Chelsea off to winning start
Michael Ballack scored his first goal for the Blues in a 2-0 win
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Tuesday, 12, Sep 2006 11:08
Michael Ballack scored his first goal for Chelsea as the Premiership champions opened their European campaign with a 2-0 win over Werder Bremen.
Michael Essien opened the scoring after 23 minutes, hammering home after the ball broke loose in the opposition's penalty area.
But between the two goals there were nervy moments for Jose Mourinho as the German visitors came increasingly close to pegging back his Blues.
Essien's imperious early-season form was in evidence straight from the kick-off, covering acres of the Stamford Bridge turf he nearly latched onto Andriy Shevchenko's cross to score early on, but it narrowly eluded his outstretched foot.
After his emphatic finish for the first goal, however, it was Bremen who looked the more threatening going forward.
German international striker Miroslav Klose had been linked with a move to Manchester United as a replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy.
But as he wasted two golden chances to head his side level early in the second half, Sir Alex Ferguson will have been glad he kept his chequebook shut.
Just as the pressure on the home side was building it was lifted by Bremen goalkeeper Clemens Fritz whose needless foul on Didier Drogba gave Ballack the chance to open his account from the spot.
In contrast to Frank Lampard's unsuccessful effort against Charlton at the weekend, the German blasted into the roof of the net to seal victory.