Posts Tagged ‘Carling Cup’
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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Tags: Akos, Bright Moment, Carling Cup, Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea Football Shirts, Cup Tie, England International, Equaliser, Frank Arnesen, Joe Cole, Juliano Belletti, Knee Ligaments, Knee Problem, Paulo Ferreira, Queens Park, Queens Park Rangers, Salomon Kalou, Tom Heaton, Transfer Ban, Wayne Routledge
Chelsea vs QPR Preview
Chelsea’s Carling Cup campaign gets underway on Wednesday when QPR come to Stamford Bridge in the third round of the competition.
The Blues have yet to play in this season’s competition due to their European commitments while the Rs have already eliminated Exeter and Accrington.
Chelsea are looking to win the Carling Cup for the third time in six seasons, while they were famously knocked out by Burnley last season at home on penalties.
Carlo Ancelotti is boosted by the availability of Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov, the latter making his debut in a chelsea shirt following his summer move from CSKA Moscow.
England international Cole has been sidelined since January because of a ruptured knee ligament which required surgery while Zhirkov is fit again following a knee injury.
Chelsea are likely to rest regulars Ricardo Carvalho, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba. Drogba was taken off against Spurs with a calf stain, although the injury is not as serious as initially feared.
Salomon Kalou is almost certain to start in attack while Juliano Belletti could come in for Jose Bosingwa at right-back.
Blues youngsters Sam Hutchinson, Fabio Borini and Jeffrey Bruma will be in the squad, however, it remains to be seen whether they are given the nod by Ancelotti.
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Tags: Accrington, Carling Cup, Carlo Ancelotti, Cska Moscow, Cup Campaign, Didier Drogba, England International, Jeffrey Bruma, Joe Cole, Jose Bosingwa, Juliano Belletti, Knee Injury, Knee Ligament, Nicolas Anelka, Regulars, Ricardo Carvalho, Salomon Kalou, Stamford Bridge, Youngsters, Yuri