97/98 season.

Why not keep an eye on the reserves.

Chelsea 4 Liverpool 1

The Blues turned on the style as two goals from Mark Hughes, and two more from Steve Clarke and Tore Andre Flo put paid to Liverpool.

Hughes fired Chelsea in front after 11 minutes before Karl-Heinz Riedle gave the visitors hope with an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Clarke got on the scoresheet for the first time in six years with Chelsea's second, substitute Tore Andre Flo sprung the offside trap to score the third and Hughes sealed it late-on.

Match Reports {Electronic Telegraph}{CarlingNet}{Soccernet}
Fans Reports to follow.

Chelsea 1 Sheff Wed 0

Frank Leboeuf blasted home a spot-kick in the 23rd minute for Chelsea's 100th goal of the season to seal victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.

Blues player-boss Gianluca Vialli made seven changes from his triumphant side in the Cup-Winners' Cup semi-final to field a relatively second-rate line-up.

But the inept Owls, who had lost their five previous away matches, wasted a multitude of opportunites to atone for the panicking Earl Barrett's concession of a spot-kick, felling Tore Andre Flo.

Match Reports {Electronic Telegraph}{CarlingNet}{Soccernet}
Fans Reports Soloman.

ECWC Semi-final 2nd Leg
Chelsea 3 Vicenza 1
(Chelsea win 3-2 on agg.)

Stephen's Television View.

Chelsea lined up with
De Goey - Clarke - Leboeuf - Duberry - LeSaux
Morris - Wise - Newton - Poyet
Vialli - Zola

subs Hughes, Charvet, Myers, Flo, Nicholls, Hitchcock

Chelsea went into this match 0-1 with any goals conceded counting double should there be a draw. The rain was pouring creating a slippery surface making the timing of tackles and overall control difficult.

Both teams applied early pressure with Chelsea winning a corner inside the first minute. Only 6 minutes later came the shot on target, De Goey saving well and both Newton and LeSaux helping to clear any danger. Chelsea's first chance fell to their manager, Vialli, who could only head straight at the keeper. Chelsea kept the pressure on, Zola had a shot saved from a Morris cross. Morris was once again involved having his shot from the edge of box deflected off target by an over eager Poyet. Not long after a Vicenza player was booked for not retreating 10 yards, and Morris escaped punishment when he went in on the keeper leaving his feet high.

Just past the half hour mark came the killer blow. A Vicenza player split the defence right open and found 2 players unmarked, Leboeuf collided with LeSaux as they both tried to get across, Luiso slotted home leaving De Goey no chance (maybe we will buy him in a year or so). Within 3 minutes cfc pulled a goal back. LeSaux and Vialli combined to give Zola the ball, his powerful shot was only parried to Poyet who finished well. Now there was some hope.

Chelsea kept the pressure up with a couple of corners and another free-kick yet could not find the back of the net. Vicenza gave us some scares in the final 5 minutes, a goal disallowed for offside (the ref did blow before the ball was sent goal bound). In injury time Leboeuf cleared off the line after the onrushing keeper was cleverly beaten. In between this efforts Vialli poorly converted a half chance. 1-1 on the night, 1-2 on aggregate, cfc needing 2 more goals.

The second half started with the same 22. Chelsea could not get a much better start. Six minutes in and good work down the flank by Vialli and his pin-pointed cross saw Zola head home unchallenged, yes he scored with his head! Chelsea were now rampant and being lead by their player-manager who was again charging down the flank, he pulled the ball and LeSaux's 35 yarder hit Wise who inturn shot straight at the keeper.

After 15 minutes Vicenza signaled their intentions and brought on a defender for a midfielder, thinking that they had done enough. However from a well worked free-kick an unchallenged header went over from 4 yards out. Chelsea were riding their luck at the back. Zola took another poor free-kick straight into the wall, when the ball was played back in Poyet was just a yard short when put through on the keeper.

Then the game turned on 70 mins. Hughes and Charvet replaced Newton and the excellent Morris. Zola dropped onto the left wing and Hughes went up to partner Vialli with Charvet playing in the middle. Every time Hughes went in to tackle or challenge for the ball the ref would award a free-kick to Vicenza. Six minutes after being brought on Hughes scored our third and decisive goal. A long clearance from De Goey and then Hughes thumped the ball home from just inside the area. For the first time Chelsea were ahead on aggregate.

Vicenza were now panicking and brought on two strikers, knowing that they now had to chase a goal. To counter this Zola was replaced with Myers who made it five at the back and Vialli dropped a bit deeper into midfield. 10 minutes to go and Chelsea were going to try and shut up shop, not the best tactics knowing our defence. Vicenza went close with another well worked free-kick with 5 minutes to go. Just a couple of minutes later and frustration was getting to the Vicenza players and Ambrosini received his marching orders with a second yellow card for a foul on Vialli. As the clock spilled into injury time both sides had further chances and then it was all over.

This was a thrilling match and a very good result. We remain unbeaten at home in all European competitions. So on to the final against Stuttgart on May 13th. Hopefully i will be there.

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Fans Reports Soloman

Chelsea 2 Tottenham 0

Tottenham's relegation fears grew as they conceded two goals in the final 15 minutes while most of their rivals were securing crucial victories.

Spurs created chances but their defence had looked shaky all afternoon, and was finally breached when Norwegian international Tore Andre Flo scored his 17th goal of the season, from only 19 starts, after 75mins.

And Flo was involved again three minutes from time, laying on the second for player-manager Luca Vialli.

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Leeds United 3 Chelsea 1

Chelsea lost away at Leeds on a very wet Yorkshire night. The Chelsea side again featured many changes most notably David Lee starting a game for the first time in a long while. The game appeared to be more important to Leeds than Chelsea , with possibly one eye on next weeks European tie, and several notable Chelsea players were rested.

Chelsea did though score an excellent goal through the impressive Charvet, with a first time shot low and hard into the corner. Chelsea went in 2-1 down at half-time and controversially went 3 -1 down straight after the restart when Zola was fouled in the center circle but Referee David Ellery let Leeds play on and score and then bizarrely went back to book the Leeds player for the foul. An excellent free kick by Wise was Chelsea best chance in the second half but despite a lot of possession few chances were created.

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Fans Reports to follow

Derby County 0 Chelsea 1

Mark Hughes first-half header consigned the Rams to their fourth defeat in five games at Pride Park and further damaged their dreams of a UEFA Cup place.

A much-changed Blues team, who included 18-year-old debutant John Harley, were too good for poor Derby, who improved after the break and were unlucky when Francesco Baiano clipped the crossbar.

The visitors' winner, which moves them up to fourth in the league, came on 36 minutes when midfielder Harley fired in a cross which Hughes tucked away.