Southampton |
1-1 |
Chelsea |
Fernandes 51 |
|
Lampard 79 |
Barclaycard Premiership, Aug 28
|
Frank Lampard came up trumps again for lack-lustre
Chelsea, earning a point with an equaliser 10 minutes from time after
Frenchman Fabrice Fernandes threatened Southampton's first win of the
season - with their first goal of the campaign.
Lampard, the 11million former West Ham midfielder, completed a
vibrant Chelsea comeback from two goals down with a late winner at
Charlton on the opening day.
This time he spared their blushes in an even bigger way -
especially those of second-half substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen who
bungled two perfect opportunities to win the game after replacing
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
There has been major speculation that Chelsea will sell both their
hot-shot strikers before the transfer window closes on Saturday, but
neither looked on form here although it was Gudjohnsen who carved out
the opening for Lampard's rescue act.
And right at the death Chelsea were shouting long and loud for a
penalty after Chris Marsden appeared to bundle the ball away with a
hand but referee Chris Foy was unmoved.
To ironic cheers from the Saints fans, Blues boss Claudio Ranieri
replaced the ineffective Hasselbaink with Gudjohnsen for the start of
the second half.
And although Saints loyalists almost choked on those cheers when
the Icelander should have scored with his first meaningful touch, they
were still celebrating at the end after Gudjohnsen passed up an even
better chance.
Hasselbaink had been Mr Anonymous for the entire first half apart
from when he was jeered for a theatrical fall and then had a chance
taken off his toe by Wayne Bridge's magnificent interception.
In a tepid opening 45 minutes, Chelsea, led by the inspiration of
Gianfranco Zola and Boudewijn Zenden, lost their way after a bright
start and keeper Carlo Cudicini needed to make fine reaction saves
from James Beattie's sprawling header and Bridge's 25-yard blast.
But with Gudjohnsen on for Hasselbaink, Chelsea put together an
overdue move of supreme class at the start of the second period.
Celestine Babayaro, Enrique de Lucas and Zola linked up to split
the Saints defence, leaving Gudjohnsen to run clear onto Zola's final
ball only to curl his shot just beyond the far post as Paul Jones
raced out to cut down the angle.
In the 52nd minute, though, former Fulham teenager Fernandes broke
the deadlock with Saints first goal of the season - a thumping drive
as he ran onto Chris Marsden's cross from the left.
It seemed fair enough after James Beattie, with a sprawling header,
and the excellent Wayne Bridge, with a long-range rocket, forced Carlo
Cudicini into the only real saves up to then.
Fernandes' strike looked enough to win it even though he missed out
on a second when steering Anders Svensson's pass straight into
Cudicini's arms soon after Pahars blasted an instinctive volley over
the bar from Beattie's flick on.
But Gudjohnsen's second miss was more memorable than both.
Perfectly set up by Zola he smashed his drive casually wide with only
Jones to beat.
Jones lapped up the escape - and flung himself around his goal area
clawing at crosses and defying all comers with a bristling energy
perhaps inspired by the 2million signing of Hearts' Antti Niemi who
was on the bench.
But Wales star Jones was helpless to prevent the Lampard leveler
and Saints almost threw the game away in the end.
MAN OF THE MATCH: FABRICE FERNANDES (SOUTHAMPTON)
Well taken goal and classy performance.
Much improved on last year.
Southampton: Jones,
Telfer, Michael Svensson, Williams, Bridge, Fernandes, Marsden, Anders
Svensson, Delap, Beattie,
Pahars (Tessem 70), Tessem (Ormerod 86).
Subs Not Used: Niemi, Oakley, Monk.
Booked: Michael Svensson, Telfer.
Chelsea: Cudicini,
Melchiot, Desailly, Gallas, Babayaro, De Lucas, Lampard, Gronkjaer,
Zenden (Stanic 85), Hasselbaink (Gudjohnsen 45), Zola.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Ferrer, Keenan.
Booked: Babayaro, Gronkjaer.
Att: 31,208
Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).
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