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Kaieteur News
CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS...
Thursday April 19, 2012
UEFA Champions League Semi-Final...
Alpha, Milerock face the axe Chelsea beat Barcelona 1-0 in first leg
Anthony Abrams
Andrew Murray
Wayne Dover
After producing lackluster performances on Tuesday, Alpha United and Milerock FC will have to lift their game immensely today if they are to qualify for the next round of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship. In the opening fixture, Linden’s Milerock will entertain Suriname’s InterMoengotapoe from 4pm and that will be followed with the feature clash between Georgetown-based Alpha United and Curacao’s Hubentut Fortuna at 6pm. Milerock, losers to Fortuna, on opening night will have to bury their chances when they create them unlike their first match. The locals fashioned numerous chances, but poor finishing saw many go to waste and they will have to take advantage of their opportunities if they are to score a win against a Dutch team that is disciplined and willing to captilise on the slimmest of chances provided
to them. They totally looked more superior tactically and technically against one of Guyana’s leading clubs, Alpha United, so Milerock will have to play way above that level if they are to stand a chance against them. InterMoengotapoe seems to be a well-drilled unit and played like a real professional team and will start as favourites to win and put themselves in a solid position to advance to the next stage. Alpha United’s clash against Fortuna should see the locals gain their first points, but that will depend heavily on what sort of improvement Coach Wayne Dover was able to orchestrate in the 24 hours since their loss to the Dutch side. They looked way below their best, uncharacteristically creating few chances to score goals, while those that came their way saw some extremely poor decisions and lacked the clinical efficiency usually
associated with the team that made it to the third round of the previous tournament. Alpha’s opponent looked like a team that is not up to their level of play, but as we all know, the stronger team on paper is not the decisive winner in some cases, but rather what occurs on the field of play usually determines the winner. Dwain Jacobs and Andrew Murray Jnr. both missed glaring opportunities, and they will have to lift their game to provide the team with the platform to win, while Fortuna did look threatening in midfield, but lacked the potency up front and coming up against a strong defensive unit like Alpha could prove to be a daunting prospect for them. However, they must be brimming with confidence after securing full points against Milerock, and that could be the little inspiration that they needed to produce a better performance. Today is D-Day for both local teams and fans are being urged to come out and offer their support for the locals in their crucial engagements. The Stadium was a disappointment with the sprinkling of fans that witnessed the two games, but with more support, it could very well be the ingredient that was lacking to help push Alpha and Milerock over the line this time. Admission is $500 and children free.
Chelsea’s Didier Drogba celebrates after scoring the lone goal in his team’s 1-0 win against FC Barcelona yesterday at Stamford Bridge, England. (AP Photo) (BBC): Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a precious lead to take to the Nou Camp for the Champions League semifinal second leg as his goal beat holders Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. The Catalans dominated possession as well as creating a succession of chances-but Drogba struck in a first-half injury time goal to give interim manager Roberto di Matteo’s side an advantage to protect in Barcelona next Tuesday. Chelsea were forced to mount a resilient rearguard action in the face of Barcelona’s famous passing “carousel”, but Drogba converted their one clear chance to reward the outstanding defensive work of Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole and captain John Terry in keeping Lionel Messi and company at bay. Barcelona produced evidence of the huge threat they will pose in front of their own supporters as they enjoyed 72% of the possession, but Chelsea will be elated at not only claiming the victory but also keeping a crucial clean sheet. Alexis Sanchez hit the crossbar for Barcelona early on and Pedro hit the post in the dying seconds-while Cole cleared off the line from Cesc Fabregas. Goalkeeper Petr Cech also saved well from Messi and Carles Puyol as Pep Guardiola’s team tried
every avenue in an attempt to break Chelsea down. In the end, Chelsea’s organisation and discipline was rewarded but Di Matteo knows they will have to produce the same - and more besides - in the Nou Camp to confirm a meeting with either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final in Munich next month. Di Matteo clearly saw Drogba’s power as a potential threat to a Barcelona defence stripped of Gerard Pique-but he barely caught sight of goal in a first 45 minutes in which the Catalans exerted their technical superiority. Chelsea were riding their luck as early as the eighth minute when Andres Iniesta played in Sanchez. The Chilean’s lob left Cech stranded but his effort bounced back to safety off the bar. Fabregas was the guilty party when Chelsea had another escape soon after. Messi was the creator to set up Iniesta but when Cech could only push out his shot, the former Arsenal captain miscued his finish from eight yards. Messi was the next to test Cech with a header from Sanchez’s cross, the Chelsea keeper gathering the effort comfortably as Barcelona once more failed to produce the final touch to accompany their artistic approach work. As half-time approached
Fabregas had another chance to give Barcelona the lead. He collected an incisive Messi pass and this time beat Cech, who required Cole to scramble back and clear the ball off the line. Chelsea, at this point, would have been happy to reach the interval on level terms - but instead they produced the wonderful bonus of a goal in first-half injury time. Messi was caught in possession by Frank Lampard, who released Ramires, and the reliable Brazilian served up the perfect cross for Drogba to sweep a left-footed finish past Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Drogba’s main contribution prior to his goal was to go through his full range of theatrics but this was an example of exactly why Di Matteo made him his choice. As is their style, Barcelona continued as if almost failing to recognise they had fallen behind - but also in the same vein of wasting the openings they created as Adriano saw a shot pushed away by Cech and Sanchez was unable to apply the finish to Fabregas’s scooped pass. Chelsea were pushed right back into their own territory as Barcelona probed and passed for an opening. They were able, however, to survive without too many serious alarms until the closing moments. Cech dived away to his right to save Puyol’s header from Messi’s free-kick then escaped again in the final seconds as substitute Pedro struck the base of the post, with Sergio Busquets lifting the rebound wildly over the bar. And after clinching a place against Liverpool in the FA Cup Final with victory against Tottenham on Sunday, Chelsea can now contemplate the possibility of reaching their second Champions League Final in five years.