Chelsea 4 - 0 Wycombe Wanderers
Chelsea 4-0 Wycombe: No fairytale shock
| Scoring Summary | |
| Chelsea | Wycombe Wanderers |
| Andriy Shevchenko (22) | |
| Andriy Shevchenko (43) | |
| Frank Lampard (69) | |
| Frank Lampard (90) | |
| Match Stats | ||
| Chelsea | Wycombe Wanderers | |
| Shots (on Goal) | 22(11) | 11(3) |
| Fouls | 21 | 11 |
| Corner Kicks | 5 | 6 |
| Offsides | 5 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 53% | 47% |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 8 | 7 |
| Match Information |
|
Stadium:
Stamford Bridge, England
Attendance: 41,591 Match Time: 14:45 ET Official(s): M Dean (Referee) |
| Teams | |
| Chelsea | Wycombe Wanderers |
| 1 Petr Cech | 31 Ricardo Batista |
| 3 Ashley Cole | 6 Mike Williamson |
| 6 Ricardo Carvalho | 5 Will Antwi |
| 8 Frank Lampard | 18 Scott Golbourne |
| 5 Michael Essien | 15 Tommy Doherty |
| 4 Claude Makelele | 8 Stefan Oakes |
| 13 Michael Ballack | 10 Matt Bloomfield |
| 12 John Mikel Obi | 7 Kevin Betsy |
| 19 Lassana Diarra | 4 Russell Martin |
| 7 Andriy Shevchenko | 16 Tommy Mooney |
| 11 Didier Drogba | 9 Jermaine Easter |
| Substitutes | |
| 40 Henrique Hilario | Jamie Young 32 |
| 18 Wayne Bridge | Sam Stockley 25 |
| 33 Nuno Morais | Chris Palmer 3 |
| 24 Shaun Wright-Phillips | Iketchi Anya 28 |
| 21 Salomon Kalou | Sergio Torres 22 |
| Substitutions | |
| Shaun Wright-Phillips for Michael Ballack (84) | Sam Stockley for Will Antwi (60) |
| Nuno Morais for Ashley Cole (84) | Sergio Torres for Matt Bloomfield (65) |
| Salomon Kalou for Andriy Shevchenko (84) | Iketchi Anya for Stefan Oakes (83) |
| Yellow Cards | |
| Michael Essien (55) | Will Antwi (5) |
| Ashley Cole (61) | |
| · Club Rosters: Chelsea | Wycombe Wanderers | |
Updated: January 23, 2007, 7:00 AM ET
Two first-half goals from the much-maligned Andriy Shevchenko put Chelsea into the final of the Carling Cup.
The Ukrainian forward, singled out as the cause of dressing room unrest at
Stamford Bridge because of his close relationship with owner Roman Abramovich,
ended Wycombe's cup dreams with goals in the 22nd and 43rd minutes before making
a third for Frank Lampard in the second half.
It took his tally for the season to eight and, somewhat ironically, it may
have achieved more for harmony at Stamford Bridge than any wise words of peace
from the board or coach Jose Mourinho.
Brave Wycombe were no pushovers and Paul Lambert's side made the champions
work hard for their place in next month's showpiece final but, in the end,
Chelsea's class in front of goal proved to the difference.
• Mourinho happy with Sheva's progress
Shevchenko had been so incensed by suggestions that he was snitching to
Abramovich about his team-mates, that he was forced to issue a statement via his
official website last week, claiming he was being made the scapegoat for
Chelsea's poor form.
There was a certain inevitability that it would be the previously misfiring
Shevchenko who earned Chelsea a place in the final against either Tottenham or
Arsenal.
Tommy Doherty, who spent much of the game bickering with German Michael
Ballack, tried to pass the ball across his own back line only to place it at the
feet of the waiting Ukrainian.
Such presents are rarely spurned in the modern game and Shevchenko must have
felt the burden of the last few weeks lift from his shoulders as he watched his
shot beat the advancing Ricardo Batista and nestle in the net.
It was cruel luck on Lambert's League Two minnows but they rallied in
admirable fashion and almost grabbed an equaliser three minutes later.
Doherty, trying to atone for his error, put Tommy Mooney clear on goal but the
veteran striker failed to connect with the ball properly and he sent it spinning
wide of the target.
It was a costly miss as Didier Drogba carved out the second for Shevchenko two
minutes from the break. The Ivorian was allowed to cut inside from the left
flank and his through ball eluded the Wycombe defence before landing at the feet
of Shevchenko.
Had Easter, scorer of Wycombe's equalising goal in the first leg, managed to
lift the ball over the Czech international, Lambert's side may have given
Chelsea something to think about in the second period.
But despite taking the game to their Premiership opponents for long spells,
they were caught out by a sucker punch in the 69th minute.
There appeared to be little danger for the giantkillers as the ball bobbled
loosely in the middle of the park but when Shevchenko sent the ball high towards
Lampard, the game was as good as over.
The England midfielder nicked the ball from the path of the onrushing Batista,
then cleverly flicked it beyond substitute Sam Stockley before calmly knocking
it into an empty net.
Lampard took his tally for the season to 15 in stoppage time when he converted
a pass from Drogba.
It was a harsh scoreline for Lambert's willing workhorses who must now make
promotion from League Two their priority while Chelsea can look forward another
visit to the Millennium stadium and, more importantly, the prospect of renewed
harmony within their ranks.
Jose Mourinho believes Andriy Shevchenko has finally 'got the message' after
he inspired Chelsea to the Carling Cup final with a first-half brace. The Portuguese coach has often left the Ukrainian striker on the bench to the
frustration of Abramovich but Mourinho declared: 'I am happy with his
performance. Not just for the goals.
'Sheva gave us what we need and it is not easy to do it with a click of the
fingers. This is Chelsea, it is a Jose Mourinho team with specific qualities and
a specific philosophy.
'He needed time to adapt and if he can repeat what he did in terms of his
movement, his contribution for the team, his effort to create spaces, his work
when we didn't have the ball and pressing opponents, he is arriving at where we
want him to arrive.
'In football, in some issues, it is very simple. One of the principles in my
work is that the best players during the week, the ones that work more and
perform game after game, are the players that get on the pitch. 'What I do with him, I do with every player. For me every player is the same,
it doesn't matter if he cost £30million and the other £300,000, it doesn't
matter.
'Players have to work and perform, if they work and perform I love them, if
they don't work and perform, I don't.
'I am very happy that Sheva got the message and I am very happy with what he
did. If somebody thought I was not playing him because I have a personal
situation with him - it is a very silly thought.
'It is a thought from somebody that doesn't understand the game. I want to
win so I have to play the players I think are best for the team. I don't play
them because they have beautiful eyes, or they are the first ones into training
or the last to leave the showers.
'So, at this moment, Sheva has won the right to be in the line-up for Sunday.
That's what he won today.
'I think it is a process. You cannot open a player's head and put your
philosophy inside. It is not easy. He came here after seven years with another
club, he has a different manager and colleagues.
'Their philosophy and mentality is the same as mine because they have been
with me for three years. It is not easy to come and do it directly. It takes
time. We had to wait and give him a chance.'
But Mourinho admitted that waiting for Shevchenko to adapt to the rigours of
English football had been a frustration at times.
Mourinho added: 'The process is a frustration for everybody, especially for
him and for me.
'For him because he wants to perform and to give everything to the team and
for me because I wait for more. In some matches it was a bit frustrating.
'But the personal relationship was always there and I think that is very
important. One thing is professional issues and another thing is personal
issues. The human relationship was always present. That is why I always kept
faith that he could do it.
'I don't think it is the moment yet for fireworks, but it is a step forward
and I am very happy.'
Mourinho also paid tribute to hardworking League Two giantkillers Wycombe who
gave Chelsea a real fight over two legs.
He added: 'Getting to a cup final in this country is always a special moment.
But only in this country could you have a semi-final like that against a team
from a lower division.
'They were not afraid of Chelsea or Stamford Bridge. They were absolutely
brilliant. They were playing to win and they fought for their dream.
'They had a fantastic attitude and congratulations to Paul Lambert and his
players. It was difficult for us and we had to play seriously.'
Defeated Wycombe boss Paul Lambert could not fault his players for their
effort but accepted that Chelsea were different class in the end.
Lambert said: 'They are a top side. We had a couple of chances but the goal
never materialised. My lads gave me everything. It is no disgrace.
'The criticism Chelsea have been getting is a bit unfair because they are
still in every competition.
'We gave the first goal away which was disappointing. You can't give the ball
to a player who cost £30million. Shevchenko is a fantastic player.' Shevchenko insisted Chelsea's progress to the Carling Cup final was the
only thing that mattered despite his two-goal heroics in tonight's semi-final
win against Wycombe.
'Good game. I'm very happy to reach the final. It's important the team plays
very, very well,' he said. 'I'm happy for the victory of the team today. The support of this team and
fans has been unbelievable.'
'He's taken a lot of stick, a bit too much,' Frank Lampard added on Sky Sports 1.
'You've got to give the man a lot of credit for his dignity because he hasn't
come out and spoken too much.
'He's kept working hard, got his chance today and does what he does best and
scores goals. Hopefully, he can push on from there.' Lampard, who netted the final two goals of the game, believed it was vital
Chelsea bounced back from their weekend defeat at Liverpool, saying: 'It was
important after a bad result at the weekend.
'We've got to give massive credit to Wycombe. They played like a Premiership team. It was a tough game for us.'
Chelsea now face a London derby against Arsenal or Tottenham in next month's
final at the Millennium Stadium.
'It's going to be a tough game, whatever happens,' Lampard said. 'But it'll be great to have a London derby at Cardiff.'
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
| Chelsea | 4 | |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 0 | FT |
