Chelsea slump away at Marseille
442 Staff - Wednesday 08 December 2010, 23:09
MARSEILLE - Brazilian striker
Brandao piled on the misery for out-of-form Chelsea with the
only goal in Olympique Marseille's 1-0 victory in Champions
League Group F on Wednesday.
Brandao tapped the ball past keeper Petr Cech from close
range with nine minutes to go after a left-wing cross from Taye
Taiwo was deflected into his path.
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Chelsea, who have picked up just five points from the last
18 in the Premier League, produced another sluggish performance
and Didier Drogba was taken off on the hour after the Ivory
Coast forward struggled on his return to his former club.
Defeat ended Chelsea's 100 percent record in the group as
they finished with 15 points from six games, three ahead of
Marseille. Both teams had already qualified for the knockout
stages.
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"We are in a difficult situation, we are losing confidence... and we are not very lucky," Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti
told reporters. "Tonight was our opportunity to restart a
positive spiral.
"This weekend we are playing Tottenham in the Premier
League, a top team in good form. I am more worried for my team
(than for my future)."
Drogba received a standing ovation at the Stade Velodrome
but gave another anonymous display as his side were outplayed in
the first half.
Chelsea, without Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole,
John Obi Mikel and Alex, were rocking early on as Mathieu
Valbuena rattled the crossbar from 25 metres and Marseille went
close several times.
Confusion then reigned when Chelsea were awarded a corner
rather than a penalty after Florent Malouda was brought down by
Souleymane Diawara.
Russian referee Vladislav Bezborodov seemed to point to the
spot before changing his mind and awarding a corner, ignoring
the pleas of the visitors.
Chelsea's Salomon Kalou also appeared to be brought down in
the box while at the other end Gabriel Heinze headed the ball
past Cech only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Both teams created little in the second period until Brandao
struck to floor last season's English Premier League and FA Cup
winners.