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A Spectacle Like No Other!
By Toyin | April 14, 2009
I’ve seen matches both live and on television but ‘am glad I watched the Chelsea VS Liverpool second leg encounter at the Bridge today! What a cracker and outstanding advertisement for our beloved sport.
Could it have been better orchestrated? I don’t think so! Even a Nollywood blockbuster couldn’t have been better conceived; yes, such was the level of excitement served up by the Blues and the Reds at Stamford Bridge. It was full of passion, goals, howlers, commitment and belief. I mean the players just went for it!
I am also proud that at least one of my predictions for this round proved correct and I can gloat! What’s very interesting however is the manner in which the victory for Chelsea was obtained. The high octane Formula One cannot compare favourably to this match at least.
After coming away from Anfield just last week with a most wonderful away result, Chelsea became the world’s favourite to qualify for the semi finals of the competition. And you cannot begrudge them as they totally outplayed and out classed Rafa Benitez’s side. They scored three priceless ‘away’ goals and they looked to be cruising home.
A lot of commentators ascribed the victory of Chelsea to the suspended Javier Mascherano and the lack of fitness of captain marvel, Steven Gerrard. Others claimed that Michael ‘industrial battery’ Essien nullified both Xabi Alonso and Gerrard! The fact that Liverpool found it very hard going in the middle of the pack didn’t help matters at all. So they had to wait for the return leg to show what could be done with Mascherano back in the side but Gerrard sadly was declared unfit to play.
They arrived at Chelsea with determination and self confidence. Surely they can do something which most other teams won’t even dare; overhaul Chelsea and qualify for the Champions League semi finals despite the advantage the home side enjoy!
Right from the blast of the whistle, Liverpool did not veil their intention; the gripped the midfield in a vice like manner and strode the area like conquerors. For the first 25 minutes, Chelsea had no answer to the masterful exchange of passes between Alonso, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt and Torres; they were simply outplayed! By then the first goal of a most inspiring encounter had been scored.
When it came, it was from a most unexpected source and in a disgraceful manner! Fabio Aurelio simply deceived Petre Cech by placing a low free kick into the bottom corner instead of a pull out anticipated by the goalkeeper. A flurry of activities after the goal bellies the lack of confidence gaining ground among the Blues as they could have conceded a second goal almost immediately.
When last week hero, Ivanovic hauled down Xabi Alonso in the box to concede a most silly penalty, you can feel the despair around the stadium. And the midfield enforcer from Spain sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to signal the beginning of what I will call a crescendo of fantasies. However, when Cech pulled off a one handed save late on in the half, I knew Chelsea were still in the game and that they are in pole position to do what they intend to do.
The second half commenced and Chelsea soon got their groove on. They started exerting pressures on the backline of the Reds and not long after the restart, Reyna conceded an OG due to Drogba’s close attention and masterful flick that slipped through his hands into the net. It got better six minutes later when Alex rifled in one of the most violent free kicks ever played. Thank God Reyna’s hand didn’t get to it; he would have left the field with a broken arm!
The game’s been turned on its head and Liverpool began to suffer the consequences of their indiscretion in allowing Chelsea back into the action! Before long, Lampard added insult to injury by scoring the third goal to technically seal the match. But Benitez boys had an ace up their sleeve; they needed three unreplied goals now to qualify on aggregate and they went about getting them.
First, they got one back through a wicked deflection Michael Essien which wrong footed the unfortunate Cech to level the game at three apiece. Two minutes later, Dirk Kuyt powered home a header to make take the game to a new level. Liverpool, at this stage needed only one more goal to ensure qualification. They fought, looked and played for it but it never came until Frank Lampard came up with a wonder (off the post and into the net) goal that killed the Reds hope of another CL semi finals appearance.
Gentlemen, the above is my recap of the spectacle we all witnessed today; isn’t football the best thing to have happened to all of us outside the relationship with our Creator? I can’t wait for the World Cup in SA 2010!
Topics: Biz Football, Premiership, Success Pills, The Gaffer, Who Will Win |
April 15th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Indeed, this was a match like no other! All action encounter. But Chelsea are lucky o; they could have thrown away their lead just like that
April 15th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Wonderful!
April 15th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
When the Blues play, we play like cahampions. From 0-2 down, we equalized in style and tied the match at 4-4. What a great way to signal our intention to win this trophy? Barcelona, here we come!
April 16th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Indeed, this was a match that confirm how good the English prem. is and the whole world should accept and emulate the good work of people managing it. NFF and all managing football in Nigeria should take a delibrate effort to move our football forward, emulate good things. Barcelona, beware.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
It was a CLASSIC.
Martins, you get mouth! YOU really played like warriors, but I’m sorry to say YOU have reached Barcelona Bus stop which will be YOU last for this year’s Champion’s League.