CHELSEA YAENDELEZA WIMBI LA USHINDI ENGLAND

This was supposed to be a serene homecoming for Chelsea, back at Stamford Bridge for the first time as European champions, parading their expensive new recruits.

In the end it was a desperate scramble, featuring some awful goalkeeping mistakes and a late goal from Fernando Torres, which ought to have been ruled offside.

But the effect was the same. Ninety-five days after glory in Munich and the Blues reached the summit of the Barclays Premier League for the first time in 21 months.

Match-winner: Fernando Torres pops up to score the decisive goal at Stamford Bridge

That scoring feeling: Torres (left) celebrates his strike with Frank Lampard (second right) and Ashley Cole (right)

MATCH FACTS

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Mikel (Sturridge 68), Lampard; Ramires (Oscar 57), Hazard, Mata (Meireles 84); Torres. 

Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Bertrand.

Goals: Lampard (pen) 18, Cahill 70, Torres 81, Ivanovic 90

Reading: Federici; Gunter, Harte, Gorkss, Pearce; Leigertwood, Guthrie, Karacan (Le Fondre 72), McAnuff, McCleary (Robson-Kanu 86); Pogrebnyak (Hunt 77) 

Subs not used: McCarthy, Mariappa, Tabb, Cummings.

Goals: Pogrebniak 25, Guthrie 29

Booked: Karacan, Pogrebnyak

Referee: Lee Mason

Attendance: 41,733

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Guthrie's And the new boys looked terrific.
Frank Lampard fired Chelsea ahead with an early penalty, won by the irrepressible Eden Hazard, before Pavel Pogrebnyak levelled and Petr Cech threw one into his own goal to put the visitors ahead.

Gary Cahill equalised with the help of another goalkeeping blunder before Torres pounced, nine minutes from time, and Branislav Ivanovic scored on the break in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

If Roberto Di Matteo is under orders to add a flourish to his winning formula and set Russian pulses racing, then he is making stunning progress. No buses were parked on Wednesday night.

From the very first minute, Chelsea careered forward, sometimes with reckless disregard for defensive duties and Hazard continued his explosive start to life in England. 

The game was barely under way when the £32million winger burst clear and dragged a shot wide and then won a penalty by tempting Chris Gunter into a challenge he would soon regret.

He dashed outside the full back, then twisted back, looking for an outstretched leg. Gunter supplied it and over Hazard went. Lampard smashed in his second penalty of the season, goal No 189 for Chelsea.

Bobby Tambling’s club record of 202 is firmly in view, particularly if the team play with such adventure and Hazard proves so adept at  winning penalties.

We're back in it: Gary Cahill is congratulated by John Terry after equalising for Chelsea

Good hit: Cahill (centre) blasts home Chelsea's equaliser thanks to a mistake from Reading keeper Adam Federici

Stamford Bridge settled back and waited for more but Di Matteo’s defence failed its first real test when Pogrebnyak wriggled clear of Cahill to head Garath McCleary’s cross past Cech.

Reading took heart and took control before half-time. John Terry fouled Jobi McAnuff, 25 yards from goal and Cech made a complete hash of the free-kick.

It was taken by Danny Guthrie, an inswinger from the left which bounced a yard in front of the keeper, who, diving to his left, somehow contrived to push the ball into his own net.

In front: Ian Harte congratulates Danny Guthrie (right) on scoring Reading's second goal at Stamford Bridge

Howler: Chelsea keeper Petr Cech fails to stop Guthrie's free-kick in the first half

 

That night in Munich could not have seemed more distant. Cech cursed as he climbed to his feet.
Trust the Royals to turn up with plans to spoil the party. No-one was cavorting naked in the pool, Prince Harry style, but Reading made it an uncomfortable night for their hosts.

Brian McDermott’s team are well-balanced and organised, they worked tirelessly and pressed high.

They were confident, too, and Pogrebnyak will score some goals if McCleary’s delivery from the right is going to be this good. Reading’s Russian owner Anton Zingarevich did not attempt to keep the smile from his face as he looked down from the posh seats.

Alex Pearce escaped his marker before half-time and was only inches away from connecting with a vicious inswinging free-kick from Ian Harte.

Feed the Pog: Pavel Pogrebnyak heads in Reading's first goal of the night after beating Cahill to the ball

Opener: Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard (third right) scores from the penalty spot

It was all slightly chaotic and made for a breathless spectacle. Hazard lashed a 25-yarder high and wide and Torres nodded a header wide after climbing high to reach a cross from the right.

Ivanovic tried his luck from distance, early in the second half but this effort sailed into the Matthew Harding Stand.

Reading repelled a flurry of Chelsea attacks in the second half before Di Matteo turned to another new signing, sending on Oscar to replace Ramires, and then a few more before Daniel Sturridge came off the bench.

It was a central defender, however, who came to the rescue, just as McDermott was beginning to think his team had ridden the storm.

Man in the middle: Referee Lee Mason gestures to Chelsea captain John Terry after a foul on a Reading player

Cahill accepted a short pass from Hazard, strode out of defence and tried his luck from 30 yards with a low drive which slithered across the greasy surface.

Adam Federici should have saved it but could only push it into the net. It was his second blatant mistake in as many games, having been responsible for a goal by Michael Kightly against Stoke on Saturday.

From this point, Chelsea had the momentum. Sturridge and Mata went close before a slick move led to a first of the season for Torres, who was clearly a yard offside on the television replays as he tapped Ashley Cole’s low cross into the net. There was no flag.

That's yer lot: Branislav Ivanovic scores Chelsea's fourth goal and the sixth of the night

Reading threw men forward and in the fifth minute of added time Federici trotted forward to attack a corner. Hazard broke with the ball at his feet, sprinted nearly the full length of the pitch and pulled a pass square to Ivanovic, who tucked his second of the season into an open goal.

In his last 20 league games, Hazard has conjured 13 goals, 13 assists and won seven penalties. And, with six points and six goals in two Premier League games, Chelsea are on top.

Here was a Super Cup with a difference: the champions of Europe against the champions of the Football League. And what a super game. Maybe it will catch on.

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2192227/Chelsea-4-Reading-2--match-report.html#ixzz24LErSnWb

Thursday, August 23, 2012