26 February
Drogba earns blues first leg lead
Didier Drogba‘s first-half strike gave Chelsea a 1-0 first-leg win over Juventus in their Champions League last-16 clash at Stamford Bridge. The Ivorian of late has looked the shadow of the striker he once was, but put on a show that would surely give all Chelsea supporters some hope of seeing their destroyer back to old ways.
Following on from the crucial Premier League win at Aston Villa on Saturday, the Blues made it two wins out of two for new boss Guus Hiddink, while ex-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri has work to do ahead of the return leg in a fortnight if he is to guide his Serie A side into the last eight at the expense of his former employers.
Drogba’s early strike made the difference for the hosts, whose only regret may be not turning their territorial domination into a bigger advantage to take to the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.
The Blues began on the front foot, and stayed there for the entire first period.
Salomon Kalou tested Gianluigi Buffon’s handling with an effort from outside the box in the third minute, shortly before Jose Bosingwa’s right-wing cross was headed over from close range by Drogba.
The Ivorian made amends however in the 12th minute with the opening goal. Kalou’s threaded pass from outside the box was pounced upon by his compatriot and the Blues striker made no mistake in firing past Buffon on the turn from just inside the box.
Drogba failed to test Buffon again when he mistimed his leap to meet Frank Lampard’s inswinging corner kick in the 16th minute while Juve finally found some fluency in attack midway through the opening period when Alessandro Del Piero’s shot on the turn forced Petr Cech into a fine diving save.
Drogba wasted another headed opportunity just after the break when he was picked out by Bosingwa’s cross from deep on the right before Buffon fielded Lampard’s drive from outside the box shortly before the hour mark.
Cech had to be alert to keep out Amauri’s 70th-minute header while Anelka’s 25-yard drive whistled past the Juve post as the Blues looked to increase their lead with four minutes remaining.
Substitute David Trezeguet then miscued a volley moments later but the Bianconeri will not be too dispirited to leave London with only a one-goal deficit and the tie still far from over.
Source: teamtalk.com
