Champions League, Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

Cole gives Blues the edge

Joe Cole scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea emerged from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with a 1-0 advantage over Liverpool to take to Anfield.

After generating enough chances to put the tie beyond doubt, particularly in a first-half they comfortably dominated, Jose Mourinho's side were put under sufficient pressure after the break for Liverpool to head home believing they can turn things around in front of their own supporters.

Cole's goal was a delight to watch and the kind of quick break that visiting sides to Stamford Bridge usually dream of. That Chelsea were the home side yet still found themselves attacking on the break was of little importance to those fans waving blue and white flags.

The opening period belonged to the Blues and Cole's goal was just reward for a display which had Liverpool pegged back deep in their own half for long spells. Chelsea could have been in front as early as the eighth minute when Ashley Cole's cross was headed down by Didier Drogba for Lampard to fire in a shot which brought an excellent save from Jose Reina.

It was a warning that Liverpool failed to heed and when John Arne Riise's pass was intercepted by Drogba three minutes later, Chelsea looked certain to open their account. But Drogba, with 31 goals to his credit this season, failed to find Joe Cole with his pass and another opportunity went begging.

Drogba's lack of bravery moments later allowed Liverpool to escape yet again when he paid far too much attention to the onrushing Reina than the flight of Joe Cole's cross and missed the ball completely. When Frank Lampard's free-kick flew inches wide of Reina's right-hand upright in the 22nd minute, Mourinho could have been forgiven for thinking it was not going to be his side's night.

But all that changed seven minutes later with a goal of such simplicity that it was difficult to believe Chelsea had scored it against a side with one of the meanest defences in England. t began with Ricardo Carvalho breaking-up a Liverpool attack and racing out of defence before slipping a sublime pass to Drogba. The striker, who gave Daniel Agger a torrid evening, turned him superbly before crossing for Cole to find the net from six yards.

Liverpool, not surprisingly, upped the pace of their own game in the second period and it almost paid dividends. But in Petr Cech, Chelsea have a guardian of the sticks who, like Cole, epitomises the spirit of defiance in the Stamford Bridge camp.

Cech, out for three months with a fractured skull sustained in a Barclays Premiership match against Reading last October and who still has to wear a protective helmet, flung himself to his left to keep out a goalbound volley from Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool were now in the ascendancy but despite replacing Craig Bellamy with the lanky frame of England striker Peter Crouch, they failed to produce another telling moment.

Instead it was Reina who kept Liverpool in the tie with a fantastic save to deny Lampard when the England midfielder volleyed the ball towards the top corner 10 minutes from time.

Drogba almost scored a second in stoppage-time but headed wide of the target from six yards. The tie remains delicately poised ahead of the return leg at Anfield and while Liverpool will feel they are capable of overcoming the deficit, Chelsea's remarkable spirit may prove to be unbreakable yet again.

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 84), Mikel, Lampard, Shevchenko (Kalou 76), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz, Geremi, Bridge, Diarra.

Goals: Joe Cole 29.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso (Pennant 83), Mascherano, Zenden, Kuyt, Bellamy (Crouch 52).
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Sissoko, Paletta.

Booked: Mascherano.

Champions League, Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool extended highlights:

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Champions League, Valencia 1-2 Chelsea (agg 2-3)

Chelsea steal it at very death!

A 90th minute strike from Michael Essien stunned Valencia at the Mestalla and secured Chelsea a 2-1 win as they progressed to the Champions League semi-final. The Blues had gone down to a 32nd minute goal from Fernando Morientes, but Andriy Shevchenko equalised seven minutes into the second half.

Chelsea had looked dead and buried in the first half when Fernando Morientes had given Valencia a 2-1 aggregate lead. But Andriy Shevchenko levelled and then Essien's last-gasp winner put Chelsea in dreamland.

Valencia made the better start to the game, but having failed to snatch an early goal they looked happy to sit back and soak up Chelsea pressure. The visitors had chances early on, as Ricardo Carvalho and Shevchenko both nodded wide and Ballack's powerful header was saved by Canizares.

Morientes, who had missed the opening leg in London because of a shoulder injury, was clearly determined to set up a semi-final meeting with his former club Liverpool. He was thwarted from giving the home side the lead in the 31st minute when he smashed a cross from David Silva against Petr Cech's right-hand upright.

But Morientes prevailed a minute later when he escaped his marker to volley home a superbly-delivered right-wing cross from Valencia full-back Luis Miguel. The goal put Valencia ahead on aggregate but Chelsea could still save themselves by getting on the scoresheet.

Chelsea's lack of width was immediately addressed with Mourinho switching to 4-3-3 by moving Essien to right-back and introducing Joe Cole. The impact was instant. Cole and Didier Drogba linked perfectly and Chelsea played much further forward. Seven minutes after half-time Drogba met Essien's cross and, although Luis Miguel and Roberto Ayala crowded out the striker, the ball fell for Shevchenko to stab past Cañizares from close range.
Valencia's back line began to creak, with possession presented back to Drogba in the 66th minute although the Ivorian scuffed his shot and Cañizares made a comfortable save.

Valencia substitute Miguel Angel Angulo wasted a good chance when he shot wide of the target as the Spanish side pressed for the goal that would give them victory. The Spanish side had Canizares to thank for keeping them in the game in the 84th minute when he produced a sensational one-handed save to keep out a header from Ballack.

But Essien put Chelsea into the semi-finals with a glorious angled drive in the 91st minute.

Valencia: Canizares, Miguel, Ayala, Moretti, Del Horno, Joaquin, Albelda, Albiol (Hugo Viana 72), Silva, Morientes (Angulo 65), Villa.
Subs Not Used: Butelle, Jorge Lopez, Curro Torres, Nacho Insa, Pallardo.

Booked: Del Horno, Albelda, Ayala, Moretti.

Goals: Morientes 32.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra (Joe Cole 46), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard (Makelele 90), Ballack, Shevchenko (Kalou 90), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bridge, Ferreira, Wright-Phillips.

Booked: Essien, Ballack.

Goals: Shevchenko 52, Essien 90.

Champions league, Valencia 1-2 Chelsea full highlights:

Champions League, Chelsea 1-1 Valencia

Drogba gives Chelsea Hope!

Didier Drogba kept Chelsea's Champions League challenge alive with a second half equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw against Valencia on Wednesday. Drogba came to Chelsea's rescue after David Silva's stunning strike had put Valencia in control of a hard-fought quarter-final first leg clash at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea opened brightly enough but left-back Ashley Cole rushed a cross which eluded both Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as it flashed across the six-yard box. In the ninth minute, Kalou hit the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area after Roberto Ayala had blocked Andriy Shevchenko's path to goal with a crude challenge.

Ayala's block went unpunished by Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere despite Chelsea's appeals for a penalty. Two minutes later Villa squandered a chance when he failed to hit the target from close range after escaping the shackles of the Chelsea defence.

Valencia missed another good chance to take the lead in the 21st minute when Joaquin's shot found David Silva unmarked in the penalty area. Silva only had to touch the ball goalwards to beat Cech but mistimed his kick completely and the Blues escaped again!

Silva made up for his misfire right on the half hour mark though with a simply awe-inspiring goal. Silva picked the ball up ten yards inside the Chelsea half, sprinted forward on the left side and let rip with what can only be described as the sweetest of shots from 35 yards.

The ball took a diagonal trajectory and arrowed into the top right corner, leaving Cech no chance and silencing all within Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea started the second half in a much more positive fashion and Kalou was unlucky when he mistimed a shot from a cross by Lassana Diarra. There was far more urgency about Chelsea's play now and for the first time in the game they looked capable of unsettling their opponents.
Lampard wasted a free-kick after Drogba had been brought down by Ayala - hitting the ball straight at Valencia's defensive wall.But Chelsea's higher tempo football paid off in the 53rd minute when Drogba equalised.

The 53rd minute a hopeful ball over the top from Ashley Cole was latched onto by Drogba. The Ivorian used the bounce to his advantage to catch the ball on the hop and loop a header over Santiago Canizares in the Valencia goal.

Carvalho had a shot blocked in the 84th minute before Shevchenko's over-head kicked flashed wide, but Chelsea had run out of ideas.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra, Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou (Wright-Phillips 74), Ballack, Lampard, Mikel (Joe Cole 74), Shevchenko, Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Makelele, Boulahrouz, Bridge, Ferreira.

Booked: Drogba, Diarra.

Goals: Drogba 53.

Valencia: Canizares, Miguel, Ayala, Moretti, Del Horno, Vicente (Angulo 57), Albelda, Albiol, Joaquin (Hugo Viana 86), Silva, Villa (Jorge Lopez 90).
Subs Not Used: Butelle, Curro Torres, Nacho Insa, Pallardo. Booked: Silva, Albelda, Ayala.

Goals: Silva 30.

Champions league, Chelsea 1-1 Valencia highlights:

Villa on Chelsea mission

David Villa had said that he is on a goalscoring mission as he travels to Stamford Bridge with Valencia to take on Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The Spanish international was on the scoresheet against Espanyol at the weekend and is now hungry to find the net again against the Blues.

"I intend to score a goal in Stamford Bridge," he said. "But it is not for personal achievement but rather for the success of Valencia.

"Any goal this Wednesday will be very important for the return leg as we saw how crucial away goals can be against Inter Milan in the last round."

Valencia go into the game without Fernando Morientes who has a shoulder injury, but Villa believes Valenica can cope without him, with the striker also saying that he is happy his team are been labelled the underdogs for the tie.

"The absence of Morientes is sad for us, but we will demonstrate that we are not dependent on one unique player, we are a compact block and that has always been our main virtue.

"I prefer not to have the role of favourite as Chelsea have all the pressure and are expected to win.

"Chelsea are not playing that well but they are always very dangerous, their attack is sensational, and Drogba and Shevchenko arre too big stars.

"However our defence is prepared for two big battles, we need to play the match with our head and without nerves."

Premiership. Watford 0-1 Chelsea

Kalou keeps Chelsea title hopes alive

Substitute Salomon Kalou scored in injury time to keep Chelsea's Barclays Premiership hopes alive with a 1-0 victory as they moved back to within six points of leaders Manchester United. The Blues striker headed Andriy Shevchenko's cross high into the top corner three minutes into stoppage time, just as Watford appeared certain to hold out for a draw that would have effectively handed Manchester United the title.

Chelsea skipper John Terry's afternoon had got off to a painful start when Darius Henderson accidentally caught him with a stray elbow in the first minute of the match. Terry spent several minutes receiving treatment but was eventually able to continue.

Terry's difficult opening might have seen him concede penalty after he appeared to handle Tommy Smith's cross but referee Uriah Rennie turned down Watford's vociferous appeals. Watford's positive start continued when Kabba forced a save from Cech with a spectacular overhead kick, while Henderson shot wide on the turn and, later, directed a weak header at goal.

Chelsea had a penalty appeal of their own turned down when Lampard - playing with a support on his broken wrist - went down after a clumsy challenge, while Foster made a brilliant save with his legs to deny Drogba.

All Watford lacked was a goal and they should have had one in the 51st minute. Gavin Mahon's long throw sparked pandemonium in the penalty area and after a chaotic few seconds, Kabba found himself with time and space to spare at the back post but sliced horribly wide.

Shaun Wright-Phillips curled wide from 20 yards and when Lampard broke clear only to see the ball whipped away from his toes by Jay DeMerit, Chelsea's faint title hopes appeared to evaporate. Not so, In the 93rd minute, Shevchenko charged down the right and delivered an inch-perfect cross which Kalou - on as a second-half substitute - headed in gleefully from 10 yards.

Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd:
"It is hard to take. I'm proud of my team but disappointed.

"We did very well in many aspects. It was scrappy and we wanted it that way to make it difficult for them.

"What pleased me was that last time we played Chelsea we looked like little boys out autograph hunting but we stood up to them this time."

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho:
"I think that if we had gone from six points to eight or nine behind Manchester United, mathematically it would still be possible to win the title but mentally not.

"Every game is crucial. If we win every game then I think we can be champions.

"Maybe the draw was a fair result. We have a strong group and we have to go all the way in every match."

Watford: Foster, Chambers, DeMerit, Shittu, Stewart, Smith, Mahon, Francis, Rinaldi, Henderson (Priskin 69), Kabba (Bouazza 81).
Subs Not Used: Lee, Doyley, Bangura.

Booked: Francis.

Chelsea: Cech, Geremi (Ferreira 46), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole (Mikel 58), Makelele (Kalou 46), Lampard, Ballack, Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Shevchenko.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz.

Booked: Wright-Phillips, Ferreira, Carvalho.

Goals: Kalou 93.

Premiership Watford 0-1 Chelsea highlights:

Lampard calls for action

England midfielder Frank Lampard has called for action to prevent any repetition of the attack he faced from a Tottenham fan in the FA Cup.

Chelsea had just won the quarter-final replay at 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Monday and Lampard was celebrating in front of the Chelsea supporters when a fan ran on to the pitch and took a swing at him.

"It did shock me," Lampard said as he prepared for England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on Saturday. "Fortunately I saw it coming and was prepared for it and luckily ducked out the way.

"It wasn't as bad as it could have been as an incident. But I hope that doesn't happen to me or anyone else again. It was strange. It was awkward, someone running at you like that ... Fans have come on the pitch before but not with that kind of aggressive nature.

"Emotions run high and I don't want to stand here and criticise too much. Of course, the measures need to be taken to make sure it doesn't happen again."

A Football Association spokesman had earlier described the scenes as "totally unacceptable" and said the FA would be contacting Spurs "as a matter of priority."

Lampard is now looking ahead to the game at Ramat Gan on Saturday, where England need to make up lost ground in Group E. Steve McClaren's men have dropped five points and slipped to third in the group after drawing with Macedonia and losing to leaders Croatia.

Difficult though it will be in Israel, compared with the game four days later against Andorra, Lampard believes England can have no excuses and need to make their ability and experience count.

"I hope we'll learn the lesson from Croatia because we didn't play as well as we should have done and we lost," Lampard said.

"We're full of players who have played in these atmospheres before - Champions League, England games - we've got the experience. So there's no excuses."

England have seven points, one behind Russia and three adrift of Croatia. Macedonia - who have played a game more - and Israel, are behind McClaren's men only on goal difference.

FA name semi-final venues

Old Trafford and Villa Park have been confirmed as the venues that will play host to this season's FA Cup semi-finals.

As expected, the Football Association have scheduled Blackburn's match with Chelsea at the home of Manchester United.

The game will kick off at 4pm on Sunday, April 15 and will be televised live by Sky Sports.

Watford will face United at Aston Villa's home ground the previous day, kick off at 5.30pm, with the BBC providing live coverage.

FA to contact Spurs over Fan attack

FA calls incident involving pitch invader 'totally unacceptable'

The Football Association has demanded an explanation from Tottenham Hotspur after two fans ran on to the pitch at White Hart Lane at the end of last night's quarter-final replay against Chelsea - and one of them attempted to punch Frank Lampard.

The FA described the incident as "totally unacceptable" and have asked Spurs to detail the security measures that were in place.

"These scenes were totally unacceptable and we will be contacting Spurs as a matter of priority," said a spokesman. "We want to establish what safety and security provisions were in place for the game and to confirm what action was taken against the fans who ran on to the pitch. We understand that both individuals were arrested and we would expect them to be given football banning orders."

The invader trying to punch Chelsea's Lampard

Lampard managed to dodge the punch before a slew of stewards tamed the fan, but the midfielder spoke of his unease at how close the intruder had been able to get to him.

"I saw the guy coming and wanted to keep my eye on him because if I turn my back, I thought I might get one on me," said Lampard. "I just ducked and the stewards got to him. The way he ran at me I think he'd had a few drinks. I don't think he should have been on the pitch in the first place, but you can understand there's a lot of emotion in a match like this."

The invader was wrestled down!

FA Cup, Tottenham1-2 Chelsea

Spurs second best as Chelsea grasp their second chanceChelsea set up an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Blackburn Rovers thanks to superb second-half strikes from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Andriy Shevchenko finally showed his true quality with a superb strike that put Chelsea on course for a 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final replay victory at Tottenham on Monday.



Shevchenko broke the deadlock with a finish of the highest quality early in the second half before Shaun Wright-Phillips added an equally brilliant second.



Robbie Keane reduced the deficit with a late penalty but Chelsea edged through to set up a semi-final against Blackburn next month.



However, there was an ugly end to the match. As Chelsea's players celebrated with their supporters at the final whistle, a Spurs fan ran on to the pitch to confront Blues boss Jose Mourinho and had to be restrained by Frank Lampard.



With tempers already raised, Chelsea coach Baltemar Brito was involved in a heated argument with Tottenham assistant Chris Hughton as the players left the pitch.



After months of plenty of criticism for a series of lacklustre displays since his pre-season move from AC Milan, Shevchenko is coming into form at just the right moment.



His relationship with Mourinho has been frosty at times amid suggestions the Ukraine international was signed by owner Roman Abramovich rather than the Chelsea boss.



But he scored a fine goal in Saturday's win against Sheffield United and his devastating effort here was further evidence that he is beginning to recapture the form that persuaded Chelsea to pay 30 million pounds for him.



It was tough on Tottenham who had started well, with Dimitar Berbatov wasting no time in testing Petr Cech with a looping header from Steed Malbranque's cross.



Chelsea had staged a dramatic fightback to set up this replay after trailing 3-1 at half-time at Stamford Bridge, prompting Mourinho to taunt Spurs by claiming he expected his side to reach the final after that escape.



Michael Ballack was close to backing up those bold words in the sixth minute when he shot narrowly wide after Didier Drogba chested down Ashley Cole's long punt.



Wright-Phillips has been given a rare opportunity by Mourinho recently and the winger showed a glimpse of his undoubted talent with a fierce drive from the edge of the area that flashed just over the crossbar.


But Spurs have been free-scoring form of late and Michael Dawson wasn't far away with a header from Jermaine Jenas's corner midway through the half.



Martin Jol's side had won seven of their previous eight matches and they gave Chelsea no time to settle in a frantic first half. The visitors' front two were starved of service and Drogba's frustration boiled over when he was booked for dissent after fouling Ricardo Rocha.



Chances were at a premium as these London rivals refused to give an inch.



Lampard tried his luck from acute angle, but his scuffed half-volley never looked like troubling Paul Robinson.



Tottenham were first to threaten after half-time when Pascal Chimbonda's volley from Keane's flick was well saved by Cech. But it was Chelsea who took the lead in stunning style in the 55th minute.



When Shevchenko cut in from the right past Malbranque, there appeared to be little danger, but the Ukrainian unleashed a superb curling strike that arrowed past Robinson into the far corner.



It was the kind of finish that earned Shevchenko his reputation as the best forward in Europe and there was worse to come for Spurs as Chelsea hit them with another stunning goal six minutes later.



Cole spotted Michael Dawson was out of position and lofted a pass to Drogba just inside the penalty area. The Ivory Coast striker chested down to Wright-Phillips and he sent a perfectly-placed strike whistling past Robinson.



Just as Chelsea looked set to cruise into the last four, Berbatov won a penalty in the 79th minute when he surged into the area and was brought down from behind by Carvalho.



Keane sent Cech the wrong way from the spot to set up a furious finale, but Chelsea held on to keep their dreams of a quadruple alive.




Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Young-Pyo Lee, Dawson, Rocha (Stalteri 84), Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque (Defoe 64), Berbatov, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ghaly, Huddlestone.

Booked: Chimbonda.

Goals: Keane 79 pen.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra (Ferreira 90), Ashley Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 86), Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, Shevchenko (Robben 81), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz.

Booked: Diarra, Drogba, Cech.

Goals: Shevchenko 55, Wright-Phillips 61.

FA Cup, Tottenham 1-2 Chelsea highlights & goals:

Premiership, Chelsea 3-0 Sheff Utd

Shevchenko shines as Chelsea cruise

Chelsea defeated Sheffield United 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to once again move to within six points of leaders Manchester United.

Andriy Shevchenko, Saloman Kalou and Michael Ballack scored the goals for Jose Mourinho’s side . Mourinho, opting to leave Didier Drogba on the bench, watched his team take the lead after just four minutes.

Ricardo Carvalho beat three players before finding Shevchenko with a wonderful crossfield ball. The Ukrainian then lashed a shot past Paddy Kenny in the Blades goal.

It was 2-0 when a cross from the lively Shaun Wright-Phillips was touched on by Shevchenko, with Kalou applying the finish.

The visitors weren’t out of it, though. Petr Cech kept out a long-range strike from Colin Kazim Richards, while Rob Hulse went close with an overhead kick.

Cech also had to be alert to save from Hulse after a Keith Gillespie cross. There was bad news for the Blades as top-scorer Hulse suffered a suspected broken ankle in the collision.

Ballack was introduced as a half-time substitute for Frank Lampard, as Mourinho shuffled his pack with Monday’s FA Cup replay against Tottenham in mind.

He made it 3-0 when heading in a Wright-Phillips free-kick after the referee had deemed that Gillespie fouled Arjen Robben.

There was little to speak of in the second-half, although Wright Phillips shot just wide as he continues to look for his first league goal for Chelsea.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho:
"We played well, we started well and scored two goals so after 20 minutes the game is under control.

"They had a little spell before half-time but we were in control and played well in the second half.

"When we have our best players back we are a good team and it is no surprise to me that we have won six games in a row."

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock on Rob Hulse's injury:
"It looks like a double fracture. It was pretty horrific - one of those where you look away.

"He almost got the ball but his ankle collided with Cech's leg, goes one way and then goes the other way.

"We have a job on our hands and it is up to one of the other lads to take us on from what Rob has done for us."

Chelsea: Cech, Boulahrouz, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole (Ferreira 65), Wright-Phillips, Makelele, Lampard (Ballack 46), Robben, Shevchenko (Drogba 65), Kalou.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Diarra.

Goals: Shevchenko 4, Kalou 17, Ballack 58.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Geary, Davis, Morgan, Armstrong, Gillespie, Alan Quinn (Tonge 67), Jagielka, Montgomery, Kazim-Richards, Hulse (Nade 25).
Subs Not Used: Bromby, Shelton, Stead.

Chelsea 3-0 Sheff Utd, highlights and goals:

Premiership, Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea

Lampard strikes to sink City and cut United's lead

Chelsea moved to within six points of Premiership leaders Manchester United as Frank Lampard's 20th goal of the season gave them a 1-0 win over Manchester City.

Lampard sent Manchester City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson the wrong way from the spot in the 28th minute after Micah Richards had been punished for tripping Salomon Kalou.



City had been keen to win over their supporters after a miserable run which also included an FA Cup exit at the hands of Blackburn. They started well with Joey Barton latching onto a clearance from the returning John Terry in the sixth minute, only to fire his effort high over the crossbar.
Emile Mpenza, making his first start for City, linked up well with Stephen Ireland three minutes later. However the move broke down when the Belgian striker strayed into an offside position for the return ball.


Play switched back down the other end and Arjen Robben took up a good position in the 12th minute but failed to test Isaksson. City midfielder Dietmar Hamann was then given a talking to by referee Alan Wiley for clipping Claude Makelele's heels.
Ireland tried to release Mpenza in the 19th minute but Ashley Cole made a timely intervention. Chelsea were taking their time to get going and Lampard tried to release Michael Ballack in the penalty area, only to overhit the pass and see the move break down.


A minute later Ireland pounced on a loose ball but snatched at his shot and saw it clear the bar, Yet it was Chelsea who made the breakthrough in the 28th minute when Lampard struck from the spot after Richards' misdemeanour.The young England defender pleaded his innocence after a foolish challenge but Lampard ignored the fuss with a cool finish.

Barton made a vain appeal for a penalty in the 31st minute after going to ground following a challenge from Makelele. ManchesterCity were refusing to lie down and Barton flashed a shot across the face of Peter Cech's goal in the 39th minute.
Chelsea, however, remained dangerous on the counter attack with Kalou, Didier Drogba and Robben always looking for openings.

Chelsea suffered a scare after the break when Terry started limping heavily after a challenge, and even though he carried on with what appeared to be an ankle injury, he still looked uncomfortable.

Richards made some amends for his earlier mistake after 56 minutes, clearing off the line after Lampard had lifted the ball over Isaksson towards the empty net.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho sent on City old boy Wright-Phillips for the subdued Arjen Robben with 13 minutes left, and he almost doubled Chelsea's lead within seconds of his arrival, hitting the bar with a rising 20-yard drive.

City's lack of invention was almost embarrassing, but Barton threatened an unlikely equaliser after 80 minutes - however, he shot wastefully wide.

Chelsea had hardly been peppering City's goal either, but Didier Drogba brought a block from Isaksson as time ran out.

And Isaksson then saved from Michael Ballack in injury time as Chelsea claimed the three points.

Manchester City: Isaksson, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Ball, Jihai (Miller 63), Ireland, Barton, Hamann (Dabo 80), Mpenza, Vassell (Samaras 72).
Subs Not Used: Hart, Dickov.

Booked: Hamann, Dunne, Richards.

Chelsea: Cech, Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Robben (Wright-Phillips 77), Ballack, Lampard, Makelele (Diarra 90), Kalou, Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Shevchenko, Boulahrouz.

Booked: Drogba, Ballack.

Goals: Lampard 28 pen.

Premiership Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea highlights and post match interviews:

FA await referee's report on Mourinho insult

The Football Association will study referee Mike Riley's report before deciding whether to take action against Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho for his allegedly calling the referee a filho da puta - which translates as 'son of a whore' or 'son of a bitch'.




Mourinho used the phrase in a confrontation with Riley at half time in the FA Cup quarter-final 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.


Mourinho has denied he intended to offend the match official. He said: 'If you listen to me speaking I say the kind of word you mention 10 times in every 15 words. 'If you have a microphone on the dugout, I say that during the game 20 times, easy.


The word can be abusive if you understand it as an abusive word. 'I tell the word to my players when I am not happy. I say it 50 times in a game, 50 times in training and I don't want to be offensive. 'I can be emotional, but I am polite. I never want to be offensive with somebody.'

FA Cup, Chelsea 3-3 Tottenham

Chelsea Comeback In Thriller

Chelsea and Tottenham have treated everyone watching to an unforgetable FA Cup tie and they will have to do it all again after it finished 3-3 at Stamford Bridge in 90 minutes of pure football madness!!



Chelsea had looked down and out at half-time after they trailed 3-1 to a vibrant Tottenham side.But second-half goals from Frank Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou earned them a 3-3 draw and a replay at White Hart Lane against the odds.



First half:



Dimitar Berbatov shocked Chelsea by putting Spurs in front in the fifth minute but that was cancelled out by Lampard 17 minutes later. But an own goal by Michael Essien in the 28th minute restored Tottenham's advantage and Spurs cemented a terrific opening 45 minutes with a third goal through Hossam Ghaly eight minutes later.


Chelsea were given a wake-up call within five minutes when Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon linked up on the edge of the penalty area.The England winger slipped the ball to Dimitar Berbatov and the Spurs striker hammered a volley beyond Petr Cech for the opener.While Chelsea threatened to get back into the game, it was Spurs who remained more of a threat.They almost bagged a second when Paul Stalteri robbed Arjen Robben and set up Berbatov. However, the Bulgarian chose to cross for Defoe instead of shooting himself and the chance went begging.


Tottenham paid for the failure to take that opportunity when Lampard equalised in the 22nd minute. Tottenham were, for the first time in the game, caught out by a neat move from the English champions. Didier Drogba's cross was chested down by Andriy Shevchenko and when Michael Ballack sent the ball back towards the six-yard box, Lampard pounced to turn it past Radek Cerny.


But Spurs shocked Chelsea with a second goal a minute later when the unfortunately Essien turned a cross from Lennon past Cech and into his own net. The goal was completely against the run of play but it put the north London side back in control. The game was turning into a classic FA Cup tie and Stalteri had to clear off the line in the 32nd minute to prevent Chelsea from equalising for a second time.



Second Half:

After the break Chelsea, perhaps sensibly, opted to pile everyone forward - they did not seem to have anyone at the back anyway. A trio of chances came in quick succession but Ballack spurned two with his head and Lampard shot weakly.

And Spurs should have made them pay when Lennon burst through on goal but Cech produced a superb save to deny him and then Defoe made a mess of a free header from three yards out.

Instead, it was the visitors who were punished when a goalmouth scramble ensued after a corner and the ball broke to Lampard, who clipped the ball low into the corner.

Suddenly, a rejigged Chelsea were in the ascendancy and for the first time in the game Spurs were on the back foot. Chelsea, who had made a host of substitutions, appeared to be playing with only two defenders.

Yet the changes paid off when substitute Kalou connected sweetly after Drogba headed the ball across goal and Chelsea were level.

But then, in injury time, Defoe had a chance to give Tottenham their first win at Stamford Bridge for 17 years but his fizzing drive cannoned back off the bar.

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira (Wright-Phillips 34), Essien, Carvalho, Ashley Cole (Kalou 64), Diarra (Boulahrouz 57), Lampard, Robben, Ballack, Drogba, Shevchenko.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bridge.

Booked: Diarra, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou.

Goals: Lampard 22, 71, Kalou 86.

Tottenham: Cerny, Stalteri, Dawson, Rocha, Young-Pyo Lee, Ghaly (Gardner 81), Tainio, Zokora, Lennon (Malbranque 76), Berbatov (Mido 66), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Burch, Huddlestone.

Booked: Ghaly, Zokora, Young-Pyo Lee, Stalteri, Cerny.

Goals: Berbatov 5, Essien 28 og, Ghaly 36.

FA Cup, Chelsea 3-3 Tottenham goals video:

FA Cup, Chelsea 3-3 Tottenham

Final Result
Chelsea 3-3 Tottenham

Chelsea stormed back from two goals down to snatch a 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in an electrifying FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Hossam Ghaly and an own goal from Michael Essien gave Tottenham a 3-1 halftime lead as they looked set to end a 17-year wait for a win at Stamford Bridge.

However Frank Lampard's second goal of the match after 71 minutes gave Chelsea a lifeline and Salomon Kalou volleyed the equaliser four minutes from time.

Jermain Defoe rattled the crossbar for Tottenham in the dying minutes and Andriy Shevchenko almost won it for the home side with a fierce shot but the sides will have to replay on March 19.

For Match full report and videos, click here.

FA Cup, Chelsea v Spurs preview

Chelsea captain John Terry could feature for Chelsea in Sunday's FA Cup quarter final clash with Spurs.

Terry was knocked out during the Carling Cup final win over Arsenal in a sickening, accidental clash with Abou Diaby and seemed to be seriously injured.

But after a few weeks rest he has been training with the first team and reckons he could make the weekend match.

"I am aiming towards Sunday," Terry said.

His manager Jose Mourinho was also optimistic that his skipper would return, although added that the decision would be left with medical staff:

"He is training normally," Mourinho said. "He is doing everything like everyone else, he is heading the ball - so if it is my choice, I would say yes. But it is not my choice. I have to wait for a final report from the medical side and they will make that decision. But yes, I want him to play."

Joe Cole is also absent with a fractured metarsal, otherwise Chelsea have a full squad available with the exception of the suspended John Obi Mikel.

Key Tottenham defender Ledley King is out for the season with his foot injury, and Martin Jol is not happy.

"He's already been out for two months," Jol said. "I thought a couple of weeks ago it would be maybe one or two weeks more, but on the scans you can still see the bruises on both feet."

Spurs could ring the changes after the 3-2 UEFA Cup win at Braga, with Jermain Defoe, Jermaine Jenas and Hossam Ghaly all in line to start although Jenas is an injury doubt with a groin strain. Robbie Keane is suspended after losing his appeal against a straight red for handling on the line during the 4-1 against Bolton two weeks ago. Benoit Assou-Ekotto is also out after an operation

UEFA Chmapions League draw result

Quarter Finals will be played on 03/04 and 10/11 of April:

AC Milan Vs. Bayern Munich

PSV Vs. Liverpool

Roma Vs. Manchester United

Cheslea Vs. Valenica

Champions League, Chelsea 2-1 Porto

Ballack finally delivers to send Chelsea into last eight

Michael Ballack's late strike put Chelsea into the last eight of the Champions League after they came from behind to beat Porto.

Chelsea were on their way out after falling behind to Ricardo Quaresma's first half strike, but Ballack capped an impressive fightback as Chelsea scraped through their second round tie 3-2 on aggregate. Arjen Robben cancelled out Quaresma's goal early in the second half and German international Ballack won it with a fine effort 11 minutes from full-time.

Ballack has been well below his best since his pre-season move from Bayern Munich, but he was signed by Mourinho for important European nights like this and finally showed why he is regarded as one of the world's leading midfielders.

Porto took the lead after just 15 minutes when a slick move ended with Quaresma poking the ball under the body of the outstretched Petr Cech after picking up Lucho Gonzalez's pass.

Thereafter, at least for the rest of the half, Porto looked in control and it seemed only a mistake or a moment of brilliance would affect their position.

As it happened, it was a mistake. And what a howler it was at the start of the second half.

Robben, who picked up a yellow card for diving early in the half, received the ball on the right and cut inside before firing in a relatively tame shot that keeper Heldon got a hand to, but not a strong enough one as the ball looped into the net. Chelsea pressed for a winner and sent in a number of teasing crosses testing the Porto shot-stopper, who looked a little jittery after his error.

However, it was not an error that handed Chelsea their much-valued win but a well-worked move that saw Didier Drogba nod Ashley Cole's centre on to the head of Shevchenko who in turn found Ballack.

Ballack steadied himself, swivelled and fired a low volley from six yards past Heldon and into the quarter finals. Chelsea will discover on Friday who they are paired with in the last eight.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra (Ferreira 65), Essien, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Makelele (Mikel 46), Robben, Ballack, Lampard, Shevchenko (Kalou 84), Drogba.

Subs Not Used: Hilario, Boulahrouz, Bridge, Wright-Phillips.

Booked: Robben, Diarra.

Goals: Robben 48, Ballack 79.

FC Porto: Helton, Fucile, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Cech (Ibson 55), Gonzalez, Ricardo Costa, Paulo Assuncao, Raul Meireles (Adriano 55), Lopez (Bruno Moraes 82), Quaresma.
Subs Not Used: Vitor Baia, Alan, Postiga, Joao Paulo.

Booked: Quaresma, Fucile, Adriano.

Goals: Quaresma 15.

Champions league Chelsea 2-1 Porto extended highlights and goals:

UEFA Champions League, first knockout round, second leg.

Valencia 0-0 Inter Milan

Chelsea 2-1 Porto

Olympique Lyon 0-2 AS Roma

Liverpool 0-1 Barcelona

Reports, highlights and videos are added now please click on the links!

Uefa Champions league, first knockout round, second leg

Uefa Champions league, first knockout round, second leg schedule.

Matchday 8 - Tuesday, 06 March:

Lyon 20:45 Roma
Liverpool 20:45 Barcelona
Chelsea 20:45 Porto
Valencia 20:45 Inter Milan

Matchday 8 - Wednesday, 07 March:

Milan 20:45 Celtic
Arsenal 20:45 PSV
Manchester United 20:45 Lille
Bayern Munich 20:45 Real Madrid

For the Cmapions league Full coverage please click here
First day matches reports and videos are now available click here now!

Chelsea Drogba named African player of the year.

Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was on Thursday named African Footballer of the Year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on its website. In 2006, Drogba helped Ivory Coast reach the final of the African Nations Cup and played in the World Cup finals. He beat Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto, the winner in 2003, 2004, 2005, into second place with his Chelsea teammate, Michael Essien of Ghana, in third place. The 28-year-old Drogba scored both goals in Chelsea's League Cup final win over Arsenal last weekend. He also played in Chelsea's Premiership-winning teams of 2005 and 2006.