Our pre-season friendlies ended in a fantastic way as any Blues’ fans and the team could have hoped. Being behind early in First half on 20′ minute, Chelsea rallied back into the game as Frank Lampard scored a trademark long rage cracker and Lukaku scored a close range finish after a brilliant work from Hazard and Demba Ba’s unselfishness provided him with the advantage. We now go into the opening game of the 2013/14 premier league season with full confidence and Jose Mourinho has seen what all the players are capable of by now. But, let’s analyze and see how this game played out:
Venue: RFK Stadium
Score: Chelsea 2-1 AS Roma- Lamela 20′; Lampard 60′, Lukaku 89′
Starting 11s:
Chelsea(4-2-3-1): Schwarzer (Blackman h-t); Azpilicueta (Ivanovic 57), David Luiz (Cahill h-t), Terry (Lukaku 78) (c), Bertrand; Mikel (Van Ginkel 57), Essien (Lampard h-t); Moses (Ramires h-t), De Bruyne (Oscar h-t), Schurrle (Hazard 57); Torres (Ba h-t).
AS Roma(4-3-3): De Sanctis; Maicon (Jedvaj 78), Benatia, Castan, Balzaretti; Bradley, Strootman, Florenzi (Marquinho 69); Lamela, Osvaldo (Borriello 69), Totti (Tallo 85) (c).
We controlled the preceding moments after the whistle as Chelsea got off to a flying start as Roma goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis had to be alert in the second minute to deny a Michael Essien volley off a great layoff from Fernando Torres. Then the teams continue to attack and create danger but, there was not much action until 20th minute when Schwarzer made a mistake, The Australian misplayed a routine back pass, allowing the ball to bounce off his post and back to Eric Lamela, who made no mistake by tapping the ball into the net. Schwarzer would partially make amends 10 minutes later, when he got down quickly to save a Pablo Osvaldo effort that was bound for the bottom corner.
After the goal, the Italians tried to have much of the possession and stop Chelsea from creating danger. But, the Blues’ were really good in defense to prevent Osvaldo from scoring many times for the remaining half. In the counterattack, Chelsea managed to get some good shots on and off target as Schurrle and De Bruyne interchanged a lot of passes before unleashing shots at goal or trying to assist Fernando Torres. Victor Moses on the other hand did very well in his first half plays as he defended very well by tracking back the field and chase their left-back and winger.
Jose Mourinho made wholesale changes at the half, and it appeared to turn the tide in Chelsea’s favor, as the Blues pressured the Roma goal in the first 15 minutes of the second half, although the Italians’ defense held firm. Frank Lampard who came on for Michael Essien at the start of 2nd half unleashed many long range strikes on to the keeper and on the 60th minute, Demba Ba made a brilliant flick on to Frank who then made a drive closer to the box and scored a long range strike on to the far post. It was a crisp drive from 25 yards away and the Goal keeper couldn’t get a touch on the ball.
After Chelsea attacked for much of the remaining game, Hazard dribbled past two defenders at the far post in the box and laid the ball on the way of Ba, who then assisted Lukaku for the 89′ minute winner. After the game restarted Roma had no time or any chance to equalize as the Blues’ stayed firm to seal the final Pre-season win ahead of the new season.
It was a brilliant work from all the players as we only conceded from a silly mistake and our defense was good through out the game. Ryan Bertrand played the whole 90 minutes and coming on in the 2nd half, Jamal Blackman made a match saving stop from Osvaldo’s header from close range. By that the youngster repaid the faith put on him by Jose to bring him while the team was trailing at half time. Good match all together and it was good to see Frank Lampard back to full fitness and with an amazing, trademark finish to equalize and set us to win the game.
Leave your opinions from this friendly win and what are your predictions for the season opener game at Home against Hull? Thanks for reading! KTBFFH!!!
chelsea 2 hull 1