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Chelsea on the brink after late UEFA Champions League collapse

Stewart Flaherty, November 24 2011,
Chelsea crumbled to a last minute 2-1 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany last night.
The Chelsea defense must be focused on keeping out Valencia during Matchday six.
The Chelsea defense must be focused on keeping out Valencia during Matchday six.
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The defeat leaves Chelsea needing a win or 0-0 draw in their final Group E game against in-form Spanish team Valencia to reach the knockout stages.

Valencia are coming off a 7-0 win over Genk, and will qualify for the last 16 over Chelsea if they achieve a victory or score draw at Stamford Bridge.

Things looked good for the Blues last night when Didier Drogba fired the in front early in the second half. Their good fortune did not last however, with Eren Derdiyok equalizing in the 73rd minute before Manuel Friedrich headed home an injury time winner for the Germans.

The first chance of the game came when the impressive Daniel Sturridge tried to play Juan Mata in on goal, but the young English striker’s through ball was slightly over-hit.

At the other end, former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack headed against the crossbar late in the first half for Leverkusen. Ballack was playing in his 100th European game, and wore a protective mask that was reminiscent of the ‘Phantom of the Opera.’

Sturridge continued to impress and set up Chelsea’s opening goal three minutes after the restart. Sturridge’s through ball split the Leverkusen defense and Drogba fired home after holding off Friedrich.

Frank Lampard had a chance to double Chelsea’s lead almost immediately, but fired straight at Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Chelsea were made to pay in the 73rd minute when Derdiyok headed home Sidney Sam’s cross to draw the scores level.

Drogba had a late penalty appeal denied after going down under a Friedrich challenge, and then the Ivory Coast international volleyed wide as the game seemed to be heading for a draw.

However, Friedrich provided one final twist when he stole all three points for Leverkusen by heading home a Gonzalo Castro corner.

The win gives Leverkusen a one-point lead at the top of Group E, and means they only need a win or draw against last placed Genk to qualify for the knockout stages.

Chelsea have a much more difficult task, and must either beat Valencia or hold them scoreless. The task facing Chelsea is put into context by the fact that Valencia have scored 12 goals during the group stages, with only Real Madrid and Barcelona having scored more.

Despite mounting pressure regarding his job security, Chelsea boos Andre Villas-Boas remains confident his team can qualify for the last 16.

“It’s in our hands to qualify. It’s a game at home and we expect to do our job,” Villas-Boas told BBC Sport.

LINEUPS

BAY – Leno, Schwaab (Schurrie 57), Friedrich, Toprak, Kadlec (Derdiyok 71), Castro, Rolfes, Bender, Ballack, Kiessling (Oczipka 82), Sam.

CHE – Cech, Ivanovic, David Luiz (Alex 68), Bosingwa, Terry, Ramires, Lampard, Meireles (Mikel 80), Mata (Malouda 65), Drogba, Sturridge.

SCORING SUMMARY

CHE – Didier Drogba (Daniel Sturridge) 48’
BAY – Eren Derdiyok (Sidney Sam) 73’
BAY – Manuel Friedrich (Gonzalo Castro) 90+1’

LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Michael Ballack (Bayer Leverkusen)

Attendance: 28,551

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