Text Box: Text Box: Text Box: 25/4/07 Stamford Bridge 1 0 Semi Final Leg 1 Chelsea Vs Liverpool What was billed as one of the most important games of the season never really lived up to its hype but then again that was always how it was going to be.   Chelsea with their ever-outspoken under-pressure coach, Jose Mourinho at the helm, had written off their chances of a good result and Ukrainian flop Andriy Shevchenko was also in for a tongue-lashing in the build-up. Liverpool on the other hand, a team in form and with a good record against Chelsea, certainly looked the favourites and emphasized this in a rather bold 4-4-2 formation. However the personnel were to be their undoing.  Chelsea started well, the opening twenty minutes being a rather stern test for the Liverpool back-line. It was clear their Ivorian spearhead was up for this one. Didier Drogba ran himself into the ground from the word go. If anyone was going to turn the screw it was him. Indeed he had two opportunities early on. A cross from Ashley Cole from the left was brilliantly headed down by him to create a chance in the box for Shevchenko. Though before the £30M misfit could blink, a galloping Frank Lampard nipped in front of him to produce an outstanding save from Reina at close-range.   Drogba then latched onto a poor back-pass from under-performing John Arne Riise to race clear. With Joe Cole breaking through the middle he must have been the only one in the ground not to see his run and his pass was easily found by the keeper.  That's not to say Chelsea had it easy but the leadership of Cech, Terry and Carvalho combined with the growing essence and presence of John Mikel Obi, mixed with Lampard and Drogba's ingenuity really caused the Kop problems. The goal itself only came after Peter Cech pulled off an outstanding save after a blistering Gerrard volley from the edge of the area.  Carvalho took charge of the ball in defence charging out and feeding Drogba who had lost Riise on the left. The Ivorian did the rest, a beautiful weighted cross, perfect for the advancing Joe Cole to stab home into the roof of the net. The crowd were sent into ruptures and it was no less than they deserved. Perhaps their only regret will to have not made more of their first half dominance.  Liverpool certainly made more of the second half, Gerrard producing one of the saves of the Champions' League, a scathing right footer that was bending into the left corner, Cech though would not be beaten, a fingertip to safety, a save that could prove very valuable to Chelsea indeed. But those chances were few and far between, Zenden, Alonso, Bellamy all guilty of never getting in the game, and the Dutchman in particular of poor distribution.  There was of course a penalty shout for Chelsea that never came. Mourinho adamant after the game of Arbeola hand-balling inside the box where replays clearly showed it was not in that vicinity. And other than Salomon Kalou trying to put Shaun Wright-Phillips' shirt on upon entrance to the game that was the extent of incident. The game was played in a highly-professional manner, the only booking going to Mascherano for a stone-wall caution.  Liverpool certainly have it all to do back at Anfield and although they will not have been pleased to take a 1-0 deficit with them, they will feel they still have every chance of making it through to Athens, a neighbouring country of the scene of their greatest victory two seasons ago, Istanbul. Benitez will certainly need to get his tactics right in front of the Kop as Bellamy and Kuyt never looked like troubling the solid back four. Whatever happens, I'm sure we'll be hearing about the return leg long after its conclusion. RATINGS- Chelsea (4-4-2)- Peter Cech 7, Paulo Ferreira 5, Ashley Cole 6, Ricardo Carvalho 8, John Terry 7, Claude Makelele 6, Jon Obi Mikel 7, Frank Lampard 7, Joe Cole 8, Andriy Shevchenko 5 (Sub76), Didier Drogba *8/ Salomon Kalou 5 (On 76), Shaun Wright-Phillips 5 (On 85) Liverpool (4-4-2)- Jose Reina 7, Alvaro Arbeola 5, John Arne Riise 6, Jamie Carragher 7, Daniel Agger 6, Xabi Alonso 6 (Sub 83), Javier Mascherano 6 (booked), Steven Gerrard 8, Craig Bellamy 5 (Sub 52), Dirk Kuyt 6, Boudewijn Zenden 6/ Peter Crouch 6 (On 52), Jermaine Pennant 5 (On 83) Text Box: Links and affiliates Contact Me