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Chelsea, Liverpool stake their claims;Inter beaten
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-20 08:56
IMPRESSIVE CHELSEA
Big-spending Chelsea were the night's most convincing winners after a wobbly
start, with Jose Mourinho's side ripping the Spaniards to shreds.
Chelsea's Crespo celebrates scoring a goal
against Real Betis during Champions League soccer match in London.
[Reuters] | Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba
steered home the first, Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho pounced on a
goalkeeping blunder to make it 2-0 before the break and England's Joe Cole
rifled in a superb third.
Though Argentine substitute Hernan Crespo headed the fourth, Chelsea's most
impressive player was Ghanaian Michael Essien, utterly dominant in midfield.
France striker Djibril Cisse scored Liverpool's winner after 20 minutes,
volleying home a Dietmar Hamann corner.
However, they faced plenty of second-half pressure before handing Anderlecht
a record 10th consecutive Champions League defeat and joining Chelsea with a
four-point lead over Betis.
Lyon looked to be cruising after Brazilian midfielder Juninho gave them an
early lead with a trademark free kick, only for Pantelis Kafes to level in the
84th minute with a fine dipping shot.
There was still time, however, for Juninho to set up Sidney Govou for Lyon's
winner from close range in the 89th minute.
England captain David Beckham was the architect of a Real victory which put
their campaign for a 10th European Cup back on track.
Beckham, on sparkling club form this season, provided the crosses for both
Woodgate, whose own goals came on his Real debut and then in a friendly, and
also Helguera.
Beckham rounded off his performance in the 82nd minute by bending a superb
free kick round the Rosenborg wall.
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