As one 100% record ends, another continues with a second win in our Champions League Group ended with a 2-0 over French Champions; Marseille.
With Drogba serving his now customary early competition suspension, and with Lampard, Kalou, and Benayoun all unavailable due to injury, it was important to get off to a good start.
As it was, a goal didn’t come long after kick off, when John Terry knocked in the opener at the near post from a Kakuta corner in only the sixth minute, the travelling supporters behind the goal were silenced albeit briefly.
Terry’s first goal of the season was a cute flick of the ball just inside the post, with the outside of his boot, after Kakuta had played in a low pacey corner which surprised the Marseilles defence.
Chelsea continued the half with Anelka, Malouda and Kakuta all involved often, and the left side of Malouda, Zhirkov and Cole looking the most likely in road for a second goal.
However it was from the right that the second goal came, by way of an Essien cross and Marseilles defender; Stephane Mbia hands. Penalty it was, and up stepped Anelka to roll a cheeky shot past the keeper, and answer some of the constant jibes from the Marseilles supporters.
Chelsea almost made it 3-0 when Alex’s hit a vicious free Blues looked to put it out of reace-kick from 30 yards that hit the inside of the post and Essien smashed a shot against the post as we looked to kill off the match, however a third goal looked increasingly likely as time went on.
Marseille had a few opportunities to score, but thankfully their shooting was wayward and their final ball often found wanting. After the match, Carlo Ancelotti remarked; “We played very well in the first half and the second half was more difficult because Marseille wanted to come back into the game and put more pressure on our midfield. We didn’t play so well but we still had a lot of chances in the second half.”
He added; “In the second half we had more difficultly in playing from the back because they put more pressure on us there. They took a risk of conceding a counter attack and we did have the good chances but Marseille was in the game until the end.”
Three points, 100% record, top of our group and no fresh injuries. With the Arsenal match on the horizon, this was a professional job well done.
Chelsea(4-3-3):Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry (c), Cole; Essien, Mikel (McEachran 87), Zhirkov (Sturridge 72); Kakuta (Ramires 61), Anelka, Malouda.
Scorers Terry 6, Anelka (pen) 27
Referee Frank De Bleeckere from Belgium
Attendance 40,675