Dec 09 2008
Chelsea Win Against Cluj
Chelsea did enough to progress through to the Champions League knockout stage this evening with a 2-1 win against CFR 1907 Cluj-Napoca. Going into this game Chelsea knew that a win was the only way to secure a place in the knockout phase, and that if Bordeaux won against Roma, and they failed to win against Cluj, then they were heading out of the Champions League at the group stage.
Ultimately Bordeaux lost 2-0 against Roma this evening and Chelsea could therefore have lost and still progressed in second place as they have done; they weren’t to know that though, and did the job of seeing themselves progress safely through to the knockout phase.
It wasn’t always plain sailing for Chelsea this evening though, they won the game 2-1, but at one stage had been pegged back to 1-1 after an excellent headed goal from Yssouf Kone. It was only in the 71st minute that Chelsea took the lead with substitute Didier Drogba, a win’s a win in football though, and this will no doubt have done Chelsea’s Champions League confidence the world of good.
Chelsea have made the Champions League semi-finals four times in the past five seasons, could they once more get that far in the Champions League of 2008/09? I believe there to be a strong chance that they shall.
