"We have conceded a lot of late goals recently so I think we deserved to get one ourselves," said Chelsea coach Avram Grant. "I hope we will say next week that this was an important goal. It was a game without many chances – typical for a semi-final. They had one or two and we did too. But a 1-1 draw away from home is always a
good result."
The Israeli said, Anfield is a very difficult place to play. But is not easy for visiting teams to play at Stamford Bridge either. "We also have good supporters. Both goals tonight came from mistakes. I felt we had control of the game until we made a mistake and they scored. Petr Čech was unlucky for the goal but he did well and made one very good save – but that's Petr, we're used to it.
"I think this result gives us an advantage but I know it will be another tough game next week. From day one I knew that Chelsea needed to be in the Champions League final. The 1-1 draw hasn't promised us a place in the final but it's a great result and a big step for us. The final is in Moscow but I think Roman [Abramovich, Chelsea's Russian owner] would be just as happy for us to play it in Mongolia.(*)
source: soccermanguni
photo: gettyimages
Avram Grant: We Deserved
Riise Gifts Chelsea An Equaliser
There was huge late drama at Anfield in a tense game in which fluent football was at a premium. It looked like it was going to be shaded by Liverpool, whose first half goal by Dirk Kuyt gave them a narrow advantage until, in the 95th minute, John Arne Riise gifted Chelsea an equaliser with a headed own goal in their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Riise, who has not scored for Liverpool all season, stooped low to try to clear Salomon Kalou's cross from the left, but his awkward header flew past Pepe Reina and into the top of the net – giving Chelsea an away goal they had virtually given up on getting. It could have been so different for Liverpool, had visiting goalkeeper Petr Čech not spectacularly tipped over a late Steven Gerrard drive before denying Fernando Torres seconds before the equaliser.
Chelsea, who at times looked ragged, thus have a priceless away goal to take back to Stamford Bridge. They had had some earlier chances to equalise, but Liverpool might also have scored again.
The dramatic way in which it ended leaves the tie intriguingly balanced - but just in Chelsea's favour now.
A scrambled goal by Dirk Kuyt towards he end of a tense, tight first half at Anfield put Liverpool in the driving seat in a Champions League semi-final first leg that Chelsea started the stronger. But the Blues allowed the Reds to come more and more into it and Rafa Benitez's side deserved their first half lead.(*)
source: soccermanguni
photo: gettyimages
Grant Still believes
Avram Grant believes Chelsea have the manpower which can lead to glory on two fronts.
The coach of Israel saw his side keep up the pressure on Manchester United, Arsenal and at arm's length - with a 2-0 victory in the Barclays Premier League against Manchester City on Saturday.
Next up are Zico's Fenerbahce at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea will try to support a picket deficit of 2-1 on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-finals.
They go into the match in good shape after a comfortable victory against City, even though half of the grant has changed with the European team match crucial to mind.
An own goal from skipper Richard Dunne after six minutes gave Chelsea the perfect start.
He got his bearings wrong after Nicolas Anelka delivered a cross from the left and headed beyond his attempt to release goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Chelsea then came under some pressure before adding a second in the 53rd minute with a cool finish after Salomon Kalou impressive Michael Essien has threaded the ball into his path.
Anelka has added almost a third when his header came back off the bar in an impressive display by the title chasers.
Key players Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho are among those expected to be recalled against the Turks, after being idle on Saturday.
Grant is convinced his side can turn things around and get a place in the semi-final against either Arsenal or Liverpool, whose tie in the balance after it drew 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium.(*)
Cudicini: I am disappointed
When Deivid's spectacular long-range shot swerved out of the reach of Carlo Cudicini with nine minutes left to give Fenerbahçe SK a 2-1 UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg win against Chelsea FC in Istanbul last night, the visiting goalkeeper may well have reflected on what happened before half-time at the end he defended after the interval.
Chelsea led 1-0 at the break through a Deivid own goal and only the combined intervention of the crossbar, some inspired goalkeeping by Volkan Demirel and a bit of bad luck prevented that advantage being greater. But the game changed in the second period and after substitute Kazım Kazım had equalised on 65 minutes, it was no surprise that Fenerbahçe went on to give themselves a one-goal cushion to take to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
"I am disappointed, especially after the first half, when we had the chance to close out the game," Cudicini said. "Unfortunately we didn't do it. Sometimes that happens and in the second half they scored two goals. Every time you concede you are disappointed, especially in these type of games where every goal is important."
Not so complicated that Cudinici does not think that Chelsea can still earn a fourth semi-final in five seasons, however. "We are confident," he said. "We have shown today that we have the ability to play very well, as we did in the first half. We know we can beat them at the Bridge."
source: uefa.com