Fulham dents Blues' title hopes
Source: Agencies |
February 16, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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PETR Cech earned what could prove to be a valuable point for Chelsea in the race for Champions League spot, saving Clint Dempsey's last-minute penalty in a 0-0 draw with Fulham in the Premier League on Monday.
Dempsey was brought down by defender David Luiz with 60 seconds remaining in second-half injury time, but the American midfielder's low spot kick was palmed away by Cech in a dramatic finish at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea dominated a hard-fought west London derby and created most of the chances but will be thankful for the point. The defending champion is now fifth, 12 points behind leader Manchester United but more importantly two points behind fourth-place Tottenham, which occupies the final Champions League spot.
Fernando Torres, Chelsea's 50 million pound (US$81 million) signing from Liverpool, started on his own up front, with Didier Drogba relegated to the bench to accommodate the club's record purchase. But the Spain striker endured a second frustrating match for the Blues - he also fired a blank on debut last week against Liverpool - and was substituted for Drogba in the 71st minute.
"I think he played well," Ancelotti said of Torres. "His performance was much better than it was against Liverpool. Every striker wants to score but I don't think he's getting frustrated."
Torres and Drogba, Chelsea's leading scorer last season and No. 1 striker for the past six years, failed to gel in the 0-1 loss to Liverpool and it was the Ivory Coast striker who gave way eight days on.
"I don't know if he (Drogba) was happy but it doesn't matter - every game is important now and we have to rotate to keep him in good condition," said Ancelotti, who added that he wanted to strengthen the team's midfield by playing only one striker against in-form Fulham.
Torres fed off scraps early in the first half but sparked into life just before the break, wasting two decent chances because of his poor control.
Firstly, he ran on to a header by Brazil midfielder Ramires but could only stretch to toe-poke a weak shot at goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
A minute later, Torres pounced on a fabulous long pass by fellow deadline-day signing Luiz, who made an assured first start aside from his late foul on Dempsey, but allowed the ball to squirm away from him as he took aim.
Dempsey was brought down by defender David Luiz with 60 seconds remaining in second-half injury time, but the American midfielder's low spot kick was palmed away by Cech in a dramatic finish at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea dominated a hard-fought west London derby and created most of the chances but will be thankful for the point. The defending champion is now fifth, 12 points behind leader Manchester United but more importantly two points behind fourth-place Tottenham, which occupies the final Champions League spot.
Fernando Torres, Chelsea's 50 million pound (US$81 million) signing from Liverpool, started on his own up front, with Didier Drogba relegated to the bench to accommodate the club's record purchase. But the Spain striker endured a second frustrating match for the Blues - he also fired a blank on debut last week against Liverpool - and was substituted for Drogba in the 71st minute.
"I think he played well," Ancelotti said of Torres. "His performance was much better than it was against Liverpool. Every striker wants to score but I don't think he's getting frustrated."
Torres and Drogba, Chelsea's leading scorer last season and No. 1 striker for the past six years, failed to gel in the 0-1 loss to Liverpool and it was the Ivory Coast striker who gave way eight days on.
"I don't know if he (Drogba) was happy but it doesn't matter - every game is important now and we have to rotate to keep him in good condition," said Ancelotti, who added that he wanted to strengthen the team's midfield by playing only one striker against in-form Fulham.
Torres fed off scraps early in the first half but sparked into life just before the break, wasting two decent chances because of his poor control.
Firstly, he ran on to a header by Brazil midfielder Ramires but could only stretch to toe-poke a weak shot at goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
A minute later, Torres pounced on a fabulous long pass by fellow deadline-day signing Luiz, who made an assured first start aside from his late foul on Dempsey, but allowed the ball to squirm away from him as he took aim.
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