diablo2000
15-03-2000, 02:36:AM
Match Report from De Kuip Stadium
Chelsea 3 Feyenoord 1
Tuesday, March 14, 2000
CHELSEA on to the quarterfinals.......
At the beginning of the season the critics said Chelsea were not ready for the Champions league and would probably go out after the first group stage. Well after tonight’s performance in Feyenoords De Kuip stadium those same critics are choking on their words.
Chelsea outclassed a Feyenoord side who had not lost at home since September 1999. In every department they were quicker, sharper and had more desire than the travelling supporters could have dreamed.
Chelsea started brightly with Zola and Flo leading the attack in an intimidating atmosphere, however the crowd were silenced in the 3rd minute when Zola played a neat 1,2 with Poyet and unleashed a fierce first time shot, which was well parried by Dudek in the Feyenoord goal. That was closely followed by Flo running full tilt at the defence from half way and firing over the bar. Next minute Flo again running into the box was cut down giving Chelsea the chance of an early lead, up stepped Leboeuf for the resulting penalty only to see it saved to the keepers left.
For the next half hour only Tomasson posed any kind of threat to the Chelsea defence with the midfield getting plenty of room to distribute the ball to Flo & Zola at will. On 38mins Poyet passed to Zola on the edge of the D, one touch to steady and then the sweetest strike leaving Dudek stationary on his line as the ball hit both posts and in for Chelsea’s first. The Chelsea bench jumped for joy as Zola was mobbed by the rest of the team.
The second half started nervously for Chelsea, Feyenoord sent on Kalou in attack and changed their shape causing Chelsea some problems. For fifteen minutes it looked like Chelsea were going to be overrun by the advancing attack of Kalou and Cruz. On 58 Mins a shot come cross trickled across the face of De Goey’s goal which was palmed out into the path of Kalou who neatly slotted home for the equaliser.
Chelsea could have crumbled at that point but instead came out all guns blazing and within four minutes were back in front, Babayaro rounding the defender to the by-line floated a perfect cross to the middle of the box which dropped onto the head of an advancing Dennis Wise to score, Five minutes later a long searching ball found Flo free on the right wing with good control he collected it and cut into the box before neatly slotting home Chelsea’s 3rd. The Chelsea faithful were by now making more noise than the home side and enjoying the fact that Chelsea were now surely into the Quarter finals.
The last fifteen minutes were played out at a much slower pace with Chelsea controlling the game. Morris replaced Poyet on 75 and Ambrosetti replaced Zola late on who received a Fantastic round of applause from all sides of the ground.
A great Victory, Top of the Group, Into the quarter finals and next week Lazio at home (after West Ham on Saturday of course)
Chelsea 3 Feyenoord 1
Tuesday, March 14, 2000
CHELSEA on to the quarterfinals.......
At the beginning of the season the critics said Chelsea were not ready for the Champions league and would probably go out after the first group stage. Well after tonight’s performance in Feyenoords De Kuip stadium those same critics are choking on their words.
Chelsea outclassed a Feyenoord side who had not lost at home since September 1999. In every department they were quicker, sharper and had more desire than the travelling supporters could have dreamed.
Chelsea started brightly with Zola and Flo leading the attack in an intimidating atmosphere, however the crowd were silenced in the 3rd minute when Zola played a neat 1,2 with Poyet and unleashed a fierce first time shot, which was well parried by Dudek in the Feyenoord goal. That was closely followed by Flo running full tilt at the defence from half way and firing over the bar. Next minute Flo again running into the box was cut down giving Chelsea the chance of an early lead, up stepped Leboeuf for the resulting penalty only to see it saved to the keepers left.
For the next half hour only Tomasson posed any kind of threat to the Chelsea defence with the midfield getting plenty of room to distribute the ball to Flo & Zola at will. On 38mins Poyet passed to Zola on the edge of the D, one touch to steady and then the sweetest strike leaving Dudek stationary on his line as the ball hit both posts and in for Chelsea’s first. The Chelsea bench jumped for joy as Zola was mobbed by the rest of the team.
The second half started nervously for Chelsea, Feyenoord sent on Kalou in attack and changed their shape causing Chelsea some problems. For fifteen minutes it looked like Chelsea were going to be overrun by the advancing attack of Kalou and Cruz. On 58 Mins a shot come cross trickled across the face of De Goey’s goal which was palmed out into the path of Kalou who neatly slotted home for the equaliser.
Chelsea could have crumbled at that point but instead came out all guns blazing and within four minutes were back in front, Babayaro rounding the defender to the by-line floated a perfect cross to the middle of the box which dropped onto the head of an advancing Dennis Wise to score, Five minutes later a long searching ball found Flo free on the right wing with good control he collected it and cut into the box before neatly slotting home Chelsea’s 3rd. The Chelsea faithful were by now making more noise than the home side and enjoying the fact that Chelsea were now surely into the Quarter finals.
The last fifteen minutes were played out at a much slower pace with Chelsea controlling the game. Morris replaced Poyet on 75 and Ambrosetti replaced Zola late on who received a Fantastic round of applause from all sides of the ground.
A great Victory, Top of the Group, Into the quarter finals and next week Lazio at home (after West Ham on Saturday of course)