August 27, 2011
Sports
lONDON-(AFP) – Chelsea left it
late to clinch a 3-1 victory
over 10-man Norwich that
was marred by a serious
injury suffered by Didier
Drogba at Stamford Bridge
on Saturday.
Andre Villas-Boas’s side were
in danger of being held to a
draw by newly-promoted
Norwich when Grant Holt
punished a mistake from
Blues goalkeeper Hilario to
cancel out Jose Bosingwa’s
opener.
Drogba was stretchered off
soon after when he landed
heavily following an aerial
collision with Norwich
goalkeeper John Ruddy.
But Lampard ensured
Chelsea won for the second
time in three league games
under Villas-Boas when he
drove home a spot-kick with
eight minutes remaining
before Juan Mata marked his
debut following his move
from Valencia with a goal in
the final moments.
“He (Drogba) lost
consciousness completely on
the pitch. It looked pretty
nasty,” Villas-Boas said.
“We are just waiting for the
full exams on his concussion
and hopefully nothing is
wrong.”
Chelsea’s sixth minute
opener came from an
unlikely source as Portugal
right-back Bosingwa netted
his first goal since November
2008 with a powerful long-
range effort that flashed in
off a post.
That should have been the
springboard for a dominant
Chelsea display, yet Holt
equalised in the 63rd minute.
Holt was given a large
helping hand by Hilario —
playing in place of the
injured Petr Cech — as the
Portuguese stopper came
way off his line in a failed
attempt to catch a Wes
Hoolahan cross and Holt was
able to hook into the empty
net.
It got worse for Chelsea
moments later when Drogba
landed in sickening fashion
following his collision with
Ruddy and the game was
stopped for seven minutes
while the Ivorian was
carried off wearing a
breathing aid.
However, Lampard got the
second goal from the spot
after Ruddy was sent off for
bringing down Ramires and
Spain winger Mata, on as a
substitute, struck with a
curler deep into stoppage
time.
Blackburn missed two spot-
kicks and then paid the
penalty as Everton sneaked a
1-0 win at Ewood Park.
Rovers squandered a chance
to take the lead early in the
second half when Tim
Howard saved Junior
Hoilett’s penalty after Mauro
Formica made the most of
minimal contact from Ross
Barkley to win the spot-kick.
Formica missed from the
spot himself — shooting
against a post — after being
fouled by Phil Jagielka in the
final minutes.
Everton made the hosts pay
for those misses when
Spanish midfielder Mikel
Arteta stroke home a 90th
minute penalty
controversially awarded by
Lee Mason for a Chris Samba
challenge on Marouane
Fellaini.
Swansea were held to a 0-0
home draw for the second
successive week as
Sunderland held firm in a
dour struggle at the Liberty
Stadium.
Brendan Rodgers’ newly-
promoted team drew with
Wigan seven days ago and
found it equally hard to
break down the Black Cats’
defence, with Scott Sinclair
going closest with a shot
that hit the bar.
Wigan maintained their
unbeaten start as a fine
double by Argentinian
striker Franco Di Santo
secured a 2-0 win over QPR.
Di Santo – tripling his total of
goals for the club to only
three goals in 32
appearances since joining
from Chelsea for £2 million
last August – struck in each
half to give Wigan their first
win of the season after two
draws.
Wolves remain undefeated
after Mick McCarthy’s team
ground out a 0-0 draw at
local rivals Aston Villa.
McCarthy’s men won their
opening two league matches
against Blackburn and
Fulham and showed plenty
of grit to keep Villa at bay in
a hard-fought but ultimately
uninspiring midlands derby.
Liverpool host Bolton later
on Saturday, while on
Sunday champions
Manchester United take on
Arsenal, Manchester City
travel to Tottenham.
Also on Sunday, Newcastle
play Fulham and West Brom
host Stoke. Vanguard reports..
Sports
lONDON-(AFP) – Chelsea left it
late to clinch a 3-1 victory
over 10-man Norwich that
was marred by a serious
injury suffered by Didier
Drogba at Stamford Bridge
on Saturday.
Andre Villas-Boas’s side were
in danger of being held to a
draw by newly-promoted
Norwich when Grant Holt
punished a mistake from
Blues goalkeeper Hilario to
cancel out Jose Bosingwa’s
opener.
Drogba was stretchered off
soon after when he landed
heavily following an aerial
collision with Norwich
goalkeeper John Ruddy.
But Lampard ensured
Chelsea won for the second
time in three league games
under Villas-Boas when he
drove home a spot-kick with
eight minutes remaining
before Juan Mata marked his
debut following his move
from Valencia with a goal in
the final moments.
“He (Drogba) lost
consciousness completely on
the pitch. It looked pretty
nasty,” Villas-Boas said.
“We are just waiting for the
full exams on his concussion
and hopefully nothing is
wrong.”
Chelsea’s sixth minute
opener came from an
unlikely source as Portugal
right-back Bosingwa netted
his first goal since November
2008 with a powerful long-
range effort that flashed in
off a post.
That should have been the
springboard for a dominant
Chelsea display, yet Holt
equalised in the 63rd minute.
Holt was given a large
helping hand by Hilario —
playing in place of the
injured Petr Cech — as the
Portuguese stopper came
way off his line in a failed
attempt to catch a Wes
Hoolahan cross and Holt was
able to hook into the empty
net.
It got worse for Chelsea
moments later when Drogba
landed in sickening fashion
following his collision with
Ruddy and the game was
stopped for seven minutes
while the Ivorian was
carried off wearing a
breathing aid.
However, Lampard got the
second goal from the spot
after Ruddy was sent off for
bringing down Ramires and
Spain winger Mata, on as a
substitute, struck with a
curler deep into stoppage
time.
Blackburn missed two spot-
kicks and then paid the
penalty as Everton sneaked a
1-0 win at Ewood Park.
Rovers squandered a chance
to take the lead early in the
second half when Tim
Howard saved Junior
Hoilett’s penalty after Mauro
Formica made the most of
minimal contact from Ross
Barkley to win the spot-kick.
Formica missed from the
spot himself — shooting
against a post — after being
fouled by Phil Jagielka in the
final minutes.
Everton made the hosts pay
for those misses when
Spanish midfielder Mikel
Arteta stroke home a 90th
minute penalty
controversially awarded by
Lee Mason for a Chris Samba
challenge on Marouane
Fellaini.
Swansea were held to a 0-0
home draw for the second
successive week as
Sunderland held firm in a
dour struggle at the Liberty
Stadium.
Brendan Rodgers’ newly-
promoted team drew with
Wigan seven days ago and
found it equally hard to
break down the Black Cats’
defence, with Scott Sinclair
going closest with a shot
that hit the bar.
Wigan maintained their
unbeaten start as a fine
double by Argentinian
striker Franco Di Santo
secured a 2-0 win over QPR.
Di Santo – tripling his total of
goals for the club to only
three goals in 32
appearances since joining
from Chelsea for £2 million
last August – struck in each
half to give Wigan their first
win of the season after two
draws.
Wolves remain undefeated
after Mick McCarthy’s team
ground out a 0-0 draw at
local rivals Aston Villa.
McCarthy’s men won their
opening two league matches
against Blackburn and
Fulham and showed plenty
of grit to keep Villa at bay in
a hard-fought but ultimately
uninspiring midlands derby.
Liverpool host Bolton later
on Saturday, while on
Sunday champions
Manchester United take on
Arsenal, Manchester City
travel to Tottenham.
Also on Sunday, Newcastle
play Fulham and West Brom
host Stoke. Vanguard reports..
