Big Phil begins reign with easy win over Portsmouth
Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole scored two of Chelsea's four goals
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Sunday, 17, Aug 2008 08:57
Luiz Felipe Scolari made the perfect start to life as Chelsea boss after the Blues beat Portsmouth 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, and a Frank Lampard penalty gave last year's Premier League runners-up a 3-0 lead at half-time.
Playmaker Deco marked an impressive debut with a sensational fourth goal with a strike from 25 yards.
Scolari saw his side make an impressive start, opening up Pompey with some slick passing.
Lampard, who signed a new five-year contract last week, was the first to test David James with a ferocious snap-shot from 25 yards that the England goalkeeper parried.
Chelsea's dominance was rewarded on 12 minutes when Michael Ballack's sublime first-time ball over the top fell for Cole who fired past James into the corner.
Anelka came close to grabbing the home side's second when he ran onto Ballack's through ball but James blocked his shot.
But the Frenchman opened his account on 26 minutes when James failed to reach debutant Jose Bosingwa's deep cross, allowing Deco to lob the ball up for Anelka to head in from a yard out.
Anelka, who scored just two goals last season, remained a constant threat and came agonisingly close to scoring his second when he stabbed a shot inches wide past the on-rushing James.
The visitors' strike partnership of Jermain Defoe and new signing Peter Crouch produced little of note. Their best chance fell to Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar whose drive was parried by Petr Cech.
Chelsea wrapped up victory on the stroke of half-time when Joe Cole's cross hit Sylvain Distin's arm, with Lampard lashing home the penalty to make it 3-0.
The pattern continued in the second half with Anelka at the centre of the Blues' attacking threat. The ex-Bolton Wanderers striker blazed over from the edge of the box, then had a header cleared for a corner minutes later.
Harry Redknapp's men improved in the second half with only a stunning last-ditch tackle from Ashley Cole denying ex-Blues midfielder Lassana Diarra, while Mike Riley then waved away their penalty appeals when Kranjcar's volley hit Ricardo Carvalho's arm.
Deco grew in confidence as the game progressed and scored his first goal for the club, with a sizzling strike from distance that deceived James on 89 minutes, to cap off an impressive display by the title contenders.