Chelsea 2 - 1 Hull City
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Phil Brown, Hull City's manager, painted a picture depicting complete resilience and hung it on the walls of Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon only for it to be ripped down by Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba. The capacious forward scored a dramatic late winner to send a courageous Hull City side back empty handed on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The robust figure of Didier Drogba was on his most excellent form on Carlo Ancelotti's first outing as Chelsea manager, impressing the Italian with his materful runs and gallant efforts culminating in an audacious ninety second minute winner.
Indeed, today, Didier left his pram and diving equipment at home as he proved to be the difference in a tricky opening game of the season. This after Hull had given Chelsea a hell of a fright.
Lampard Was Chelsea's Imperial Protagonist
The drama began during Scene 1, Act 1 of this Premier League play. Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s imperial protagonist, played a precise pass through to Essien who squared to Drogba, who could do no more than shoot wide of the welcoming target. What a waste inside ten glorious minutes. Although, the fluid football that gifted the striker the chance gave an early signal that Chelsea’s diamond formation was working.
Olofinjana, Hull City’s defensive midfielder, had Phil Brown’s only goal scoring opportunity during the opening exchanges – a long range effort that proved as accurate as the The Sun’s speculative piece on the prospect of Carlos Puyol joining Manchester City. Chelsea on the other hand, needed no additions to their team here. Comfortable and composed, Terry’s side had the cutting edge over a subservient Hull City outfit.
Hull Threatened Despite Chelsea's Dominance
Brown was not lamenting a defeat on the touch line though, despite 63% of the possession going in Chelsea’s favour, as Boateng angled a header at Petre Cech’s goal only for the giant Czech 'keeper to save in dramatic fashion along his goal line. England will need to emulate his skill in the Oval outfield next week.
Indeed Chelsea had eleven footballing equivalents to Jonty Rhodes on the field, and Lampard captained in mid wicket, controlling every stage of the operation inside the factory of finesse. From corner kicks, to throw ins, to brave arousing shouts to spur this team on, Lampard was always at the thick of the action. It was his penetrating pass that cut through the Hull back line for the second time, making its way to Drogba, who angled the ball to an incoming Malouda who could only square drive the delivery wide into the bill boards. Still, great ingenuity from Lampard.
Hull Took A Suprise Lead
What followed in the twenty seventh minute however, made Terry’s squad lose faith in the rational proceedings of this world. For a scrappy goal mouth episode eventually fell to Stephen Hunt who squeezed the ball home, with the utmost ease, past Petre Cech’s grasp. Hull City now had the upper hand. Astonishing.
Yet Still Chelsea dominated with possession football, their players elegantly dancing around the pitch like ballerinas, such were their mazy dribbles and enterprising authority. Unfortunately, the scenario had changed dramatically after the away goal, as the marquee players were now the war entertainers for the Chelsea supporters to use as an escape amidst the blitz of Hunt’s merciless goal. World War Broadway had begun.
Drogba Equalised With A Fine Free-Kick
Abramovich’s gunmen shot back though, as was inevitable. Didier Drogba, who missed his glorious chance in the first minute, made sure he basked in glory in the thirty sixth. With a free kick outside the area, Drogba used accuracy rather than power, and glided the ball over the wall which landed on the floor of Myhill’s net in the right hand corner. The equaliser Ancelotii so desperately needed.
Chelsea came out of the tunnel for the start of the second half as furious as a young child who had had his school lunch money stolen. Lampard was again at centre of everything that the his fluent team created. His fourty eighth minute drive outside the box almost gave Ancelotti’s side the lead, only for his effort to languish the wrong side of the net.
Hull Defended Heroically
To be fair, Hull defended heroically with Turner heading trouble away and Gardner mowing over any weeds in the precarious garden that was Phil Brown’s team’s Chelsea-occupied territory. The only threat they posed was on the counter, with Hunt hopeful on conjuring up a further surprise to his already remarkable strike in the first half, but the blue man wall of defenders learned from their earlier mistake and prevented another set back from taking place.
Dawson continued to marshal his defence brilliantly amidst the Chelsea onslaught. Drogba went close again, Anelka then joined the Hull firing range with a couple of creative efforts, this time Essien tried his luck, but Hull held firm. Ballack was then brought on in attempt to add his German jousting ability to the Chelsea front line. But then it was their back line that was under pressure this time. Boateng slowed down time outside the Chelsea box and chipped a cross that was headed down for the grateful Folan to strike home a shot. Yet his lack of ball control prevented any danger for Chelsea in the fifty fifth minute.
Drogba Had The Last Laugh
Still Chelsea threatened and still they fell short, Hull were continuing to be as stubborn and resilient as they had been all game. Yet something had to give. It seems only the greatest of teams use the few minutes to their advantage - Chelsea used the last second. Drogba flew down the channel with intent and flicked the ball over which bounced with precision into Myhill’s far corner in the ninety sixth minute from a seemingly impossible angle. Unbelievable. A double for Drogba and double delight for the supporters. So, Chelsea win this battle, but thirty seven more games will decide if Ancelotti can win the Premier League war.
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