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26 April 2007, by Sean Gillen

Carvalho stars as Chelsea earn precious lead

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

Chelsea will take a one-goal lead into their Champions League semi-final tie with Liverpool at Anfield next week, after a narrow win at Stamford Bridge.

Joe Cole’s goal proved the difference in a game of two halves, with the Blues having the better of the first period but then having to withstand a stronger showing from the visitors after the break.

Jose Mourinho was delighted to be able to include fit-again Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of his defence, while fellow Portuguese Paulo Ferreira was selected in the Blues’ problem right-back position.

Mourinho’s men started the game with a real urgency to score goals, and had the game’s first chance after eight minutes. Didier Drogba, who proved a constant threat all night, headed a ball down to Lampard inside the box, only for the midfielder’s effort to be superbly saved by Pepe Reina.

Chelsea continued to look the more likely during the first half, with Drogba heading wide under pressure from Reina, before Lampard’s 25-metre free-kick whistled past the foot of the post.

Marauding Carvalho run

The breakthrough soon came, and it began with some typically adventurous play from centre-half Carvalho. The Portuguese brought the ball out of defence and set off on an attacking run, freeing Drogba down the right. The Ivorian had too much skill for Daniel Agger, cutting inside the defender before crossing for the onrushing Cole to score from five metres.

Chelsea went into the break with a deserved lead, but Liverpool emerged from the break with far more intent going forward. As a result, the Blues were often pinned back during the second period as Rafa Benitez’s men looked to level the tie ahead of the return leg.

Petr Cech had a quiet first half in the Chelsea goal, but the giant Czech was called into action just seven minutes after the re-start to deny Steven Gerrard. Substitute Peter Crouch caused Chelsea problems immediately after coming on, nodding a ball down to Gerrard outside the area, but the England man saw his great effort tipped past the post at full-stretch by Cech.

Liverpool were clearly determined to snatch a vital away goal, but Chelsea remained a danger on the counter attack, with Reina again called on to deny Lampard. Drogba was again the provider, cushioning a long ball down to Lampard, but Reina’s excellent stop kept the margin at one goal.

Drogba headed a good chance wide from a corner in the final minute, but a game in which neither side gave too much away was decided by a single goal, and the tie is delicately poised ahead of next week’s match at Anfield.

Jose Mourinho (Chelsea manager)

“I am happy with the players. Very happy. It is a positive result. We are in front and when the game starts in Liverpool, Chelsea will be winning 1-0.”

“We had more than enough chances in the first half to score two, three or four goals. We had big chances to score and then they had a reaction in the second half.”

“But they only had one chance - a Steve Gerrard shot that saw Petr Cech make an unbelievable save. We were not as dangerous in the second half although we had situations on the counter attack.”

“But overall I think Chelsea deserved a victory - no doubt about it.”

Rafa Benitez (Liverpool manager)

“In the first half we were not playing well and giving the ball away. We gave it away too easily and did the wrong things.”

“They were playing on the counter attack but we had more control in the second half. We know they are really good on the counter and we will have to be careful in the second leg. The second half was better.”

“We have stopped them scoring in the league and we will try to do it again. We need to win against a good team - a team that’s good on the counter attack and that is difficult. We won 2-0 in January and that’s the message for my players.”

Chelsea:
Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 84), Mikel, Lampard, Shevchenko (Kalou 76), Drogba
Yellow Cards: None

Liverpool:
Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso (Pennant 83), Mascherano, Zenden, Kuyt, Bellamy (Crouch 52)
Yellow Cards: Mascherano (77)

Goals:
[1-0] Cole, 29