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Chelsea show draw 2-2 in Turin, enter the quarter-finals of Champions league on aggregate
Posted on March 18th, 2009 No commentsChelsea sealed the fate of Italian giants Juventus in the Champions Football League with a 2-2 draw in the second leg. Chelsea went ahead in the the quarterfinals on a 3-2 aggregate. The club’s new manager Guus Hiddink has definitely helped striker Drogba to regain his predatory skills, Drogba scored in the first leg at the Bridge which gave his team a crucial lead and much needed confidence going for an away match. Drogba’s confidence seems to have only improved and one major reason has been his selection in every match in the starting eleven, something that Hiddink’s predecessor Scolari hesitated to do.
Chelsea ploughed back two goals in the match which saw some telling competitive football from both sides. Claudio Ranieri’s side dominated the first half without an inch of a doubt, Chelsea stuttered in the defense and Vincenzo Iaquinta’s scored in the 19th minute. Terry had to back up his lines with a lot of effort as Trezeguet and Del Piero looked ever so dangerous. Nobody would have thought Chelsea would turn their drab play into something more exciting. Anelka had a slight chance in the 41st minute but wasted the chance, what happened three minutes later was sensational. Drogba’s free-kick clearly landed inside the goal as Gigi Buffon fumbled, but the referee did not relent to Chelsea’s appeal. Seconds later Chelsea’s Man Friday Lampard blasted one from 30 odd yards, it found the inside of the bar but comeback man Michael Essien lapped it up on the rebound and gave Chelsea the much needed away goal seconds before the first half whistle.
The second half saw Juventus piling pressure on the Blues to no avail. Trezeguet and Del Piero were constantly hovering around the Chelsea box, Trezeguet brought the best out of Cech in the 65th minute. Juve were down to ten men with 20 minutes to go as Giorgio Chiellini was shown his second yellow card after fouling Drogba. Juventus were lucky enough to be awarded with a penalty in the 74th minute for a handball offence by Belletti, who substituted Essien. But Juve’s joy was short lived as Drogba sealed the match with a goal from a low-cross from Belletti.
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