Barnsley provided yet more cup magic as they beat holders Chelsea 1-0 at Oakwell in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Magic of the cup alive and kicking at Oakwell
Barnsley provided yet more cup magic as they beat holders Chelsea 1-0 at Oakwell in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
The Tykes followed up their improbable win at Anfield with another famous victory in front of their own supporters. Kayode Odejayi was the hero as his second-half header proved to be enough.
Barnsley more than bridged the gulf in class between the two sides in a first-half which saw them refuse to be in awe of their more illustrious opponents.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Odejayi were a threat throughout and made a mockery of Chelsea's experienced internationals at times.
With Avram Grant's side offering little going forward, it was the Tykes who came closest to breaking the deadlock towards the end of the first period.
Istvan Ferenczi saw a volley cannon off the outside of a post, before Odejayi needed too many touches to get the ball out of his feet when presented with a clean run on goal.
Chelsea then appeared to finally take a stranglehold of the game at the start of the second-half, with Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole both going close.
On 66 minutes though Barnsley achieved the unthinkable.
Martin Devaney hung a high cross towards the back post and Odejayi got in front of Carlo Cudicini to head into an empty net.
Chelsea proceeded to then throw everything they had at the tiring Tykes, but Simon Davey's side somehow clung on to book their place in the semi-finals.
No pushover
As if to prove no fear would be shown, Barnsley took the game to their
opponents, carving out the opening chance inside three minutes.
The livewire Campbell-Ryce's through ball found Brian Howard inside the
area, but the Tykes captain's stabbed shot was blocked by Michael Essien.
It at least underlined Barnsley's intent that they would not be as easy a pushover as midweek UEFA Champions League opponents Olympiakos.
Half-chances followed for Chelsea, interspersed by a number of counter-attacks from the home side, who used Campbell-Ryce's pace along with the height andpower of strikers Ferenczi and Odejayi.
Michael Ballack ballooned the visitors' first opportunity over the crossbar, followed by an edge-of-the-area chip from Cole that also cleared the
woodwork.
Caught napping
In the 15th minute, Cole drilled another effort goalwards, and despite a slight
deflection that carried the shot inches wide, there was no corner.
Underlining Barnsley's commitment, Rob Kozluk threw his body in front of a Cole drive that followed three minutes later, and that was it in terms of first-half
chances for Chelsea.
Instead, it was the Tykes who should have headed into the break with the lead,
initially in the 21st minute when Carlo Cudicini was caught napping on the edge of the six-yard box.
The Italian goalkeeper made a hash of attempting to trap a backpass, allowing
Odejayi to thunder in, but his nudge was wide.
Then, eight minutes from the interval, Ferenczi should have found the target
after latching onto Bobby Hassell's free-kick from deep.
Effective defending
But after flicking the ball up with his right foot, he fired wide from 12 yards, with the Hungarian then sinking to his knees and with his head in his
hands as he appreciated he should have done better.
Within a minute, Barnsley were on the attack again as Howard played in Odejayi, and although forced wide, he still fired in a powerful shot that forced Cudicini into his first save via his legs.
Perhaps inevitably, Chelsea then dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second period as Barnsley were penned back inside their own half, resorting on occasion to desperate, but effective defending.
From their sporadic opportunities, Cole had a further shot blocked by Dennis
Souza, while on-loan goalkeeper Luke Steele made an easy save from a low
Anelka drive.
Cole and Terry then combined to set up the Frenchman in the 57th minute, but
again the determined home side thrust bodies in the way when it mattered most.
Pitch invasion
After weathering the storm, Barnsley then conjured a goal to lift the
proverbial roof off Oakwell, one which is likely to result in further inquests
from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich following those held in the wake of the Carling Cup final defeat to Tottenham.
Ferenczi initially fed Martin Devaney on the right, and after a run from
Marciano van Homoet pulled away Bridge, the right winger delivered a piercing cross to the heart of the area.
At 6ft 2ins, Odejayi managed to rise in front of the outstretched hands of
Cudicini and nod home only his second goal for the club this season into an
empty net.
Chelsea poured forward for the remainder of the game, but despite the pressure, not once was Steele was forced into a save as a wall of 10 red shirts protected him.
When the final whistle sounded, and despite warnings over the tannoy not to do so, a pitch invasion ensued - one you could not begrudge the delirious Barnsley faithful.
| Barnsley |
Team Statistics |
Chelsea |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
11 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
14 |
| 3 |
Corners |
10 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
5 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 60.5 |
Passing Success |
75.3 |
| 27 |
Tackles |
23 |
| 81.5 |
Tackles Success |
73.9 |
| 31.2 |
Possession |
68.8 |
| 42.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
57.7 |
|
