Malaysian League Select XI 0 Chelsea 2
Goals from Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole ensured Chelsea signed off their pre-season tour of Asia with a 2-0 victory over a Malaysian XI.
A goal in each half saw the Blues secure a relatively easy victory over a Malaysian side consisting mostly of under-23 players with a few experienced campaigners thrown in to bolster the side.
However, Scolari’s side got off to a slow start in the match and could have gone behind early on however Zainal dragged his shot wide after only two minutes.
It was left to Nicolas Anelka to open the scoring mid-way through the first half after being put through by Joe Cole.
His left footed shot was struck well giving Helmi, the Malaysian keeper, little chance.
Chelsea began to gain the upper hand and Lampard and Deco combined well at a free kick, but the former Barcelona player’s volley couldn't beat the Malaysian goalkeeper.
It wasn’t until the second half that the Blues managed to double their lead, substitute Ashley Cole scoring eight minutes after coming on at half time.
Scolari had used the break to fresh up his side with several substitutions: Alex, Malouda, Ashley Cole and Ferreira replacing Carvalho, Wright-Phillips, Bridge and Joe Cole.
However, some good work from Frank Lampard saw him lay the ball off to Ashley Cole whose neat turn and finish made it 2-0.
The Malaysian side had their chances in their second half, their best opportunity falling to Zaquan, however he was unable to beat Petr Cech who ensured yet another clean sheet for his side.
Andriy Shevchenko replaced Deco late in the second half but couldn’t increase Chelsea’s lead, indeed Essien had the Blues’ best chance however he couldn’t beat Helmi and the match finished 2-0.
Chelsea now head to Russia where they face Lokomotiv Moscow on Friday as their pre-season preparations continue.
Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole scored as Chelsea rounded off their Asian tour with 2-0 win over a Malaysian XI on Tuesday, continuing their bright start under new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
After romping past Chengdu Blades 7-0 on Saturday and thrashing Guangzhou Pharmaceutical last week, Chelsea have now bagged 13 goals without conceeding as they head to Moscow for the Railways Cup. However, the London side were slow starting on a humid night at Shah Alam Stadium and almost went behind after two minutes when Mohammed Amirulhadi Bin Zainal outfoxed John Terry to break free down the right.
He unleashed a low shot that beat Petr Cech and grazed the left-hand post. The Malaysians were the toughest opposition the Blues have faced on their pre-season tour but once they settled it was almost exclusively Chelsea.
New signing Deco had a great chance after 14 minutes when he met a Frank Lampard corner with a sublime volley from 25 yards that goalkeeper Helmi Eliza B. Elias did well to stop. The keeper kept them in the match again a minute later, saving a close range effort from Anelka with Shaun Wright-Philips skying the rebound over the bar.
Michael Essien went close midway through the half when he turned inside a defender and smacked a left-foot drive straight at Elias as Chelsea turned on the style. Anelka finally opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he was fed through on the left by Joe Cole and slotted home past the diving Elias.
Malaysia's dangerman Bin Zianal went close again seven minutes before the break when his long range right-foot strike again beat Cech but missed the target. Scolari made seven substitutions as his side flagged in the heat and Ashley Cole wasted no time making his mark, getting on the scoresheet after 53 minutes when he tapped in from close range as the opposition appealed for offside.
Essien should have made it 3-0 with 16 minutes left but once again the Malaysian goalkeeper kept his team's faint hopes alive. Chelsea open their Premier League season on 17 August against Portsmouth.
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