Chelsea vs Fenerbahce, second leg, Chelsea head through to semi-finals

Chelsea head through to semi-finals
08.04.08

Chelsea FC secured their fourth UEFA Champions League semi-final berth in five seasons thanks to another of Michael Ballack's early goals and then Frank Lampard's nerve-settling second with three minutes remaining against Fenerbahçe SK.

Nervous finish
Their progression to another last-four meeting with Liverpool FC was achieved moreover with their third-choice goalkeeper on the pitch after Hilário came on for Carlo Cudicini, already deputising for Petr Čech, with 26 minutes played. The replacement responded superbly as the Turkish title-holders, never before European semi-finalists, piled on the pressure until Lampard's coup de grâce.

Ballack heads in
Ballack had been dismissive of the notion that Chelsea could make anywhere near as dynamic a start as they enjoyed against Olympiacos CFP when he nodded in a Lampard cross on five minutes. He underestimated his team's capabilities; this time the clock showed only four minutes as he glanced home Lampard's free-kick with aplomb before wheeling away in triumph.

Cole hits post
It was just the beginning the Londoners wanted and it almost became two as Salomon Kalou set off on a powerful run down the left, angling the ball back for Joe Cole who improvised to stunning effect, stretching out a foot to prod the ball against the post. Avram Grant's Chelsea were buoyant while Fenerbahçe were rocking. Their priority in the short term was not to concede another but they were on the rack and it was fortunate that Edu read the danger signs when Ballack attempted to play in Didier Drogba.

Cudicini off
When allowed the ball, the visitors from Istanbul showed some neat touches but these were only brief interludes in a tidal wave of early Chelsea pressure. However, they could take encouragement from the sight of Cudicini hobbling out of the action midway through the half, seemingly after a muscle pull. That brought understudy Hilário on to the field and he was immediately tested by a long-range drive from Semih Şentürk, preferred up front to ex-Chelsea forward Mateja Kežman. Then, from Alex's free-kick, Lugano rose highest and unchallenged but could not place his header on target.

Essien threat
In a similar right-back role to last week, Michael Essien was again able to push forward and created a number of chances. At the start of the second period he drilled a ball into Drogba who turned swiftly but shot straight at Volkan Demirel. The goalkeeper left his line to chase Kalou for a ball Joe Cole struck just too hard for his colleague and was fortunate that Lugano helped him crowd out the Chelsea forward.

Fenerbahçe hope
That was followed by a neat Drogba-Ballack combination which so nearly put the German player in. A second Chelsea goal looked likely yet until it arrived Fenerbahçe lived in hope and the Stamford Bridge fans remained anxious even though Hilário had still to be seriously tested with an hour gone. Fenerbahçe coach Zico sent on Kežman as his side sought with added urgency the goal that would put them through.

Hilário heroics
Chelsea endured some shaky moments and Hilário scrambled to push away's Gökhan Gönül's deflected volley. He then parried a fierce strike from Kazım Kazım before Essien, who will be suspended for the first leg against Liverpool at Anfield, ended a persistent run with a low cross and Lampard tapped in.

Source:
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15107/match=301907/report=rp.html

Chelsea vs Fenerbahce, second leg, Grant relief after Fenerbahçe fright

Grant relief after Fenerbahçe fright
08.04.08

Avram Grant admitted that Chelsea FC rode their luck before reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. The 2-0 defeat of Fenerbahçe SK, and 3-2 aggregate win, has earned another tie against Liverpool FC. Grant's opposite number, Zico, said that conceding so early to Michael Ballack changed the course of the game but has vowed to build on his club's best-ever European run.

Avram Grant, Chelsea coach
I feel good because our target was to be in the semi-final of the Champions League and we did it. It was not very easy, and I know that in Fenerbahçe we played much better than today. We started well, then it was a little bit of a nervous game but we defended well as they didn't create many chances. But most important was the result, and the result was good for us. I feel this year I am more a doctor than a manager. I have to answer almost every week about injuries, but Hilário was good today and that's very important. When you need the third goalkeeper, and we have needed him this year, he has always done a very good job. It's not easy when you lose a goalkeeper. The news [on Carlo Cudicini] is that it doesn't look so good for the moment but we will have to wait and see. [Michael Essien] will miss the next game [suspended], it's not good but it's a fact and we can't do anything about it.

Zico, Fenerbahçe coach
Obviously we are not happy because we are not satisfied with not achieving things. We conceded early in the game and after falling behind we tried to get the goal back. We couldn't say we are happy to get this far, because we are disappointed. The players showed enthusiasm, discipline and great character, but in the end we are very sorry we cannot continue this journey. The team that started was the one I believed in but obviously we had to make changes as the game progressed. We noticed Chelsea dropping deeper and we had to make the tactical changes to give us more attacking power. We conceded very early and although we knew Chelsea were good with set-pieces and crosses, it was a free header from Ballack. Conceding the goal changed the way the game could go. The one thing we must not forget is that, in order to play in the Champions League next year, we have to be top of our league. This year's games were good experience for us and if you look at all the teams playing in the Champions League, such as Chelsea, Manchester United [FC] and [FC] Barcelona, it can only do our game good to be playing against them

Source:
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15107/match=301907/report=rw.html