Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea 2 Marseille 0: John Terry and Nicolas Anelka on target as Blues ease to win
Before NicolasAnelka stepped upto take the penaltythat secured victoryin this Europeanencounter, there was muchthat could have troubled hiscomplicated mind.[LNB]The fact that this game was beingshown live on national Frenchtelevision; the fact that, in thiscompetition anyway, the subject ofspot-kicks is something he wouldprobably rather avoid. [LNB]But where there was an overwhelmingsense of anxiety inMoscow two years ago, and with itcrushing failure in that ChampionsLeague final against ManchesterUnited, there was somethingaltogether different here. [LNB]On the spot: Anelka's penalty doubled Chelsea's lead[LNB]Anelkastruck with a shot that was sooutrageously casual in it'sexecution it was probably closer toarrogance than confidence. [LNB]It was incredible even if he didscore in much the same fashionagainst Newcastle in the CarlingCup last week. [LNB]Having become thefall guy in France for those astonishingevents at the World Cup,much was being made across The Channel of how Anelka would copein the knowledge that France waswatching their enfant terrible. [LNB]AtCarlo Ancelotti's pre-match pressconference on Monday the issuewas raised by members of theFrench media, no doubt in thebelief that there would be a desireto see the French champions inflictfurther punishment after his18-match international ban. [LNB] Grabbing the spotlight: Delighted Anelka celebrates his penalty goal with Malouda after Terry had put Chelsea ahead early on[LNB]Ancelotti being Ancelotti, he justshrugged his shoulders andsuggested it would not be a problem.Even on a night when he wouldbecome Chelsea's principal strikerin the absence of the suspendedDidier Drogba. [LNB]And Chelsea's manager was right.After a two or three step run-up,Anelka sent the Marseille goalkeeperone way and the ball theother with a shot as weak as anAlex free-kick later in the game waspowerful.[LNB] Had Steve Mandandaremained still, he probably couldhave trapped the ball with his leftfoot. As it was, he was well beaten,Anelka's wild celebration suggestinghe particularly enjoyed it andunderstandably so. [LNB]Just as Ancelotti said he had nofears about Anelka, he said he hadno concerns about a team weakenedby the loss of Drogba to suspensionand Frank Lampard, SalomonKalou and Yossi Benayoun toinjury and, again, he was right. [LNB]Thiswas a comfortable win for theEnglish champions, with DidierDeschamps the first to recognisethe gulf in quality between his teamand his former club.[LNB]Early strike: John Terry scores Chelsea's opening goal[LNB]If Chelsea were bruised by theirfirst defeat of the season atManchester City last weekend, theyproved quick healers.They were not as impressiveas Ancelotti would have hoped.[LNB]Having responded to the suggestion that his bench was notas strong as City's by claiming GaelKakuta was every bit as gifted asAdam Johnson, he appeared togrow so frustrated with the Frenchteenager he hooked him after 61minutes. [LNB]A tale of two managers: Carlo Ancelotti and Didier Deschamps[LNB]Of the three Frenchmenwho made up the Chelsea attack,he was the weakest link.But from the moment John Terryput Chelsea ahead in the seventhminute the first goal in 26 gamesfor club and country for Chelsea'scaptain and the wearer of the 26shirt they were in control, andwhen Anelka scored the second 21minutes later it was pretty muchgame over. [LNB]And Chelsea almostadded further goals, with both Alexand Michael Essien coming close. [LNB]Marseille are left to reflect on asecond defeat after losing at hometo Spartak Moscow in their openinggroup game, while Chelseaalready have one foot in the firstknock-out stage after matching theRussians they meet next in takingsix points.[LNB]It supported Ancelotti's argumentthat Chelsea do possess thenecessary strength in depth to copewith the absence of so many keyplayers. Last night he even startedwithout £18million Ramires, wholost his place to Yuri Zhirkovdespite his manager's claim theprevious day that, statistically, hewas Chelsea's best player atEastlands. [LNB]Kakuta's selection ahead ofDaniel Sturridge was also a surprisebut the 19-year-old was quickto make an impression even if hedid eventually incur Ancelotti'swrath for too often losing possession. [LNB]MATCH STATS CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Alex 6, Terry 7, Cole 7; Essien 7, Mikel 7(McEachran 88min), Zhirkov 6 (Sturridge73, 6); Kakuta 6 (Ramires 61, 6), Anelka 8, Malouda 7. Subs not used: Turnbull,Ferreira, Van Aanholt, Bruma.Booked: Mikel.[LNB]MARSEILLE (4-3-3): Mandanda 6; Kabore 5, Diawara 6, Mbia 4, Heinze 5; Lucho 5, Cisse 6, Cheyrou 5 (Ayew 59, 6); Remy 5, Gignac 4 (Valbuena 59, 5), Brandao 6.[LNB]Subs not used: Andrade, Azpilicueta,Taiwo, Hilton, Abriel.[LNB]Booked: Heinze, Mbia.Man of the match: Nicolas Anelka.Referee: Frank de Bleeckere (Bel) 6.[LNB]He delivered the corner thatenabled Terry to open the scoring,and what a fine corner it was.That said, it remained a goal thatowed much to the incompetence ofMarseille's defence. Terry did well to divert Kakuta's ball goalwardswith a flick of his left boot, but itreally should have been blockedgiven the positioning of keeperMandanda and the player assignedto defend the near post. [LNB]As it was,Benoit Cheyrou allowed the ball tosqueeze between him and the postand Chelsea had their advantage.With Florent Malouda terrorisingthe visitors with his direct running,the pressure on Marseille was enormous.But they were probably alittle unfortunate to concede the28th-minute goal. [LNB]Stephane Mbiablocked a cross from Essien withhis arms but there did not appearto be much, if any, intent. More acase of ball to hand than hand toball. [LNB]Anelka blocked out the heatedprotests as well as any otheroutside influences, converting fromthe spot and so ending this gameas a contest. Even after less thanhalf an hour, Deschamps' menseemed incapable of mustering aresponse. [LNB]Only Chelsea seriously threatenedafter the break. Alex unleashed arocket of a free-kick that struck apost, while Essien then hit thewoodwork with a right-foot effortwhile on the run.Easy penalty. Easy win.[LNB] Champions League live: Chelsea 2 Marseille 0 and Partizan Belgrade 1 Arsenal 3Ancelotti defends thin blue line at Chelsea and insists kids add strengthCHELSEA FC
