Generation adidas fall to Chelsea reserves
Team loses 4-0 after playing second match in three days
After having been on the bench for Chelsea's UEFA Champions League game the night before, Brazilian center midfielder Minero played 90 minutes with the reserve squad, and was joined by a pair of first-team attackers in Miroslav Stoch and Scott Sinclair who would prove to be deciding factors in the game.
The game started with the Generation adidas team struggling to get a rhythm in the early going. Chelsea dominated the play in the first 15 minutes, during which goalkeeper Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake) was forced to make an outstanding save on a shot that was headed for the lower corner.
After that save the game began to change as the GA players began to gain in confidence and slowly began to control the ball and dominate the action. In the 23rd minute a cross from Tim Ward (Colorado Rapids) was knocked down by Davide Somma (San Jose Earthquakes) to an unmarked Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas), and his shot from inside the penalty area just went wide of the Chelsea goal.
The MLS side continued to dominate the play over the next 20 minutes with their midfield led by FCD teammates Wallace and Eric Avila, as it created several good scoring opportunities. Unfortunately the Generation adidas side failed to capitalize on the numerous chances and against the run of play it was Chelsea who found the back of the net in a well-executed counter attack.
In the 36th minute Minero placed a perfect though ball to center forward Morten Nielsen, who controlled the ball on the run and fired a low drive to the far post that beat Seitz even though he managed to get his hand to the ball.
Then just three minutes later Chelsea made it 2-0 after a corner kick was met by a header by defender Carl Magnay, who played the ball to an unmarked Sinclair and his header found the back of the net.
To begin the second half, MLS coach Frank Yallop introduced two changes in midfield, with Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake) and Bruno Guarda (FC Dallas) replacing Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards) and Ciaran O'Brien (Colorado Rapids). The changes had almost immediate effect as Beltran created a great scoring opportunity, but his point-blank shot was saved.
On the ensuing counter attack, Chelsea made it 3-0. A low driven cross from Stoch got through the defense and was met by Sinclair, who slipped his drive under Seitz. Sinclair then scored the fourth goal for Chelsea in the 57th minute, taking a pass from Nielsen inside the penalty area and placing it into the corner of the goal.
The GA team created numerous opportunities in the second half with quality runs by Somma, who consistently got behind the Chelsea defense. While the MLS team had the edge in the number of shots and scoring chances, clearly the difference in the game was the quality and precision of finishing exhibited by the Chelsea players.
The Generation adidas players concluded their day with a tour of the Stamford Bridge Stadium and Chelsea museum and will now prepare for the last match of the trip, when they face West Ham United on Thursday. Forward Yura Movsysian (Real Salt Lake) arrived Wednesday after resolving visa issues and will bring some fresh legs to the MLS attack for the match.
Chelsea FC reserves vs. MLS Select (Generation adidas)
December 10, 2008 -- Chelsea training grounds (academy field)
Scoring summary:
CHL: Morten Nielsen (Minero) 36
CHL: Scott Sinclair (Carl Magnay) 39
CHL: Scott Sinclair (Miroslav Stoch) 46
CHL: Scott Sinclair (Morten Nielsen) 57
Chelsea: Rhys Taylor, Seth Nana Ofori Twumasi, Jeffrey Bruma, Carl Magnay, Patrick Van Aanholt, Minero, Miroslav Stoch (82: Fabio Ferreira), Jacob Mellis (65: Thomas Taiwo), Morten Nielsen, Sergio Tejera, Scott Sinclair (70: Gael Kakuta)
Generation adidas: Chris Seitz, Tim Ward, Bakary Soumare, Rob Valentino, Amaechi Igwe, Anthony Wallace (70: Eric Avila re-entered), Eric Avila (46: Bruno Guarda), Ciaran O'Brien, Roger Espinoza (46: Tony Beltran), Abdus Ibrahim (54: Alex Nimo), Davide Somma
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
