Lampard inspired as Chelsea serve up a treat
By Henry Winter
Sport.Telegraph, 6th March 2008
Chelsea last night did to Olympiakos what the Greeks do to their dinner
plates. The visitors' defence, as brittle as ancient crockery, was smashed
into countless pieces by the relentlessly percussive nature of Chelsea's
attacking. The only surprise was that the Londoners managed only three goals.
They deserved more.
Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou all scored while Lampard
delivered one of those fine box-to-box performances that marks the
Englishman out as one of the leading midfielders at work in Europe. Avram
Grant, Chelsea's coach, got his tactics right, with the players comfortable
in their 4-1-2-3 formation, although the benched Nicolas Anelka may wonder
when he will be used properly. Most importantly the players got their tempo
right.
Driven on by Lampard, they poured forward time after time, never allowing
Olympiakos a chance to catch breath. As Lampard ran the show for Chelsea,
following the excellence of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Manchester United's
Cristiano Ronaldo, one could almost hear the champagne corks hurtling into
the ceiling at the Premier League a couple of miles away from the Bridge.
If Liverpool survive their visit to Inter Milan next week, as they should,
then half the quarter-finalists will hail from England, an unprecedented
achievement. The last-eight round of Europe is turning into Richard
Scudamore's "international round" by stealth. A triumph for the Premier
League does not constitute a glowing endorsement for England's health.
France have no club side left in the Champions League but they boast many
individual players still involved, gracing sides from Mathieu Flamini's
Arsenal to Thierry Henry's Barcelona, Patrice Evra's United to Claude
Makelele's Chelsea.
Fabio Capello, watching from the Bridge smart seats, will at least have
enjoyed the sight of so many Englishmen shining, from a revitalised
Lampard to an untroubled John Terry, from the spritely Ashley Cole to the
lively Joe Cole. Lampard was the pick of the native bunch. Contentiously
omitted for the away leg in Piraeus, Lampard was terrific, creating
Ballack's early goal, scoring himself, fashioning Kalou's second-half
effort and being at the heart of all that was good about Chelsea.
Lampard's vision and passing were swiftly in evidence. Seizing on Ashley
Cole's quick throw-in after five minutes, Lampard had already noted his
team-mates' forward runs. Two touches nudged the ball in from the left-hand
touchline. Lampard's third picked out Ballack magnificently, the ball bent
towards the near-post for the German to beat the static Antonios
Nikopolidis with a firm, well-placed header.
Chelsea's movement was fast and fluid. Olympiakos were constantly
stretched. The ball was under pressure, too, forcing the referee to call
for another. The new ball was soon in Chelsea's sway, and even Makelele
ventured forward to try his luck from range. Few present were surprised
when the Frenchman's strike made a quiet, uneventful journey into the
area before seeking out Nikopolidis and surrendering meekly.
The next thrust of the Chelsea knife brought more pain. Another panicky
Olympiakos clearance after 25 minutes was met by Makelele, whose clever
header found Terry. Chelsea's captain immediately sent Ballack through
and Olympiakos were cut open. Again.
The German unleashed a strong shot which Nikopolidis got a hand to, but
merely diverted into the path of Lampard. On a night of Greeks bearing
gifts, the England international gratefully accepted the easiest of tap-ins.
If only Olympiakos players had the same verve as their animated supporters,
who brought real colour and noise to the Bridge. Chelsea fans stoked up
the atmosphere more by chanting "Panathinaikos". At least Olympiakos were
giving Chelsea a challenge in the singing department.
"You're not singing any more," Chelsea fans chanted three minutes after the
break when Lampard created a third. Controlling Lampard's corner with his
thigh, Kalou flicked the ball expertly home.
Olympiakos coach, Panagiotis Lemonis, tried to breathe some life into his
moribund team, and introduced Fernando Belluschi. John Belushi might have
had more impact on the Blues Brothers, who remained in control.
Amazingly, Olympiakos finally gave Carlo Cudicini something to think about.
For an hour, Cudicini could have wandered down the King's Road and done some
late-night shopping before returning to the Bridge without anyone noticing.
Then Belluschi lifted in a free-kick. Cudicini clutched it easily.
The focus quickly turned back to Lampard. The midfielder, whose ludicrous
weekend sending-off at West Ham was rightly rescinded, then suffered another
on-field injustice when he was cautioned for diving.
The unsympathetic Spanish referee, Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez, clearly paid
little attention in science classes. The combination of an accidental collision
plus gravity's pull meant Lampard had little choice but to fall down. Grant
decided to spare Lampard any more poor calls and replaced him with Michael
Essien. As Lampard walked off, Chelsea fans stood as one to salute their
inspired No 8. Chelsea's coach then withdrew Joe Cole and with Florent
Malouda already on, Didier Drogba had to complete this dead tie.
Draining the squad's leading striker seemed strange, unless Grant intends
resting Drogba and restoring Anelka for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final
exertions at Oakwell. Although Belluschi shivered the bar late on, one thing
is sure: Barnsley will give Chelsea more of a test than porcelain-strength
Olympiakos.
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