OXFORD 1 CHELSEA 3
In 4-4-2 formation:
Goalkeeper, Carlo Cudicini
Right-back, Albert Ferrer
Centre-back, Robert Huth
Centre-back, William Gallas
Left-back, Warren Cummings
Right-midfield, Robert Wolleaston
Centre-midfield, Joe Keenan
Centre-midfield, Enrique De Lucas
Left-midfield, Boudewijn Zenden
Striker and captain, Gianfranco Zola
Striker, Filipe Oliveira.
With a team blended between experience and youth, Chelsea gave what is described by the official web-site as a "satisfactory rather than a dynamic performance" in front of a crowd 6,856 at Oxford United’s new Kassam Stadium.
Gianfranco Zola (the team captain) gave Chelsea the lead in the eighth minute after Gallas had burst on to Robert Wolleaston’s pass but been blocked. His first shot was also blocked, but when the ball came back to him he turned and drove a left footer into the bottom corner.
Gianfranco continued to impress throughout and again, nine minutes later, Zola’s perfectly weighted pass put Zenden through alone, but his angled drive beat the far post as well as the goalkeeper.
However, Oxford did have their moments and Carlo Cudicini was called into action on a number of occasions, showing the kind of form and sharpness displayed for much of last season.
That as it may be, Oxford did manage to equalise and embarrass the young Italian 20 minutes into the first half.
Chappie Ferrer had been whistled up for holding back Savage wide on Chelsea’s right, and Whitehead came across to take the free-kick and spotted Cudicini, who had already punched away two good crosses, well off his line. Whitehead drove in high at the near post to embarrass our goalkeeper.
Two minutes later Chelsea regained the lead with what has been described as a "25 yard wonder goal on the turn" by the 18-year-old Portugese striker Filipe Oliveira. The youngster certainly made his mark with his fabulous turn and strike, and handstand to follow.
For the second-half Joel Kitamirike replaced Zenden. Chelsea continued to keep possession for much of the second half, switching the ball across the pitch, with Enrique De Lucas displaying the kind of movement reminiscent of Dan Petresue.
59 minutes into the game, and Chelsea decided to finally put the icing on the cake with a Rob Wolleaston left footed strike to make the game Oxford 1 Chelsea 3. Again Zola’s delicate touch and vision allowed Wolleaston to "whack a left footer in off the bottom of the post".
With some good performances from both the senior and youth players, Ranieri will certainly have something to think about this morning.
I wonder how many forthcoming performances this season we will see such a blend between "established first team stars" and the youngsters. I’m sure many will get their chance, and those on display last night have certainly done themselves some favours.
OXFORD 1 (Whitehead (20))
CHELSEA 3 (Zola (8), Oliveira (22), Wolleaston (59))
stevefurlong@chelsea-mad.co.uk