Match report : Chelsea 3-1 Norwich.

It was a game filled with emotions, contentment for the 3 goals Chelsea scored, anger at Chelsea’s lacklusture performance overall (though the scoreline suggests something different), fear at Drogba’s head injury and finally delight for Mata’s debut goal as Chelsea overcame Norwich 3-1 after a determined performance from the Blues in the 2^nd half.

It was a walk in the park for Chelsea in the opening few minutes as the Blues capitalized on Norwich’s bleak start by scoring a goal in the 6^th minute. The goal came from an unlikely source in Jose Bosingwa who scored stunningly from 25 yards out.

Chelsea were cruising in the first fifteen minutes with the 70-30 possession in our favour doing much of the talking. But things rapidly changed after that as Norwich started attacking, and Hilario was forced to make a couple of saves, one from Holt who headed the ball straight into him, and another from Hoolahan who shot from 30 yards out.

2 horrible free kicks, one each from Drogba and Lampard added to the frustration of the Chelsea fans as an unconvincing Chelsea lead 1-0 at Half Time.

Things looked better in the 2^nd half as Chelsea created a few chances in the opening minutes and would have been 2-0 up had Drogba intercepted a juicy cross from Malouda.
Things remained the same till the hour mark, until a header by Ivanovic took the ball away from Hilario only to be intercepted neatly by Holt who scored a spectacular goal. Chelsea 1-1 Norwich.
7 minutes of stoppage soon followed as Drogba was knocked unconscious in the air by a punch from Norwich Goalkeeper Ruddy who was trying to clear the ball. The punch, unintentional, knocked Drogba immediately who fell head first to the ground. A stunned Stamford Bridge crowd stood silent, helplessly watching the medical team treat Drogba.

The Stamford Bridge crowd ruptured will applause as Drogba was stretchered off and Mata was brought on, not as Drogba’s replacement, but Malouda’s. Anelka replaced Drogba and the game resumed.

Chelsea looked close to going 2-1 down when Morison had a clear chance, but took too much time to make up his mind. By then, Captain John Terry was at the spot and cleared the ball.

Mata immediately showed his class as he put in a dangerous ball from the left flank which was intercepted by none other than Torres, and which forced a save from Ruddy.
In the 80^th minute, Ramires made a scintillating run into the box, took the ball away from Ruddy who brought him down. What followed was a penalty converted by Lampard and a red card for Ruddy.

Things were never going to get any easier for Norwich after being down to 10 men as Chelsea were back from where they left after 15 minutes. Debutant Lukaku, who came on for Torres, worked a yard and shot only to be saved by the substitute goalkeeper Rudd. Lukaku looked sharp in the 17 odd minutes he played.

While Branislav Ivanovic missed a simple header in the 90^th minute that would have ensured 3 points, Mata capitalised on a misplaced pass from De Laet in the 101^st minute and finished coolly past the substitute goalkeeper Rudd.

In the end, it wasn’t the most convincing win but it was 3 points that most would say Chelsea deserved.