Month Review: December

(My apologies for not being able to cover the review for November as I was busy with my exams)

December, the month where we played a staggering 9 matches and had a bit of mixed results during that time, it is time to look at back at how we played it out.

December 1st
Chelsea vs Southampton
Stamford Bridge

The first match of December. Essien started his first match for Chelsea since 2011 and due to his horrible back pass, we conceded a 12 second goal courtesy of James Rodriguez capitalizing on the mistake and scoring past Cech. Then the first half was all but us trying to counter attack and score the equalizer but it ended 0-1 at half time. Second half begin, we get a corner at the 54th minute, Ba hits the bar and then Cahill hits the rebound to give us the equalizer. Then 12 minutes later, John Terry(on his 400th appearance in the premier league) scored an amazing header from a Mata cross to give us the lead. Then in the 90th minute, a cross from Ramires saw Ba hit a low power shot past the keeper to end the match with the final score 3-1.

Sunderland vs Chelsea
December 4th
Stadium of Light

Our 2nd match of December sees us take on relegation threatened Sunderland. The match started in the worst possible way with us conceding a goal in the 14th minute from a failed free kick from which Altidore hit the rebound. It didn’t take long for the equalizer as Hazard provided a cross to Lampard who headed in the goal to give us the equalizer at the 17th minute. Then at the 36th minute, Hazard scored an amazing long shot goal to give us the lead. Second half begin, Sunderland equalized from a headed goal by O’shea in the 50th minute. 12 minutes later, Hazard once again with another beautiful long shot goal, gave us the lead. 84th minute, a bad pass from Ba saw Bardsley put the ball accidently to his own net, giving us a 2 goal lead. 2 minute later, he scored on the other half, to reduce the lead to just 1 goal. Thus, Chelsea won 4-3 and we escaped with 3 points

Stoke City vs Chelsea
December 7th
Britannia Stadium

3th match and our 2nd consecutive away match saw us take on Stoke City. The match started brilliantly in the first 15 minutes, with Schurrle scoring a beautiful long shot finesse goal after beating 2 defenders alone. Then just before half time, a corner in the 41st minute, Crouch hit the rebound after Cech rushed out to make a save to equalize. Then in the 2nd half, 50th minute, substitute Ireland scored another finesse goal past Cech to make it 2-1 but it only took 3 minutes to equalize from another Schurrle goal. The match went on and on, it looked as if we would heading for a draw. Not until, the 90th minute of normal time when Substitute Assaidi scored a supreme volley past Cech to make it 3-2. The match ended with us losing a chance to close the gap on Arsenal and Stoke getting their first win over us after almost 37 years.

Chelsea vs Steaua Bucharest
December 11th
Stamford Bridge

Our last champions league match in the group stage, it was Chelsea vs Steuau Bucharest. We had already topped the group in the last match but due to a loss to Basel, a win was required to confirm that we top the group. Match started out well with Ba giving us the lead through a corner early in the 10th minute but that was the only highlight of the match. With Schalke beating Basel 2-0, we finished top going to the Round of 16. We will be facing Galataysaray in February.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
December 14th
Stamford Bridge

It was Chelsea vs Palace as the Blues looked to close the gap on Arsenal by 2 points (after they lost 6-3 to Man City). The match started well but there were not much highlights until after the 15th minute, when a long shot from Willian hit the post, only for Torres to hit the rebound to give us the lead. The visitors fought back with Chamakh scoring the equalizer for Palace when they finally had their first chance at a goal. 6 minutes later, a strike from Ramires gave Blues the lead once again going to half time. Second half was where we were struggling, Palace kept attacking for the equalizer and they came close as well but in the end, Chelsea won 2-1.

Sunderland vs Chelsea
December 17th
Stadium of Light

It was once again Sunderland vs Chelsea as it was the 5th round of the Capital One Cup, not much action was there in the first half. Second half begin, a low cross from Azpilucueta to Lampard saw the ball hit Cattermole and go into the net as an own goal(The goal was later credited to Lampard). Then at the 87th minute, former Chelsea player Fabio Borini hit the equalizer for Sunderland taking the match to extra time. And then at the last minute of extra time, Ki Sung-Yueng scored the winner for Sunderland to beat Chelsea and go into the next round of Capital one Cup, knocking Chelsea out of the cup.

Arsenal vs Chelsea
December 23rd
Emirates Stadium

Match of the Season. It was the clash of London’s two top clubs as the match was told could “define” our season. Liverpool’s earlier win had put them at top and a win would see Chelsea go level on points with them. The match did not live up to the expectations as we only came close once in the 27th minute, when a lob ball from Hazard saw Lampard hit the underside of the bar. After that, it was all mixed actions, Arsenal started to get more chance at the end but they couldn’t convert. The match ended scoreless but hey, Arsene Wenger still can’t beat Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea vs Swansea City
December 26th
Stamford Bridge

Chelsea vs Swansea, how controversial the match was back last season in the Capital one Cup. It was once again a match as we looked to grab the 3 points to close the gap at the top. The match started well with Hazard scoring a goal at the 29th minute to give us the lead(An amazing striker from him). Eto’o had the chance to double it before half time but he missed the shot. Second half begin, within 12 seconds of restart, a long ball from Luiz saw Mata put a lovely ball to Eto’o, who once gain, blew the chance to give us the lead. The match ended a 1-0 win for us.

Chelsea vs Liverpool
December 29th
Stamford Bridge

Our last match of 2013 saw us take on Liverpool, who we haven’t beat in the Premier league, since our title winning season back in 2010. The match got off to a bad start, with Chelsea conceding a goal in the 4th minute from a set piece. Skertel gave Liverpool a surprising lead. 13 minutes later, a beauty strike from Hazard, gave us the equalizer. Almost a goal of the season for me. 17 minutes later, a dinged pass from Oscar to Eto’o who had a weak power shot but due to a small deflection, went in the goal to give us the lead 2-1. The second half was mixed actions for both team but it seemed Jose was happy with the lead and Liverpool tried to fight back but couldn’t get  a 2nd goal. The match ended with us finishing strong at the end of 2013 and going into the new year with 2 points behind Arsenal.

Your favorite moment of December?Let me know by feedback.
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