Saturday September 22, 2012 Day 5 Finished Stamford Bridge

  1. Late Cole winner keeps Chelsea top of table

    Late Cole winner keeps Chelsea top of table

    Chelsea left it late before sealing a hard-fought 1-0 against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge that keeps them top of the Premier League table. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Chelsea
    • Stoke City
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+4' The final whistle goes at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea will finish the weekend as league leaders thanks to Ashley Cole's late goal.
    • 90+2' Walters has the ball from that corner and goes charging up the line on the break. David Luiz desperately lunging in and up-ends the forward. That's a booking for Luiz, but Stoke's players want him sent off. Walters has a bit of a barney with Terry, whose only been on the pitch two minutes!
    • 90+1' Chelsea have a corner, but it's a poor short one from Oscar that gifts possession straight to Stoke.
    • 89' Chelsea substitution: John Terry replaces Mata.
    • 87' Chelsea break from a Stoke corner and Moses is played in by Mata. Wilson steams back to make a sliding tackle just as the chelsea man is about to shoot.
    • 86' That's Ashley Cole's first league goal for Chelsea since May 2010!
    • 85' GOAL!! Chelsea have scored,a nd it's Ashley Cole! Lovely one-touch move from Chelsea whcih culminates in Mata casually backheeling into Cole's path and the England left-back scores from close range!
    • 84' Jones rises at the back post but his header ricochets off the back of his marker and then against his arm.
    • 83' Etherington is tripped by Ivanovic as the winger is doubled up on by the big Serb and Oscar.
    • 81' Chelsea substitution: Frank Lampard replaces Mikel.
    • 79' Jones well to head a long ball back into the box from the byline and it sits up invitingly for ETHERINGTON... Struck wide of the far post!
    • 78' Stoke are on course for a sixth straight draw, going back to their 2-2 with Bolton on the final day of last season. They haven't won a game since April 7, a 2-1 win over Wolves.
    • 77' Lovely play from Torres to steer the ball into Mikel's run with one deft touch. The midfielder bombs on and shoots, but the effort from an angle is blocked Begovic catches the ball as it loops into the air.
    • 75' Stoke substitution: Kenwyne Jones replaces Crouch.
    • 74' If things stay this way then Chelsea will register their third draw in eight days.
    • 72' Stoke substitution: Matthew Etherington replaces Kightly.
    • 71' Whelan has a poor effort go high and wide after good build-up play by crouch and Walters.
    • 70' Oscar at it again with a deft touch and turn before he hits a low strike that whistle past the foot of the post! Begovic looked beaten there!
    • 69' Owen is playing very deep. Mikel does well to intercept a ball headed for him and instigate another Chelsea attack.
    • 68' Only twice in 2012 have Chelsea failed to score in a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge – 0-0 with Tottenham (March 24) and 2-0 defeat to Newcastle (May 2).
    • 67' Oscar cuts in from the left, runs across the edge of the box and hits a low strike aimed inside the near post that Begovic saves!
    • 66' Mata goes running into the box to meet a through ball but Shawcross denies him with a great tackle.
    • 64' Stoke substitution: Michael Owen replaces Adam to make his second Stoke appearance. The Potters have three forwards on the pitch now.
    • 62' Roman Abramovich is sat on high inside Stamford Bridge, looking rather cheesed off. But then, he always does, no matter what the score.
    • 61' Chelsea substitution: Victor Moses replaces Hazard.
    • 60' Wilson launches a diagonal ball into the Chelsea box. Crouch heads it down for Walters who can't get his shot on the turn on target.
    • 59' Stoke ride out another spell of Chelsea pressure. Ramires plays into the feet of Hazard but the Potters' defenders are wise to the Belgian's backheel return pass.
    • 58' Stoke have failed to score in each of their last four visits to Stamford Bridge in all competitions.
    • 56' Shawcross puts behind for yet another chelsea corner, which once more Stoke deal with efficiently. N'Zonzi leads the counter but Ramires cynically fouls him.
    • 54' Stoke's big men all trot up the field for a corner. Adam whips the ball across the six-yard box and Crouch just fails to get a telling touch with an outstretched leg!
    • 53' Joe Sawaya has got in touch via Twitter: "Torres looks like he dsnt want to be there! No movement no desire nothing. The rest are brilliant bar DL and Mikel" - Think Mikel's been OK this afternoon.
    • 51' That's more like it! Oscar shifts on the edge of the box and his low strike draws a good save from Begovic!
    • 50' Oscar is at it again, vitrually swan diving to the floor int he box! Referee Michael Oliver is having none of it, and shows the young Brazilian a yellow card for simulation.
    • 48' Oscar goes to ground very easily under pressure from wilson at the Stoke byline. He'll have to learn he won't get away with that too often.
    • 47' Chelsea are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home matches that have been 0-0 at half time, since the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in February 2011.
    • 46' Stoke get the second half underway!
    • 45+1' The whistle blows for half-time. Chelsea have been the better side over what has been a pretty uninspiring 45 minutes, but Stoke have had the best chances to score.
    • 45' Just the one minute of added time to be played.
    • 43' Ivanovic goes on one of those trundling runs of his and he almost gets his shot away but will have to make do with a corner. Chelsea have already had eight in this game.
    • 41' Chelsea beginning to really pile on the pressure now as the first half draws to a close. Stoke being pinned back in their half.
    • 40' Chelsea are unbeaten in all 10 PL home matches in the fifth match round, winning eight times.
    • 38' Marc Wilson fires a the ball across the face of goal. It's headed on target and it could have gone anywhere, but Cech is able to block it!c Cahill clears before Walters can pounce.
    • 36' The free-kick is pinged to Crouch at the far post and headed back across goal, but the whistle is blown for one of those non-existent fouls the referees so often see.
    • 35' Steven N'Zonzi has his heel clipped by Torres just as he lines up to shoot. Stoke send their big men forward for the free-kick.
    • 33' Oscar turns and nutmegs Robert Huth with one movement. The Brazilian is hauled back by a big arm from the German. Wonder if he'll try that again.
    • 32' Hazard carries the ball into the box from the left. He has two Stoke defenders spellbound before he hits what is neither a cross nor a shot that rolls wide of the far post.
    • 30' Whelan swings in another set piece from deep on the right, but this one is glanced away for a throw-in by a defender.
    • 29' Ivanovic takes a big, purposeful run-up but it's David Luiz who strikes, but it's right at Begovic who catches with ease.
    • 28' Chelsea have a free-kick in a central area, some 30 yards from goal. There are several players crowded around the dead ball who fancy taking this on.
    • 26' Hazard finds Mata who lifts a weighted ball into the box for Torres. The striker takes it nicely on his chest but swipes at thin air as he tries to finish past Begovic!
    • 25' Peter Crouch takes the ball on his chest with his back to goal, but he is wrestled off it by Cahill. This has been such a physical game so far, as you might expect.
    • 24' Replays show that Ivanovic going to ground was little more than a shameless dive.
    • 23' Adam is the first man booked this afternoon after he clumsily manhandles Ramires.
    • 23' Ivanovic goes to ground in the penalty area and half-heartedly appeals for a penalty, but the referee is not interested.
    • 22' Mata sends the ball into the Stoke box but Torres can't get a telling header onto it.
    • 20' Stoke's aerial prowess has served them well defensively thus far, and it almost gave them the lead there. It's the closest either side has come to a goal so far.
    • 19' Walters off the bar! Whelan swings in an inviting free-kick delivery fromt he right and the Ireland forward heads the ball against the frame of the goal!
    • 18' Ashley Cole has a pop from range that flies well wide of the target. The left-back hasn't scored a league goal since May 2010.
    • 16' Oscar's cross from the byline is blocked by Glenn whelan. The Chelsea corner count is going up at a real rate.
    • 14' Oscar whips in the free-kick with plenty of blue shirts to aim for, but no one attacks the cross and Asmir Begovic claims it.
    • 13' Charlie Adam is penalised for handball after Ramires flicked the ball up on the left wing.
    • 12' Geoff Cameron heads behind for another Chelsea corner. Again Stoke are equal to the aerial challenge.
    • 11' Stoke have won none of their last 11 Premier League away matches (W0 D5 L6), and have scored just six goals in those games.
    • 10' Ivanovic charges into the area after a ball over the top, but it is shepherded out of play.
    • 9' Chelsea are bossing things here, as you would expect, but Stoke looking well set up to deal with them hogging the ball at the moment.
    • 8' Torres has scored only once in six Premier League matches against Stoke and only been on the winning side on one occasion.
    • 7' Torres rises well to meet the corner with a header that he sends over the bar.
    • 6' Hazard pings in a free-kick from the left flank, but he doesn't get the requisite height on it. Still, pressure from Fernando Torres leads to another Chelsea corner.
    • 5' Chelsea clear and launch the counter. Ivanovic bundles his way into the area fromt he rigth but he fouls as he stretches for the ball following a heavy touch.
    • 4' Stoke make their first foray into the Chelsea half, and Michael Kightly wins a corner off Gary Cahill, who is playing ahead of John Terry today.
    • 2' Eden Hazard took the corner from the right. Juan Mata takes this one from the left, which is headed clear with more distance but Chelsea retain possession.
    • 1' Right from the off chelsea move forward down the right and Branislav Ivanovic wins the game's first corner. Stoke only half-clear and Ryan Shawcross has to head behind for a second corner.
    • 1' Chelsea kick off and get this show on the road!
    • 14:57 The players are out on the pitch on this sunny day in west London, and we're just about ready to go.
    • 14:55 Stoke suffered their heaviest ever Premier League defeat in this fixture two season ago when Chelsea ran out 7-0 winners.
    • 14:50 The last time a British man won a tennis Grand Slam, a Stoke City player ended the season as the top flight's leading scorer. No pressure, lads...
    • 14:45 The early kick-off has just finished 3-0 to Everton away at Swansea, which puts the in-form Toffees second on goal difference behind Chelsea having played that game extra. Read our match report
    • 14:40 Stoke have failed to score in each of their last four visits to Stamford Bridge in all competitions. Chelsea have won eight and lost none of the last 10 games against Stoke in all competitions.
    • 14:35 Tony Pulis: "We're one of four unbeaten sides. We've played two of the other three and we have Chelsea this Saturday. People now realise how tough this start has been for Stoke City. You have to play all of them some time and we've caught them really early. There's no negativity round here."
    • 14:30 Roberto Di Matteo: “Stoke haven't been involved in a game this week, which we need to take into consideration. It's always a difficult game against them and we have found it hard to break them down. It's not just due to their physical approach, they are very well organised defensively as well. Michael Owen is a natural goal-scorer, he's a very good signing for Stoke. I was a bit surprised as he's not very tall, like a lot of their players, but he's still very dangerous."
    • 14:25 To summarise: Terry and Lampard rested on bench, Oscar STARTS. Cahill in alongside Luiz at the back. Owen made to wait for a Stoke start as Walters and Crouch again begin up top.
    • 14:20 TEAMS - Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Terry, Bertrand, Romeu, Lampard, Moses. /// Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Kightly, Whelan, Adam, N'Zonzi; Walters, Crouch. Subs: Upson Shotton Whitehead Etherington Owen.
    • 14:15 Good afternoon and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Stoke at Stamford Bridge. Team news to follow, in the meantime send your predictions and thoughts on the game over on Twitter - @tony_mabert

  • Summary

    • 85' GOAL!! Chelsea have scored,a nd it's Ashley Cole! Lovely one-touch move from Chelsea whcih culminates in Mata casually backheeling into Cole's path and the England left-back scores from close range!
    • 79' Jones well to head a long ball back into the box from the byline and it sits up invitingly for ETHERINGTON... Struck wide of the far post!
    • 70' Oscar at it again with a deft touch and turn before he hits a low strike that whistle past the foot of the post! Begovic looked beaten there!
    • 67' Oscar cuts in from the left, runs across the edge of the box and hits a low strike aimed inside the near post that Begovic saves!
    • 54' Stoke's big men all trot up the field for a corner. Adam whips the ball across the six-yard box and Crouch just fails to get a telling touch with an outstretched leg!
    • 51' That's more like it! Oscar shifts on the edge of the box and his low strike draws a good save from Begovic!
    • 26' Hazard finds Mata who lifts a weighted ball into the box for Torres. The striker takes it nicely on his chest but swipes at thin air as he tries to finish past Begovic!
    • 19' Walters off the bar! Whelan swings in an inviting free-kick delivery fromt he right and the Ireland forward heads the ball against the frame of the goal!
    • 7' Torres rises well to meet the corner with a header that he sends over the bar.
    • 14:20 TEAMS - Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Terry, Bertrand, Romeu, Lampard, Moses. /// Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Kightly, Whelan, Adam, N'Zonzi; Walters, Crouch. Subs: Upson Shotton Whitehead Etherington Owen.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.2 6
      Defenders
      7.1 6
      6.7 6
      Yellow Card 6.6 5
      Goal 7.1 6
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 7.5 6
      6.6 6
      Substitution Out81′ 6.1 7
      Substitution Out89′ 7.1 8
      Strikers
      Substitution Out62′ 8 6
      7 6
      Subs
      Substitution In89′ 5.4 -
      Substitution In81′ 7.4 -
      Substitution In62′ 7.7 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.6 7
      Defenders
      4.8 6
      5.2 7
      5.4 6
      5.2 6
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out64′ 4.4 6
      4.9 6
      Substitution Out72′ 5.3 6
      5.2 6
      4.9 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out75′ 6.2 6
      Subs
      Substitution In64′ 5.2 5
      Substitution In72′ 4.8 6
      Substitution In75′ 4.3 6

Comment 72 - 92 of 92

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  1. Owen will need some time and and a few games to get­ back in to his stride. Patience is the key with him­ right now! It will be good for Owen to ease in­ gradually too with the injury problems he's had.­ Once in his stride he could help Stoke earn their best­ PL finish in some time. However Stoke need to focus on­ providing him with sufficient service - something any­ good striker needs and without cannot really function. ­ Crouch and Owen up front is a great partnership. In­ addition, if Owen can remain injury free and starts­ putting the ball in the back of the net consistently he­ should get an England call-up. His quality is proven at­ International level. He is one of the best strikers to­ have ever put on an England shirt and if he hadn't­ been so plagued with injury may be even the best ever!.

    From Mark Bell, on Wed 26 Sep 5:20

  2. chelsea got the strategy

    From Eyes, on Sun 23 Sep 17:52

  3. Great goal by A.Cole!

    From Bsun, on Sun 23 Sep 12:23

  4. Mr Pulis has forgotten his handball handlers

    From Terry Terax, on Sun 23 Sep 11:03

  5. all your opinions is worthless ........SIDNEY ­ riazul and SIDNEY ?all your generations is dirty­ and useless idiots ...you call mikel name. mikel is ­ million better than you idiots fools go and hang your­ self to death

    From C,J, on Sun 23 Sep 0:47

  6. IS TONY PULLISS ON THE TAKE?

    From PATRICK, on Sat 22 Sep 22:00

  7. Like Mikel or not, he simply stick to his task. Blame­ multi-million pounds new acquisition that can't put­ the in the back of the net.

    From O. Ajadi, on Sat 22 Sep 20:38

  8. hazard is a woos..every time he is on the ball..huth­ and shawcross just have to say the magic word..­ "Ramsey"..and "poof"..hazard turn­ stiff like a doll..even Oscar the skinny Brazilian is 5­ time braver than him

    From Duke of Heysel, on Sat 22 Sep 18:27

  9. there was lots of diving in this game..thats all i saw­ from chelski dive dive dive dive

    From ManUtd20, on Sat 22 Sep 18:24

  10. Again I agree with Jerry A, if Moses is treated the way­ he has so far he will won't out as soon as January.­ As I have said before why did Chelsea buy such a good­ player to keep him on the bench every game till we get­ desperate? As I have also said we need our loan keeper­ Cortois back from Athletico Madrid and soon and give­ Petre a rest

    From SIDNEY, on Sat 22 Sep 18:12

  11. caught shawcross yawning every time torres is on the­ ball..that sums up El-No No Goal Torres worth right­ now..as i say before..chelsea dont need a new­ drogba..cos they have the new Shevchenko in Torres..I­ hope RDM have the guts to stick with torres to the end­ of the season..chelsea fan doesnt have to worry.torres­ still have Goals in him..he will at least score once in­ 10 games

    From Duke of Heysel, on Sat 22 Sep 18:03

  12. Well put Riazul, not only dirty is Mikel but useless to­ boot

    From SIDNEY, on Sat 22 Sep 18:02

  13. I have lost my steak to Taleni because these boys from­ Stoke would just not do what teams that want to win­ do......score

    From Musah S, on Sat 22 Sep 17:52

  14. we scored after dirty mikel wes off. thnx cole for­ saving us.

    From riazul, on Sat 22 Sep 17:40

  15. We were lucky to beat Stoke. I wish to say something­ that replied to some of my posts about Obi Mikel.­ Firstly I have been a fan of Chelsea's for 50­ years. I will always say what I feel about our players,­ be it positive or negitive. No one will ever convince­ me that John Obi Mikel is anything less then usueless.­ Some of you asked me to watch again the CL Final to see­ what Mikel contributed, for me its not even worth a­ second look as it was not much. Besides him as I have­ said before Terry, Luiz and Cahil plus Mikel should all­ be sold in the January Window. Plus our manager after­ buying who was bought should play them instead of using­ the same old team. I realsie Moses is a winger but he­ can easily play in Mikels position even on a bad day.­ Today he came on and scared Stoke to death, its time he­ was played more often as well as some of the other new­ signings. We have plenty in midfield so we need never­ use Mikel again. I don't really care what others­ feel about my comments.

    From SIDNEY, on Sat 22 Sep 17:36

  16. Once again we saw how Mr. Roman's billions affect­ the decisions of the referees. Disgusting FA.

    From Peqi, on Sat 22 Sep 17:16

  17. Still at the top. It feels great!

    From michael, on Sat 22 Sep 17:01

  18. i think terry should be in prison really

    From JOHN, on Sat 22 Sep 16:58

  19. Yeeeehaaaa!

    From Jerry A, on Sat 22 Sep 16:57

  20. Di matteo is following the book with victor Moses,and­ it is a mistake.Chelsea lacked pace last season...this­ is why we need players like moses.If he is planning to­ make victor a part player or introducing him­ gradually,it could cost him his job.We know that our­ success last season was largely due to Drogba and a­ huge slice of luck....he should apply all his weapons­ now,or he would not have the opportunity to try out his­ long term?...plans?

    From talk4u.arena, on Sat 22 Sep 16:48
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