Malaysia 1 Chelsea 4

Last updated : 25 July 2003 By Rich Godden
The team lined up as follows:

Marco Ambrosio

Mario Melchiot

John Terry (c)

Robert Huth

Wayne Bridge

Jesper Gronkjaer

Frank Lampard

Joe Keenan

Boudewijn Zenden

Mikael Forssell

Carlton Cole

The substitutes are: Carlo Cudicini, Glen Johnson, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Damien Duff, Joel Kitamirike, Alexis Nicolas and Sebastian Kneissl.

Glen Johnson made an early appearance after Robert Huth suffered a cut above his eye which required 7 stitches!

The Blues took the lead with around 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Mikael Forssell tiptoed his way into the box before laying the ball off to Carlton Cole. Cole showed great vision to slip the ball through to Lampard, who finished with ease. There were shouts for offside, yet the replays suggested that the linesman just about got it right.

But the lead was short lived. Just four minutes after Lamps' opener there was an equaliser. It came via a deep corner, headed in by Malaysia by defender Hairuddin Omar. That brought rapturous cheers and applause from the crowd.

After half time, Chelsea didn't actually seem to be that threatening, although Mikael Forssell probably should have scored at least one of the stunning crosses put in his direction. Yet it was only once the big boys were introduced that we really got going.

Jimmy, Eidur, Damien Duff and Sebastien Kneissl (who looked very talented) replaced Forssell, Cole, Gronks and Zenden. And with around 15 minutes left, Jimmy hit an absolute screamer from 30 yards out. It was vintage Hasselbaink and his prformance was very impressive.

Duff also looked sharp, despite not being match fit, and he played in a wonderful cross for Eidur to head home in the 80th minute. And with time running out, Glen Johnson nodded home a Jimmy Floyd corner to make it 4-1.

It looked easy in the end but, mark my words, we'll have to play a lot better than that if we are to beat Newcastle in Sunday's final...