CFR 1907 Cluj 0 Chelsea 0

Group 'A` continued tonight with a difficult trip for last season`s runners-up, Chelsea, to Transylvania to face a Romanian side that had beaten Roma in the Olympic Stadium in their first match. It was to prove a far from memorable match.

Team News - Luiz Felipe Scolari knew his options were reduced for the fixture tonight. He knew he`d be without the experienced quartet of Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and Joe Cole. Therefore, it was no surprise when he went for an experienced looking starting eleven.

The only surprise was the absence of Ashley Cole, however Wayne Bridge would prove to be a more than able deputy. Apart from the Bridge for Cole situation, the team was the same one that started against Stoke City with Salomon Kalou having made a recovery from the ankle knock picked up at the Britannia Stadium. We were later to learn that Cole had withdrawn due to a pain in his lower back!

On the bench were two promising youngsters in the form of Franco Di Santo and Miraslav Stoch as injuries cut back Scolari`s squad to the bare bones.

First Half - John Terry won the toss and chose to change ends. Cluj got the action underway and the first half was to prove a disappointing one. Chelsea were lacklustre and struggled to create a genuine chance whereas Cluj were content to deny us space and hope for a lightning counter attack.

Their tactics seemed to work fine and but for some wayward shooting we could have been in serious trouble at half time. Chelsea, much to Scolari`s disgust, were conceding possession too easily with some loose passing and any chances we did create were only half chances and that`s being kind.

In the fifth minute Kalou produced a tame shot after a neat back flick from Drogba and a corner we won in the fifteenth minute was easily cleared by the home defence. On twenty-two minutes Droga fired wide after a great first touch had created a chance before Mikel saw his low shot easily saved by the keeper. Hopefully, the second half would prove to be more productive.

Second Half - Scolari chose to revert to 4-4-2 for the second half introducing Anelka in place of Kalou and initially the plan looked to be working. An early Bosingwa cross caused problems before Lampard rove wide after neat work from Anelka.

However, just before the hour mark Chelsea suffered a major setback when Drogba went down injured trying to reach a Malouda cross. The sight of Drogba being carried off on a stretcher was not a good sign. The incident knocked Chelsea off their stride and with Belletti replacing the stricken Drogba we reverted back to 4-3-3.

But we still pushed forward trying to net the goal that would win the game. Cluj were less threatening going forward and Lampard saw another effort saved. With just over fifteen minutes to go Scolari sent on Franco Di Santo and the youngster nearly scored with his first touch, a header at the near post.

However, Cluj were resilient and with time running out Trica saw a shot o wide off the outside of the post. Belletti then fired wide as he tried to latch onto a great Lampard pass before Anelka screwed an effort wide after a poor first touch. Deep into stoppage time Lampard drilled one wide and it was honours even, not the worst result but definitely not what we`d hoped for.

Chelsea - Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Kalou (Anelka - 46), Drogba (Belletti - 58), Malouda (Di Santo - 74)

Unused Subs - Hilario, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Stoch,

Chelsea Scorers - We Should Be So Lucky!

Chelsea Yellow Cards - Alex, Anelka

Chelsea Red Cards - Nil