http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~1934138,00.html DROGBA AND KALOU GO THROUGH Posted on: Fri 15 Jan 2010 Ivory Coast became the first side to make the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations by beating Ghana 3-1 in their second and final group game. The withdrawal of Togo resulted in a cut down Group B and Friday's result means Ghana must now beat Burkina Faso in their last match if Michael Essien is not to return to Chelsea as early as next week. The midfielder has already posted his reaction to the game via his official Chelsea website blog. Didier Drogba scored Ivory Coast's third goal in the match in Cabinda and Salomon Kalou assisted in the first. However Essien was only considered fit enough to start on the Ghana bench, and that despite a length absentee list that included midfielder Stephen Appiah and Sulley Muntari. He did play the second half but he himself was subject to an injury concern before the end. Kalou in for Bakary Kone was the one change to the Ivory Coast team that drew 0-0 against Burkina Faso. Ghana went closest early on with a free-kick just wide. Drogba lacked involvement in the opening stages before he skied a free-kick of his own from an ambitious 40 yards. It was ex- Spurs man Didier Zokora who was most dangerous in the first 20 minutes, twice stinging the hands of Ghana keeper Richard Kingson from well outside the area. Then midway through the half the Elephants did carve their way through with Kalou much involved, attacking on the right and unselfishly squaring for Gervinho to score. It was the goal the Ivorians needed to unshackle them. Suddenly they looked powerful with every attack and were well on top. On 38 minutes, Ghana finally troubled Ivory Coast keeper Boubacar Barry - and trouble him Kwadwo Asamoah most certainly did, with a turn and cracking strike that needed a flying save. Ghana pushed back in the last five minutes before the break but it was little surprise when Essien was one of two half-time substitutes for the Black Stars. Ten minutes after the restart, Arsenal's hapless Emmanuel Eboue lunged two-footed at Opoku Agyemang and the Ivorian right-back was sent off. Within two minutes Matthew Amoah hit the Ivory Coast post with the keeper rooted and another free-kick was heading for the top corner until it was tipped over. A young Ghana side containing several players from the team that recently won the Under 20 World Cup were fighting back strongly. However the 10 men were awarded a free-kick wide on the right over 35 yards out and it was converted with a fabulous strike from Siaka Tiene to make it 2-0 to Ivory Coast. Kalou, sporting a severe mohican haircut, survived being headed in the groin region by one of his own team-mates. He did need treatment and an ice pack to continue and almost immediately picked up a dubious booking for time-wasting. Essien has chances to take set-pieces for his country rarely afforded him at Chelsea and the Ghana captain curled a free-kick not too far over on 78 minutes. A minute later there was huge scare for Chelsea and Ghana fans when Essien and Drogba collided in a challenge and the midfielder was hurt. First carried off in pain, he did return to the pitch with a hobble and reduced effectiveness, although he would later shoot wide from the edge of the area. http://www.chelseafc.com/javaImages/6f/b4/0,,10268~8238191,00.jpg ACoN Kalou was subbed on 83 minutes. Two minutes from the end Drogba netted for the first time in the tournament with a typical header after some great set-up play by Kalou's replacement Abdul Kieta. Now 3-0 down, Ghana went straight up the other end and won a hugely debatable penalty, converted by Asamoah Gyan. The final group match between Ghana and Burkina Faso is on Tuesday while Drogba and Kalou won't be in action again until Sunday 24th. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~1934729,00.html MIKEL HELPS NIGERIA TO VICTORY Posted on: Sat 16 Jan 2010 Chelsea's John Mikel Obi was on the field for the entirety as Nigeria earned a first win of the 2010 African Nations, 1-0 against Benin. It was the first time one of our Africans had been in action at the same time as the Blues, and he will no doubt be impressed to hear his club side won 7-2 without him. On the field in Benguela, Mikel was an important presence at the heart of the Nigerian midfield alongside Fulham's Dickson Etuhu, but it was Everton's Aiyegbeni Yakubu that struck the only goal of the game, a penalty just a few minutes before half-time. Mikel, 22, was in the thick of it early on, his searching through pass just too heavy for Yakubu's run, and when Etuhu did pick out the forward 15 minutes in, he dragged his shot wide. Benin, brilliantly nicknamed 'The Squirrels', have done well merely to qualify for the Nations Cup, but now they are there are producing some competitive football, drawing against Mozambique earlier in the week, and producing chances against the Nigerians. Stephane Sessegnon twice went close in the first half for the underdogs, sending a free-kick just over before crashing a shot against the crossbar from just under 30 yards. Three minutes later Nigeria were in front, Yakubu stroking home his penalty straight down the middle after Romuald Bocco had handballed. Nouhoum Kobena struck the woodwork for a second time as Benin pressed for an equaliser, while at the other end sub Victor Obinna had the opportunity to seal the win, but was denied by brave goalkeeping. Mikel, who plays a slightly more advanced role to that which he takes up for Chelsea, had a shot pushed away for Nigeria with 13 minutes remaining, but in the end one goal was enough for Shaibu Amodu's side, who will face the Mozambicans in their final Group C game. -- “在很小的年紀，切爾西給了我一個如此難以置信的機會。這就是我想要把整個職 業生涯獻給切爾西和球迷們的原因，因為如果沒有他們，我就什麼也不是，就是這 麼簡單。” - 約翰˙特里 --

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