Chelsea 2 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur

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Saturday Jan 12 2008 03:00

Live-wire winger Shaun Wright-Phillips scored the second goal in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Spurs to seal a fine three points for the west Londoners.Juliano Belletti's sensational first-half strike illuminated a fine game which means the north London side have failed to beat Chelsea in 21 encounters at Stamford Bridge going back to 1990.Aaron Lennon produced a mazy run on ten minutes, slicing through the Chelsea rearguard before arrowing in a fine right-footed byline cross.

Thankfully for Chelsea, Ricardo Carvalho was alert enough to intercept the ball and clear for a corner.

The home side, for their part, quickly settled into their familiar passing mode and, on 19 minutes, took the lead.

Belletti picked the ball up on the halfway line and raced forward. The Brazilian full-back unleashed an unstoppable right-footed 30-yard shot which curled in mid-flight away from the despairing dive of Radek Cerny and into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Cech, returning from injury, produced a fine save from Steed Malbranque's 28th-minute volley after excellent set-up play by Lennon.Michael Ballack had the ball in the net on 43 minutes but was offside after Florent Malouda had slid the ball on to the Chelsea captain.Joe Cole had the first effort on target in the second half, but Cerny comfortably handled his weak, left-footer from the edge of the Spurs penalty area.

Chelsea new boy Nicolas Anelka entered the fray on 57 minutes, replacing Claudio Pizarro.

The £15million hit-man was quickly into the action and forced a brilliant save from Cerny after the ex-Bolton man's turn and left-foot drive from just inside the penalty area had looked good for a goal.

Spurs countered with a period of good possession that resulted in them winning a succession of corners.

Chelsea however dealt with the threats, which were never clear chances.

Spurs had a wonderful chance to equalise on 70 minutes but Dimitar Berbatov, quiet up until that point, sent a curling free-kick just inches over the Chelsea crossbar.Robbie Keane was unlucky not to get to Lennon's excellent cross on 79 minutes after Alex mistook the flight of the ball and let it get past him.

But seconds later Chelsea sealed the game. A quick throw-in by Belletti found Joe Cole.

The midfielder found Wright-Philips who rammed the ball home with a fine daisy-cutter from the edge of the area past Cerny's dive.

Anelka hit the woodwork in the last minute but Chelsea were worthy winners.

  • 90
    It's finished 2-0, goals in each half from Belletti and Wright-Phillips giving Chelsea a deserved win.
  • 90
    That really should have been 3-0 as we enter injury time
  • 88
    Anelka smashes the ball against the bar as he looks for a debut goal
  • 85
    The second goal has killed Spurs off and the result looks secure now
  • 84
    Chelsea also make a change - Malouda goes off for Wayne Bridge
  • 84
    Boateng is replaced by Younes Kaboul for Spurs
  • 82
    The home side deserve that goal as they have been better in the second half
  • 80
    Wright-Phillips makes it 2-0, lashing home after good work from Joe Cole
  • 79
    Just over 10 minutes left plus stoppage time for Spurs to get an equaliser
  • 78
    Lennon is booked for a foul on Cole
  • 77
    O'Hara is then replaced by Jermain Defoe - whose future at Spurs remains uncertain
  • 75
    O'Hara is the latest player to be booked for a foul
  • 74
    Taarabt handles the ball and is penalised for it, Spurs showing some signs of getting back into this game though
  • 71
    Taarabt's corner is well claimed by Cech - time beginning to run out for Spurs now
  • 69
    Ballack becomes the second Chelsea player to be booked after he fouled Lennon
  • 69
    Berbatov wastes a free kick from a great central position firing it over the bar
  • 67
    O'Hara has impressed today - as he has a shot blocked
  • 64
    Spurs mount some pressure at last as O'Hara delivers two corners but the home side defend them both
  • 62
    Chelsea have been on top in the second half and are looking the more likely scorers at the minute
  • 60
    Anelka almost makes an immediate impact, pouncing on a loose ball he forces Cerny into a fine save
  • 58
    Claude Makelele is booked for a late challenge
  • 58
    Avram Grant makes the change the fans wanted too - Pizarro goes off and Anelka's on for his Blues bow
  • 58
    Malbranque is hauled off after that booking - Adel Taarabt comes on
  • 54
    Anelka is warming up on the sideline so he may be making his Chelsea debut very soon
  • 52
    Malbranque is booked for a poor foul on Wright-Phillips
  • 50
    Joe Cole strikes a shot at goal but Cerny is equal to it
  • 48
    Florent Malouda's corner is dangerous but cleared by Spurs
  • 47
    Both sides will be looking for an improvement in the second half - no changes by either manager though
  • 45
    The second 45 gets underway
  • 45
    Chelsea lead thanks to that fantastic Belletti goal at half time
  • 43
    Ballack is caught offside as we approach the break
  • 42
    It's been a quiet first half at the Bridge with very few chances at either end
  • 38
    Wright-Phillips' effort from the edge of the area is well blocked by Ledley King
  • 37
    Keane and Berbatov have been quiet for the visitors so far as Chelsea hold a narrow lead
  • 34
    Prince Boateng lashes a shot from distance over the bar
  • 33
    Aside from the goal and that Malbranque chance there's been precious little in the way of goalmouth action so far
  • 31
    Another Malbranque cross is caught this time by Cech
  • 30
    Steed Malbranque retrieves Lennon's cross and fires a shot that Petr Cech saves well - Spurs' first real chance of note
  • 26
    No real chances for Chelsea to extend their lead as Spurs continue to struggle for the moment
  • 23
    Kevin-Prince Boateng is shown the first yellow card of the game
  • 23
    The goal will sting Spurs into life as, despite a bright first 10 minutes, they have yet to muster a decent attempt on goal here
  • 21
    The goal must have been from at least 30 yards out as Chelsea were just beginning to dictate the game
  • 19
    Juliano Belletti strides forward and fires an unstoppable shot past Cerny to put Chelsea in front
  • 17
    Ashley Cole fouls Robbie Keane this time as again the match is held up temporarily
  • 15
    Still scrappy in this London derby - too many free-kicks early on
  • 13
    Shaun Wright-Phillips brings O'Hara down and that's a free-kick to Spurs
  • 12
    Jamie O'Hara's near post corner is cleared by Juliano Belletti
  • 10
    Aaron Lennon's cross is put behind for a corner as Spurs go on the offensive
  • 8
    Cole looks to break forward but he's offside
  • 7
    A fairly scrappy start at the Bridge with Spurs starting slightly the better of the two sides
  • 4
    Joe Cole's free kick is dangerous but Michael Ballack is judged to have committed a foul and Spurs can clear
  • 2
    The game settles down with both sides enjoying early possession
  • 0
    The action gets underway at an expectant Stamford Bridge
  • 0
    New £15m signing Nicolas Anelka is only on the bench for Chelsea as Claudio Pizzaro continues up front. For Spurs, Radek Cerny again keeps Paul Robinson out while Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov are selected up front

Statistics

Chelsea
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 1
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 17
Offsides 4
Corners 4

Tottenham Hotspur
Shots on target 2
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 11
Offsides 1
Corners 7

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