ranks shortly before the break
when they believed— wrongly— that Shevchenko had stamped on a prostrate
Christer Basma. Nonsense. The innocent Ukrainian accidentally trod on the
centre-half when back-pedalling.
Shevchenko certainly did make his mark eight minutes after the restart.
Still a popular figure despite his problems assimilating into the high-speed
world of English football, the former European Footballer of the Year
scored for Chelsea for the first time in 161 days.
Malouda's marvellous cross from the left fell like an embossed invitation
from the heavens for Shevchenko. Chelsea's No 7 beat Koppinen to loop a
header over Lars Hirschfeld and in. Everyone of a blue hue at the Chelsea
celebrated — except one man. Mourinho was too busy castigating Joe Cole
for some perceived offence.
Chelsea were now really in the mood. Malouda almost broke a post.
Terry pushed into attack. Kalou hit an upright. Frustration ate into
Chelsea, but they are far too good not to qualify, particularly when those
good eggs Lampard and Drogba are back.
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