Chelsea vs QPR Match Report

Salomon Kalou’s goal earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers in an enthralling Carling Cup tie.

Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov both started for the Blues as manager Carlo Ancelotti rung the changes and it was the England international who set up Kalou in the 52nd minute.

QPR created chances but were unable to find an equaliser as Chelsea continued their excellent start to the season.

It was Cole’s evening after eight months out with ruptured cruciate knee ligaments, a problem he aggravated in July’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Cole was playing in the hole and showing no signs of his injury affecting his approach. He matched Wayne Routledge for pace in the early stages and later in the first half he danced around Routledge and Akos Buzsaky before Martin Rowlands brought him down.

When Paulo Ferreira, also returning from a long-term knee problem, crossed from the right 10 minutes before the break, Cole was on the end of it but stabbed wide of Tom Heaton’s goal.

That was a rare bright moment in a dull opening 45 minutes although Juliano Belletti, just before the whistle, smashed a 30-yard free-kick and Heaton tipped over the crossbar.

The other clear-cut chance of the first half dropped to Fabio Borini, one of Frank Arnesen’s youngsters who was making his first start for the club.

With Fifa having imposed a transfer ban on Chelsea for two windows, this was meant to be the clash to show what youngsters sporting director Arnesen had unearthed for Ancelotti to utilise.

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