Chelsea march on to quarter-finals

Posted Thursday, March 17, 2011 by UK.eurosport.yahoo.com

Chelsea sealed their safe passage through to the Champions League quarter-finals with a goalless draw at home to Copenhagen.

The Premier League champions took a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Denmark to Stamford Bridge knowing a draw would be more than enough against their underdog opponents.

Although the Blues' march forward in this season’s competition was not put under serious threat at any point, the Danish champions put in a solid performance to earn a draw and a clean sheet.

Yuri Zhirkov, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba could all have easily put Chelsea in front, but Dame N’Doye threatened to make it an uncomfortable night with a woodwork-rattling free-kick in the first half.

John Obi Mikel headed onto the crossbar early in the second half and substitute Fernando Torres came close on a couple of occasions to grabbing his first goal for his new club, but Stale Solbakken’s men were good value for the 0-0 result as they exited the tournament.

Despite not needing to score on the night to advance, Carlo Ancelotti’s side clearly aimed to send their supporters home happy and marked their intent to build on their 2-0 advantage as early as the 10th minute.

Drogba showed some good skills to find space for a shot, but from a fair distance he failed to trouble Johan Wiland in the Copenhagen goal.

Drogba was involved again on 18 minutes as the hosts turned on the style. After being fed by Zhirkov, the Ivorian backheeled Ashley Cole though and though Cole could not get a shot off himself, he returned possession to Zhirkov to shoot off target.

Zhirkov continued to torment the away side and minutes later the Russian cut the defence wide open with a pass through to Anelka, whose shot was weak and parried by Wiland.

Just as it looked like a matter of time before Chelsea extended their lead over the two legs, John Terry fouled N’Doye just outside the Blues’ penalty area and the forward spectacularly curled the resulting free-kick against the upright with Petr Cech stranded.

It served as a warning to the English side that they were not necessarily home and dry yet, though Zhrikov had another good chance thanks to a lovely ball from Drogba on 33 minutes.

Drogba should have put the tie out of Copenhagen’s reach within minutes of the restart when he tamely connected with a low volley from Jose Bosingwa’s cross.

And with 51 played, a Chelsea corner sparked a game of head tennis amidst the blue shirts packing the box, finishing with Mikel’s close range nodded effort against the bar.

Fifty million pound man Torres replaced Anelka halfway through the second period, and although he almost provoked an own goal with a speculative shot deflected wide of Wiland’s post, it was not the night for his eagerly-anticipated first goal in a blue shirt.

And although Chelsea saw out the remainder of the game to ensure their participation in the last eight of this year’s tournament, Copenhagen more than deserved their clean sheet.

And as the first Danish side to make the knockout stages of the Champions League, FC Copenhagen exit Europe with their heads held high.