Filed under: Chelsea, Fulham, Carling Cup, Football, Match Reports
Ten-man Chelsea needed a penalty shoot-out to dispose of neighbours Fulham in a derby that was more entertaining than the score-line after 120 minutes suggested.
Frank Lampard saw his penalty saved as Chelsea fans feared the worst, having seen their side lose seven of the last eight shoot-outs, including the 2008 Champions League final.
But John Terry, who famously missed in Moscow that year, scored his and when Fulham's Bryan Ruiz saw his hit the bar and bounce not quite over the line, Chelsea were through.
But it was a penalty miss during the match itself that really cost Fulham.
Two minutes had been played in the second half when Alex was adjudged to have fouled Kerim Frei in the box and was sent off as well as conceding a penalty.
But Pajtim Kasami blasted the spot-kick against the bar, with substitute goalkeeper Ross Turnbull beaten.
Turnbull had only just come on to replace Petr Cech, who had been hurt in a collision with Fulham striker Orlando Sa.
He wasn't the only Chelsea casualty either as striker Daniel Sturridge had been hurt scoring a goal that was chalked off for offside.
When the tie turned out to be the only one of the night without a goal, it was decided via a penalty shoot out.
THE SHOOT-OUT:
Lampard's is saved; Zamora scores 0-1
Luiz rolls home calmly; Sidwell scores against his old club 1-2
Terry slots his; Dembele's is saved 2-2
Kalou finds the roof of the net; Baird keeps calm 3-3
Malouda puts Chelsea ahead; Ruiz hits the bar 4-3
HIGHLIGHTS: 7 mins: Sturridge fires into the side netting before, at the other end, Kasami blasts a hopeful effort well off target.
18 mins: Salomon Kalou heads a wide after Florent Malouda had picked him out with a cross from the left.
20 mins: Romelu Lukaku barges Matthew Briggs off the ball but Mark Schwarzer parries the shot and, a few seconds later, the pressure is off when Kalou fires wide.
26 mins: Great chance for Fulham when Bryan Ruiz plays Orlando Sa through only for Cech to block his attempt to poke home. The same combination results in a shot into the side netting a minute later.
39 mins: Chelsea put the ball in the net as Josh McEachran bursts into the box and shoots past Schwarzer. Sturridge is there ahead of the last defender to make sure it goes in - and as a result is flagged offside.
42 mins: Sturridge was hurt in the process and limps off.
43 mins: Cech and Sa are hurt in a collision. Cech did not appear after the break.
47 mins: Frank Lampard sends Kalou through but it's side-netting again.
48 mins: Alex slides in on Frei and appears to get the ball only for the referee to award a penalty and send him off. Kasami then hits the bar with the spot kick.
70 mins: Malouda scuffs a good chance at Schwarzer, who almost fumbles.
73 mins: Turnbull makes a good save to deny Fulham substitute Mousa Dembele. Turnbull then palms a cross over and drops the corner at the feet of Chris Baird - who fires wide.
76 mins: John Terry sees an effort saved but Fulham go close at the other end straight after.
92 mins: Lukaku comes off second best in a one-on-one with Schwarzer and is hurt.
115 mins: Substitute Bobby Zamora curls one wide for Fulham.
128 mins: Steve Sidwell, another Fulham sub, volleys a good chance just over.
REACTION
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was delighted to have come through.
"It was a superhuman effort. We were with 10 men for over 70 minutes and still created the most and the best opportunities.
"I was made aware of our shoot-out record by the players. They also told me they go out of the Carling Cup when they go down to 10 men.
"So in one stroke we have got rid of two bad records."
Villas-Boas had no complaints about the Alex penalty, but wasn't impressed with the red card.
"Alex got a bit of the ball but he got the man as well. Just a penalty would have been enough punishment."
He also confirmed that Cech had not been badly hurt.
"Petr has gone for a scan at the hospital but he is OK. He felt a bit dizzy at half-time and we decided it was better not to take a risk. I expect him to play on Saturday."
Fulham manager Martin Jol wasn't convinced by his players' claims that Ruiz's penalty had actually gone in
"I haven't seen it again but I did see him go towards the goalkeeper and I knew he had missed."
But he reckoned the £10.6 million man would recover.
"He is a confident player. The one thing he needs is to get used to the rhythm of the English game."
WHAT IT MEANS: That AVB is a lucky tinker. And that Fulham can't win games despite holding their own.
CHELSEA 0 FULHAM 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Chelsea (4-1-2-3): Cech 7 (Turnbull 46, 7); Ferreira 6, Luiz 7, Alex 5, Bertrand 6; Romeu 7; McEachran 6 (Terry 52, 7), Malouda 6; Sturridge 6 (Lampard 43, 6), Lukaku 6, Kalou 5.
Subs (not used): Mata, Drogba, Mikel, Bosingwa.
Fulham (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer 7; Kelly 6, Grygera 8, Senderos 7, Briggs 6; Kasami 5 (Zamora 78, 6), Baird 6, Gecov 6 (Sidwell 90, 5); Frei 7; Ruiz 7; Sa 7 (Dembele 59, 6).
Subs not used: Etheridge, J-A Riise, Kacaniklic, Halliche.
REFEREE: Chris Foy
ATTENDANCE: 37,632
NEXT UP:
- Chelsea v Swansea (Home), Premier League, 24/09, 1500 BST
- Fulham v West Bromwich (Away), Premier League, 24/09 1500 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH: Zdenek Grygera (Fulham): The big Pole made a number of brave blocks and kept Lukaku relatively quiet.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/21/chelsea-0-fulham-0-chelsea-win-4-3-on-penalties-blues-enjoy-r/
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