Chelsea on Tour: Match 3 v MLS All-Stars in Philadelphia
Winner
By Since66 July 25 2012
In the early hours of Thursday morning (1.55am UK time), Chelsea kick-off their 3rd match of the USA tour against the best of the MLS – MLS All-Stars – a team which is expected to include the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Landon Donovan.
The final piece of Bobby Di’s USA squad jigsaw arrived in Philadelphia on Monday.
Fernando Torres - 2012 FA Cup Winner, 2012 Champions League winner and Euro 2012 winner – was waiting at the hotel to greet the squad as they arrived from New York after their 1-1 draw against PSG in the early hours on Monday morning.
Torres isn’t expected to feature against the All-Stars, but he has started to train with the squad and is working to play some part in Chelsea’s final tour game against AC Milan in Miami on Saturday night.
The PSG game wasn’t a comfortable experience to watch, perhaps the early hours, tiredness, fatigue and lack of sleep trying to stay awake for the kick-off may have been contributing factors, but I thought PSG ruled the roost throughout the first-half and Lavezzi caused Chelsea as many problems as he did in the 1st leg of the Champions League game against Napoli.
I also couldn’t understand why Sam Hutchinson found himself further forward than Kakuta and the unlikely pairing struggled to defend when PSG exploited the gaps left down Chelsea’s right.
I have also said this many times over and I will say it again.
When John Terry – Captain, Leader, Legend - is absent from the pitch, Chelsea struggle.
Chelsea do not have a ready made replacement and it is about time the management recognises this issue and start to groom someone ready to takeover from JT when he finally hangs up his boots.
Once JT, Ivanovic and Ashley Cole came on the pitch, Chelsea settled defensively.
When Essien, McEachran, Ramires joined the fray Chelsea improved their domination of the midfield and Marin, Piazon and Malouda improved Chelsea’s creativity in the final third.
It was a passing combination between Piazon and Ramires down Chelsea’s right in the closing minutes of the second-half that saw Piazon score his first goal for the club and Chelsea’s equaliser with eight minutes to go.
Despite the 1.55am (UK time) kick-off, we will endeavour to bring you regular updates on the message board below as Chelsea chase their second win of the tour.
2012 FA CUP WINNERS, 2012 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS
TWITTER: @WVOMChelsea
Chelsea on Tour: Match 3 v MLS All-Stars in Philadelphia
Posted by: 50 Years Over 100 Years (IP Logged)
Date: 25/07/2012 05:20
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Henry got the ball down the left, crossed it. JT got a touch the ball rebounded off Wondoloski's bum, bounced down and all he had to do was slot it past Hilario from close range.
From the resulting corner the ball broke at the edge of the area, Ramires skipped in to the byline and crossed for Super Frank to scoop in at the far post after Kennedy had completely misjudged the flight of the ball
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