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Lampard's penalty pulls Chelsea to within six
Manchester, England (Sports Network) - Chelsea moved to within six points of league-leaders Manchester United with a 1-0 win at Manchester City on Wednesday.
Frank Lampard scored the lone goal of the match from the penalty spot, and Chelsea's defense recorded its fourth-straight clean sheet in league play to keep within striking distance of the Red Devils, and keep City only six points clear of the drop zone.
The opening 45 minutes saw neither side produce much in the way of scoring chances. Manchester City's Joey Barton and Chelsea's Arjen Robben both badly misfired on shots from inside the box, and the game remained scoreless.
The Blues managed to find the net in the 28th minute as Salomon Kalou took possession of the ball on the left and carried it into the box. He pushed the ball past defender Micah Richards, but the City man pulled him down, earning Chelsea a penalty kick. Lampard then stepped to the spot and sent keeper Andreas Isaksson the wrong way, slotting the ball into the lower left corner to put Chelsea on top 1-0.
Manchester City responded with a period of pressure at the end of the opening half that threatened the Chelsea goal but produced nothing. City created a number of corner kicks and goalmouth action, but failed to produce a quality shot on goal.
Chelsea continued to play air-tight defense, denying City a chance to get the equalizer. Lampard nearly handed Chelsea a two-goal cushion in the 57th minute after a nice chip from Robben. The Dutchman found Lampard inside the box and the England international turned and lobbed a shot past the onrushing Isaksson. However, Richards got behind the keeper and cleared the ball off the line to keep his club within one goal.
Former City midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips was brought on in 78th minute and nearly had a goal less than one minute later. His rocket from 25-yards out beat the keeper but he was denied by the cross bar.
Barton had a chance two minutes later to pull City level but his shot from the edge of the box went inches wide of the left post.
In Wednesday's other EPL contest, Arsenal got a goal from Vassiriki Diaby to beat Aston Villa 1-0 and move into third place in the Premiership standings.
Comments
Critics of Lamps...SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Don't hate a great player just because he plays for an arse of a manager.
Posted by: vasoccerstar | March 15, 2007 11:34 AM
So he scored a spot kick. BIG DEAL! He's still overated as a player & he has no business being on England's national team. He just crowds up the middle. They should axe Lampard from the national program & leave the middle to Gerrard as he's a natural & so much better in the middle than Lampard. Gerrard is England's future in the middle.
Posted by: Scotty | March 15, 2007 02:28 PM
Lampard is a joke. He's completly overated. As a pro he's not even average. The only reason he's a pro to begin with is his family has connections & his uncle is a known manager who was able to get him his first break. As for Chelsea's manager I don't like the guy he looks like a snake but he's a good manager & he's much more of a value to Chelsea that Lampard the overated loser.
Posted by: Spivey Point | March 15, 2007 03:36 PM
You know everyone's been talking about how lucky United's been recently. Chelsea needed a penalty to grind out a victory against a City team that's probably in the worst form of any team in the League.
Scotty, I agree, Lampard & Gerrard don't work well together in the midfield.
Posted by: Ghost Rider | March 15, 2007 06:31 PM
Lampard is a little overrated. But he is a good player. Lampard and Gerrard do work together well most of the time. I think Lampard's real problem is not being able to finish inside the box. Hes excellent at shooting for 18 yards or 20 yards but i think he gets to excited when he gets in there.
Posted by: RcFutbolFreak | March 15, 2007 08:25 PM
Lampard is definitely overrated. He's average at best. What makes him look good is the talent that surrounds him. He's a poor finisher and if he never got lucky from the fringe of the box he wouldn't get any goals at all. Wait, I take that back. He wouldn't get any goals at all... except PKs. As for England, Gerrard is definitely the man for the middle. Spivey, Joe Cole is best on the left where he can make use of his flashy moves. Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves should control the middle with Lennon and Cole on the wings. Lampard can watch from the bench. Or the stands. Or even the TV.
Posted by: Super Meng | March 16, 2007 12:14 PM
Super Meng you are right! You tell it like it really is! The oly reason I mentioned Joe Cole was to state England have more options as far as midfielders go than the overated loser Lampard & your right about Hargreaves & Lennon as well. They don't need Lampard & they should put politics aside & give hime the boot!
Posted by: Spivey Point | March 16, 2007 12:54 PM
Wow!!!! Oh my gosh! He scored a spot kick spirit fingers for Lampard. Lampard can only score when he gets a spot kick or when he is right in front of the goal and the goalie is laying on the ground. He isn't good like how Ronaldo(Man.U) set up so many chances in his last game and he is also a goal scoring threat.
Posted by: Keeeper King | March 18, 2007 09:06 AM
Lampard is a failure who has connections who played politics that opened doors for him. That's the only reason he's playing as a pro. If he didn't have connections he couldn't even make it as a pre-season walk on in the MLS.
Posted by: Teddy Bear Tom | March 18, 2007 02:14 PM