Blackburn Rovers vs Chelsea
Match pulse
BLKAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Chelsea 2-1
Chelsea beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 on Sunday, April 15, 2007 at Old Trafford. Goals for Blackburn: Jason Roberts (64'). Goals for Chelsea: Frank Lampard (16') and Michael Ballack (109').
Play by play
- 122'
FULL-TIME: Chelsea's dream of winning all four trophies is still on but they were made to fight for their win today. A spirited second half performance from Mark Hughes' men but alas it for them it was not to be. Chelsea perhaps deserved to shade it but they will have to do better than this to beat United in the final on May 19th. Should be alright that.
- 120'
Mokoena takes the throw-in for Blackburn but his foot is on the pitch and he has conceded a foul throw.
- 120'
Two minutes of time to be added on.
- 118'
McCarthy is tackled by Terry and Blackburn get a corner. Friedel is up for it but his opposite number comes to make a brave catch. Cech's landed awkwardly though and the Chelsea physio is on.
- 116'
Essien hits an unbelievable shot(think almost Arsenal earlier this season) which rattles Friedel's bar. It's probably still shaking.
- 115'
Great ball in from Wright-Phillips but Friedel takes it as it flies across his six-yard box.
- 114'
Pedersen plants a long throw in Chelsea's box but Samba was misbehaving and is penalised for pushing.
- 113'
He replaces David Bentley.
- 112'
Matt Derbyshire is on his way but it could be too little too late for Blackburn.
- 110'
Nice one-two between Drogba and Kalou but Pedersen gets back to make a good sliding tackle. The corner comes over but Rovers deal with it. It's all Chelsea though and they knock the ball around taking up another precious minute of time.
- 108'
GOAL - Ballack has surely won the match for Chelsea. Wright-Phillips cuts it back to Kalou who is well challenged by Nelsen. The ball breaks to Ballack though and he fires it in from eight yards and wheels away in delight to the Chelsea fans behind the goal. Can Rovers respond to that?
- 108'
By the way, Warnock has not been taken off and Peter has not replaced him. He got better or something.
- 106'
Lampards decides to shoot but his effort is poor. He gets it back though but this time the move is broken up by Emerton. He now darts away and cuts inside Ashley Cole before bending a shot which Cech saves comfortably.
- 105'
We begin the final part of extra-time and Pedersen concedes a free-kick thirty yards from his goal for impeding Lampard.
- 105'
The physios come on to give their men a well needed drink but they are soon all lining up again to play out this final fifteen minutes. The spectre of penalties looms. Rovers could try to play for penalties - but then they have the formidable obstacle of Petr Cech to by-pass. Decisions, decisions. Chelsea will not be countenancing such thoughts.
- 107'
HALF-TIME: All change please.
- 106'
Warnock is taken off to be replaced by Sergio Peter.
- 105'
Mikel is booked for tripping Roberts. At the other end Stepehn Warnock is down after refusing to shirk a challenge with man mountain Wright-Phillips.
- 103'
Drogba comes in from deep to meet it with his head but he is going away from the goal and is fifteen yards out. Friedel is well positioned and takes it.
- 102'
Kalou goes on a long run which forces him in to a position where Rovers have to concede a throw. From this Nelsen is forced to head behind for another Chelsea corner.
- 100'
Drogba's free-kick is high wide and ugly and brings relieved hoots of derision from the Rovers crowd.
- 99'
Cole crosses to Ballack but Rovers get it away. Then Dunn puts in a tired tackle in on Lampard and Chelsea have a free-kick twenty-five yards from goal.
- 98'
Good covering header from Warnock to beat Ashley Cole. Blackburn then win it back and have the throw-in.
- 95'
Joe Cole once more is brought crashing to earth by a Blackburn player, this time the culprit being Stephen Warnock. His name too goes in the book. Joe Cole is down on the floor and is going to be taken off. Wright-Phillips replaces him.
- 94'
Matt Derbyshire is warming up and so too is Shaun Wright-Phillips. Most probably to replace Joe Cole who must be exhausted.
