Drogba snatches winner against Valencia
Drogba was the focal point for Chelsea in attack
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Wednesday, 03, Oct 2007 11:13
Didier Drogba helped Chelsea move to the top of their Champions league group, scoring the wining goal as the Blues overcame Valencia 2-1.
The Ivorian struck the decisive goal twenty minutes from time as the west London side grabbed a vital away win after drawing their opening game at Stamford Bridge 1-1 against Rosenborg.
Valencia held the upper-hand in the opening stages and deservedly took the lead when David Villa poked the ball home from six yards out eight minutes into the game.
The Blues began to haul themselves back into the match and Drogba forced Timo Hildebrand to punch clear a goal-bound effort midway through the first half.
Petr Cech was then called into action when Sanchez Joaquin went close, but the Blues goalkeeper held on well.
It was a timely intervention and within moments the Blues were level. Florent Malouda broke clear and centred a cross from the left-hand side for Joe Cole, who claimed the last touch ahead of Emiliano Moretti.
Valencia continued to stretch the Blues defence and Joaquin spurned a chance to put them back ahead before half time, but he shot over the bar having beaten Ricardo Carvalho.
Ten minutes into the second half Villa though he had restored Valencia's lead but was flagged offside as he placed the ball past Cech.
The Blues worked their way into the second 45 minutes as they had in the first and scored a well-taken breakaway goal to steal all three points midway through the half.
Cole won the ball in the middle of the field and released Drogba with a weighted through-ball; the striker then rounded Hildebrand and finished with aplomb.
In the closing minutes Valencia pushed hard for an equaliser but the Blues defence held firm to secure victory.