Lampard finally ends his goal drought as Chelsea edge closer
CHELSEA (4) vs ATLETICO MADRID (0)
FRANK LAMPARD admitted his relief at ending his goal drought after helping Chelsea take another step closer to the Champions League knockout stages.
Lampard capped a comprehensive display by lashing home from 20 yards to end a barren run of 10 matches without a goal in all competitions.
Salomon Kalou had earlier taken the plaudits after an impressive brace on his first-time return ensured the Blues maintained their 100 per cent record in the group stages.
But the night turned into a personal triumph for midfielder Lampard, whose 133rd strike for the Blues moved him above Jimmy Greaves into the top five in the list of the club’s all-time goalscorers – and not before time.
“Sometimes the goals don’t come and it’s been like that for me recently,” Lampard said. “But I always believed and knew I had to keep working hard and the goals will come with a bit of luck. It was a great performance by everyone tonight.”
Despite the obvious goal threat of Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero, Atletico are suffering their worst start to the season in 25 years, and rarely looked like troubling the Chelsea rearguard. But Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti was looking for a reaction from his men following the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday and was still delighted to put the points on the board.
“We had a very good reaction and played very well,” the Italian added. “We played well for 90 minutes without problems. I am happy. We are top of the group and this is what we want.”
Both Aguero and Forlan gave the Blues early scares before Kalou missed a golden chance to put the Blues in front, side-footing wide from 10 yards.
But the Ivory Coast frontman, in for the suspended Didier Drogba, made no mistake on 41 minutes when firing home Ashley Cole’s cross from close range.
The goal seemed to stun the visitors and just seven minutes into the re-start Kalou struck again – this time heading home at the far post from Lampard’s corner.
Lampard himself hadn’t found the net in any game since 18 August but wasn’t to be denied this time, however, making it 3-0 with a 20-yard strike into the corner on 69 minutes to put the game beyond doubt.
The Blues then made it four in stoppage time after the unfortunate Luis Amaranto Perea headed into his own net from Florent Malouda’s free-kick.
GROUP D
TEAM PLD W D L GD PTS
Chelsea 3 3 0 0 6 9
FCPorto 3 2 0 1 2 6
Apoel Nicosia 3 0 1 2 -2 1
Atletico Madrid 3 0 1 2 -6 1