Chelsea had trouble starting the game against a real good Benfica team. The Portuguese were able to keep the ball moving and had a few good opportunities to score. Chelsea stayed solid defensively and managed to end the first period scoreless.
The second period started off the same way the first one ended. Chelsea playing a kick and rush football and Benfica playing a pleasant and flawless football.
At the 60' minutes, Benfica gets an opportunity to score and after a few seconds under pressure, Chelsea manages to kick the ball out of the box, right in the middle of the field and right onto Fernando Torres. The Spanish striker wins a first challenge with Luisao and ends up alone with the goalkeeper. Torres dribbles him on the right and hits the ball onto the net.
Chelsea was taking the lead in one of their worst moments in the game; Classic Chelsea after all.
Benfica would come back in the game after an hand ball in the box by Azpilicueta. Cardozo transforms the penalty kick with a powerful shot straight in the middle of the goal.
Benfica pushs and almost score with Cardozo who sees his shot deflected by Cech over his crossbar (81'). Then the crossbar saves Benfica on a shot from 20 yards by Franck Lampard.
The last minutes looks like a tennis game, with both teams running from one side to another, trying to get the killing goal.
A killing goal that would arrive from the head of Ivanovic at the 93' minute. Chelsea's right back comes up from the last corner kick of the game. Lampard places the ball toward the second post, high in the air. Ivanovic has time to move and jumps between two defenders, surprisingly not jumping at all!
If you analyze the game, Benfica probably played a better football and deserved to win. But the beautiful football does not necessarily wins all the time (Barcelona can testify.) One thing is certain, Benfica will come back stronger next year, with talented players (if they manage to keep them).
Chelsea makes history by being the first club in history to win the Champions LEague and the Europa League, back to back, in that order. Rafael Benitez, Chelsea's coach, criticized since he took the job at Chelsea, responded the best way he could. Would that change his future with Chelsea?
No comments:
Post a Comment