Report of the official Feyenoord site:
http://www.feyenoord.com/pages/newsdeta ... 00003.aspx
25-07-2007 FEYENOORD FAIL TO FINISH OFF CHELSEA AT DE KUIP: 1-1
Feyenoord missed the chance to turn over Chelsea at De Kuip Wednesday, as the English side claimed a draw in a fascinating preseason warm-up. Bert van Marwijk’s side conceded the lead late in the game after a mistake by Theo Lucius gifted Frank Lampard a goal. Kevin Hofland had given the home side the edge with a first half header and Roy Makaay might have restored the Rotterdammers’ advantage with five minutes left, but the striker scuffed his penalty and Carlo Cudicini saved.
Around 44,000 fans secured a ticket for Chelsea’s second successive preseason visit to De Kuip, hoping that Feyenoord could improve on last year’s 0-1 defeat, and the hosts started in promising fashion against the stellar London outfit. Not that Feyenoord managed to create too many chances mind. Save Roy Makaay’s shot into the side netting and a drive by youngster Royston Drenthe, there was little in the way of goalmouth action. At either end, by the way, as the Premier league side started slowly too.
The game was half an hour old before the Londoners upped the pace, but as soon as they did things started to get stickier in the Feyenoord penalty area. Shevchenko had a nailed-on chance to put Chelsea ahead, when he found himself free in front of Henk Timmer, but Feyenoord’s last man spread himself well to keep out the Ukrainian’s effort. The next effort came from the boot of Frank Lampard, but his shot lacked precision.
Yet with the visitors looking the more threatening it was Feyenoord that struck first, a minute before the break. Hofland exploited a lack of concentration in the Blues defence in the absence of Terry to get on the end of De Guzman’s ball and guide his header past Petr Cech and into the net.
That was the final contribution from Hofland, who was rested in the second half. André Bahia came on in his stead.
The goal ensured that the game was more attractive after the break. It began with a shot from Slory that substitute keeper Cudicini had difficulty defusing. Ron Vlaar was next to have a go, after finding himself in space in the Chelsea box as his fellow defender Hofland had done a little early, but his header across goal was guided around the post by Cudicini. By that time Paulo Ferreira had tested Timmer, but the home goalie passed with flying colours.
Timmer didn’t need to get in front of the ball the next time the visitors came forward, as Wright-Phillips couldn’t keep his hard drive from lifting over the bar, but the attempt was proof that Chelsea were not going to settle for a defeat even by the smallest of margins. Claudio Pizarro was the next to let rip, but his volley was also too high.
When Chelsea finally got the leveller it turned out to be something of a gift from the home side. A Theo Lucius back pass went horribly wrong, landing at the feet of Lampard, who swivelled and shot past Timmer for the equaliser. It was a blow for the hosts, especially as it came within seconds of a Hofs shot at the other end that Cudicini managed to throw himself in front of after some good play by Castelen down the left.
And there was still time for high drama at De Kuip when Castelen again got himself past Sam Hutchinson in the penalty area only for the defender to bring him down. Makaay stepped up to the plate, but he perhaps let himself by put off by extended protests from the out-of-towners, who complained that the ball was on the spot. Whatever the reason, Makaay didn’t get a good contact on the ball and Cudicini saved.
Feyenoord – Chelsea 1-1
44’ 1-0 Hofland
79’ 1-1 Lampard
Remarks: Makaay penalty miss (85’)
Bookings: -
Referee: Bossen
Feyenoord: Timmer; Lucius, Vlaar, Hofland (46’ Bahia), De Cler; Sahin (70’ D. Buijs), De Guzman (78’ Hofs), Van Bronckhorst (90’ Wijnaldum); Slory (84’ Bruins), Makaay, Drenthe (62’ Castelen)
Chelsea: Cech (46’ Cudicini); Ferreira (78’ Sinclair), Ben Haim (46’ Drogba), Carvalho, Johnson (65’ Diarra); Sidwell (62’ Pizarro), Mikel (67’ Hutchinson), Lampard; Wright-Phillips, Shevchenko, Cole (46’ Malouda)
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