GIROUD GETS BLUES INTO THE LAST 16
Veteran sends Blues through
IT IS clear why Frank Lampard wants to keep Olivier Giroud at Chelsea.
The striker has started just one game so far this season – in the Carabao Cup. He is looking to get away in January to keep his chances of playing for France at the European Championship alive, but was the man who sent Chelsea through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. In fact, cometh the 90th minute, when the 34- year- old – who so often pops up with a crucial strike for Chelsea – climbed above Gerzino Nyamsi to head home a precious goal.
West Ham, Inter Milan and Lazio have all been linked with Giroud in recent weeks as the target man admitted he might have to look elsewhere in the next transfer window if he does not get more football. Well, this was the timeliest of reminders to Lampard of exactly how useful the former Arsenal star can be.
This awkward, messy game looked to be petering out to a draw thanks to Serhou Guirassy’s late header, which cancelled out Callum Hudson- Odoi’s early goal.
But then with time ticking away, Timo Werner saw his shot saved by Rennes goalkeeper Alfred Gomis.
The ball flew up and, as Nyamsi dithered, in nipped the old hand to head the ball into a gaping net.
In 2018- 19, Giroud netted a record 11 goals as Chelsea won the Europa League. Don’t count the old boy out just yet.
So Chelsea, with Sevilla winning at Krasnodar, are through to the last 16. But this was not easy and it was a game Chelsea almost threw away.
Lampard’s team dominated the opening stages but Werner amazingly blazed over from six yards after only three minutes.
Then, though, Mason Mount won the ball, looked up and played a glorious 40- yard ball to HudsonOdoi, who took two touches before firing home.
It was a superb goal, and it looked like Chelsea might run up a cricket score as Gomis saved excellently from Mount.
But Chelsea got sloppy, as Ben Chilwell twice gave the ball away
and the French side were allowed to find their way back into the game.
James Lea Siliki blazed over and Guirassy saw his shot well saved by Edouard Mendy, who pulled off another good stop from Damien Da Silva and then a brilliant save from Nyamsi’s point- blank header.
But five minutes from time, the French side struck.
Another corner was swung in and for the first time Thiago Silva lost his man, as Guirassy headed powerfully home.
Fortunately, Chelsea had a trump card. The wise old head of Giroud.