Source: Telegraph
Didier Drogba keeps Chelsea hoping of miracle
United may have two games in hand – one on Wednesday night at Newcastle – but the intentions from a battling performance in difficult conditions were apparent, that Chelsea are refusing to give up the title lightly, with Drogba claiming his first League goal of 2009 and only his second in the Premier League this season. [LNB]Torrential rain fell before and during the game, making the Fratton Park pitch heavy in some places. And with the wind blowing off the Solent, it made for difficult conditions. The gusts were so strong early on, that players had trouble in keeping the ball steady at set-piece kicks. [LNB]Before the game, FA Cup holders Portsmouth, with help from four soldiers from the Royal Artillery, paraded the trophy around the stadium, with the PA announcer admitting it was the home fans' last chance to see the Cup. [LNB]Chelsea fans butted in with cries of 'cheerio, cheerio', knowing that their name could be next of the trophy, particularly if they beat Coventry on Saturday to progress to the semi-finals. [LNB]Guus Hiddink, their interim manager, made two changes from the side that plucked a late victory off Wigan on Saturday. Leading scorer Nicolas Anelka, who has scored 21 goals so far, was ruled out with a toe injury, so for the first time under the Dutchman, his partnership with Didier Drogba had to be broken up. [LNB]Hiddink brought in Florent Malouda for his first start for more than a month while, in defence, Jose Bosingwa returned from suspension to replace youngster Michael Mancienne. [LNB]Paul Hart, Portsmouth's caretaker manager, made only one change from the side that drew 2-2 at Stoke 10 days previously, with Hayden Mullins in for Greek international Angelis Basinas. [LNB]Chelsea went into the game boasting a 100 per cent record since the shock departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari. Under Ray Wilkins they beat Watford in the FA Cup with Hiddink watching from the stands and, since taking over, Hiddink has presided over two Premier League wins and a 1-0 victory over Juventus in the Champions League. [LNB]The conditions made for an enterprising if not always controlled start from both sides, with Portsmouth adopting an attacking 4-3-3 formation when going forward and threatening to open the scoring. Hermann Hreidarsson won an early corner for Portsmouth but Sean Davis sent the resultant effort over before David Nugent, named the club's player of the month before hand, setting up Mullins, but he completely miss-kicked in the South Coast wind. [LNB]Chelsea responded with a Salomon Kalou cross, held easily by David James, and a wayward drive from Frank Lampard. They went closer in the 16th minute when John Mikel Obi's persistence allowed Ashley Cole to cross from the left but the ball was a foot to far for the incoming Drogba. [LNB]Hreidarsson made a timely interception as Chelsea threatened again, while Malouda sent another attempt wide as the visitors increased their hold on the game. And in the 22nd minute, with the blustery conditions clearly having an influence, Malouda's cross was spilled by James but Chelsea could not take advantage. [LNB]Portsmouth fans called for a penalty midway through the first half when, with Nugent and Peter Crouch pushing forward the ball appeared to catch Alex's arm and then followed the best chance so far when, in the 28th minute Davis's strong shot was pushed aside by the athletic Petr Cech. [LNB]But, in keeping with the unpredictable nature of this game Chelsea responded when Lampard produced a marvellous half volley out of nothing and it took all of James' goalkeeping skills to block the effort on the line. [LNB]And with three minutes of the half remaining Chelsea survived a goalmouth scramble with Hreidrasson and Nugent failing to nudge the ball home before Cech made a desperate save, hugging the ball on the line. [LNB]Chelsea made an early second half change with Mikel replaced by Juliano Belletti but soon afterwards Nugent chased a ball knocked-down by Crouch but Cech made another outstanding save, stretching to his right. [LNB]Chelsea immediately made another alteration, with Ricardo Quaresma on for Kalou, but with the gusts now reaching gale-force strength, the visitors looked as if they were struggling to weather the storm. [LNB]Both sides squandered chances mid-way though the second half: Quaresma's right-wing cross was met by Drogba, the striker beating Sol Campbell to the ball but sending a headed chance dipping just over. And at the other end, Crouch was found in a surprising amount of space, drove down the right and then crossed for Niko Kranjcar, but the Croatian shot wide when he could have scored. [LNB]But Chelsea stole the winning goal in the 79th minute when Drogba, who scored the winner against Juventus, met a cross from Bosingwa's cross and found the bottom right hand corner with a masterclass in finishing. [LNB]
