5 May 2004
CHELSEA 2-2 MONACO
Gronkjaer 22 Ibarra 47
Lampard 44 Morientes 60
For an hour this was the match of the season. Cole should have given Chelsea a 15th minute
lead but shot wide after Roma spilled Geremi's shot. Cole played in Jimmy but Roma flew
off his line and made a great save. A complete fluke goal gave Chelsea the lead. Gronkjaer,
wide on the right, went past Rothen and sent a cross straight into the top corner. The post
denied Morientes a quick equaliser. Terry was caught ball watching, Rothen pulled the ball
back to Morientes and his shot was deflected onto the post. Jimmy hit a fantastic cross to the
back post, which completely took out Roma and Gudjohnsen, the piece of crap, managed to
head against the underside of the bar. Gronkjaer volleyed Cole's free kick into the box,
Lampard controlled the ball on his chest before blasting a shot towards the bottom corner,
Roma saved. Lampard slid in with a challenge as Rothen broke, both players hit the deck but
Rothen got up first, raced away and slipped in Morientes, a magnificent first touch took him
away from Gallas but with only Cudicini to beat he shot wide. A superb thirteen pass move
gave Chelsea the lead on aggregate. Gudjohnsen laid off Melchiot's pass into the patch of
Lampard and his first time shot hit the back of the net. Gronkjaer was too busy arguing the
award of a throw in to notice Rothen charging past him, Rothen skinned Melchiot then
lobbed the ball upto Morientes, his header came back off the post, hit Ibarra and dropped
into the net. 3-4 to Monaco on aggregate.
Chelsea should have levelled the tie two minutes into the second half but the absolutely
wretched Gudjohnsen kicked fresh air after Bridge skipped past two defenders and laid
a chance on a plate. Another bridge cross, this time deflected off Plasil and fell to Gronkjaer
but he blazed over the bar. A brilliant counter attack, in which Rothen and Morientes were
heavily involved ended Chelsea's dream of a first European Cup final. Morientes laid off
Evra's pass off to Bernardi then continued his run, the Chelsea defence seemed to be
preoccupied with Giuly, Morientes ran into the space left by Giuly's run, Bernardi
passed him the ball 2-2. From needing one goal to tie the game on aggregate, Chelsea
now needed three to win the match. This dawned on both sides quickly and it showed.
Substitute Johnsen got himself a yellow card for a wild lunge on Rothen. The worthless
piece of crap Gudjohnsen managed to stay on for the whole match.
Monaco win 5-3 on aggregate.
Assists : Melchiot, Gudjohnsen, Bernardi
4 May 2004
DEPORTIVO 0-1 PORTO
Derlei 60 (Pen)
I wasn't paying too much attention to the first half. All I remember is that Naybet was booked and
Valeron missed an absolute sitter late in the half.
Derlei headed against a post then converted a penalty awarded for a foul on Deco by Cesar.
This was a good spot by Collina as initially it appeared as if Deco was fouled outside the box.
Molina dived the right way but just failed to get a hand on Derlei's spot kick. Pandiani
got on the end of a cross but headed wide. Depor should have been awarded a penalty
when Nuno Valente elbowed a Depor player in the box. He may have got away with it
during the match but if recent incidents such as this are anything to go by he'll be suspended
for the final. Naybet was shown an extremely harsh second yellow for a sloppy challenge on
Paulo Ferreira. With Depor a man short the game finally opened up . Maniche got on the
end of an excellent move involving Deco and Derlei but Molina blocked his volley. Ricardo
Carvalho made a fantastic block to deny Tristan and the striker went close with a free kick
before being booked for diving.
This was incredibly boring. Porto are not exactly entertaining to watch. After a tremendous
performance against Milan, Valeron went back to normal i.e. he went missing. I think
Chelsea vs Porto would for a really dull final so hopefully Monaco can finish the job and go
through.
Porto win 1-0 on aggregate
Assist : Deco (won pen)
Red Card : Naybet 70 (Deportivo)
21 April 2004
PORTO 0-0 DEPORTIVO
This match sucked major arse. Neither 'keeper was tested. Porto at particular were very good
at snuffing out any potential danger. Maniche tried his luck from the edge of the box and the
ball came back off the crossbar. When he wasn't busy diving for penalties Jankauskas wasted
a great chance, heading wide from Deco's free kick. Andrade was sent off for kicking Deco
in the ribs, smart move and coupled with Mauro Silva's absence (he misses the return after
picking up a yellow card) it's a huge loss for Depor. Luque left the field at half time with what
looked like a bad ankle injury.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Porto go through on away goals.
Red Card : Andrade 87 (Deportivo)
20 April 2004
MONACO 3-1 CHELSEA
Prso 17 Crespo 22
Morientes 76
Nonda 84
Poor defending from a free kick gave Monaco the lead but Crespo, who was at fault for the
goal, redeemed himself with the equaliser five minutes later. Rothen swung a free kick into
the box, Crespo threw himself at the ball, compltely missed and Prso read the bounce and
heading into the corner. I actually think this was a very good finish. Lampard, who had a
tremendous first half, found Parker in space on the right with a magnificent lobbed pass,
Parker centrered for Gudjohnsen who, not surprisingly, fell on his arse but managed to
help the ball on for Crespo and he took a touch before rifling into the corner. Parker and
Gudjohnsen were both offside when Lampard crossed.
There were several million collective groans across Europe (apart from in Rome) when
Ranieri substituted Gronkjaer, who had a decent first half, for that complete waste of
space Veron. Veron hogged possesion as Lampard's influence faded. The once great, really
great in fact, Desailly was lucky the ref didn't see him send an elbow crashing into Morientes'
face. From the resuling corner creamed rice made an excellent save from Prso's header and
soon after Desailly cleared Morientes' shot off the line. Makelele did a first class Rivaldo
impression and fell to the ground clutching his face as if he had broken his skull after
Zikos gave him a slap across the back of his head. Zikos was sent off but inexplicably Makelele
was only given a yellow presumably for diving. Chelsea went close twice in quick succession
from corners and Morientes was lucky to avoid a red card after lashing out at Parker. Jimmy,
on just past the hour mark for Melchiot was annonymous stuck out wide right and Huth's
introduction minutes later for Parker left Chelsea short on midfield and defence. Monaco took
full advantage but not before Jimmy wasted a free header. Giuly sent Morientes clear with a
beautiful pass on the turn and he finished emphatically, smashing a bouncing ball over
Ambrosio. Within 30 seconds of coming on for Giluy, Nonda had given Monaco a 3-1 lead
although creamed rice has to take the blame for failing to hold such a soft shot.
Only a gifted coach can out-think himself tactically, Claudio 'Tinkerman' Ranieri is that
man. It's preciously because of inexplicable substitions such as those made today
that he has earned 'The Tinkerman' tag and why, barring a miracle turnaround in
the return at Stamford bridge, he's going to be out of work at the end of the season.
Assists : Gudjohnsen, Rothen (fk), Giuly, Rothen
Red Card : Zikos 53 (Monaco)
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