Chelsea profit from Riise intervention

Semi-finals - 22 April 2008 20:45 (CET) - Anfield - Liverpool
	Liverpool	1 - 1	Chelsea
	Kuyt 43		Riise (o.g.) 90+ 4

Tuesday 22 April 2008

Match report by John Mathews from Liverpool

Ashley Cole enjoys Chelsea's late escape (©Getty Images)Photos/Wallpapers »

A headed own goal deep into added time by Liverpool FC substitute John Arne Riise rescued a draw for Chelsea FC after Dirk Kuyt's first-half opener had looked like giving the home team a significant advantage in their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Awkward header
Riise, a 62nd-minute replacement for the injured Fábio Aurélio who has not scored for Liverpool all season, stooped low to try to clear Salomon Kalou's cross from the left, but his awkward header flew past Pepe Reina and into the top of the net – giving Chelsea an away goal they had virtually given up on getting. It could have been so different for Liverpool, had visiting goalkeeper Petr Čech not spectacularly tipped over a late Steven Gerrard drive before denying Fernando Torres seconds before the equaliser.

Cagey opening
Both sides were slow to start and the cagey, tactical match predicted by many appeared likely to materialise. Chelsea seemed to have the upper hand thanks to a slightly more measured passing game, until Rafael Benítez's men created the first real opening of the tie. Xabi Alonso's long and hopeful ball over the top of Chelsea's back line found Kuyt, who beat the offside trap but failed to control properly and a combination of Čech and Ricardo Carvalho cleared the danger.

No rhythm
Still, Liverpool frequently struggled to find their rhythm as the half wore on and possession of the ball looked to be a luxury commodity. Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard almost caught the five-time champions off guard with a dangerous crossfield pass which the well-placed Joe Cole, in two minds, was unable to get a true touch on. Torres was presented with an even better opportunity at the other end on 30 minutes after being released by Gerrard, yet the striker could only fire straight at Čech when clean in on goal.

Kuyt strikes
Liverpool's fears were eased by the first goal of the semi-final in the 43rd minute. Kuyt capitalised on confusion between Claude Makelele and Ashley Cole after Javier Mascherano's miscued shot was skied over their heads, keeping both his eye on the ball and his nerve to drive the ball past Čech at the Kop end. The Dutchman's strike had a huge galvanising effect on the home side and on the match in general as the tempo was markedly increased, especially just after the break when the Reds made several threats to move further in front.

Drogba struggles
Suddenly the likes of Alonso and Ryan Babel could find each other with incisive interchanges that were previously beyond them, and the home crowd turned up the volume again. With Didier Drogba looking an isolated figure up front for Chelsea as he chased in vain a succession of long balls pumped in his direction, a goal for Avram Grant's team seemed more likely to come from midfield. Michael Ballack and Lampard combined to set Florent Malouda free in the box, where Mascherano's last-ditch block kept his effort off target.

Different complexion
The visitors did, however, force the pace as the clock ticked down, although Liverpool might well have doubled their advantage as first Gerrard then Torres tested Čech. Had either of those chances gone in, next Wednesday's second leg would have taken on an altogether different complexion – as it did, to the Londoners' benefit, when Riise beat Reina.

Lampard salutes Chelsea staying power

y Andrew Haslam from Liverpool

Frank Lampard celebrates Chelsea's equaliser

Frank Lampard paid tribute to the stamina that brought Chelsea FC a 1-1 draw at Anfield and, the midfielder believes, the psychological edge in their UEFA Champions League semi-final with Liverpool FC.

Last-gasp leveller
Dirk Kuyt's 43rd-minute strike looked set to condemn the visitors to yet another 1-0 defeat on Merseyside after their losses in the last four in 2005 and 2007, only for John Arne Riise to turn Salomon Kalou's left-wing cross into his own net under pressure from Nicolas Anelka deep into added time. "The last second makes a difference, we know that and that's why we keep going to the end," said Lampard. "Liverpool had chances, they played well for periods but we kept going and I think it was a really good cup tie. We started well and created a couple of chances but let them rally and they scored. We were all disappointed at half-time because we dominated the first half-hour but we said to keep going and that goal makes a difference psychologically.

'Extra quality'
"Obviously it's an away goal; we knew Liverpool would have good periods in the game and we had to see them through," Lampard added. "We did that and started to create a little bit again and we had the feeling that something might happen. We kept going right until the last minute and deserved it. It was important [we kept believing]; we were on top in the first half but maybe without that little edge in front of goal, that little bit extra. We started to find it towards the end, Salomon added that little bit of quality and danger, put a good ball in the right area and fortunately it ended up in the back of the net."

'Most difficult week'
Lampard had missed Chelsea's previous two fixtures as his mother is seriously ill in hospital with pneumonia, and acknowledged that it was hard to focus on the game in such trying circumstances. "It's been the most difficult week of my life, without football, let alone finding a game like this at the end of it," he acknowledged. "In the last two days I felt that I could play. The manager, club and my team-mates have all been fantastic and it just helped me to take my mind off things a little bit. Things are a little bit better back home, mum's stable at the minute and that's the biggest boost I could ask for."

'Deserved luck'
Chelsea are now within touching distance of a first UEFA Champions League final and Lampard is urging his team-mates to make the most of the opportunity Riise's goal has given them. "We have a good chance now but we can't get carried away. There's still a lot to do, we knew how important a goal would be but it doesn't mean we're through. Having the second leg at home was only going to be an advantage if we got the right result here. That late goal made it a much better result and we deserved that bit of luck – we haven't had much before here. Liverpool are a very accomplished team in Europe and it's still in the balance. Perhaps if we were playing a European team the away goal might be more important but Liverpool will believe they can come to Stamford Bridge and beat us. That goal will only be important if we follow up the job at home."

Lampard relieved as Chelsea hobble on

Frank Lampard admitted Chelsea FC had endured a nervy night against Fenerbahçe SK before clinching a fourth UEFA Champions League semi-final place in five years.

Nervy finish
Lampard said the London team had not played well in a 2-0 victory which gave them a 3-2 aggregate success but the all-important thing was to get through. "I think I felt as safe as everyone else in the stadium," joked the 29-year-old of the game's last quarter when there was apprehension on the pitch as well as in the stands as the Turkish champions sought the away goal that would have put them in front.

Early goal
They came close on two occasions before Lampard went up the other end and scored Chelsea's second of the night. The England international had also laid on the opening goal for Michael Ballack with a carefully flighted free-kick but Chelsea failed to build on the German's fourth-minute header and that allowed Zico's team to believe in their chances of creating history.

'Noses in front'
"We did not play particularly well, not as well as in the first leg, but we hung in there and in the end we were able to kill the game off," Lampard said. "It's not always easy in these games because you're talking about top-quality opposition. What's important is to get your noses in front, play well for a period of time, and stay concentrated when things are not going so well."

Hilário to the rescue
With Petr Čech having been ruled out after undergoing surgery to his lip and chin after a training-ground injury Lampard described as "terrible, one of the worst I've ever seen", Chelsea were hit with another goalkeeping blow after 25 minutes when Carlo Cudicini hobbled off with a pulled hamstring. Hilário deputised ably, pulling off two vital saves in the last ten minutes, with Lampard saying: "You have to give a massive shout to Hilário, because every time he comes in he bales us out with saves like that. It proves we have three top-class keepers at the club."

Different circumstances
Now attention turns to a renewal of their last-four rivalry with Liverpool FC, who have crushed Chelsea's dreams in two of their last three semi-final appearances, in 2005 and again last year. The fact that this time the first game will be staged at Anfield gives Chelsea hope they can make amends. "We're playing in front of our own fans in the second leg and that could help us," said left-back Ashley Cole. "It's vital we try and get the away goal and then keep a clean sheet here like we did tonight." Ballack added: "The games with Liverpool are always very close but unlike last year we are at home in the second leg and little changes like that can mean a lot."

Ballack backs Chelsea to turn tie

Chelsea FC left the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium last Wednesday with the sound of the Fenerbahçe SK fans ringing in their ears after the Turkish side came from behind to win the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie 2-1. But Michael Ballack is convinced that things will be very different tomorrow at Stamford Bridge.

Home strength
In the first knockout round, Chelsea welcomed Olympiacos CFP having secured a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Greece and eased to a 3-0 second-leg win. Now Ballack, who helped Bayer 04 Leverkusen overcome Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC on the way to the 2002 final, is confident the London club will make it through. "We are every strong at home, we have a good record at home but we have to concentrate over 90 minutes," Ballack said, before admitting his side ought not to have let a half-time lead slip in Istanbul. "It was important we scored but when you see the game we should have won it. We are disappointed but we have a good chance in the second leg."

Support
That improved chance is partly that on Tuesday it will be the Chelsea fans in the ascendance, as opposed to the ear-splitting support for Fenerbahçe last week. "We saw that against Olympiacos as well, south Europeans are very fanatical supporters," Ballack said. "It's the way they follow their team, it's fantastic for them. But we have a good stadium with a nice atmosphere too."

'In our hands'
It could have been different for the Premier League side as at the break in the first leg it seemed that Deivid's own goal had set Chelsea on the way to victory, and their lead could have been every larger. As it was, Fenerbahçe responded to score twice after the interval to go into the return ahead. "It was a strange game," Ballack reflected. "I played well, we fought well, we controlled the game, we went 1-0 up, and it looked like we would win. But sometimes you do not concentrate for one second and it changes the game. That happened. It is disappointing at the moment but we have to look forward and we have everything in our own hands."

Grant determined to get it right

Chelsea FC coach Avram Grant promises that their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Fenerbahçe SK will be different from last week's game in Istanbul, where the London side lost a 1-0 lead as they were hit by two second-half goals.

Čech blow
The return of goalkeeper Petr Čech from an ankle problem may have been postponed by two weeks following facial surgery, but Grant has cause for confidence nonetheless. His team welcome the Turkish champions to Stamford Bridge knowing they have got through on the three previous occasions they have contested a quarter-final of Europe's greatest club competition in the last five seasons.

'Big opportunity'
"Of course I have thought about the game in Istanbul," said Grant. "I don't think any game is the same as the last one and [Tuesday] will be a different game. In Istanbul it was a good performance but the worst result, so obviously we don't want it to be the same. These things happen in football, especially when you dominate the game and your concentration is affected. The only thing I would say is that we have learned from our mistakes. We want to dominate this game, which won't be easy, and then we want to stay concentrated for the whole game. Our target is to reach the semi-finals and we will do everything to reach it. It's a big opportunity for us."

Title chance
The Čech injury, resulting from a training-ground collision with a team-mate, is not as critical for the hosts as it might have been given the calibre of the man who stands in for him – Carlo Cudicini. Otherwise, Grant should pick from a fully-fit squad with Ricardo Carvalho expected to come through Tuesday's final training session without mishap. Despite the deficit, Chelsea's supporters will be anticipating a successful conclusion to the tie for a side who remain strong challengers for the Premier League crown – with Manchester United FC being held at Middlesbrough FC, the Blues are within three points of the summit after Saturday's 2-0 win at Manchester City FC .

Pressure
Yet, according to the English media, Grant remains a coach under pressure. "How many times have you asked me this question?" was his retort to an inquiry about whether his job is on the line in this contest. "So many times I have been asked this and the answer is always the same – I need to do my job and all that matters is getting through to the next round."

Zico confident
Fenerbahçe coach Zico can include defender Gökhan Gönül again after suspension but is likely to stick with Gökçek Vederson at left-back as Roberto Carlos is still not 100 per cent fit following a thigh injury. Claudio Maldonado complained of flu symptoms on Monday and was excused training but it is hoped he will be available. Zico says the fact his team, 2-1 weekend victors over Kayserispor, hold the lead will not affect the way they approach the match. "We will play the way we always play," he said, "and that's to attack. It's the reason we are here. Every single minute, every second, will be important. We have to be careful and take our advantages in the good spells we will have."

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Alex keeps head as Fenerbahçe rejoice

It was billed by some as the biggest game in Fenerbahçe SK's history, so it is hardly surprising that their 2-1 UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat of Chelsea FC in Istanbul had the home players purring as they reflected on a remarkable turnaround.

Victory
At half-time the Turkish champions were lucky to only trail by a Deivid own goal. But after the break they were a team transformed, and substitute Kazım Kazım's cool 65th-minute finish was followed by a winner nine minutes from time, a spectacular long-range effort from a redeemed Deivid. Captain Alex, quiet in the first half but his usual inspirational best in the second period, admitted that something had needed to change at the interval.

Transformation
"The first half performance was our worst in the UEFA Champions League," Alex said. "We had some hard discussions to make in the dressing room at half-time. If we want to get through we will have to fight a lot harder in London." Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, so important in keeping Chelsea within sight prior to the interval, added: "We played excellently in the second half. The scoreline is good enough for us I think - we have learned how to win. If we can repeat that second half performance we can get through."

Final ambition
But a man who will be on familiar territory at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, former Chelsea striker Mateja Kežman, does not believe that even a potential last-four tie with Liverpool FC or Arsenal FC should be their limit, pointing out what outsiders FC Porto and AS Monaco FC did four years ago. "Porto and Monaco got to the final, so why can't we?" he said. "If Lugano is able to shackle [Didier] Drogba like he did tonight we can get through."