G14 Champions League: Valencia 1 Chelsea 2
JOSE SALUTES US!
By
April 22 2007
What a night! We won this tie due to the awesome power of our team and the introduction of the mercurial Joe Cole for the 2nd half. Joe had been injured for 4 months and only played 23 minutes of football yet, despite concerns about his match sharpness, he looked better than I have EVER seen him.
I’m sure that Master J Cole will be a major factor in how our season finishes. Robben is still injured and likely to continue to be so for the next few weeks but the re-emergence of Cole goes a long, long way to soften that blow.
I don’t want to get too carried away with Joe Cole because notable mentions should also be given to “the train” Essien and Didier Drogba. Essien was superb throughout and adapted perfectly to right-back for the 2nd half. “The Drog” inflicted fear in almost every touch and Ayala couldn’t handle him. The experienced Valencian centre-half had no choice but to foul the man from the
Our main first half chance fell to Drogba who directed his header to the top right-hand corner from a precise Ashley Cole cross only to see Canizares tip the ball round the post.
The first half we won on points in terms of possession and control although we were made to pay the price when we were hit on the break from deep when the rapid Joaquin and a returned to form Morientes since his departure from
The warning signs were there only minutes earlier when Morientes cleverly made space for himself before smacking the post head on. There we all were, expecting the threat to come from the latest flavour of the month, David Villa but it was his colleague who again for us, was to prove their only threat.
Despite the set back, I was impressed by the composure of our team – no panic, no fluster – just get on with the job. This
Despite their lead the Valencian faithful didn´t really do much to justify the “cauldron” of noise atmosphere which the media had so often mentioned although its steep gradients do give you the feeling of being inside a witches cooking receptacle - certainly the bats flying around added to the effect!
When the players ran out for the 2nd half we pretty much expected to see Joe springing onto the turf but we were pleasantly surprised to see an almost 3-5-2 formation with Essien given the job to act as a fully fledged wing back although he wasn’t often required to slip back into the defenders position. Instead he could get on with what he does best in eating up the ground with his trademark surging runs.
The
This was Valencia’s first goal conceded in over 6 ½ hours of CL football in the Mestalla and was Sheva’s 59th goal in UEFA competitions which now puts him in second in the list of all-time Europe goalscorers — three behind Gerd Muller.
Drogba´s ariel ability was key and Ayala and his colleagues looked positively uncomfortable with the additional worries of Shevchenko looking for any opening and Joe Cole scampering around and generally causing havoc.
Lampard had disappointed in the first half and seemed determined to make up for it in the second with his corners reaching Carvalho and then Ballack bringing saves from Canizares. A further Lamprd ball brought a nice flicked Ballack header goalwards that we all were certain was going in but Canizares dramatically flipped the ball over the bar in an impressive albeit bizzare save.
Then Shevchenko from deep released Essien on the right and the Ghanaian surged forward unopposed as
Make no mistake - this was a stunning display of awesome power.
The Mestalla had previously been a graveyard for English sides with Arsenal, Leeds and
The referee, contrary to my earlier fears had a fair and balanced game (because UEFA president, Platini was there?) and I must say how sporting the Valencia fans were, clapping us at the end for our singing and stamina – we were to receive some reward for our efforts when the team came over to us at the final whistle and with the Guardia Civil Riot Division keeping us in for the obligatory 45 mins and the stadium empty, Jose Mourinho was to come out onto the pitch, almost a lone figure, to applaud us and raise his fist in victory. Later even Kenyon was to give Mourinho a hug!!!
This is now the 3rd time in 4 years we have reached the semi-finals of this competition. Can we get to the final this time after being so close so much recently?
Valencia: Canizares, Miguel, Ayala, Moretti, Del Horno, Joaquin, Albelda, Albiol (Hugo Viana 72), Silva, Morientes (Angulo 65), Villa.
Subs Not Used: Butelle, Jorge Lopez, Curro Torres, Nacho Insa, Pallardo.
Booked: Del Horno, Albelda, Ayala, Moretti. Goals: Morientes 32.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bridge, Ferreira, Wright-Phillips.
Booked: Essien, Ballack.
Goals: Shevchenko 52, Essien 90.
Att: 53,000.
Ref: Kyros Vassaras (