Eurosport - Wed, 17 Sep 09:25:00 2008
Chelsea got their Champions League campaign off to the best possible start with a comfortable 4-0 win in their opening Group A fixture against Bordeaux at Stamford Bridge.
First half goals from Frank Lampard and Joe Cole put the Blues firmly in the driving seat before Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka put the result beyond doubt late on.
The scoreline saw Chelsea top the fledgling Group A table on goal difference after Italian giants Roma slumped to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of unfancied CFR Cluj of Romania, the Blues' next opponents in a fortnight's time.
It was an impressive performance from last season's finalists, who never looked like losing points against Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux.
An early lapse of concentration aside - John Obi Mikel giving the ball away cheaply to Wendell and allowing the Brazilian striker to run in on goal and let off a shot, albeit over into the stands - the hosts looked confident from the first whistle.
It took them just 14 minutes to take the lead, Lampard stooping to head past Ulrich Rame after Jose Bosingwa had delivered an inch perfect cross from the right wing.
The Portuguese full-back provided a constant threat early on in the game, although it was not from one of his many sorties forward that Chelsea doubled their lead.
Instead it came from a corner taken on the other flank, Cole belying his diminutive stature to rise between two Bordeaux defenders and flick a near post header into the back of the net.
It was no less than the hosts deserved - Luiz Felipe Scolari's side had bossed the opening period and rarely allowed their opponents get a grip on the game.
Indeed, the visitors could easily have headed into the dressing rooms at half-time more than just two goals down - only two good saves from Rame and some rather profligate Chelsea finishing saved them from that fate.
Having already picked the ball out of the net, the Bordeaux keeper was brought into action for a second time by a crisp Nicolas Anelka drive on 19 minutes, before keeping out Joe Cole's backheel from the resulting corner with his legs.
Chelsea captain John Terry then flashed a header wide of the upright before Bosingwa again proved his class with a wicked cross which nearly resulted in a comical own-goal, Fernando almost putting into his own net.
Chelsea were not finished there and they swarmed forward in search of a third before the half-time whistle sounded. Anelka was twice at the centre of the action but the lone striker could not repeat the weekend's goalscoring feat, first stabbing an awkward-looking effort wide of the upright and soon after opting to pull the ball back - to no one in particular - when a shot at goal was the better option.
But the best chance of the first half fell to Lampard, who passed up the opportunity to notch a second when he dragged a shot wide of the post, despite having been played in on goal by Florent Malouda following another Bosingwa cross.
Two-nil up and Chelsea visibly eased off the gas after the break, a boisterous Stamford Bridge crowd having to wait until the 59th minute for their team's first meaningful attack of the second half.
It was Cole who nearly got his name on the scoresheet again, although the flag was up for offside as his curling effort bounced the wrong side of Rame's upright.
Anelka then hit the side netting before his compatriot Malouda made it three, finding the corner to end a superb passing move which culminated in Lampard backheeling the ball into the Frenchman's path.
It got worse for Bordeaux as time ran out, Ricardo Carvalho thundering a header against the cross bar with three minutes remaining before a by-now forlorn-looking Anelka again fired wide.
But just as it looked like the Frenchman would finish the evening goalless, he popped up in injury time to seal victory, tapping home from close range after substitute Juliano Belletti's blockbuster from 35 yards had rebounded off the cross bar.
Roma 1-2 CFR Cluj
Juan Culio scored twice as CFR Cluj came from behind to beat Roma 2-1 and make a stunning Champions League debut in their Group A opener at the Stadio Olimpico.
Christian Panucci had headed the Serie A side in front in the 17th minute after Daniele De Rossi stole the ball near the corner flag and whipped a cross to the near post.
Argentine forward Culio levelled in the 27th with a diagonal strike from outside the area set up by a sweet lay-off from Eugen Trica.
He then volleyed home a loose header from Marco Cassetti four minutes after the break to give the Romanian champions a night to remember.
Comment 21 - 40 of 40
The Great CHELSEA will gunning down Man u at our fortress!!!!
hail the BLUE ANGEL!! it's a fight between ANGEl and Devil! and as always the good side will win!!!
from Chelsyia(chelsea+malaysia)
Hurrah chelsea for real. i belive with this new approached on the game, the blues will go far.the coach needs to concentate more on the left wing.he should keep the wining team alive.Machester are in trouble. keep it up and continue wining ways. up blue........................................
from eniola Emayero
Lagos,Nigerai
To teamstarseries,
this is coming from the team who did not turn up last saturday.
Pls dude give us all a break - Man u were Humiliated on teh wek end.
Don't see how they are gonna play any better & u got berbartov & it still did not matter......u got yours after bullying Spurs in to selling.
u guys are gonna ave a @#$% year.
Lamps is back on form great team work we are going places good to see fergie wound up keep it up you blues.
I believe that blues will go far in this coeptition but at d end of d season intermilan will get d champions leaque.UP INTER.INTER 4 LIFE
IVE BEEN A CFC SUPPORTER ALL MY LIFE AND SEEN THEM IN THE FOURTH DIVISION MANY A TIME.THERE IS NO LOVE IN FOOTBALL ANYMORE,I CAN REMEMBER MY MUM AND DAD CRYING WHEN THE MUNICH CRASH HAPPENED,AND YES THEY WERE BOTH CHELSEA!WHATEVER TEAM YOU SUPPORTED IN THOSE DAYS ANY TRAGEDY WAS FELT.YES IVE GOT REAL BLUE BLOOD IN ME AND SO HAVE MY 4 GRANDSONS.WENT TO THE MATCH LAST NIGHT AND IT WAS A GOOD GAME.MONEY DONT BUY GOALS,AND WE NEVER GET 6 MINUTES INJURY TIME,AND LUCKY PENALTIES.YES I WILL STILL GO TO THE BRIDGE AS LONG AS I CAN,IM IN MY SIXTIES,MY DAD WAS IN HIS EIGHTIES WHEN HE STOPPED GOING.MOST OTHER TEAMS HAVE GOT GLORY SUPPORTERS.WE CAN TAKE THE KNOCKS.AT LEAST WE GOT TO THE FINAL LAST YEAR SO WHAT IF WE DID NOT WIN GOT THERE!!!!WE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS LAST YEAR,WITH JOSE GOING THEN NO MANAGER THEN INJURIES SO OVERALL WE DID GOOD.LOVE YOU BLUES AND LIKE SO MANY OF US WE CAN TAKE ALL THE S**T THROWN AT US,WE ARE A PROUD LONDON TEAM.
What do you think about the fact that CFR Cluj beat Roma!!!!
Lets face its Bordeaux aint the best team Chelsea think cos of a 4-0 win they can win the champions league not a hope in hell. Chelsea fans im sorry its another year of disappiontment for you starting in the league on sunday when the reds go marching on
Aah now I see why manu will always be champions, the start from chelsea is scary in that they are putting all at the beginning and such momentum is likely to die in the course of the year. The will tire out and will have all sorts of injuries to an extent of a skeleton side by the time we get close to end of season. Liverpool are only Euro material so manu will be at the summit of the league again. LCJ
Being a scouser and a red, I would just like to say that I think Scolari is a class act. He is THE special one. Love the man, he has humour and humility and his intelligence shines through. Speaks english as well. Senor Ramos should take note. With him in charge I can see you willing the league.
Blue is the colour!
up chhhheeeeeelllllllllllllllssssssea haters go bbbbbbbbbblaze
good performance chelsea. good to see a few goals but should have been more.
mikel was incredible the lst 10 min.
bring on cluj, and man u.hope they keep the form up
Kukew Romanian Barsterds
Well played Chelsea... enjoyable game to watch. Scousers got lucky again and didnt deserve the win. Hope to face you scum in the next rounds and really show you how to play football. Gerrard, Brake a leg. (No really please do)
What a bunch of puffs........ Open wikipedia, type Chelsea in it. And read before you make ridicilous comments... Chelsea is a great team..... BLUE IS COLOUR, CHELSEA IS THE NAME!!!!!
Mr T says, victor v you better watch yourself sucka, crazy fools like you always get whats coming to you!
To Hala THIS !!
Read the history idiot. Chelsea won the UEFA Cup in 1970/1971 and 1997/1998.
They also won the UEFA Supercup in 1998. Read the history KRETIN!!!
robinho will be crying now, i hope he watch game and regret why he sign for city
Congratulations to CFR 1907 CLUJ, the full name of the champions from ROMANIA, they deserve all your respect, if you truly are football lovers, and also they deserve EUROSPORT's attention into a separate story! Go STEAUA tomorrow and all other 5 ROMANIAN teams in UEFA cup!!!
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