Five-star Chelsea sink Middlesbrough
Juliano Belletti scored a pile-driver from 30 yards out
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Saturday, 18, Oct 2008 06:27
Chelsea produced a dominant display against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 victory.
Despite being without seven first-team players Chelsea barely allowed the home side a touch of the ball as they controlled the match from start to finish.
Salomon Kalou scored a brace while Juliano Belletti scored a pile-driver from 30 yards out. Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda rounded off the scoring late in the second half.
Chelsea's first goal was a little fortunate, but the Blues perhaps deserved it on the balance of play and the amount of players they had committed forward.
Wayne Bridge crossed from the left by-line and found Belletti at the far post. His shot deflected off two Boro players before landing at the feet of Kalou who was in the centre of the six yard box. The Ivorian then had a simple tap in.
Lampard nearly made it 2-0 just before the break but Jonathan Grounds managed to block his goal-bound shot.
Six minutes after half time the Blues got their second goal. Belletti was allowed space in the middle of the park and after shifting the ball on to his favoured right foot drove the ball into the top corner.
Moments later it was 3-0 as Chelsea threatened to maul Gareth Southgate's side.
Malouda drove into the Boro box but cut the ball back for the on-rushing Kalou. His shot was not the best but took a crucial deflection off David Wheater that wrong-footed goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and went into the net.
Kalou then linked up with Nicolas Anelka before sending in a cross with pin-point accuracy that allowed Lampard to score with a diving header to make it 4-0.
The rout was complete when Anelka's shot was deflected on to the post by Turnbull only for Malouda to pounce on the rebound.
Chelsea remain unbeaten in the league this season while Boro have now lost five of their last six matches.