Nicolas Anelka Brace Gives Chelsea Stranglehold On Copenhagen Tie

If Vingaard does shade left, the substitution hints Copenhagen is willing to use the wide areas,particularly on the left, more than they did in the first half. During that initial 45 minutes, Copenhagen built their attacks through the middle and right, seeing no success with either route. Down the left, Vingaard and Copenhagen will being going after José Bosingwa, the most suspect of the Blues defenders.

Yet aside from their initial attack of the half, when Vingaard cut-in from the left for his shot, Copenhagen has not used that flank. In fact, Vingaard is playing centrally, at the level below Dame N’Doye. Jesper Gronkjaer has stayed on the left.

For Copenhagen, the deficit was the result of a handful of breakdowns that occurred in a matter of seconds. An errand back pass from the left flank gave away the ball. The midfielders were out of position. Nobody closed down the Chelsea attacker. The goalkeeper’s technique and position were poor. Put together, it was far too easy a goal for Anelka, scoring with his right foot from just inside the area.

As a result, Chelsea has control of the tie: a road goal and a 1-0 lead at halftime.

It was poor position by Copenhagen’s midfield. When the ball came to Anelka - back to goal, 35 yards out - there wasn’t a midfielder within 12 yards. Anelka turned and raced toward the Copenhagen area, with Antonsson giving him all the room he needed to set-up a comfortable shot.

As a result, Chelsea has an early 1-0 lead.