Carling Cup: Chelsea v
Newcastle - Newcastle win it late in seven goal thriller (part 1)
Chelsea were heading into tonight’s match having made ten changes to the team that annihilated
Blackpool this past weekend. The only player who managed to retain his spot in the starting eleven for the match was Brazilian midfielder Ramires. After some good fortune, John Terry went on to pass a late medical and was able to start
for Chelsea on the night. Chelsea also had youngster Nathaniel Chalobah on the bench. The player is only fifteen years old and was looking to break the all time youngest player record on the night.
Newcastle handed Sol Campbell his much awaited debut, since the defender was finally back after recovering from poor form and fitness. Some of the other changes that were made to the team were the inclusions
of Haris Vuckic, Shola Ameobi and Nile Ranger.
The match kicked off with Chelsea easily looking to be the stronger side on the night. Five minutes into the game and
Chelsea had the opening goal of the match. Van Aanholt stole the ball off of Nile Ranger on the left side of the pitch and then continued to play a one-two with Gael Kakuta before side footing a shot into the back of the
Newcastle net.
Three minutes later Newcastle had their opportunity to get the equalizer. Debutant Sol Campbell was given the opportunity to draw the score level with a free header but the defender managed to miss
his effort from ten yards out.
As the match started to pick up pace,
Chelsea were pulling the strings and Kakuta was at the heart of everything. It wasn't long before the French attacker became a target for the
Newcastle players and Ryan Taylor was the first to be booked for a late tackle on the player.
On the twenty seventh minute, against the run of play,
Newcastle managed to pull a goal back on the counter. Peter Lovenkrands headed the ball into the path of the on rushing Nile Ranger, who blasted a shot with his right foot into the lower right corner of the goal, tying the game at
one goal a piece. Chelsea’s defence seemed to crumble for the goal.
Chelsea were almost back in the game two minutes after the scores were tied. Nickolas Anelka headed the ball towards goal, but the outstretched
Newcastle keeper, Krul, denied the French forward with a finger tip save.
To add insult to injury for the home side, the goal ended up acting as a catalyst and helped
Newcastle boost their performance to a new level. Five minutes after
Newcastle got level on terms with Chelsea, the away team managed to go one up against the rampant Blues. Ryan Taylor took a pop at goal from twenty yards out via a free kick and his superbly taken shot flew straight into the top right
corner of the goal, giving Newcastle the lead.
(to be continued in part 2)