Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 0: Fernando Torres scores Barclays Asia Trophy final
Will time prove this to be the moment when the real Fernando Torres emerged, on a hot and sticky night in Hong Kong in a largely irrelevant pre-season tournament?[LNB]Torres started on the bench as Chelsea beat Aston Villa in the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy but came on in the 58th minute and scored with his first touch.[LNB]It was a right-place right-time goal as Florent Malouda's misdirected shot spilled into his path and perhaps that was the slice of fortune he needed.[LNB] At last: Fernando Torres (right) celebrates his goal with Didier Drogba[LNB] [LNB]MATCH FACTSASTON VILLA: Given, Young, Collins, Dunne (Clark 84), Warnock; Petrov (Gardner 74), Delph (Makoun 74), Albrighton (Heskey 46), Ireland (Bent 62), Delfouneso (Bannan 62); Agbonlahor.CHELSEA: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic (Alex 46), Terry (Chalobah 90), Zhirkov (Van Aanholt 58); Lampard (Kalou 85), Mikel, McEachran (Torres 58); Sturridge (Drogba 58), Anelka (Benayoun 74), Malouda.[LNB]Off he sped to celebrate, pursued by delighted team-mates, aware that the pressure has been mounting on the ?50million man and he gave a thumbs-up to manager Andre Villas-Boas.[LNB]Torres scored only once in 18appearances last season, he found the net behind closed doors against Wycombe, he has scored against Villa and he might have had more.[LNB]Thosewho have tried to fathom out why he has seemed to lack the spark he hadat Liverpool have all mentioned confidence. Maybe this will jolt him back into the groove.[LNB]Chelsea were highly impressive as Villas-Boas added another trophy to the three he won at Porto last season.[LNB]Villas-Boas said 'It was good, we really found some good spaces today and it's important for the level of opposition in Aston Villa to find these spaces and have a certain amount of opportunities. It's a good sign.[LNB]'To create opportunities is one of our main objectives this season, a lot more attacking football, a lot more possession and we were able to do it today, even coping with Aston Villa's aggressiveness in their game, always testing us in behind. We were able to manage it quite well in the first half and better in the second half.[LNB]'Our defensive work is an offensive weapon and that's what I've been telling the players, we focus a lot on defensive objectives because we want the ball in our possession more and we want to attack more. For us to do it, we have to get it back as soon as possible[LNB] Off and running: Josh McEachran (third left) opens the scoring for Chelsea[LNB] 'The appliance of the principles was only possible because of the excellent acceptance of these principles bythe players and they are able to apply it. If they weren't able to apply it, you would be doing your job wrong. I think they are enjoying it.[LNB]'Commitment-wise, motivation-wise andthe professionalism of these players on this tour is something I have not seen before. It's not easy to come away from your home in these difficult conditions, always finding motivation to train, always findingmotivation to play and this a good positive sign for us.'[LNB]Despite seeing record signing Torres get on the scoresheet, Villas-Boas insisted the goal held no extra significance for either him or the team.[LNB]'I am happy whoever scores,' he added.[LNB]'We had a couple of good chances today, a couple from Fernando, a couple from Anelka, a couple from Daniel (Sturridge), so we are just happy that the team is able to put them in the back of the net whoever scores and for us to continue winning.'[LNB] Ouch! Gabriel Agbonlahor (right) feels the force of Frank Lampard's challenge[LNB] [LNB] Chelsea looked focused and well-drilled. This was their sixth pre-season game as opposed to Villa's third and that was obvious from the moment Josh McEachran smashed in a goal after only 34 seconds.[LNB]After taking encouragement from the 4231 formation he played in a 4-0 win against Kitchee on Wednesday, Villas-Boas reverted to Chelsea's moreusual 433 shape and asked Nicolas Anelka to lead the line at centre-forward.[LNB]Anelka has spent most of his pre-season action in a wider supporting role to Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres.[LNB]Heeven played part of one friendly game in the hole behind Drogba and Daniel Sturridge but he craves the central role and delivered a superb performance, from the first minute when he played an important part in McEachran's opener.[LNB] Committed: Chelsea's John Terry (right) tackles Villa striker Darren Bent[LNB]It was Anelka who burst through Aston Villa's defence and forced the first save from Given. The rebound spilled wide of the goal, straight to Sturridge who must have thought he had found the net when the directed a side-footer on target.[LNB]Given, however, flung himself across the line and pawed it away. It was the second incredible save yet the ball dropped loose for McEachran to lift his first goal for Chelsea's senior team into the net from close range.[LNB]Like Anelka, McEachran rose to the opportunity handed him by the manager, linking up play and always seeking to thread a killer pass through Villa's back four.[LNB]The most striking thing is how even the most experienced Chelsea players are keen to get the teenager on the ball, even in tight situations. He gives them something they lack in thecentre, creative instinct.[LNB]Human shield: Branislav Ivanovic (right) fights for the ball with Agbonlahor [LNB]At the back, John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic confirmed their defensive partnership is solid as ever before Alex came on at half-time for his first pre-season action. The Brazilianis behind schedule after a slight knee injury but Chelsea have not conceded a goal in six pre-season games. [LNB]Chelsea's dominance did not make it easy for Stephen Ireland to impress on his first appearance for McLeish. Villa's new boss said he hoped 'dormant' playerslike Ireland could save the club spending millions on new signings. [LNB]On those occasions he got the ball though, Ireland looked short of match sharpness and blazed one decent chance wildly off target when teed-up by Gabriel Agbonlahor.The former Manchester City midfielder, an ?8m makeweight in James Milner's transfer to Eastlands, moved onto the left wing when Emile Heskey replaced Marc Albrighton at half-time.[LNB]Villa improved a little after the break. Stephen Warnock dragged a 20-yarder wide and Agbonlahor's touch abandoned him as he broke clear.[LNB] Out of luck: Nicolas Anelka (left) is denied by Villa goalkeeper Shay Given[LNB]Chelsea, however, who continued to threaten. Fabian Delph cleared a Terry header off the line, Given saved well from Yury Zhirkov and Frank Lampard and Sturridge fired a great chance over from ten yards.[LNB]Torres was one of three substitutes just before the hour-mark and scored within a few seconds. Malouda mishit a shot from 30 yards into his path and the Spaniard diverted it past Given with the inside of his right foot.[LNB]Didier Drogba also came on with Torres and it was marked the first time since Villas-Boas arrived that the pair played in tandem, ahead of a midfield diamond which had Anelka at the top. Yossi Benayoun later replaced Anelka.[LNB]The disruption ruined their rhythm and Villa created late chances. Both Emile Heskey and Darren bent went close but this was the night for Torres to savour. Roman Abramovich will expect others like it.[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEGive Villas-Boas time and he will deliver, says former Chelsea boss HiddinkMcEachran aiming to copy his pal Wilshere and win Chelsea placeAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion [LNB]
