Benfica 0 - 1 Chelsea

27/03/2012

Benfica 0 (0)-(0) 1 Chelsea
                             Kalou 75'

The matches really are coming thick and fast, this being the 3rd midweek match in a row, fatigue really must be setting into the Chelsea players. That fatigue loss was represented in the starting eleven which was far from full strength, Benfica will be kicking themselves they didn't capitalise on such a weakened Chelsea team. The most important thing when playing away from home in the Champions League is to get away goals. Kalou converted midway through the second half to provide us with such a valuable goal.

The Match
Despite being a fantastic result away from home, I do believe that it was quite a poor performance. That may be down to fatigue or the different players which played but it came together to provide a unbelievably frustrating match to watch. Mikel and Meireles repeatedly gave away possession so, so easily with loose passes and abysmal touches. With their in-effective presence it provided Torres with an impossible job to try and hold the ball up for no-one while trying to chase down lost causes from rushed clearances. On top of the ineffective midfield the referee was one of the most annoying and in-consistent I have seen all season. Typically with foreign football, there was a fair share of Portuguese diving and rolling around, all of which the referee completely fell for time after time. Furthermore, this physicality that was so brutally painful and worthy of fouls for Benfica was completely ignored and waved away when it was Chelsea on the receiving end.

The goal
Salomon Kalou follows his goal up against Leicester with a far more important and valuable goal at Benfica. Ramires started this goal off by getting his pass off to Torres just before being crunched by the oncoming Benfica player. Torres used his pace and strength to accelerate away from his marker before reaching the penalty area wide right, slowed down the pace to wait for the arrival of Kalou. Torres chipped the ball into the centre above the sliding legs of the defenders who were tracking back. Kalou was left with a simple tap into a gaping net.

What is needed in the second leg?
Any Chelsea win or draw will result in Chelsea going to the Semi-final. Any Benfica win will result in at least penalties or a Benfica Semi-final. Benfica must score twice to progress in normal time.

Chelsea 0 - 0 Benfica - 1-0 Aggregate - Chelsea progress
Chelsea 1 - 0 Benfica - 2-0 Aggregate - Chelsea progress
Chelsea 0 - 1 Benfica - 1-1 Aggregate - Extra time & penalties
Chelsea 0 - 2 Benfica - 1-2 Aggregate - Benfica progress
Chelsea 1 - 2 Benfica - 2-2 Aggregate - Benfica progress

Player Ratings

Cech - 8/10

Kept out Benfica with some crucial saves. No one has kept a clean sheet against Benfica at the Stadium of light in two years which really outlines the achievement for the keeper and his defence. Most notable save was against Cardozo who climbed at the back post to head on target.

Ferreira - 7/10

There will have been a lot of Chelsea fans who cringed and worried when they saw him on the team sheet. By far past his best years, he does lack a lot of pace which severely damages his potential going forward. However, when defending away from home in the Champions League there is not as much of a requirement going forward. His intelligence when defending was top notch and used his experience to defend solidly without pace.

Luiz - 8/10

The centre back partner to Terry has changed a lot over the recent matches but both Cahill and Luiz both provide us with a bit of pace in the back line. Luiz was solid today and vitally cleared one off the line just after half time to keep his former club at bay. Still showed his immature side with a hopeless shot and ambitious free-kick.
  

Terry - 8/10

Leading the line once again and got some telling touches and stops in to deny danger man Cardozo many times throughout the match.

Cole - 7/10

Typical standard for Cole for vast majorities of the match, however, was often caught with two players at the back post, better communication was required with his team-mates to sort out the re-occurring problem. Firstly Cardozo got his header in on goal and secondly Cole almost diverted the ball into his own net.

Mikel - 6/10 

Like mentioned before, the struggling factor in the match was the slow, un-creative midfield. Struggled throughout the match to get a hold of the midfield but never really imposed himself.

Meireles - 5/10 

Ditto the Mikel synopsis with the added negative of even more misplaced passes, needless fouls and rash clearances.

Ramires - 9/10 M.O.M

Ramires was the saving grace for Chelsea. By far the best player on the pitch he had the pace on every one of the back four. It was frustrating that we didn't utilise his pace more. He motored past every one at every opportunity and carried the ball out of the defence and kept a bit of possession. The only complaint being that there could have been more quality in the final third.
   

Mata - 5/10

Such a disappointing night for Mata. He looked totally lost and tired spending the entire time walking about never getting involved. Had 2 moments, 1 where he rounded the keeper and un-luckily hit the post and the second in a massive amount of space going for a weak chip that never looked to worry the keeper who was more concerned with the time it was taking to get the ball back to mount an attack. Apart from that was completely non existent.

Kalou - 6/10 

Was utterly useless for 89 minutes and 30 seconds. For 30 seconds he managed to move to be in the right place at the right time and net a massively important goal. So you can't really complain. Although he is still rather rubbish.

Torres - 7/10
Chased lost balls and booted clearances for 90 minutes. Really struggled to get any notable service into his feet and when he did, he tore down the wing and set up the winning goal.