19 October 2006, by Mark Simpson

Hilario heroics and stunning Drogba strike fire Chelsea to victory

Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona

A stunning strike from Didier Drogba gave Chelsea all the points in an engrossing encounter against old adversaries Barcelona in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.

A full house armed with 35,000 flags was the arena waiting for the giants of football and the pretenders to their crown.

Ecstatic Mourinho praises “unbelievable” Chelsea

Chelsea were without their long-term injured goalkeeper Petr Cech after his horrific injury on Saturday and back up goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini who astoundingly also picked up a worrying head injury in the same match at the weekend.

This was the backdrop for Chelsea’s third-choice goalkeeper, the Portuguese stopper Henrique Hilario, to face the champions of Europe. There were also starting places for Carvalho and Ballack for Chelsea.

The game started rather respectfully with each team allowing the other to pass the ball along their defensive line. The first chance fell to Zambrotta who blazed wide after being well picked out by Deco.

Almost straight away Chelsea broke up the other end. Drogba burst into the box his shot was smothered but broke to the on rushing Shevchenko but a last ditch challenge from Marquez took the ball off of the Ukrainian’s toes. From the resulting corner Shevchenko saw the goal open up before him again but headed over.

Hilario heroics

Hilario was to make himself a firm favourite with the fans before half time, already being cheered at his every touch he pulled off two fantastic saves one from Messi and then another from Xavi after a superb Barcelona move.

Only seconds into the second half Chelsea broke the deadlock when a long ball from Cole picked out Drogba on the edge of the box and in an almost mirror image of the stunning winner against Liverpool a few weeks ago, he controlled the ball, swivelled, and hammered the ball past the keeper with his right foot to the delirium of the home supporters.

The next chance fell to Shevchenko but once again his control let him down and the ball sailed over the bar. Another easier chance then fell to Drogba, which he side-footed into the hands of the keeper.

The second biggest cheer of the night was kept till two minutes from time when a Deco shot was comfortably gathered by the new cult hero Hilario in the Chelsea goal.

Another fine chapter written into the Chelsea history books on the final whistle as the European Champions had been deservedly beaten.

Chelsea:
Hilario, Boulahrouz, Carvalho, Terry, Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Makelele, Essien, Shevchenko (Robben 76), Drogba (Kalou 90)

Barcelona:
Valdes, Marquez, Puyol (Oleguer 74), Zambrotta, Van Bronkhorst (Iniesta 56), Messi, Deco, Xavi, Edmilson, Gudjohnsen (Giuly 60), Ronaldinho

Goals:
[1-0] Drogba, 46