Were You Watching Arsenaaaaaaaaaal??
100 Years
By BlueBlood
April 7 2005
I make no excuses or apologies for the lateness of my report for the Chelsea v Bayern Munich European Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
But I will. I have three excuses. Firstly due to alcholol consumption I can't remember an awful lot about the game (snigger), secondly early start and late finish work commitments meant I had little time and lastly thanks to SKY TV who insisted to the Police and Stewards that everybody in front of their TV cameras, which were perched high up in the Matthew Harding, who were sitting in their line of fire in the lower tier of the Matthew Harding Stand, more in the corner, than elsewhere it was a 'battle' of wills to try and gain a more of a decent view of the proceedings out on the pitch. Its disconcerting enough when you have got German substitutes warming up in front of you for the best part of eighty minutes, add to that, you have got the touchline Sky cameraman running up and down his designated quarter of the pitch on your side and then when you try and get these 'jobsworth' to see your side of the story, all they want to do is to through you out! What makes me laugh and sad at the same time, how much power Sky/UEFA jointly have on European nights. The reason I say that is that on normal matchdays, the same stewards who were on duty Wednesday night, let you stand and let you do what you want, of course within the laws of reasonable behaviour. Anyway enough of that rant and ramble over, let's get on with it. Chelsea 4 Bayern Munich 2. Even Ballack's last second 'load of Ballacks' penalty didn't disturb for me Chelsea's super performance and well-deserved 1st leg victory. It will not be easy in Munich next Tuesday, but I firmly believe that Chelsea will score and when they do, they will certainly seal their place into the Champions League Semi-Final for the second successive season. Chelsea couldn't have got off to a more perfect start, with a Joe 'He's here, He's there, He's every F*****g where Joey Cole' deflected shot inside the first four minutes. Chelsea's start certainly quietened down the Munichmen and their hordes of Bavarian supporters and Jose must have been quietly pleased from wherever he was watching the game, whilst serving his two match ban. Chelsea were at it and seized every opportunity they could to try and squeeze the life out of Munich. Drogba was tough. Lampard full of pace, Cole and Duff each taking turns in jinking threatening runs. But as the half wore on, Bayern started to dominate proceedings for themselves and it was no surprise that eight minutes into the second half, Munich equalised with a goal from Schweinsteiger. Chelsea are made of sterner stuff these days. They just rolled up their sleeves and came back out Munich scoring three times in twenty-two lethal minutes. Firstly Super Frank hit home from the edge of the box from Drogba knock down, then after seventy minutes Lampard hit a delightful third from the corner of the box, after receiving the ball from Makelele, Lampard swivelled and hit a waist high ball into the bewildered Kahn's net. Chelsea's fourth came from a Drogba tap in, from a half save from Kahn who failed to hold on to a Duff effort. Drogba's goal was reward for his supreme effort as Chelsea's frontman and he could easily have had one or two more goals, had his powerful free-kicks not been a tad too high. Big up for Forssell who got onto the pitch for the last couple minutes and he was given a rousing welcome back from the bouncing Stamford Bridge faithful. Whatever happens in Munich next Tuesday, this Champions League campaign will be remembered for all sorts of reasons. And here is another one for you. UEFA announced today that Rijkaard DID meet Frisk at half time in the Nou Camp after all. So it seems that Jose was right and if there were messages being received on the bench, why haven't UEFA taken the time and consideration to investtigate the TV pictures and bring Chelsea to task?? I wonder!!! COME ON CHELSEA KEEP THE BLUE FLAG FLYING HIGH!