League Cup, Matches - Written by BlueChampion on Thursday, November 1, 2007 1:32 | 2,695 Views | 58 Comments | Add Comment
Chelsea 4-3 Leicester City | Super Frank Saves The Day!
Must have been an incredible match! The short story is we conceded three, we were leading at half time, we nearly lost our home league (league + domestic cup, that is) record and score two goals in three minutes to avoid embarrassment. Should have been a good tactical test for the team of Avram, Ten Cate and Clarke, right from the team selection, formation, substitutions and the mentality.
The match was live on Chelsea TV but not on Chelsea TV online, so I couldn’t watch the match. To allow Leicester to score three goals at the Stamford Bridge is not a very nice feeling. The last time we conceded three goals at home was against the Spurs in the FA Cup last season.
After the match, Avram said:
It was a good game. We enjoyed the winning and scoring four goals but we didn’t like what happened in the game because we conceded three goals. More importantly it showed that we have good character. I have never in my life given up until the last moment even if we are losing 2-0. This is football. When we were leading 2-1 we created five chances one-on-one with the goalkeeper. It was fantastic but we should have scored. But that is football. We want to score but we don’t want one goal scored against us. But it was good football today. We played positive football and in the last 10 minutes the players showed they have a big heart and good character and I like that. Sometimes it is more important than other things. We want to progress our game and every game in the last month and a half we have taken lessons from.
Elsewhere it was also reported that he said that 4-3 is better than a 1-0. While that is a different argument altogether, to score our third and fourth goal in the last three minutes after leading the game by half time may not be better. Bad day for Carlo Cudicini. Never gets a match and the match he steps in we concede three goals. Not sure if any of those three goals would have been saved or prevented by Petr Cech.
It’s a nice thing that Shevchenko played all 90+ minutes and scored the most crucial goal of the match. Lampard the midfielder did chip in with just three goals. I felt sad that he couldn’t score against Man City but here he is, making amends with a hattrick. Not bad at all, offensively. We had a goal drought for some time where we used wonder how and where the goals would come from. We certainly seem to have come out of that problem. 12 goals scored in the last three matches would certainly give us the belief to out-score the opponent.
What we saw until the 80th minute is what we are going to see more during African Cup of Nations. There was no Drogba, no Essien, no Mikel and no Kalou. We were trailing 2-3 when Essien stepped in and he seems to have turned the match for us. Let’s get used to a non-African midfield, however difficult it is for us. Lampard has nicely taken the responsibility from Drogba and even scores a hattrick but (a) he can’t do that every match (b) midfield of Sidwell and Maka could hardly win matches for us. Interesting to see how we would plan for and manage their absence for 6 weeks.
To be down 2-3 at the Bridge until the last few minutes must have had Avram’s heart in his mouth. This is the kind of situation where I’d have loved to see Avram operate. I don’t really know how Avram reacted to this situation. The players reacted well allright, but I don’t know if Avram did the right moves, especially in the second half. When we were leading 2-1, at 52 minutes I see that Malouda has been subbed for Ferreira. Now that’s strange unless I miss something.
Avram must have been keen to give us another goal fest. To do that, he was playing with just three defenders for about 40 minutes. Was that the reason why we allowed two nearly giant-killing goals? Strangely, we had no defender in the bench - it had only Hilario, Obi, Essien, Kalou and Malouda. Knowing that Essien need not have to play in defence anymore and was not used in the match in a defensive position, we could have gone in with one defender in the bench.
Anybody who had seen the match should be able to narrate the story. If my armchair arguments are correct, Avram tried to overdo something to show us more goals and nearly lost the match to an English opponent in more than three years, after comfortably leading them at half time. For all his talk yesterday of using youth talents in League Cup, we could have seen only Scott Sinclair, which shows that he wanted to confirm a win and was not keen to really experiment or something. During the course of the match, he saw us showing a stronger display and want to knock Leicester with half a dozen goals which nearly backfired.
All’s well that ends well. We can win as long as we outscore, so we live to fight another day.
58 Comments
1. cap123
2. Nubskeh
Time to panic now? Down 3-2 at home! Is it Leicester that are going to end our unbeaten home run? God….
3. TrueBlueInd
we are losing 3-2..SHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
4. TrueBlueInd
shevchenkoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
5. Nubskeh
Thank god for Shevchenko! Equaliser 4 minutes from time.
6. Nubskeh
Heading for extra time! Lets see if Sheva can last the extra 30 minutes (if there is no winner in the next few seconds). Cause no more subs. 
7. vito chelsea
yes…………………………………………..goal gaol goal goal chelsea are infont 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444
8. TrueBlueInd
WE WIN 4-3
Shevchenko …………last minute ……………..
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
9. Nubskeh
No extra time! Shevchenko gets his second just before the end for 4-3!
10. vito chelsea
chelsea always chelsea manu eat your heart out
11. vito chelsea
chelsea L CUP FA CUP CHAMPIONS LEAGUE JOSE THANKS FOR BUILDING THE GREATEST TEAM IN THE WORLD
12. TrueBlueInd
91st minute{4-3}
Goal by Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea) left-footed (low centre of goal) from centre of penalty area (12 yards).Chelsea 4-3 Leicester.
87th minute{3-3}
Goal by Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea) left-footed (top-left of goal) from left channel (20 yards).Chelsea 3-3 Leicester. Assist (pass) by Michael Essien (Chelsea) from left channel.
74th minute{2-3}
Foul by Juliano Belletti (Chelsea) on Levi Porter (Leicester). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Alan Sheehan (Leicester) from left channel, goal by Carl Cort (Leicester) right-footed (bottom-left of goal) from right side of six-yard box (6 yards).Chelsea 2-3 Leicester. Assist (cross) by Alan Sheehan (Leicester) from left channel.
69th minute{2-2}
Headed goal by Dudley Campbell (Leicester) (top-left of goal) from right side of six-yard box (6 yards).Chelsea 2-2 Leicester. Assist (cross) by Levi Porter (Leicester) from left channel.Cross by Florent Malouda (Chelsea), clearance by Bruno N’Gotty (Leicester).
29th minute{2-1}
Cross by Scott Sinclair (Chelsea), goal by Frank Lampard (Chelsea) right-footed (bottom-left of goal) from left side of penalty area (6 yards).Chelsea 2-1 Leicester. Assist (cross) by Scott Sinclair (Chelsea) from left wing.
20th minute{1-1}
Cross by Juliano Belletti (Chelsea), resulting in open play. Goal by Frank Lampard (Chelsea) right-footed (bottom-left of goal) from centre of penalty area (12 yards).Chelsea 1-1 Leicester. Assist (header) by Scott Sinclair (Chelsea) from left side of penalty area.
6th minute{0-1}
Cross by Matt Fryatt (Leicester), headed goal by Gareth McAuley (Leicester) (bottom-right of goal) from right side of penalty area (6 yards).Chelsea 0-1 Leicester. Assist (cross) by Matt Fryatt (Leicester) from left by-line.
13. Kobbee
Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba must start for ever !! Sheva is a good player especially this season in this two matches he has scored three goals and for Didier we’have nothing to talk. He is the best striker in the world…
14. Kobbee
Come on CHELSEA
15. TrueBlueInd
Guys..
post 12..SOURCE was http://www.sportinglife.com
16. TrueBlueInd
Arsenal, liverpool, tottenham, Blackburn, Man City,Everton,Chelsea,West Ham through to Quarter Finals of CC
wow…this could be the toughest fight for the CC in years
17. Nubskeh
Actually, the last goal has been confirmed as Frank’s. So a hat-trick to Lamps but only one goal to Shevchenko. But his was an absolute ripper.
Credit to Leicester to for giving us a hell of a fight. Questions to be asked about our defense for at least the second goal, but seeing as Ben-Haim was in it, no surprises.
I don’t see too much worry about this. We scored 4 which is always good, and no Petr Cech in goals. And most of all, we still haven’t lost at home for yonks. 
18. TrueBlueInd
Hey…The Chelsea site says Lampard has officially been awarded the injury time goal…
so that means Hat trick for Lamps..n only 1 goal for Sheva…
19. Blues_Godson
i didn’t get to see the match…for some reason my stupid satellite channels decided to show the la liga match which by the way was cool with real thrashing valencia 5-1 at the mastella…anyhow…seems frank is getting better and its nice to know he scored an hat trick…but concedeing 3 goals to leciester at the bridge…men i think thats lame…
i hope we get better by each game thou and hope our second team gets as strong as the first eleven
KTBFFH…
By the way BC..great theme….its a master piece..simply world class…keep up the good job
20. bluepassion
its great to be a chelsea fan!!!!!!!!!!!! i love it when we win matches and i move on when we loose that is we will loose ,that is the blue spirit
21. SH.IBRAHIMI
what a game !!
22. True Blue Fusion
the match will qualify as a absolute thriller…………bad in the sense we conceded 3
possible reasons
*cudicini
*bad marking in set plays
*alex n tal ben haim-lack of chemistry
ferreira is injured………….i don’t think it’s too serious caus initially he wasn’t subbed……….atleast bridge returns from suspension………..ashley will return by next weekend
sheva is in fine form…………..we can credit him for 4th goal caus he scored………….the only thing lamps earlier attempt had crossed the line…….so goal goes to him
23. SoCalBlue
Nice changes in the blog , at the beginning I though was another place but nice. Good job.
24. jiday
didnt see the match,but its good that sheva has scored again and lampard with a hat-trick.but avram substituting ferreira for malouda was a great gamble…
25. giridhar
must have been a great game to watch… what was the match lineup like
26. True Blue Fusion
@Jiday
ferreira was injured…………malouda can play as a right back…means he is decent at defense
27. arthur
i was told malouda played in the left midfield. did we play with 3 at the back in the 2nd half?
28. CFC
I didnt watch the match live but did see the highlights, and i think shevachenko is coming back to form the way he took the goal on the turn, superb finish. What can u say about frank Lampard, or Fat frank for many, well i dont mind him being fat at all if he’s playing in this kind of form, hes terrific for the past 2 matches. we did concede 3 goals, but as far as this game is concerned we are through, and i am sure if ricardo and alex was in defence instead of ben haim, we wouldnt hav conceded those goals.
The midlfield of sidwell and lampard with no holding midfielder seems to be a slight problem, considering the fact essien and mikel is out for a month during African cup. I gues makalele can do the job for a month and if i am not wrong, Alex used to play in both holding midfield as well as CB positions for sau paulo, the club he represented before moving to PSV. If JT and Ricardo are fit we could play a 3 man midfield of alex/maka, lampard and ballack. I am sure Roman has big plans during winter trasfer to bring in more cover for midfield and forward.
Cant wait for the weekend, arsenal and man utd going head to head we have the perfect chance to close the gap. Hoping for another draw leaving both with 27 and we would be within 3 points.
If we could go for a run of 5 games unbeaten from now on(wigan and derby away, everton, west ham and sunderland at home) it would be very interesting to see what happens on 16 th of december, super sunday with man utd taking on liverpool and us against arsenal. The way we haved played for last 3 or 4 games, its impossible for us to loose any of these games, we have to win all the 5 games leading to arsenal and am sure if that happens we can beat arsenal at emirates for the first time.
By the way i did get a chance to goto the live game between sheffield united and arsenal, did get couple of free tickets, and the atmosphere was terrific, well what can i say sheffield utd fan are well noisy even when they are loosing, haha, I am lucky enough to go for another match at brahmall lane next week for match between the oldest football club i.e sheffield FC taking on the mighty inter milan, and guess whose intoducing the players, yes the legend himself, PELE….i know many of you are jelous now hahaha,
29. Anonymous
where did u see the highlights??!
30. Nihongo Blue
reminds me of Jose Mourinho quote
That was not a football score, it was a hockey score…in training I often play matches of three against three and when the score reaches 5-4 I send the players back to the dressing room, because they are not defending properly [on Arsenal 5, Spurs 4]
cheers
31. True Blue Fusion
32. blueboy
thats the links for the goals
33. True Blue Fusion
Chelsea made seven changes for the visit of Leicester in the Carling Cup at Stamford Bridge.
Petr Cech, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Mikel John Obi, Ricardo Carvalho, Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou were all missing from the side that demolished Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League.
Carlo Cudicini, Scott Sinclair, Andriy Shevchenko, Steve Sidwell, Claudio Pizarro, Tal Ben-Haim, and Shaun Wright-Phillips replaced them.
34. Owonatty
You can watch the hightlights of the match here
And also any other football matches highlights here
Up Blues
35. TrueBlueInd
BC…
VIDEO of the goals scored yesterday??????
36. HiCrackrz
Hi TrueBlueInd
You can find the highlights in this website: http://www.footytube.com/2007/11/01/chelsea-4-3-leicester/#more-13571
cheers
37. Den
Does anyone have any highlights?
38. bidji
here you go mates: http://www.mediafire.com/?fo9jxdfydwn
39. Troeger
Does anyone know yet who we will play next for Carling?
40. CFC
The highlights were on ITV, but i am not sure if that channel is available in India, but i usually watch games with the digi box my mate have, its from middle east, u get all sort of sports channel, including Man utd tv chelsea tv and real madris, barca, etc etc. its like a one of payment and u dont need to subcribe to anything. the draw for next round is on saturday noon, about 12 pm i guess UK time.
41. TrueBlueInd
I got the video..
42. Blu REHMAN
scary dude………..
43. joeblue
Hey Bc theres somethin wrong with the ‘ top players of the month’ thing , its written under October still , or is it due to a difference in the time zones???
um……….anyways did u get the videos???
44. Michael Mariens
I would love to hear more about this ” digi box” ?
45. chelsea4ever
i love chelsea i get goosebumps when i watch chelsea play.
46. TrueBlueInd
47. Midfield_Decider
Is Shevchenko back?
I hope so.
48. Blue Champion
Thanks TBF. It is now up under “Featured Videos”. Very good goal by Sheva. Striker like goals from Lampard.
I wonder what SWP was doing in a three-man defensive wall for that Leicester free kick. With his height, will he be a challenge for the free kick taker?
49. Michael Mariens
Where can I buy this ” digi box”?
50. Jo
BC…u may go to this website to get the video of all goals of tt game….sheva’s goal was nice.
51. Jo
52. Nihongo Blue
shevas goal was good but i think instead of wasting time in celebrating the goal with just 3 mins + stoppage time left he should have better get the game going fast. That would have been marvelous and shown experience he has.
53. OneZ
SHEVCHENKO is back..!!!!!
54. bluewinner
An absolute cracker there from Sheva. What a brilliant goal. He was stellar today, if he can keep in this form the African Nations Cup losses will be somewhat dulled. Ah, that goal. It was lovely.
55. bluegal
Good win but conceeding 3 goals to liecester is a little worrying.
56. John
In his own way, Avram Grant is establishing some control over the way Chelsea plays and so far, the open style has been great, only thing is they got to tighten up the defense.
57. SH.IBRAHIMI
i would like to see tomorrow against Wigan Sheva&Drogba together in attack ..
58. besniki
shevchenko and drogba atack is the best…….blue champions europe and England.:-)
we got one back already!
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