Chelsea FC fan club
Manchester City inflicted Chelsea’s first home Premier League defeat this season in a game which began with Wayne Bridge refusing John Terry’s handshake.
Frank Lampard’s low strike put Chelsea ahead but Carlos Tevez equalised after a long ball was not dealt with, before Craig Bellamy shot beyond Hilario.
Tevez scored a penalty after Juliano Belletti saw red for a trip on Gareth Barry before a Bellamy tap-in.
Michael Ballack also saw red and Lampard scored a consolation penalty.
City had failed to score in their previous seven visits to Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea had only conceded eight at home in the Premier League all season.
Chelsea suffered a first leg defeat to former boss Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in an entertaining Champions League last 16 tie at the San Siro.
Inter got off to the perfect start when Diego Milito cut inside and fired in with just three minutes gone.
Chelsea rallied from the early blow and were level just after half time via Salomon Kalou’s 20-yard strike.
Parity was short-lived, with Esteban Cambiasso drilling in to give Inter a narrow lead to take to Stamford Bridge.
Didier Drogba struck twice to take his season’s total to 25 as Chelsea sunk Wolves to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points.
The Ivory Coast frontman made the most of two rare chances in an unconvincing away display, sliding home his first from Yuri Zhirkov’s pinpoint cross.
Drogba then latched on to Petr Cech’s long kick for his second to wrap it up.
But Wolves will feel hard done by, with Cech twice denying Adlene Guedioura to render a brave home display fruitless.
And while the hosts should certainly take heart from a performance that once again proves they can live with the best sides at the Molineux on their day, another defeat means they remain perilously close to the drop zone.
Chelsea might face Stoke City or Man City in the 6th round (quarters) of the FA Cup at home.
This fixture will take place on the weekend of the 6-7th of March.
Didier Drogba inspired FA Cup holders Chelsea to a comfortable win over 2008 finalists Cardiff City.
The Ivory Coast striker opened the scoring inside two minutes before setting up two more as favourites Chelsea cruised into the quarter-finals.
Michael Chopra gave Cardiff brief hope with a first-half leveller before Michael Ballack restored Chelsea’s lead.
Daniel Strurridge and Salomon Kalou sealed Championship Cardiff’s fate.
Chelsea remain the team to beat in this competition with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool already eliminated.
Ashley Cole fractured his ankle against Everton (where we lost the game 2-1) on Wednesday evening. He will be out for three months and might miss the World Cup as well.
We wish him a speedy recovery.
We are playing Cardiff in the FA Cup on Saturday.
First prize of a personalised Chelsea shirt home or away goes to Freddy Moogo a Cape town member.
Second prize of a home or away strip goes to Richard Martin another Cape Town member.
The draw was conducted at half time during the fantastic Arsenal game my congratulations go out to both members. If need be contact me robmancreaser@yahoo.com to sort out your prize.
John Terry’s week of turmoil ended with a measure of consolation as he helped Chelsea return to the Premier League summit and apply a potentially fatal blow to Arsenal’s title ambitions.
Terry, stripped of the England captaincy by coach Fabio Capello amid allegations of an affair with the ex-girlfriend of international team-mate Wayne Bridge, received vociferous backing from Chelsea’s fans as he led his side into a crucial battle.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has also been fervent in his public support of Terry, and was rewarded with a typically robust defensive display and a vital early contribution in attack that set his side on the path to victory.
Court lifts Chelsea transfer ban over Kakuta signing
Submitted by geezerbloke on Thu, 2010-02-04 21:10Chelsea have had their transfer ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after reaching an agreement with Lens over the signing of Gael Kakuta.
A statement on the Cas website said that the two clubs and the player had accepted the player’s contract with the French side was not valid.
Thus Kakuta could not have terminated it prematurely, so Chelsea could not be liable for inducing it to be breached.
The Cas said all parties agreed the proceedings would remain confidential.
In September 2009, Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber imposed a four-month ban on the player and banned Chelsea from registering any new players in the next two transfer windows over the case.
Hull City produced a manful performance to hold Chelsea to a surprise draw as the title hopefuls missed the chance to take their league lead to four points.
The Londoners were lacklustre to say the least, but that was down in no small part to Hull’s brave approach.
And it was the hosts who took the lead when Steven Mouyokolo headed home.
Didier Drogba marked his return from Africa Cup of Nations duty with the equaliser from a free-kick, but Hull comfortably held on to a precious draw.
