SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 16 hrs 32 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
WL
Premier League
Dec 23, 2006 at 3pm UK
 
CL

2-3

Heskey (45', 75')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Robben (90'), Lampard (13'), Kalou (31')

On this day: Late Arjen Robben goal downs Wigan Athletic

:Headline: On this day: Late Arjen Robben goal downs Wigan Athletic: ID:126197: from db_amp
Seven years ago today, Chelsea won 3-2 away at Wigan Athletic thanks to a late goal from Dutch winger Arjen Robben.

Chelsea went into the 2006-07 campaign as Premier League champions from the previous two seasons. If truth be told, the team that Jose Mourinho had sculptured were largely unopposed during both of those terms, such was the quality that they possessed.

However, it became clear very early on in 2006 that Manchester United would be resurgent under Sir Alex Ferguson, so much so that when Chelsea made the trip to Wigan Athletic on this day, they were two points behind the Red Devils.

It appeared that the Blues were going to remain on United's coattails courtesy of a routine victory at the DW Stadium when they eased into a 2-0 lead within the opening 31 minutes.

First Arjen Robben freed Frank Lampard with a reverse pass to break the deadlock, before summer signing Salomon Kalou, who had hit the post earlier in the half, headed beyond the reach of Chris Kirkland in the home goal.

Ordinarily, Chelsea would have negotiated their way through the remainder of the contest with minimal drama, but on this occasion Emile Heskey brought the home side back into the game just moments before the break when he headed in a cross by Josip Skoko.

Then, with 15 minutes remaining, the same player drew Wigan level to seemingly secure a share of the spoils. Midfielder Denny Landzaat kept the move alive and when the ball arrived to Heskey, he managed to fire into the roof of the net from close range.

Just as they had done during the previous season, though, Chelsea would break Wigan's resolve with a late goal. On that occasion it was Hernan Crespo, while Dutch winger Robben was the hero this time around.

The hosts failed to close him down and they were punished when the former PSV Eindhoven player drilled the ball in from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute.

"That's heartbreaking. Chelsea won't get a tougher 45 minutes all season, but they've come back and that's why they are champions," Wigan boss Paul Jewell said after the match.

Meanwhile, his opposite number Mourinho added: "Champions should not need to score in the last minute. The fans might call that exciting but I don't. If you are in an easy game you have to kill it.

"We were 2-0 up after 30 minutes, in complete control, then we started playing very badly. Wigan did very well, they are an emotional team, but we let them back into the game when they should have been finished."

WIGAN: Kirkland; Boyce, De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines; Johansson (Cotterill), Skoko, Landzaat (Wright), Kilbane; Heskey, Todorov (Teale)

CHELSEA: Hilario; Essien, Boulahrouz (Shevchenko), Carvalho, Cole; Lampard, Makelele (Mikel), Ballack; Kalou, Drogba, Robben (Geremi)

amp_article__126197 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2013-12-24 06:14:20:
html db last update - 2013-12-24 06:14:20 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .