Chelsea held at the Bridge
Jose Mourinho was left frustrated by Rosenborg at Stamford Bridge
Also In The News
|
A comprehensive roundup of all the action from the top leagues in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands. |  |
Tuesday, 18, Sep 2007 11:43
Norwegian champions Rosenborg have held Chelsea to a surprise 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
In what was supposed to be the Blues' easiest match of the group stage, they struggled to break down a resolute away defence and looked devoid of ideas in attack.
Mikka Koppinen silenced the unusually sparse crowd by volleying Rosenborg into a shock lead after 20 minutes.
But Andriy Shevchenko headed home man-of-the-match Florent Malouda's cross to cancel it out midway through the second half.
For all the home side's pressure thereafter, they could not find a way past goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld, despite striking the woodwork twice through Salomon Kalou and Malouda.
Chelsea started brightly enough in difficult circumstances, with large numbers of empty seats around the ground making for an insipid atmosphere.
But it was the Norwegians who made the first breakthrough.
Marek Sapara put in a delicious, inswinging delivery from the left and Mikka Koppinen got in ahead of his marker to volley home past a helpless Petr Cech.
Buoyed by the goal, Rosenborg's players fought hard for every 50-50 ball and looked to play some slick passing football whenever they fleetingly won possession
And while Chelsea were in control for the majority of the half, they lacking a cutting edge that would surely have been provided by either of their missing stars, Didier Drogba or Frank Lampard.
Efforts from Joe Cole, Kalou and a header from centre-back Alex all came close to equalising for the Blues just after the half-hour mark.
But apart from one good chance for Ukrainian international Shevchenko, which he scuffed narrowly wide, Chelsea were restricted to pot-shots from distance.
Half-time was met by uncharacteristic boos from a Stamford Bridge crowd unused to seeing their team lacking a cutting edge and being behind at home.
But having been given the hairdryer treatment from manager Jose Mourinho during the interval, the Blues looked a more potent force early in the second half.
It took just seven minutes for Chelsea to draw level – Shevchenko getting to a cross from Malouda ahead of goalkeeper and defender to thump home from eight yards.
The home side still looked uncharacteristically vulnerable at the back however, and nearly fell behind soon after as full-back Juliano Belletti was forced to touch a dangerous cross behind when it could so easily have gone in.
It took an hour for Chelsea and their nervous fans to come alive.
A well-worked approach gave Shevchenko a shooting chance from the edge of the area, which was blocked before the ball fell to Malouda.
However his placed shot struck the inside of the far post and bounced clear.
A number of other opportunities went begging for Chelsea as they pushed ever forward in search of that elusive winner.
Substitute Shaun Wright-Philips was among a number of players to see chances go wide as the Blues peppered the away goal, but to no avail as Rosenborg held on for a well-earned point.