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Group D: Only first place will do for ambitious Ancelotti
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-23 08:45 LONDON: Carlo Ancelotti warned his Chelsea stars that only first place will do after Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard inspired a 4-0 Champions League rout of Atletico Madrid. Ancelotti's side moved within touching distance of a place in the last 16 thanks to its clinical display against the woeful Spaniards at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. But, more importantly for Ancelotti, the Blues are top of Group D at the halfway stage and he wants them to stay there as it guarantees a home second leg against one of the group runners-up in the first knockout round. "We are in control of the group now. Our aim is to arrive in first place because it is important for the rest of the Champions League," Ancelotti said. "That is not certain yet and we need more points. It has not been easy without Didier Drogba but all the players have done well in this competition." Chelsea travel to Atletico and then Porto in their next two matches before finishing at home to Apoel Nicosia and two wins from those three games would guarantee top spot.
Ancelotti will have Drogba back as the Ivory Coast striker has now served his three-match European suspension. But even without the powerful targetman, Chelsea were far too strong for Atletico. Kalou made amends for a bad miss when he opened the scoring with a cool finish from Ashley Cole's cross in the 41st minute. He added a second soon after half-time with a header from a corner by Lampard, who notched the third himself with a fine low strike for his first goal from open play this season. Luis Perea's headed own goal in stoppage time completed a miserable experience for struggling Atletico. Porto beat Nicosia 2-1 In Porto, burly Brazilian forward Hulk scored twice to help Porto come back from a goal down and beat APOEL Nicosia 2-1 in Champions League Group D match. The win leaves Porto second in the group with six points, three adrift of leaders Chelsea but five clear of a struggling Atletico Madrid and APOEL. "Our position in the table is fair and our wins were fair. Logic may lead us to believe that passing to the next stage is very close ... but from experience we know that the final two or three Champions League group match days sometimes produce illogical results," Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira said. AFP/Reuters (China Daily 10/23/2009 page24) |
