Drogba Delivers Chelsea Into Last 16 and Soothes Scolari's Suffering
Didier Drogba scored the winner as Chelsea progressed to the last 16
The sense of jeopardy was no more than a figment of the imagination, but Chelsea were not to know that. With Bordeaux's defeat in Rome, they could have lost and still advanced to the knockout phase of the Champions League. As it was, Chelsea showed why there have been uncomfortable times for them in this campaign.
When satisfaction did arrive at last, it was particularly satisfying. Didier Drogba, coming on to score the winner, showed that, despite all the injury worries, he can still be decisive in the most elevated of club competitions. It is a comfort as Chelsea, finishing as runners-up to Roma in the group, advance to the last 16. This match had been irksome to them.
With their European campaign certain to end here, the visitors had nothing whatsoever at stake. Then again, a side in that situation also has nothing to lose. Cluj, to Chelsea's disappointment, were far from apathetic. For a while, they looked keen to catch the eye for one last time before leaving the tournament. It was a little disquieting for Chelsea, who ostensibly had so much in their favor and Salamon Kalou's goal, five minutes from the interval, was celebrated with a slight sense of relief.
Chelsea must have anticipated being in complete command. As if facing the bottom team in Group A were not enough, there was further encouragement for Luiz Felipe Scolari in the absence through injury of Cluj's first-choice goalkeeper Eduard Stancioiu. The Chelsea coach had no need to take risks. He had decided against starting with a pairing of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba for the first time since he came to the club.
The Ivorian began among the substitutes. While suspension ruled out Frank Lampard, there was a potential renewal of vitality in midfield with the return from injury of Joe Cole. The latter also lowered the average age of a department of the team that included the veterans Deco and Michael Ballack. That is an entirely serious consideration.
Chelsea, once seemingly invincible at their ground, have been most vulnerable at Stamford Bridge. There had already been defeats here by Liverpool and Arsenal. Cole had not been available for either of those fixtures and his vitality did promise to be important here. In practice, he seemed slightly out of touch.
His value was still suggested by a 26th-minute drive that went wide. That, disturbingly, was a highlight for Chelsea's at that stage. An earlier opening had seen Alex head a Deco free-kick downwards so steeply that the ball reared up and cleared the crossbar. The first half was well-advanced before there was any sense that the visitors had been pinned down. Nuno Claro's credentials, as replacement goalkeeper, had not been inspected.
Cluj, indeed, had created a clear opportunity of their own. Following a 17th-minute corner, Juan Culio crossed deep from the right and his header needed to be hoofed away by Mikel John Obi. When Chelsea achieved their breakthrough, it came in a curious fashion. Deco's 40th minute free-kick was aimed for John Terry, who tumbled as his marker tangled with him. The ball flew on beyond a distracted defence and Kalou showed good control before crashing the ball home.
The goal had come with the team's first attempt on target. There is an efficiency to that, but it is not of the type to delight a manager or a home crowd. Chelsea may have been experiencing a degree of tension and a lack of fluency in the passing was a telltale sign of that. Conversely there should have been a sense of liberation after the deadlock was broken, but it was not always apparent.
Chelsea are accustomed to playing for high stakes, but not at this stage of the Champions League. There was sighting of liberation when Anelka shot against the goalkeeper Nuno Claro after 55 minutes, following build-up by Deco and Kalou, but within seconds the visitors were level.
Cluj manoeuvred on the right and a deep cross from the full-back Cristian Panin found Yssouf Koné heading home unchallenged. Two minutes later Claro had to make a good save from Joe Cole after Deco had once more prised open the visitors' defence. There was, at least, relief for Chelsea with the news that Bordeaux were behind in Rome.
That, of course, did not relieve Scolari of all concern and his desire to see the team in total control was shown in his decision to introduce Drogba. Anelka edged toward the left while Joe Cole operated in the vicinity of the substitute. The arrangement made perfect sense in the 71st minute as the midfielder clipped a pass over the defence and Drogba steered it beyond Claro.
Joe Cole was soon to be replaced by Juliano Belletti. His job was done and so, too, was Chelsea's.
When satisfaction did arrive at last, it was particularly satisfying. Didier Drogba, coming on to score the winner, showed that, despite all the injury worries, he can still be decisive in the most elevated of club competitions. It is a comfort as Chelsea, finishing as runners-up to Roma in the group, advance to the last 16. This match had been irksome to them.
With their European campaign certain to end here, the visitors had nothing whatsoever at stake. Then again, a side in that situation also has nothing to lose. Cluj, to Chelsea's disappointment, were far from apathetic. For a while, they looked keen to catch the eye for one last time before leaving the tournament. It was a little disquieting for Chelsea, who ostensibly had so much in their favor and Salamon Kalou's goal, five minutes from the interval, was celebrated with a slight sense of relief.
Chelsea must have anticipated being in complete command. As if facing the bottom team in Group A were not enough, there was further encouragement for Luiz Felipe Scolari in the absence through injury of Cluj's first-choice goalkeeper Eduard Stancioiu. The Chelsea coach had no need to take risks. He had decided against starting with a pairing of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba for the first time since he came to the club.
The Ivorian began among the substitutes. While suspension ruled out Frank Lampard, there was a potential renewal of vitality in midfield with the return from injury of Joe Cole. The latter also lowered the average age of a department of the team that included the veterans Deco and Michael Ballack. That is an entirely serious consideration.
Chelsea, once seemingly invincible at their ground, have been most vulnerable at Stamford Bridge. There had already been defeats here by Liverpool and Arsenal. Cole had not been available for either of those fixtures and his vitality did promise to be important here. In practice, he seemed slightly out of touch.
His value was still suggested by a 26th-minute drive that went wide. That, disturbingly, was a highlight for Chelsea's at that stage. An earlier opening had seen Alex head a Deco free-kick downwards so steeply that the ball reared up and cleared the crossbar. The first half was well-advanced before there was any sense that the visitors had been pinned down. Nuno Claro's credentials, as replacement goalkeeper, had not been inspected.
Cluj, indeed, had created a clear opportunity of their own. Following a 17th-minute corner, Juan Culio crossed deep from the right and his header needed to be hoofed away by Mikel John Obi. When Chelsea achieved their breakthrough, it came in a curious fashion. Deco's 40th minute free-kick was aimed for John Terry, who tumbled as his marker tangled with him. The ball flew on beyond a distracted defence and Kalou showed good control before crashing the ball home.
The goal had come with the team's first attempt on target. There is an efficiency to that, but it is not of the type to delight a manager or a home crowd. Chelsea may have been experiencing a degree of tension and a lack of fluency in the passing was a telltale sign of that. Conversely there should have been a sense of liberation after the deadlock was broken, but it was not always apparent.
Chelsea are accustomed to playing for high stakes, but not at this stage of the Champions League. There was sighting of liberation when Anelka shot against the goalkeeper Nuno Claro after 55 minutes, following build-up by Deco and Kalou, but within seconds the visitors were level.
Cluj manoeuvred on the right and a deep cross from the full-back Cristian Panin found Yssouf Koné heading home unchallenged. Two minutes later Claro had to make a good save from Joe Cole after Deco had once more prised open the visitors' defence. There was, at least, relief for Chelsea with the news that Bordeaux were behind in Rome.
That, of course, did not relieve Scolari of all concern and his desire to see the team in total control was shown in his decision to introduce Drogba. Anelka edged toward the left while Joe Cole operated in the vicinity of the substitute. The arrangement made perfect sense in the 71st minute as the midfielder clipped a pass over the defence and Drogba steered it beyond Claro.
Joe Cole was soon to be replaced by Juliano Belletti. His job was done and so, too, was Chelsea's.
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