Chris Maduewesi
Member
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea played out a 1-1 in the first leg of their round of 16 clash with Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League.
Goals in each half earned both teams the draw going into the return leg next month at Stamford Bridge.
Fernando Torres found his scoring boots,tapping a good cutback from Cesar Azipilicueta to score an away goal for his side in the ninth minute.
Chelsea sat deep and absorbed every onslaught thrown at them by the Turkish team from then onward.
But their game-plan worked perfectly for them in the first half and they looked threatening each time they were on the break.
Eden Hazard,Andre Schurrle and Willian who worked tirelessly defensively,had a mobility that brought urgency in attack.
Much threat was not seen from Didier Drogba with Chelsea's defence carrying out a detailed brief on their former teammate.
Though the Ivorian showed some flashes like the backheel flick-on to Felipe Melo,which was subsequently cleared by Frank Lampard,Drogba was adequately contained.
Torres wasted a good opportunity early in the second half to score his second of the game which would have taken the game beyond Roberto Mancini's team.
However Chelsea conceded an equaliser,allowing Cameroonian defender Aurelien Chedjou to score from close range.
It ended all squared in Istanbul with both teams going into second leg with an opportunity to advance.
Though Chelsea have the better chances,by virtue of the away goal they recorded in the first leg.
Meanwhile in the other Champions League game played in Germany,Real Madrid overwhelmed Schalke 04 beating them in a 1-6 walloping in Gelsenkirchen.
The three Madrid musketeers stepped up when needed with the goals that powered Carlo Ancelotti's team to victory.
Karim Benzema,Gareth Bale and of course Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace each in the game that they could have even won with a bigger margin.
The Champions League will take a three-week break,making a return in March for the second legs.
Goals in each half earned both teams the draw going into the return leg next month at Stamford Bridge.
Fernando Torres found his scoring boots,tapping a good cutback from Cesar Azipilicueta to score an away goal for his side in the ninth minute.
Chelsea sat deep and absorbed every onslaught thrown at them by the Turkish team from then onward.
But their game-plan worked perfectly for them in the first half and they looked threatening each time they were on the break.
Eden Hazard,Andre Schurrle and Willian who worked tirelessly defensively,had a mobility that brought urgency in attack.
Much threat was not seen from Didier Drogba with Chelsea's defence carrying out a detailed brief on their former teammate.
Though the Ivorian showed some flashes like the backheel flick-on to Felipe Melo,which was subsequently cleared by Frank Lampard,Drogba was adequately contained.
Torres wasted a good opportunity early in the second half to score his second of the game which would have taken the game beyond Roberto Mancini's team.
However Chelsea conceded an equaliser,allowing Cameroonian defender Aurelien Chedjou to score from close range.
It ended all squared in Istanbul with both teams going into second leg with an opportunity to advance.
Though Chelsea have the better chances,by virtue of the away goal they recorded in the first leg.
Meanwhile in the other Champions League game played in Germany,Real Madrid overwhelmed Schalke 04 beating them in a 1-6 walloping in Gelsenkirchen.
The three Madrid musketeers stepped up when needed with the goals that powered Carlo Ancelotti's team to victory.
Karim Benzema,Gareth Bale and of course Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace each in the game that they could have even won with a bigger margin.
The Champions League will take a three-week break,making a return in March for the second legs.