Premier League - Kalou puts Chelsea second

Eurosport - Thu, 29 Jan 11:19:00 2009

Chelsea moved up to second in the Premier League thanks to Salomon Kalou's brace in a 2-0 win at home to Middlesbrough.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Chelsea Chelsea-Middlesbrough Kalou - 0

Boos greeted a frustrating and ultimately fruitless first half for the home side, but Kalou's incisive finish in the 58th minute made the crucial difference, before the winger doubled his tally with a late header.

For much of the game, Boro formed a defence which proved impervious to the home side's advances, but after the intial breakthrough Chelsea finally regained their swagger.

Middlesbrough rarely threatened in attack, despite Gareth Southgate introducing both Tuncay Sanli and Afonso Alves after going behind.

Further chances were squandered by Ashley Cole and Kalou late in the second half, but it was eventually a comfortable victory for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side.

The hosts kept the ball relentlessly, but the visitors defended stoutly and refused to compromise their rear-guard discipline, testing the patience of their under-pressure opponents.

At the outset, John Terry marked his return to the Chelsea side with a crunching tackle on Tony McMahon in the opening minute, but as a statement of intent, it did not materialise in the first half for his side.

Kalou enjoyed a bright, jinking run in the eighth minute, swerving inside and out of three Boro defenders and - while his final touch eluded him at the finish - it was a sign of things to come.

The best chance of the opening period fell to Cole in the 15th minute after a deep cross by Jose Bosingwa found his fellow full-back five yards out, but Cole directed a poor header wide of Ross Turnbull's goal.

At many points in the first half the game appeared to be a free-kick practice session with Frank Lampard having numerous attempts and Michael Ballack having the odd strike, but the midfielders' efforts invariably lacked composure.

One such set-piece did test Turnbull as Ballack drove a low, skidding shot which the keeper could only parry away, but no one in a blue shirt was there to capitalise.

The inevitable introduction of Didier Drogba at half-time injected some much needed physical presence in attack, but Scolari reiterated his reluctance to partner his two leading men, with Anelka pushed out to the right.

A corner from Lampard then evaded three Boro defenders but - significantly - so too Ballack, who would have been afforded a simple tap-in.

Kalou atoned for a dreadful miss from five yards out by volleying home after Alex had won a header in the Boro boss - a strike met with palpable relief from the home fans.

And Kalou doubled his tally with a powerful header from Lampard's corner in the 81st minute to prompt the end of Boro's resistance and the introduction of Deco at the winger's expense.

The crucial victory takes Chelsea to within two points of Manchester United having played a game more, and above Liverpool, while Boro are left rooted in the bottom three.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

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  1. Chelsea fans are the worst in the league.They don't know how to cheer their team to a win.
    If chelsea have leverfool's fans, they would have won this league at this point.

    From football.total, on Thu 29 Jan 9:53PM

  2. I would like zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzza

    From miniroll32, on Thu 29 Jan 5:45PM

  3. Chelsea-Liverpool...... Do you want the result??? 1-1 thats it i can garantee it. Remember you heard it here, and liverpool to score first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From T, on Thu 29 Jan 2:35PM

  4. Scumbags of liverpool..utter scumbags....to finish in fourth place...@#$%

    From Arinawe P, on Thu 29 Jan 2:09PM

  5. Chelsea the pressure is on MU Just enjoy playing good football and win the League

    From Iyah, on Thu 29 Jan 11:51AM

  6. M.U.F.C!!! Champions AGAIN!! You blues have No chance (remember the 3-0!) Chelsea gimps What a bunch of chelsea wallys

    From T, on Thu 29 Jan 10:58AM

  7. LIVERPOOL is a piece of S@#@#@$#%T i have said it before and i will say it again it has been 18 years since u won the title and the years are counting u scumbags
    the real threat is the man united but hey BLUES ALL THE WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
    GO CHELSEA

    From vandork85, on Thu 29 Jan 9:50AM

  8. i hope chelsea demloish liverpool

    From Paul T, on Thu 29 Jan 9:15AM

  9. Chelsea back on the up.. Liverpool bottle it yet again, it is like they don't want to win the title.. Man U to have a wobble soon just as the mighty Blues find their feet and take the cake!! Quadruple my arse!!!! PS Listening to the excuses and moaning coming from Liverpool cheers me up no end on these rainy mornings!! COME ON YOU BLUES!!!

    From harvey222, on Thu 29 Jan 9:04AM

  10. oh poor edward , why won't that mean fergie retire , him and his boring team that won 5-0 this week . Whats fergie thinking carrying on , its not like he's every won anything is it edward ?
    Edward it's you who's the pratt

    From pdmcosworth, on Thu 29 Jan 8:27AM

  11. Come on chelsea you can do this dont let these reds win again its like watching paint dry man united are such a turn off and that man fergie is an arrogant pratt why dont he retire sooner that later please.Another thing guys play your best football at anfield this week you know you can thats give these reds a serious run for there money remember we still have a good goal differance this could be in our favour come may

    From edward.wheeler3, on Thu 29 Jan 7:40AM

  12. chelsea will win the Premier league

    From hijra_83, on Thu 29 Jan 5:49AM

  13. common non-believers lets just wait in a few games, the Blues will retake the lead for good, & will never look back... GO GO GO BLUES... hi to all CHELSEA fanatics keep on supporting OUR TEAM!!!

    From louie, on Thu 29 Jan 5:16AM

  14. Liverpool fading faster then a pair of old jeans...."c'mon you Blues"

    From monty, on Thu 29 Jan 4:41AM

  15. Just one win and Chelsea have gotten their title race back on track. Drogba is back in the team and all is well again. At least until their next match against Liverpool. Haha. Continue to live in dreamland.

    From yomia, on Thu 29 Jan 4:12AM

  16. FOR ALL CHELSEA FANS YOU ALL WILL BE FEELING THE BLUES THIS SEASON COZ YOU'RE GONNA WIN NOTHING!!!!!!!!HA.............HA..............HA....... .......

    From ynwa2921, on Thu 29 Jan 3:46AM

  17. After doing some mathematics, I discovered how the season will end. Here it goes:- Man U being at the top of the table with a match left for them to play, has the advantage of winning the season but it doesn't mean they will win. Their match between Fulham will sum up everything. If they win Fulham, their points, together with their goals will decide what the next matches will look like. They must remain constant if they are to win this league but if they substitute themselves with any other club, the club be it Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Liverpool, or West Brom, will win the season.

    From ONYAGU, on Thu 29 Jan 2:54AM

  18. sussexdietcoke you are a @#$% loser

    From ANONYMOUS, on Thu 29 Jan 2:12AM

  19. I had no interest in watching the games at present....I found a hot place, you guys should try it ___Wealthy beauty co m_____a great place for rich people to meet their soul mates....

    From zjmdj001, on Thu 29 Jan 12:57AM

  20. afcwasps - he may be but he's right isn't he!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Mike S, on Wed 28 Jan 10:48PM
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