切尔西在欧冠联赛半决赛首回合比赛中主场1∶0力克巴塞罗那队。切尔西队临时主教练迪马特奥表示,切尔西队的“老将”们用这场胜利让赛前质疑的人再无话可说。整场比赛中,虽然切尔西的控球率只有28%,但34岁的德罗巴在上半场补时阶段抓住机会,为切尔西打入制胜一球。而这场胜利不仅属于德罗巴,也属于兰帕德、特里、阿什利•科尔和切赫等队中大将。
There was a big matchup in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Chelsea faced defending champion Barcelona in their first leg of the semi-finals.
The Londoners hoped to open the series with a win at Stamford Bridge. Barca is unbeaten in the League this season, and is looking to become the first club since AC Milan 22 years ago to claim back-to-back European Cup titles.
London was filled with sporting celebrations. Wednesday marked the 100 day countdown to the Olympic Games. But Barcelona came in as the overwhelming favorite to advance to the finals.
The Spanish champs were in charge almost from the start. Ten minutes into the match, Alexis Sanchez tried a chip shot, but it bounced back off the bar. A good chance for Barca early.
Chelsea arrived after last weekend’s 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semi-finals. The north Londoners made some strong tackles. Barcelona's famed attack fizzled in the first half.
But the champs were going to be tough to contain. Sanchez launched a cross to the center. Lionel Messi was there for the header, but Petr Cech rose to the occasion in the Chelsea goal, no score.
Later, Messi tees up Cesc Fabregas. His shot looked like a solid score, but Ashley Cole cleared the ball off the line. It’s still 0-0.
On the other end, Chelsea threatened in first half stoppage time. Brazilian standout Ramires found Didier Drogba with a crossing pass, and Drogba pounced for the score. Chelsea took the lead. Frank Lampard got the play started, Ramires cut into the box, the Brazilian midfielder split the Barcelona defense and Drogba did the rest. The Cote D’Ivoire veteran hit for a big goal against Spurs and kept his scoring momentum going - 1-0 Chelsea led Barcelona at the half.
The teams played a spirited second half as the rain began to soak the Stamford Bridge crowd. Barcelona dominated the action, but Cech was strong enough to stop Carles Pulyol's header - still 1-0.
The home side kept the title holders in check. Barcelona enjoyed 72 percent of possession time, but still couldn't find the target. Pedro’s shot hit the post in stoppage time, and Chelsea beat Barca 1-0. The two sides will meet for the second leg in Barcelona next week.
Roberto Di Matteo said, "I think that in the past a lot of the public opinion has been that these boys are over the line and too old to play two games and too old to play at this level and it wasn’t just him, we had other players on the pitch who you regard as old guard that have played two games in such a short period of time. I think they gave the answer on the pitch tonight. I don’t think it makes us favourites I think it’s 50/50 for both teams to go through to the final. You know what to expect when you play at the Nou Camp, it’s going to be very difficult and we still have to believe that we might be able to score a goal there as well. It’s going to be a tough game, it’s a tough game for any opposition that goes to Barcelona, and we’ll have to be at our best again."