Chelsea will play in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the fourth time in five seasons thanks to an early goal from Michael Ballack and a late one from Frank Lampard.
Once again, the Blues made sure the fans were kept on the edge of their seats as early superiority wasn't translated into more goals following a dream start. But having lost keeper Cudicini to injury and then seen Hilario repel Fenerbahçe's good spell, the Turks' resistance was finally broken with three minutes of normal time left.
There was just one change to the starting line-up from the side that lost in Istanbul six days ago.
That was in the front three where Kalou came in for Malouda. The selection meant another game for Michael Essien at right-back.
Fenerbahçe coach Zico decided to start with Kazim-Richards, a substitute scorer in the first leg with Mateja Kezman on the bench, the former Chelsea man believed to be carrying an injury. Roberto Carlos was again absent through injury.
If there were Chelsea nerves going into the game, they were soon extinguished as Ballack produced a reproduction of the start of the Olympiacos game here and scored before some had even settled into their seats.
Last round it was in the fifth minute, this time it was the third, the source a set-piece. Essien had been fouled on the right, Lampard swung the ball across and Ballack applied the perfect header at the near post, directing across the keeper. Chelsea were already ahead on away goals.
On seven minutes the Blues were so close to a second, Kalou unstoppable with a run on the left; Joe Cole's first time stab from the pull-back rebounding off the post.
There was a free header for Deivid on 14 minutes from a deep free-kick but he was horribly off-target. It was a warning that the set-piece defensive lapses that have afflicted recent weeks could still prove Chelsea's undoing.
On 21 minutes, Drogba was not too far away with an ambitious curled attempt from the edge of the area. Chelsea's explosive start had dipped in pace but the team were winning the ball high up the pitch and looking comfortable.
That sense that all was going smoothly was soon to be shattered. Cudicini appeared to pull a hamstring on kicking out a deadball and before long signalled he could not continue. Hilario, hero of a Champions League win here against Barcelona last season, entered on 25 minutes.
Worryingly, the team had not heeded the free-kick warning of earlier and from almost an identical scenario, Lugano was left all alone but fortunately headed wide of the near post.
On 32 minutes, Drogba unleashed with power from Joe Cole's lay-off but Volkan was in the right place to save.
With five minutes on the clock before the break, the in-form Kalou left Gökhan Gönül in his wake and combined with Lampard before shooting. Had Joe Cole gambled, the killer touch could have been his - but instead Volkan saved.
So yet again Chelsea went into the dressing room a single goal up and the end to the half was lacking compared with the start. Hopefully the second half would be more Man City than Istanbul.
In the second minute of the second half, Essien played up to Drogba who turned in a flash but once again picked out the keeper with his shot.
On 57 minutes, Chelsea made a second substitution - Kalou coming off, Belletti the man on with Essien moving forward, the widest player on the right. Fenerbahçe responded almost immediately by bringing on Kezman for Maldonado.
As the game entered the last 20 minutes, the momentum of the opening stages was becoming but a memory as the Turkish enjoyed just as much possession as the home team. Fortunately they were doing little with it to threaten.
A difficult chance was cleared Carvalho's way but falling, he skied his shot. Then Lugano let fly from 30 yards for Fenerbahçe but Terry was able to guide it behind.
Chelsea soon broke out with a man over - but Volkan just won the race with Joe Cole to reach Drogba's pass.
Drogba himself then took control at a free-kick 25 yards out and struck it well but Volkan saved at full-stretch.
On 81 minutes, Hilario responded with two saves of his own. The first a scrambled effort from Gökhan Gönül's deflected shot after Boral's cross; the second a very good stop from Kazim-Richards's drive. They were Fenerbahçe's first two shots on goal. They wouldn't come as close again.
Essien was booked for bouncing the ball in anger at a decision on 85 minutes and will miss the next European game.
He himself made sure that game would be the first leg of this year's semi final by out-foxing Verdeson with three minutes left on the box and finding Lampard. Frank wasn't about to miss from four yards out!
It had been tense for some time - but now the crowd could begin to enjoy the occasion.
Essien had the ball in the net in stoppage time but from an offside position. The third goal was not needed as the German referee brought the game to a close.
So it's Liverpool again at this stage of the competition. This time they come to the Bridge in the second leg.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini (Hilario 25); Essien, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Makelele, Lampard; J Cole (Malouda 84), Drogba, Kalou (Belletti 57).
Scorer Ballack 3, Lampard 87.
Booked Essien 85, Carvalho 89.
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1 Comment:
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