Premier League - Drogba double downs Hull

Eurosport - Sat, 15 Aug 17:21:00 2009

Didier Drogba's injury-time goal sealed a dramatic 2-1 win over Hull City on the opening match of the new Premier League season at Stamford Bridge.

FOOTBALL 2009-10 Premier League Didier Drogba celebrates scoring equaliser against Hull City - 0

New Hull signing Stephen Hunt opened the scoring for the side that avoided relegation on the final day of last season, before Didier Drogba equalised with a stunning free-kick. The Ivory Coast striker sealed a record eighth consecutive opening day win in the league for Chelsea with an effort that lobbed goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

Midfielder Hunt, who only joined the Tigers earlier in the week, is something of a hate figure with the Stamford Bridge fans after his clash with Petr Cech three years ago left the Chelsea goalkeeper with a fractured skull.

The former Reading player did nothing to endear himself to the home crowd when he pounced to score the opener on 27 minutes.

Chelsea failed to clear a high ball and George Boateng's shot deflected into the path of the unmarked Irishman, who knocked the ball in past the floundering Czech keeper.

Chelsea had bossed the play up until that point and continued to do so afterwards. They got their reward 10 minutes later when Didier Drogba hit a rasping free-kick that dipped over the wall and right into the bottom corner.

Phil Brown's Tigers had looked destined to repeat the draw they earned at Stamford Bridge last season, before Drogba latched on to Deco's pass down the right in the second of six added second-half minutes to chip the ball over Myhill and seal all three points on Carlo Ancelotti's first league match in charge.

Hunt made his presence felt on his top-flight return, challenging Frank Lampard with his studs at knee height in the very first minute.

Chelsea responded by almost opening the scoring right after when Drogba lashed a shot high and wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

Chelsea dominated the possession from then on, but they were almost a goal down when Hull skipper George Boateng struck from the edge of the box following Dean Marney's corner, but Cech reacted well to save with his feet.

Following Hull's opener, Drogba began to find his range, sending a well-struck curling effort on goal that Myhill parried easily.

Just as at the start of the first half, Chelsea almost scored right after the break, with Drogba finding Nicolas Anelka in the box, only for last season's top scorer to side-foot his effort straight at Myhill.

Florent Malouda and Jose Bosingwa bombarded the Tigers with crosses throughout the second half, and it was only some excellent defending from Michael Turner and Antony Gardner that kept them on terms until Drogba's late winner.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 89 - 108 of 108

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. chelsea is the best team ever they have very talented­ players but the problem in this team is that they dont­ have players that drible and do such things

    From mohamedorra, on Mon 17 Aug 7:28AM

  2. Didier has always made CHELSEA proud in times of­ trouble and pressure of this kind. I know this season;­ the only reason why he will not get the GOLDEN BOOTH­ will be the African Nations Cup that will come up by­ January. However, I still stand on the fact that Didier­ should be on the top list of good players in the EPL.­ This is a true fact. Please, Didier, keep doing the­ good job and injury will never come your pact. A GOOD­ BROTHER FROM AFRICA!!!!!!!!! (ONYEOMA AFRICA 00).

    From gkanzi, on Mon 17 Aug 3:10AM

  3. ahmadtakash, speak proper english you thick @#$%.

    From afcwasps, on Sun 16 Aug 8:03PM

  4. CHELSEA WERE NOT LUCKY. THEY ARE JUST TOO GOOD FOR THE­ LIKES OF HULL.

    From dzing21_whitemarsh, on Sun 16 Aug 7:55PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Chelsea were very lucky, not a free kick, 6 mins extra­ time, it was a cross not a shot at goal. Lucky!!! AS­ ALWAYS!!!

    The silly Hull manager is currently offering­ his views in the Sky Sports studio wearing a black and­ white striped long sleeve shirt with a pretty PINK­ lightweight sweater draped casually over the shoulders.­ Who the HELL chose that attire, 'esus, what a­ DORKENSTEIN.

    From Giskard, on Sun 16 Aug 12:22PM

  6. How can anyone honestly say Chelsea were­ lucky?

    Hull's goal was a result of not one, but 2­ deflections into Stephen C'hunt's path for an­ easy tap in. C'hunt should have been should at­ least a yellow in the very first minute after a waste­ high studs up "challenge" on Lampard.

    Both­ Hull and Chelsea's first half goals came from soft­ free-kicks, and yet the ref saw fit to punish shirt­ pulling in Hull's favour on thte half way line, but­ not when Anelka has pulled back by his shirt in the­ Hull area?

    Hull were "lucky" that Anelka and­ Drogba were generally poor in front of goal and it­ didn't finish in a cricket score!

    From Moose, on Sun 16 Aug 11:27AM

  7. Hull City defended their lines extremely well­ yesterday, and it was only the persistence and good­ fortune of Chelsea that broke the deadlock.

    Moving­ away fromo Chelsea here, I think that Hull City can­ take encouragement from their defensive doggedness,­ although they need more attacking options, and that­ lack of options is a real worry.

    If they show the grit­ that they did at Stamford Bridge, they have a great­ chance of staying up this year and building for the­ future.

    From fuzzynortherner, on Sun 16 Aug 11:21AM

  8. Actually, Chelsea ARE lucky to win this one. if u­ dominate as mot of u blues-fans say it should look like­ my g00ners .. 6-1 not BARELY 2-1 in injury-time .. and­ if arsenal was lucky - like your team, it would be 8­ (10 ) - nil for teh gooners back yesterday.

    peace­ out.

    lets see how united playz.

    g00ner fan

    From Smoq, on Sun 16 Aug 10:49AM

  9. 112#
    you are absolutely idiot! u really are!
    what kind­ of luck are you talking about?????
    in the second half­ only Chelsea were on the pitch.
    so many opportunity and­ then a goal in the 92 minute
    is this a luck? Chelsea­ deserved to win this match! there was no luck u p****

    From zolironaszeki, on Sun 16 Aug 10:36AM

  10. Chelsea didnt play dat bad.....THe created many­ chances....But twas just dat Hull defence was gud and­ the chelsea strikers missed many Chances.....I think­ they shud play more of Ballack and this diamond­ formation is not working for Lampard and co....

    From Abhishek, on Sun 16 Aug 9:49AM

  11. i am a bit worried with the diamond formation, they­ still need a big signing...

    From Jo, on Sun 16 Aug 8:31AM

  12. Chelsea got lucky on that win but anyways Drogba had­ good time, and there manager Carlo Ancelotti got lucky­ too, lets see how he goes on the next match with­ Chelsea.

    From Chris, on Sun 16 Aug 7:30AM

  13. magicToucher # 122

    At the last count, half the working­ population of this country is employed to read Yahoo­ posts.

    From Ronaldo in ten years time, on Sun 16 Aug 1:23AM

  14. HUNT STILL HUNTING CHELSEA NO WONDER CECH DIDN'T­ BOTHER TO FOLLOW HIM WHEN HE WENT FOR REBOUND...WELL­ LOOSE BALL

    From pimp, on Sun 16 Aug 12:55AM

  15. i really don't believe YAHOOO EURO SPORTS THEY READ­ COMMENTS BEFORE THEY POST EM ON THIS PAGES. REASONS IS­ WHY THESE COMMENTS OF PLAYSTATION 3 THEY NEVER STOP­ PUBLISHED ON COMMENTS PAGE ALL THE­ TIME!GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. THEY MUST GET­ SOMETHING FROM WHOEVER POST EM. CAN'T BE POSTED FOR­ FREE ALL THE TIME....GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

    From pimp, on Sun 16 Aug 12:53AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Chelsea can be happy with this result, but they must­ not expect the luck to always be there. And there is­ that something about Drogba that makes everyone hate­ him. May be his acting, may be his rudeness, may be his­ attitude, may be his arrogance.. We will see what­ Chelsea fans say of him when he leaves them with his­ open mouth spitting behind him

    From Half A Brain, on Sun 16 Aug 12:04AM

  17. Stop saying 'downs' when you mean fu*king­ 'beat'. Fu*king Biggles.

    From Lawrence, on Sat 15 Aug 11:02PM

  18. 106 your only running scared you @#$% er , here comes­ the blue juggernaught step aside loser

    From handyandyisalways, on Sat 15 Aug 10:58PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It would appear that the majority of comments made here­ are made by Chelsea fans! Either they have more time on­ their hands or they are very supportive of their team!­ Either way they have alot tlo learn about fair play and­ sportmanship! Their comments are taken from and belong­ back in the gutter for all some of them are worth! Just­ plain pathetic drivel!

    From Easyrider2609, on Sat 15 Aug 10:27PM

  20. just watching the game again and no doubt hunt should­ have gone ,in the first minute ! filthy bas tard

    From handyandyisalways, on Sat 15 Aug 10:20PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account