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Werder Bremen 1-0 Chelsea | Werder Bremen 1-0 Chelsea |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Chelsea qualified for the Champions League knockout stage despite defeat against Werder Bremen - but have injury concerns over top scorer Didier Drogba. | Chelsea qualified for the Champions League knockout stage despite defeat against Werder Bremen - but have injury concerns over top scorer Didier Drogba. |
Per Mertesacker's powerful 26th minute header kept Bremen's hopes of finishing ahead of Barcelona in Group A alive. | Per Mertesacker's powerful 26th minute header kept Bremen's hopes of finishing ahead of Barcelona in Group A alive. |
But Chelsea's delight was tempered by the sight of Drogba limping off with an ankle injury early in the second half. | But Chelsea's delight was tempered by the sight of Drogba limping off with an ankle injury early in the second half. |
He will now face a race against time to be fit for Sunday's Premiership clash with leaders Manchester United. | He will now face a race against time to be fit for Sunday's Premiership clash with leaders Manchester United. |
Chelsea recalled teenager Mikel Jon Obi for the suspended Frank Lampard, with Andriy Shevchenko kept in reserve on the bench. | Chelsea recalled teenager Mikel Jon Obi for the suspended Frank Lampard, with Andriy Shevchenko kept in reserve on the bench. |
606: DEBATE Although we lost to Werder we are still through and that is all that matters CL 606: Have your say Obi wasted the perfect opportunity to put Chelsea ahead after eight minutes, heading over an open goal after John Terry nodded Michael Essien's free-kick into his path. | |
Bremen still harbour hopes of overhauling Barcelona to reach the knockout phase, and talented midfield man Diego tested Carlo Cudicini with a right-foot shot after 13 minutes. | Bremen still harbour hopes of overhauling Barcelona to reach the knockout phase, and talented midfield man Diego tested Carlo Cudicini with a right-foot shot after 13 minutes. |
Diego then slipped an astute pass through to Hugo Almeida, but he shot wide under pressure from Geremi. | Diego then slipped an astute pass through to Hugo Almeida, but he shot wide under pressure from Geremi. |
But there was no reprieve for Chelsea after 26 minutes when slack marking allowed Mertesacker to power a header beyond Cudicini. | But there was no reprieve for Chelsea after 26 minutes when slack marking allowed Mertesacker to power a header beyond Cudicini. |
Chelsea's Champions League ambitions were not going to be derailed by defeat, but they responded in typical fashion. | Chelsea's Champions League ambitions were not going to be derailed by defeat, but they responded in typical fashion. |
Joe Cole's cross was met by Michael Ballack, but he was denied a goal on his return to Germany by a fine save from Tim Wiese. | Joe Cole's cross was met by Michael Ballack, but he was denied a goal on his return to Germany by a fine save from Tim Wiese. |
Cole then turned inside the area four minutes before half-time, but shot straight at Wiese. | Cole then turned inside the area four minutes before half-time, but shot straight at Wiese. |
Chelsea suffered a setback 13 minutes after the interval when Drogba, who had already taken a knock on the ankle, fell awkwardly and limped off. | Chelsea suffered a setback 13 minutes after the interval when Drogba, who had already taken a knock on the ankle, fell awkwardly and limped off. |
Shevchenko came on as part of a double substitution, with Arjen Robben also replacing the disappointing Obi. | Shevchenko came on as part of a double substitution, with Arjen Robben also replacing the disappointing Obi. |
The £30m striker was quickly in the action, testing Wiese with a 25-yard free-kick. | The £30m striker was quickly in the action, testing Wiese with a 25-yard free-kick. |
Chelsea had another anxious moment when Essien fell to the floor clutching his face after a collision with Pierre Wome, but he was able to continue. | Chelsea had another anxious moment when Essien fell to the floor clutching his face after a collision with Pierre Wome, but he was able to continue. |
Mourinho's side were on top after the break, but were unable to make the breakthrough. | Mourinho's side were on top after the break, but were unable to make the breakthrough. |
And captain Terry's frustration was demonstrated when he was booked for dissent - but Chelsea will hardly be unhappy at their hugely influential captain missing the final game against Levski Sofia. | And captain Terry's frustration was demonstrated when he was booked for dissent - but Chelsea will hardly be unhappy at their hugely influential captain missing the final game against Levski Sofia. |
The home crowd's nerves were on edge as the closed in on a vital victory, and Essien almost delivered the nightmare finish for Bremen with a stunning rising drive that was only inches off target. | The home crowd's nerves were on edge as the closed in on a vital victory, and Essien almost delivered the nightmare finish for Bremen with a stunning rising drive that was only inches off target. |
Bremen now just need a draw in Barcelona in their final group game to go through to the last 16. | Bremen now just need a draw in Barcelona in their final group game to go through to the last 16. |
Chelsea have qualified as they cannot finish below Bremen in the table because they have the better head-to-head record in the group games between the two sides. | Chelsea have qualified as they cannot finish below Bremen in the table because they have the better head-to-head record in the group games between the two sides. |