Chelsea 4-2 Reading
In our first midweek kick of the season European Champions Chelsea defeated the newly promoted Reading by a score of 4-2. Despite the very flattering scoreline for the Blues they should feel themselves very lucky against a Reading side who will feel they deserved at least point from the match.
The match started promisingly for Chelsea who created a number of early chances through Eden Hazard and Juan Mata though they failed to convert as their attacks started to look wasteful. The deadlock was finally broken after Eden Hazard was fouled inside the penalty and for the second successive match Frank Lampard converted from the penalty spot as Chelsea took the lead in the 18th minute.
After taking the lead it would have been fair to have expected Chelsea to continue to attack and create chances though instead the goal seemed to kick start the Reading team who looked significantly brighter after the Chelsea goal. The Chelsea pace dropped and Reading got more and more of the ball, whilst they didn't really look threatening they were now playing their way into the game. Surprisingly Reading equalised as Russian hitman Pavel Pogrebnyak scored a thunderous header that gave Cech absolutely no chance.
Having surprisingly equalised no one would have given Reading, who were 12/1 outsiders to win the match, a chance to take the lead but that was exactly what they did as a Danny Guthrie freekick was spilled into the Chelsea goal by Petr Cech. It was an embarrassing blunder for Cech who already had bad memories of Reading after suffering a serious injury against Reading a few years back. Just before half time it looked as if things were going to go from bad to worse for Chelsea as an Ian Harte freekick needed just a touch to put it in the net, though Alex Pearce failed to get the necessary touch.
Despite going into half time 2-1 down it was expected that Chelsea had the quality and class to turn the game around and they set off the second half like a train on fire as they forced the Reading defense into action time and time again. Despite the pressure that Chelsea were putting the Reading defense under a goal didn't look like coming until a Gary Cahill strike, from well outside the penalty area, just evaded Adam Federici in the Reading goal as. The Cahill strike, whilst solid, should have been saved though, for the second game in a row Federici essentially gifted a goal to the opposition for Chelsea's equaliser.
With 10 minutes of the match left we say games major talking point. Chelsea's left back Ashley Cole played a sensational ball to Juan Mata and it looked almost certain that Mata would drill the ball past Federici, instead however he played a short cross to Fernando Torres who was stood in a clearly offside position. Torres, did what all strikers do and put the ball in the net, almost sheepishly as if he expected the goal to be disallowed, for some reason however the linesman failed to raise his flag and the goal stood. This caused Reading to chase the game and deep into extra time they managed to earn a corner with Federici coming up to try and add to the Reading attack. The corner failed to amount to anything and instead Chelsea quickly broke before Eden Hazard layed off Branislav Ivanovic who scored his second in as many games, to secure a very, very flattering 4-2 win for Chelsea.
Throughout the game Eden Hazard stood out as the man of the match pulling the strings for Chelsea's attack and whilst he made have failed to open his scoring account he was involved in pretty much everything Chelsea did well. At the other end of the pitch John Terry was given a real nightmare by Jobi McAnuff who took advantage of Terry's lack of pace. Roberto Di Matteo's men may have secured all 3 points and may have moved to the top of the Premier League however he will not be happy about this performance as his team had real issues breaking through the Reading defense and Fernando Torres again looked incredibly poor. Whilst Hazard and Ivanovic may have been excellent and Ashley Cole was influential Di Matteo will need to hope that the defensive woes, shown by Terry and by Cech were just one offs or his team could struggle to mount a serious challenge. Having conceded 24 goals at home last year Di Matteo will hope that his defense are more solid this year, though on this showing it's debatable.
Brian McDermott has every reason to be proud of his men who all played out of their skin and genuinely deserved to have picked up a point, which they likely would have done had the linesman have seen Torres standing offside. Whilst he should worry about Federici who, for the second game running, has given up an easy goal, he should look at the positives which saw them holding their own against a very strong Chelsea team. Pogrebnyak looks the real deal and his headed goal was fantastic whilst Ian Harte continues to be a threat from freekicks and Jobi McAnuff looks like a really special player, all positives for Reading. Also, whilst the scoreline may be a rather ugly on paper everyone who saw the match will agree that it did flatter Chelsea who seriously struggled to break through the very sturdy Reading defence. On this performance Reading fans should relax, their team looked much improved from the one that drew 1-1 at home against Stoke on Saturday.
Notes-
This is the highest scoring game of the season so far with 6 goals.
For the second successive game Frank Lampard has scored from the spot whilst Branisla Ivanovic has also netted.
Showing posts with label Pavel Pogrebnyak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pavel Pogrebnyak. Show all posts
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Week 1-Wednesday Night Football As It Happened (Chelsea v Wigan)
Ful Time
Chelsea 4-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Guthrie (29)
Cahill (69)
Torres (81)
Ivanovic (90)
Chelsea GOAL!Chelsea break straight away from the Reading corner and catch The Royals at the wrong end of the pitch with Federici still in the Chelsea half. Eden Hazard makes a simple lay off for Branislav Ivanovic who scores his second in 2 games as the home team seal a very flattering 4-2 victory.
Chelsea 4-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Guthrie (29)
Cahill (69)
Torres (81)
Ivanovic (90)
Reading FreekickReading get another freekick, quite central and around 35 yards out. Ian Harte shoots and it deflects behind the Chelsea goal for a corner with Federici coming up for it.
Reading Freekick
With just a few minutes of stoppage time Reading have a free kick in a promising position, sad it's not one of Ian Harte's better efforts and comes to nothing.
Reading Substitution
Reading make their final substitution as Hal Robson-Kanu comes on to replace Garath McCleary as Reading seek a late equaliser.
Chelsea Substitution
Raul Meireles replaces Juan Mata with around 6 minutes left.
Chelsea GOAL!
We now have controversy. Ashley Cole makes an excellent pass to Juan Mata who instead of shooting lays across a weak cross that runs to fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres who is stood noticeably offside. Torres pops it in and Chelsea re-take the lead. When the Reading team look back over this they will feel very hard done by.
Chelsea 3-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Guthrie (29)
Cahill (69)
Torres (81)
Chelsea Chance
After some Chelsea pressure the ball breaks to Juan Mata who really should hit the target but ends up screw his shot well wide.
Reading Substitution
Reading make their first change as goal scorer Pavel Pogrebnyak is replaced by by fellow attacker Noel Hunt.
Chelsea GOAL!
Chelsea finally break through the Reading defence via the unexpected threat of defender Gary Cahill. The shot, taken at a distance, just seemed to slide away from Federici who really should have done better than he did.
Chelsea 2-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Guthrie (29)
Cahill (69)
Penalty Appeal
Oscar lays in Torres with an excellent little pass but Torres "shot" goes straight into a Reading defender with Torres appealing for a handball. The referee ignores the plea.
Yellow Card
The referee shows the second yellow card of the match, this one going to goalscorer Pavel Pogrebnyak.
Reading Corner
Reading get their first corner of the second half though it leads to nothing.
Chelsea Shot
Oscar attempts to make an early impact by taking a tame shot at the Reading goal that hardly extends Federici.
Yellow Card
The referee goes to his book for the first time in the match as he shows Reading's Jem Karacan a yellow card.
Chelsea Substitution
Brazilian attacker Oscar comes on to replace Ramires as Chelsea look to add to their attack with the first substitution of the match.
Chelsea Corner
Chelsea get their first corner of the match after some intense pressure on the Reading defense though, like much of Chelsea's offensive play it comes to nothing.
Chelsea Chance
Chelsea start the second half fast and within minutes get their first chance on the second half as Fernando Torres turns provider and lays off a very nice ball for Branislav Ivanovic who blasts his shot well over the ball.
Half Time Chelsea 1-2 Reading
Chelea's leaky home defense from last season (which conceded 24 goals in 19 games) appears to again be an issue as Reading unexpectedly lead 2-1 going into the half. Despite the fact Chelsea have had a number of chances they simply haven't been able to take them and, the penalty aside, Federici has had an easy game as Chelsea have simply been to wasteful.
Whilst Roberto Di Matteo may feel his men should be in the lead he will be unhappy about their inability to convert chances and will likely have a word or two with his attackers who have let the team down. Whilst their defense has been breached twice the first goal was simply unstoppable and the second was a huge error by Cech who shouldn't have been beaten by the freekick. Chelsea started really well though quickly slowed down and Reading managed to get a foot hold in the game before taking the lead. Chelsea will need to increase the pace if they wish to come back into this. Despite being down Eden Hazard has shined in the first half.
For Reading's Brian McDermott he will just tell his players to continue doing what they are doing, they are neutralising the attack of Chelsea pretty well and even the better Chelsea attacks are coming to nothing as the Royals get a bit of luck here and their. Despite going into the half time team talk as the happier manager McDermott could well feel annoyed that they aren't 3-1 up at the half after Pearce's fantastic chance late in the half. Pogrebnyak looks excellent up front and seems to be a real threat in and around the penalty area though McAnuff looks the biggest threat when he's running at the Chelsea defense and terrifying them with his pace.
Half Time Stats
Shots
Chelsea 8 Reading 5
On Target
Chelsea 4 Reading 3
Corners
Chelsea 0 Reading 3
Chelsea Chance
Eden Hazard makes an exceptional cross but Fernando Torres fails to get his header on target as another chance goes begging for the European Champions.
Freekick
Reading get a free kick which is taken by Ian Harte and it just whistle's inches away from the head of an on rushing Alex Pearce who could have doubled Reading's lead with any sort of a touch.
Reading Corner
Reading get their second corner in seconds though again it leads to nothing.
Reading Corner
Reading get their second corner of the game and despite it coming to nothing it was a significantly better corner than the previous one.
Freekick
Eden Hazard gets fouled to the edge of the Reading penalty area, the good cross is headed over by John Terry and goes out for a Reading goal kick.
Freekick and GOAL!
Chelsea defender John Terry is lucky not to receive a booking as he cynically ends a promising dribble by Reading's Jobi McAnuff. The resulting free kick, taken by Danny Guthrie takes a deflection but ends up going over the line to give Reading a very unexpected lead!
Chelsea 1-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebyan (25)
Guthrie (29)
Reading GOAL!
Russian forward Pavel Pogrebnyak equalises for Reading with an excellent heading from the centre of the penalty area. It came off his head like a rocket.
Chelsea 1-1 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Reading Corner
Reading pick up the first corner of the game, but it's easily taken by Chelsea's Petr Cech who hoists the ball up and Chelsea come close to doubling their lead.
Chelsea Penalty and GOAL!
Eden Hazard gets tripped by Chris Gunter and Chelsea are given their second penalty in successive games. Frank Lampard nets the penalty past Federici who manages to just get a slight finger tip on on the ball.
Chelsea 1-0 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Chelsea Chance
A Chelsea attack opens up the Reading defense for Ramires but he appears to have too many options before selecting the wrong one leaving Adam Federici with an easy save.
Chelsea Chance
Juan Mata plays through new signing Eden Hazard who tamely hits his shot wide of the Reading Goal as Chelsea open up the Reading defense within 2 minutes.
And we're off!
Our first midweek kick off of the season takes us to Stamford Bridge where European Champion's Chelsea host the recently promoted Reading with both teams looking for a win, which would take them to the top of the league until at least Sunday. As with the Monday night game (Everton v Manchester United) this will be an in depth "As it happened".
Chelsea-
Starting XI- Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Eden Hazard, Mata, Torres
Subs-Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Oscar, Meireles, Sturridge, Bertrand.
Reading-
Startin XI-Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, Karacan, McAnuff, Leigertwood, Guthrie, McCleary, Pogrebnyak
Subs- McCarthy, Mariappa, Le Fondre, Hunt, Tabb, Robson-Kanu, Cummings.
Referee-Lee Mason
Kick Off-19:45
Pre Match Odds
Match Odds
Chelsea 1/3
Draw 5/1
Reading 12/1
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Over 4/7
Under 13/10
A full preview of the match can be read here.
Chelsea 4-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Guthrie (29)
Cahill (69)
Torres (81)
Ivanovic (90)
Chelsea GOAL!Chelsea break straight away from the Reading corner and catch The Royals at the wrong end of the pitch with Federici still in the Chelsea half. Eden Hazard makes a simple lay off for Branislav Ivanovic who scores his second in 2 games as the home team seal a very flattering 4-2 victory.
Chelsea 4-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Guthrie (29)
Cahill (69)
Torres (81)
Ivanovic (90)
Reading FreekickReading get another freekick, quite central and around 35 yards out. Ian Harte shoots and it deflects behind the Chelsea goal for a corner with Federici coming up for it.
Reading Freekick
With just a few minutes of stoppage time Reading have a free kick in a promising position, sad it's not one of Ian Harte's better efforts and comes to nothing.
Reading Substitution
Reading make their final substitution as Hal Robson-Kanu comes on to replace Garath McCleary as Reading seek a late equaliser.
Chelsea Substitution
Raul Meireles replaces Juan Mata with around 6 minutes left.
Chelsea GOAL!
We now have controversy. Ashley Cole makes an excellent pass to Juan Mata who instead of shooting lays across a weak cross that runs to fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres who is stood noticeably offside. Torres pops it in and Chelsea re-take the lead. When the Reading team look back over this they will feel very hard done by.
Chelsea 3-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Guthrie (29)
Cahill (69)
Torres (81)
Chelsea Chance
After some Chelsea pressure the ball breaks to Juan Mata who really should hit the target but ends up screw his shot well wide.
Reading Substitution
Reading make their first change as goal scorer Pavel Pogrebnyak is replaced by by fellow attacker Noel Hunt.
Chelsea GOAL!
Chelsea finally break through the Reading defence via the unexpected threat of defender Gary Cahill. The shot, taken at a distance, just seemed to slide away from Federici who really should have done better than he did.
Chelsea 2-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Guthrie (29)
Cahill (69)
Penalty Appeal
Oscar lays in Torres with an excellent little pass but Torres "shot" goes straight into a Reading defender with Torres appealing for a handball. The referee ignores the plea.
Yellow Card
The referee shows the second yellow card of the match, this one going to goalscorer Pavel Pogrebnyak.
Reading Corner
Reading get their first corner of the second half though it leads to nothing.
Chelsea Shot
Oscar attempts to make an early impact by taking a tame shot at the Reading goal that hardly extends Federici.
Yellow Card
The referee goes to his book for the first time in the match as he shows Reading's Jem Karacan a yellow card.
Chelsea Substitution
Brazilian attacker Oscar comes on to replace Ramires as Chelsea look to add to their attack with the first substitution of the match.
Chelsea Corner
Chelsea get their first corner of the match after some intense pressure on the Reading defense though, like much of Chelsea's offensive play it comes to nothing.
Chelsea Chance
Chelsea start the second half fast and within minutes get their first chance on the second half as Fernando Torres turns provider and lays off a very nice ball for Branislav Ivanovic who blasts his shot well over the ball.
Half Time Chelsea 1-2 Reading
Chelea's leaky home defense from last season (which conceded 24 goals in 19 games) appears to again be an issue as Reading unexpectedly lead 2-1 going into the half. Despite the fact Chelsea have had a number of chances they simply haven't been able to take them and, the penalty aside, Federici has had an easy game as Chelsea have simply been to wasteful.
Whilst Roberto Di Matteo may feel his men should be in the lead he will be unhappy about their inability to convert chances and will likely have a word or two with his attackers who have let the team down. Whilst their defense has been breached twice the first goal was simply unstoppable and the second was a huge error by Cech who shouldn't have been beaten by the freekick. Chelsea started really well though quickly slowed down and Reading managed to get a foot hold in the game before taking the lead. Chelsea will need to increase the pace if they wish to come back into this. Despite being down Eden Hazard has shined in the first half.
For Reading's Brian McDermott he will just tell his players to continue doing what they are doing, they are neutralising the attack of Chelsea pretty well and even the better Chelsea attacks are coming to nothing as the Royals get a bit of luck here and their. Despite going into the half time team talk as the happier manager McDermott could well feel annoyed that they aren't 3-1 up at the half after Pearce's fantastic chance late in the half. Pogrebnyak looks excellent up front and seems to be a real threat in and around the penalty area though McAnuff looks the biggest threat when he's running at the Chelsea defense and terrifying them with his pace.
Half Time Stats
Shots
Chelsea 8 Reading 5
On Target
Chelsea 4 Reading 3
Corners
Chelsea 0 Reading 3
Chelsea Chance
Eden Hazard makes an exceptional cross but Fernando Torres fails to get his header on target as another chance goes begging for the European Champions.
Freekick
Reading get a free kick which is taken by Ian Harte and it just whistle's inches away from the head of an on rushing Alex Pearce who could have doubled Reading's lead with any sort of a touch.
Reading Corner
Reading get their second corner in seconds though again it leads to nothing.
Reading Corner
Reading get their second corner of the game and despite it coming to nothing it was a significantly better corner than the previous one.
Freekick
Eden Hazard gets fouled to the edge of the Reading penalty area, the good cross is headed over by John Terry and goes out for a Reading goal kick.
Freekick and GOAL!
Chelsea defender John Terry is lucky not to receive a booking as he cynically ends a promising dribble by Reading's Jobi McAnuff. The resulting free kick, taken by Danny Guthrie takes a deflection but ends up going over the line to give Reading a very unexpected lead!
Chelsea 1-2 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebyan (25)
Guthrie (29)
Reading GOAL!
Russian forward Pavel Pogrebnyak equalises for Reading with an excellent heading from the centre of the penalty area. It came off his head like a rocket.
Chelsea 1-1 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Pogrebnyak (25)
Reading Corner
Reading pick up the first corner of the game, but it's easily taken by Chelsea's Petr Cech who hoists the ball up and Chelsea come close to doubling their lead.
Chelsea Penalty and GOAL!
Eden Hazard gets tripped by Chris Gunter and Chelsea are given their second penalty in successive games. Frank Lampard nets the penalty past Federici who manages to just get a slight finger tip on on the ball.
Chelsea 1-0 Reading
Lampard (18)-Pen
Chelsea Chance
A Chelsea attack opens up the Reading defense for Ramires but he appears to have too many options before selecting the wrong one leaving Adam Federici with an easy save.
Chelsea Chance
Juan Mata plays through new signing Eden Hazard who tamely hits his shot wide of the Reading Goal as Chelsea open up the Reading defense within 2 minutes.
And we're off!
Our first midweek kick off of the season takes us to Stamford Bridge where European Champion's Chelsea host the recently promoted Reading with both teams looking for a win, which would take them to the top of the league until at least Sunday. As with the Monday night game (Everton v Manchester United) this will be an in depth "As it happened".
Chelsea-
Starting XI- Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Eden Hazard, Mata, Torres
Subs-Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Oscar, Meireles, Sturridge, Bertrand.
Reading-
Startin XI-Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, Karacan, McAnuff, Leigertwood, Guthrie, McCleary, Pogrebnyak
Subs- McCarthy, Mariappa, Le Fondre, Hunt, Tabb, Robson-Kanu, Cummings.
Referee-Lee Mason
Kick Off-19:45
Pre Match Odds
Match Odds
Chelsea 1/3
Draw 5/1
Reading 12/1
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Over 4/7
Under 13/10
A full preview of the match can be read here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)