Newcastle 0 v 2 Chelsea: Title Race Moves Into Final Day
Sunday, 11th May @ 5pm. That’s when we will finally know who has won the English Premier League title for the 2007/8 season after Chelsea beat Newcastle 2-0 to take the race into the final day.
Second half goals from Ballack and Malouda ensured an enthralling last day of the season, when Chelsea meet Bolton and Wigan host Man Utd.
Chelsea started the match with the knowledge that anything less than a win would all but ruin their chances of snatching the Premier League title from under Manchester Untied’s nose. This may be the reason they started relatively poorly and allowed Newcastle to create some good chances before they found any sort of rhythm.
Michael Owen could have twice given the Magpies the lead in the first half. Even within the first 5 minutes the England striker failed to convert a Nicky Butt lobbed through-ball, volleying high over the bar.
In the 28th minute, Newcastle had an effort cleared off the line, and are left to ponder would could have been. Petr Cech had prevented Mark Viduka from scoring after Martins had worked an opening in the Chelsea box - however, Owen’s follow-up was cleared off the line by John Terry.
Once Chelsea started to play as we’ve come to expect, Newcastle began to sit deep. The pace of the front trio - Drogba, Malouda, and Anelka - was enough to concern Keegan’s back four.
Ballack was wasteful in front of goal, especially so just before half-time when sliced his shot wide following Essien’s excellent work in slipping him through.
The second half started with Chelsea in the ascendancy. In the 60th minute Chelsea’s pressure paid off. Faye fouled Malouda recklessly just outside the box. Drogba’s free kick from the right was headed home by a completely unmarked Ballack.
To Newcastle’s credit they didn’t crumble and found themselves on top for a time following the opener. Both Martin’s and Owen had good chances to equalise, but narrowly missed.
However, Chelsea finished the game off after 82 minutes as a result of a slick Chelsea passing move. Ballack and Essien exchanged sweet passes before Lampard released Florent Malouda who finished the move perfectly with precision placement.
Chelsea now move level on points with Manchester United, however Ferguson’s team have a superior goal difference. 17 goals separate the two clubs, so a United win against in-form Wigan will be enough to win the title - barring Chelsea completing a all-time record premiership win against Bolton on Sunday.
To be honest I don’t want either to win.. I hate both teams!