Chelsea FC VS Middlesbrough (BPL MATCH 32)

CHELSEA VS BORO' (BPL MATCH 32 - STAMFORD BRIDGE)

Chelsea came into the game, 8 points behind leaders Man.United. A win at The Bridge will cut the leader to 5 points. With Arsenal winning their match at the Reebok, there's no room of error. A slip now will be costly in the title race, but the good news is, with Liverpool out of the title race, Chelsea can focus on Man.United and Arsenal only. Liverpool, however are still in the fight for the 4th spot, which also means a UEFA Champions League spot next season, which of course, Everton, who are just behind Liverpool, will not go down with out a fight.

Chelsea's Formation (4-3-3)

Gk-Cudicini

Def-Belletti, Terry(C), Carvalho, Bridge

Mid-Ballack, Essien, Obi Mikel

Fw-J.Cole, Drogba, Kalou

Middlesbrough's Formation (4-4-2)

Gk-Schwarzer

Def-Young, Wheater, Pogatetz(C), Taylor

Mid-O'Neil, Boateng, Cattermole, Downing

Fw-Aliadiere, Tuncay

~Not much to talk about in the 1st half, except for Carvalho's goal. A perfect cross in from left back, Wayne Bridge who took a freekick which found Carvalho's header and Schwarzer the Boro's keeper didn't stand a chance.

~The 2nd half is where the game gets intresting. Boro somehow just can't score. They miss 3, yes 3 open goal misses. The 1st one was when Schwarzer launch a long ball foward to Alfonso Alves, which by the time Alves got the ball, Cudicini was way off this goal line and rush towards Alves, which Alves just simply flick the ball past Cudicini. The all he had to do is place the ball into the open Chelsea goal, but somehow, he kick the ball to the bottom corner and it hit the POST!. You could see the face of disbelief in the face of the Boro's manager, Gareth Southgate.

~The next one was from a freekick near the corner flag. As the ball flew in, again, Alves was the one who got to it first. He try a header, where once again the BAR of the Chelsea goal was able to stop Alves from scoring his 1st premiership goal. The 3rd is next to follow, after the ball hit the bar, Wheater was there to get the rebound ball and also tried a header, where he too can't find the net and the ball hit the bar, again.

~Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips too, got a hat-trick of chances but somehow can't seem to convert any of his chances.

FULLTIME SCORE

CHELSEA 1 - 0 Middlesbrough

GOALSCORERS

R.Carvalho (CHE)