‘Spurs aren't on their way to Wembley yet as Kalou forces replay’
Chelsea 3 – 3 Tottenham – 11th March 2006
Goals from Frank Lampard and Salmon Kalou prevented Chelsea from going down to a first home defeat to domestic opposition under Jose Mourinho and forced an FA Cup quarter final replay in an incredible game.
Tottenham led 1-0 and 3-1 but despite performing largely in an out of sorts fashion, Chelsea showed fighting quality and were able to rectify their current disjointed form with two goals in the final twenty minutes. The score does not tell the story however as the typical drama which takes place between Tottenham and Chelsea unfolded into a traditional cup story.
Off the back of impressive European wins in mid week, both sides looked to shake off tiredness. Tottenham looked surprisingly sprightly considered they had only arrived back into the country on Friday and had little chance to train since their game with Braga.
It was indeed the freshness of the away side which startled Chelsea and although the Blues were looking to impress and continue their march towards a potential quadruple, they were startled by an early goal through Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian made his way into a tremendous ball from Aaron Lennon and smashed the ball past Peter Cech to give his side a vital early lead.
Missing skipper John Terry, Chelsea looked shaky every time Tottenham came forward and through Defoe, Spurs almost got a second as the striker missed Berbatov’s centre by inches. Suddenly sparked into action by the crowd, the blues began to play. Robben as ever drifted from flank to flank and became a threat. Shevchenko began looking like the Milan player that he was brought into be and Drogba was proving to be a handful for Dawson at the back.
It was the Ivory Coast centre forward who inspired the revival and it was a combination of he and Michael Ballack who provided Frank Lampard with the equalizer. Good hold up play by Drogba found the feet of the German whose dragged shot made it’s way into the path of the stand in captain to slide home. Having got his side back into the game, Lampard urged his teams mates to begin playing but Tottenham had other ideas and struck back almost immediately.
Great work from the ever pacey Lennon caused panic in the Chelsea defense and caused Michael Essien to turn into his own net to give Spurs the lead. Having worked so hard to claw their way back into the game, Chelsea seemed deflated and a mix up at the back again cost the Blues a third blow just before half time.
With a 50-50 ball to be claimed in the centre of midfield Hosam Ghali out jumped four Tottenham players before composing himself and slotting the ball past Peter Cech who by now was bemused by the confusion in front of him. Sitting on a 3-1 lead going into the break, the Spurs support were finally believing that their Stamford Bridge hoodoo could be broken and that once more their team were on their way to Wembley.
Smarting from a presumed ear bashing at half time from Mourinho, Chelsea came out battling in the second half and almost scored in the opening seconds through an Essien header. With one change made at half time, the blues reverted to three at the back and put Wright Phillips in support of Shevchenko and Drogba.
Despite their determination, Chelsea were almost caught cold by Spurs who were certainly not going to sit back in the second period. The home side had Cech to thank after a fantastic save from Lennon and seconds later he was able to paw a way a Defoe header which should have made the game safe for Tottenham.
It didn’t seem to matter what the Chelsea boss did to his teas formation, they simply could not break down the wall of Tottenham players in front of them. Zokora and Ghali worked hard as Dawson and Cerny on several occasions showed excellent composure and an ability to get their side out of trouble.
Struggling for creativity, ‘The Special One’ threw on Salomon Kalou to in a five man attack supported by Robben and Wright Phillips and eventually Tottenham began to crack. A corner from the Chelsea left caused panic in the box and allowed Lampard to steer home his second goal of the game.
With Tottenham now just a goal ahead they began to sit back in a bid to hold onto a potential semi final place. Chelsea were still able to create little but just four minutes before the end substitute Kalou volleyed home the equalizer and saved his sides blushes. Excellent work again from Drogba created the chance for the Dutch forward who was able to coolly play the ball past Cerny to set up a replay at White Hart Lane in a weeks time.
Seconds before the end Defoe weaved his way past four players before smashing a shot which beat Cech but hit the cross bar. Shevchenko had an equally impressive effort at the other end just go over the bar leaving both sides with increased fixture congestion.
Off the back of impressive European wins in mid week, both sides looked to shake off tiredness. Tottenham looked surprisingly sprightly considered they had only arrived back into the country on Friday and had little chance to train since their game with Braga.
It was indeed the freshness of the away side which startled Chelsea and although the Blues were looking to impress and continue their march towards a potential quadruple, they were startled by an early goal through Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian made his way into a tremendous ball from Aaron Lennon and smashed the ball past Peter Cech to give his side a vital early lead.
Missing skipper John Terry, Chelsea looked shaky every time Tottenham came forward and through Defoe, Spurs almost got a second as the striker missed Berbatov’s centre by inches. Suddenly sparked into action by the crowd, the blues began to play. Robben as ever drifted from flank to flank and became a threat. Shevchenko began looking like the Milan player that he was brought into be and Drogba was proving to be a handful for Dawson at the back.
It was the Ivory Coast centre forward who inspired the revival and it was a combination of he and Michael Ballack who provided Frank Lampard with the equalizer. Good hold up play by Drogba found the feet of the German whose dragged shot made it’s way into the path of the stand in captain to slide home. Having got his side back into the game, Lampard urged his teams mates to begin playing but Tottenham had other ideas and struck back almost immediately.
Great work from the ever pacey Lennon caused panic in the Chelsea defense and caused Michael Essien to turn into his own net to give Spurs the lead. Having worked so hard to claw their way back into the game, Chelsea seemed deflated and a mix up at the back again cost the Blues a third blow just before half time.
With a 50-50 ball to be claimed in the centre of midfield Hosam Ghali out jumped four Tottenham players before composing himself and slotting the ball past Peter Cech who by now was bemused by the confusion in front of him. Sitting on a 3-1 lead going into the break, the Spurs support were finally believing that their Stamford Bridge hoodoo could be broken and that once more their team were on their way to Wembley.
Smarting from a presumed ear bashing at half time from Mourinho, Chelsea came out battling in the second half and almost scored in the opening seconds through an Essien header. With one change made at half time, the blues reverted to three at the back and put Wright Phillips in support of Shevchenko and Drogba.
Despite their determination, Chelsea were almost caught cold by Spurs who were certainly not going to sit back in the second period. The home side had Cech to thank after a fantastic save from Lennon and seconds later he was able to paw a way a Defoe header which should have made the game safe for Tottenham.
It didn’t seem to matter what the Chelsea boss did to his teas formation, they simply could not break down the wall of Tottenham players in front of them. Zokora and Ghali worked hard as Dawson and Cerny on several occasions showed excellent composure and an ability to get their side out of trouble.
Struggling for creativity, ‘The Special One’ threw on Salomon Kalou to in a five man attack supported by Robben and Wright Phillips and eventually Tottenham began to crack. A corner from the Chelsea left caused panic in the box and allowed Lampard to steer home his second goal of the game.
With Tottenham now just a goal ahead they began to sit back in a bid to hold onto a potential semi final place. Chelsea were still able to create little but just four minutes before the end substitute Kalou volleyed home the equalizer and saved his sides blushes. Excellent work again from Drogba created the chance for the Dutch forward who was able to coolly play the ball past Cerny to set up a replay at White Hart Lane in a weeks time.
Seconds before the end Defoe weaved his way past four players before smashing a shot which beat Cech but hit the cross bar. Shevchenko had an equally impressive effort at the other end just go over the bar leaving both sides with increased fixture congestion.