Last minute penalty denies Addicks a point
A last minute penalty for Chelsea denied Charlton a deserved point at the Bridge of Truimph today, writes Blackfen Addick Paul May. The Addicks had defended resolutely and had made some good attacking moves, but once again luck was not with them.
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Kevin Lisbie was playing in front of the usual 4-5-1 while Andersen retained his place in goal. Early play was dominated by Chelsea who kept possession most of the time. After a ball from Cole was cut out by El Karkouri, Chelsea won a corner. The ball went right across the front of goal for a second corner after JJ got a touch. This time El Karkouri hooked the ball away. Charlton made a good counter attack involving Young, Murphy and ultimately Hughes who made a good run but perhaps overhit the ball. Nevertheless, he created a moment of danger from which Terry had to clear.
Cole put in a shot but Andersen was able to make a straightforward save. Charlton came forward with JJ, but his ball was easily intercepted by Carvahlo, giving Lisbie no chance. Lisbie was suffering from a lack of support from the midfield, providing a nice dummy but there was no one to run on to it. Charlton played a neat triangle in midfield, but they were still inside their own half. However, they kept possession and moved forward, winning a throw in, but then Kishishev gave the ball away. Chelsea were getting caught offside.
Joe Cole burst forward, but put his shot well wide, rather than passing to the unmarked Gudjohnsen. Young made a good tackle on Cole and won the throw in much to the Chelsea player's disgust. Kishishev made a terrible pass, giving the ball away, and Konchesky had to recover the situation.
Makelele's key role as the Chelsea anchor and playmaker was very evident. Chelsea played keep ball until Johnson had a go, but the ball was headed away. Gallas outplayed Young giving Lampard a good chance, but put his header over the bar as the halfway point in the first half was reached.
El Karkouri put in a long ball to Lisbie who got his head to it, but Johnson mopped up for the champions. Chelsea seemed to be relatively muted, but Charlton were keeping them in check and occasionally breaking forward. Young was stopped by a good tackle by Terry at the expense of a Charlton throw in.
Battling Kevin Lisbie won Charlton a free kick after Carvalho kicked him. The free kick was taken by El Karkouri, Lisbie headed it down, but Fortune fired the ball into the crowd as the half hour approached. Charlton went forward again, making use of Lisbie's pace, but Carvalho put in a tackle on the striker at the expense of a Charlton corner. Tiago headed clear.
Cole put in a shot from two or three yards outside the box and Andersen made a fine save with the ball then coming off the frame of the crossbar. JJ forced Terry to clear at the expense of a throw in by the corner flag. Charlton won another throw in. Hughes put in a shot that was way over the crossbar, Johnson having slipped on the heavily watered pitch.
Geremi, making only his fourth start of the season turned provider for Gudjohnsen but he wasn't able to control the ball properly and put his shot a couple of yards over.
On the 40 minute mark Charlton won a free kick on the halfway line. Fortune knocked it up towards Lisbie who found JJ. Carvalho had to concede the corner. Fortune's effort was just inches wide from Murphy's corner. Konchesky held off a Chelsea counter attack. Joe Cole was beaten in the air by El Karkouri. Kishishev made an attempt from distance when he saw Cudicini off his line, but his effort was well off target.
Lisbie turned provider for Murphy, but Chelsea broke and Andersen came out and did well to save. Fortune got a block in, but El Karkouri was injured (possibly by a collision with Fortune) in the excitement. El Karkouri had a bandage on his left hand. One minute of time was added on.
Half time: Chelsea 0, Charlton 0
Charlton won an early free kick taken by El Karkouri. Fortune was beaten in the air by Terry, leading to a Charlton throw. The Chelsea supporters, waiting for the celebration, started to get noisy again. Charlton seemed to have put Murphy on Makelele, as part of an effort to reduce Chelsea's possession.
Makelele released Gudjohnsen, but he was challenged well by El Karkouri. Lisbie turned provider for Hughes, but there was a good challenge on him. Young put a cross in, but Terry cleared. Kishishev challenged Makelele at the expense of a free kick. From the free kick, Terry headed the ball across the six yard area from the far post and it hit the post where it met the crossbar. There was nothing that Andersen could have done about it.
Chelsea put on some pressure, but Charlton played themselves out of trouble well. The ball went up to Lisbie but his control was poor. Andersen read a Chelsea cross well, coming out to collect the ball. Lisbie chased a loose ball well, but was unfortunate when the ball bounced off him from Johnson for a goal kick taken by Cudicini.
Joe Cole ran forward, but Gudjohnsen was caught offside. Tiago went down in the penalty area, but referee Riley was not impressed by his diving skills. Lisbie went down holding the back of his head after he was challenged for the ball. He had to go off for treatment. The Charlton players were looking more confident and positive about their ability to take the game to the champions.
El Karkouri cut out a ball from Geremi and then he was challenged by Fortune at the expense of a throw in. Lamphard burst in, but the ball was cleared by Young. The earlier blue sky was replaced by rain. Konchesky did very well to challenge a threatening Gudjohnesen whom Joe Cole was trying to release.
Lisbie and Holland burst forward. Lisbie released Holland. The captain shot and Cudicini had to make an excellent diving save to deny him at the expense of a corner. A less good substitute keeper would not have been able to make the save. This move ended in a free kick for Chelsea.
Forsell came on for Chelsea for his first appearance for three years as the halfway mark in the second half approached.
As Charlton combined well, Terry had to turn the ball out for a corner at the Shed End. Murphy's corner was over hit and went out of play for a goal kick, a wasted opportunity with a worried Chelsea bringing nine men back.
Fortune made a good intervention as Chelsea advanced. Cole fired wide and then, when the ball came off Murphy, into the crowd.
Charlton won a free kick which was struck well enough by Murphy but it was unproductive. Cudicini was pulled off, probably his last appearance at the Bridge, to be replaced by Lenny Pidgeley, the tall young keeper who was on loan at Watford. Could the Addicks put him under pressure?
A foul by Gallas led to a Charlton free kick which was taken very quickly. Terry put the ball behind for a Charlton corner. Fortune put in a header, Holland flicked it on, Hughes put in a volley and Pidgeley had to make a good save with his body.
Luke Young defended well at the expense of a corner. Charlton tried to break, but their counter was delayed. However, they kept going, but Lisbie was judged to have fouled Makelele. Forsell was caught offside. As the match drew to a close, it became very dark. Charlton were finishing strongly. Lisbie played a good ball to Kishishev, but he did not make use of it.
Lamphard was brought down by Fortune in time added on, but it looked as if it was outside the box. Charlton's protests were to no avail. Andersen made a great penalty save, but Makelele turned in the rebound with his studs to give him his first Chelsea goal in 95 appearances to set the seal on Chelsea's celebrations.
One of the pluses to come from the afternoon was the strong performance by Andersen who made two great saves and almost saved the penalty.
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Kevin Lisbie was playing in front of the usual 4-5-1 while Andersen retained his place in goal. Early play was dominated by Chelsea who kept possession most of the time. After a ball from Cole was cut out by El Karkouri, Chelsea won a corner. The ball went right across the front of goal for a second corner after JJ got a touch. This time El Karkouri hooked the ball away. Charlton made a good counter attack involving Young, Murphy and ultimately Hughes who made a good run but perhaps overhit the ball. Nevertheless, he created a moment of danger from which Terry had to clear.
Cole put in a shot but Andersen was able to make a straightforward save. Charlton came forward with JJ, but his ball was easily intercepted by Carvahlo, giving Lisbie no chance. Lisbie was suffering from a lack of support from the midfield, providing a nice dummy but there was no one to run on to it. Charlton played a neat triangle in midfield, but they were still inside their own half. However, they kept possession and moved forward, winning a throw in, but then Kishishev gave the ball away. Chelsea were getting caught offside.
Joe Cole burst forward, but put his shot well wide, rather than passing to the unmarked Gudjohnsen. Young made a good tackle on Cole and won the throw in much to the Chelsea player's disgust. Kishishev made a terrible pass, giving the ball away, and Konchesky had to recover the situation.
Makelele's key role as the Chelsea anchor and playmaker was very evident. Chelsea played keep ball until Johnson had a go, but the ball was headed away. Gallas outplayed Young giving Lampard a good chance, but put his header over the bar as the halfway point in the first half was reached.
El Karkouri put in a long ball to Lisbie who got his head to it, but Johnson mopped up for the champions. Chelsea seemed to be relatively muted, but Charlton were keeping them in check and occasionally breaking forward. Young was stopped by a good tackle by Terry at the expense of a Charlton throw in.
Battling Kevin Lisbie won Charlton a free kick after Carvalho kicked him. The free kick was taken by El Karkouri, Lisbie headed it down, but Fortune fired the ball into the crowd as the half hour approached. Charlton went forward again, making use of Lisbie's pace, but Carvalho put in a tackle on the striker at the expense of a Charlton corner. Tiago headed clear.
Cole put in a shot from two or three yards outside the box and Andersen made a fine save with the ball then coming off the frame of the crossbar. JJ forced Terry to clear at the expense of a throw in by the corner flag. Charlton won another throw in. Hughes put in a shot that was way over the crossbar, Johnson having slipped on the heavily watered pitch.
Geremi, making only his fourth start of the season turned provider for Gudjohnsen but he wasn't able to control the ball properly and put his shot a couple of yards over.
On the 40 minute mark Charlton won a free kick on the halfway line. Fortune knocked it up towards Lisbie who found JJ. Carvalho had to concede the corner. Fortune's effort was just inches wide from Murphy's corner. Konchesky held off a Chelsea counter attack. Joe Cole was beaten in the air by El Karkouri. Kishishev made an attempt from distance when he saw Cudicini off his line, but his effort was well off target.
Lisbie turned provider for Murphy, but Chelsea broke and Andersen came out and did well to save. Fortune got a block in, but El Karkouri was injured (possibly by a collision with Fortune) in the excitement. El Karkouri had a bandage on his left hand. One minute of time was added on.
Half time: Chelsea 0, Charlton 0
Charlton won an early free kick taken by El Karkouri. Fortune was beaten in the air by Terry, leading to a Charlton throw. The Chelsea supporters, waiting for the celebration, started to get noisy again. Charlton seemed to have put Murphy on Makelele, as part of an effort to reduce Chelsea's possession.
Makelele released Gudjohnsen, but he was challenged well by El Karkouri. Lisbie turned provider for Hughes, but there was a good challenge on him. Young put a cross in, but Terry cleared. Kishishev challenged Makelele at the expense of a free kick. From the free kick, Terry headed the ball across the six yard area from the far post and it hit the post where it met the crossbar. There was nothing that Andersen could have done about it.
Chelsea put on some pressure, but Charlton played themselves out of trouble well. The ball went up to Lisbie but his control was poor. Andersen read a Chelsea cross well, coming out to collect the ball. Lisbie chased a loose ball well, but was unfortunate when the ball bounced off him from Johnson for a goal kick taken by Cudicini.
Joe Cole ran forward, but Gudjohnsen was caught offside. Tiago went down in the penalty area, but referee Riley was not impressed by his diving skills. Lisbie went down holding the back of his head after he was challenged for the ball. He had to go off for treatment. The Charlton players were looking more confident and positive about their ability to take the game to the champions.
El Karkouri cut out a ball from Geremi and then he was challenged by Fortune at the expense of a throw in. Lamphard burst in, but the ball was cleared by Young. The earlier blue sky was replaced by rain. Konchesky did very well to challenge a threatening Gudjohnesen whom Joe Cole was trying to release.
Lisbie and Holland burst forward. Lisbie released Holland. The captain shot and Cudicini had to make an excellent diving save to deny him at the expense of a corner. A less good substitute keeper would not have been able to make the save. This move ended in a free kick for Chelsea.
Forsell came on for Chelsea for his first appearance for three years as the halfway mark in the second half approached.
As Charlton combined well, Terry had to turn the ball out for a corner at the Shed End. Murphy's corner was over hit and went out of play for a goal kick, a wasted opportunity with a worried Chelsea bringing nine men back.
Fortune made a good intervention as Chelsea advanced. Cole fired wide and then, when the ball came off Murphy, into the crowd.
Charlton won a free kick which was struck well enough by Murphy but it was unproductive. Cudicini was pulled off, probably his last appearance at the Bridge, to be replaced by Lenny Pidgeley, the tall young keeper who was on loan at Watford. Could the Addicks put him under pressure?
A foul by Gallas led to a Charlton free kick which was taken very quickly. Terry put the ball behind for a Charlton corner. Fortune put in a header, Holland flicked it on, Hughes put in a volley and Pidgeley had to make a good save with his body.
Luke Young defended well at the expense of a corner. Charlton tried to break, but their counter was delayed. However, they kept going, but Lisbie was judged to have fouled Makelele. Forsell was caught offside. As the match drew to a close, it became very dark. Charlton were finishing strongly. Lisbie played a good ball to Kishishev, but he did not make use of it.
Lamphard was brought down by Fortune in time added on, but it looked as if it was outside the box. Charlton's protests were to no avail. Andersen made a great penalty save, but Makelele turned in the rebound with his studs to give him his first Chelsea goal in 95 appearances to set the seal on Chelsea's celebrations.
One of the pluses to come from the afternoon was the strong performance by Andersen who made two great saves and almost saved the penalty.
posted by Wyn Grant at 8:55 PM
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