Drogba scores on debut

Chelsea 2 AC Milan 3

Something old and something new could not prevent Chelsea feeling blue after their final Champions World Series match against AC Milan at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia.

Eidur Gudjohnsen, one of the longest-serving players in the Chelsea squad having signed in 2000, and strike partner Didier Drogba, making his first start in a Chelsea shirt, were on target to earn the Londoners a 2-1 half-time lead.

But Milan added to Cafu’s spectacular first-half volley, with Alessandro Costacurta and Andriy Shevchenko giving the Serie A side victory.

Carlo Ancelotti, the Milan coach who landed the Champions League the year before new Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho led Porto to the crown, included Chelsea loan signing Hernan Crespo in his starting line-up.

Chelsea trio Arjen Robben (foot), Alexei Smertin (thigh) and Adrian Mutu (groin) missed out through injury, while Mateja Kezman was suspended and new signing Ricardo Carvalho, a £19.85million signing from Porto, started on the bench.

Milan looked sharp for a side a month away from the start of their season, and kept possession well in the early stages but Chelsea had the first real opportunity after five minutes.

Paulo Ferreira crossed from the right and Drogba rose above Cafu at the back post but his header was wide of Christian Abbiati’s goal.

Milan then forced three corner kicks in quick succession and Shevchenko was sharp enough to beat the Chelsea defence to the third of them, but his volley cleared Carlo Cudicini’s bar.

In the 15th minute, Brazilian Cafu was booked for a reckless tackle from behind on Wayne Bridge.

The close-season signings of Drogba and Kezman have increased the pressure on Gudjohnsen to prove he is worth his place up front, and he reminded Mourinho of what he can do by giving Chelsea the lead in the 19th minute.

Scott Parker flighted in a free-kick from the left and Gudjohnsen’s deft volley steered the ball beyond Abbiati and inside the far post.

Cafu pulled the Italian club level seven minutes later with a goal Cudicini, playing against the club he supported as a boy, will want to forget.

Shevchenko flicked the ball to Cafu, who spotted Cudicini off his line and drilled in a volley from the right edge of the box.

Gudjohnsen stepped over a Ferreira pass to free Frank Lampard in the 35th minute, but the England midfielder screwed his shot right of goal.

Drogba showed the aerial menace Chelsea were lacking last season to put the Londoners back in front in the 38th minute.

Lampard’s corner from the right picked out the Ivory Coast striker, who rose high above Paulo Maldini eight yards out and powered a header past Abbiati.

Substitute Celestine Babayaro was booked for a tackle on Maldini in the 59th minute as Milan pressed for an equaliser.

There was an injury scare for Chelsea three minutes later when Drogba landed awkwardly having launched himself at a near-post cross from substitute Damien Duff. Drogba left the field but returned after treatment.

Cudicini got a chance to shine against his hometown club in the 70th minute, getting down to block a skidding Shevchenko free-kick from the left corner of the box.

Ferreira then put Cudicini in trouble when attempting to chest down a cross to his keeper. Crespo slid in and Cudicini had to bravely block at his former team-mate’s feet.

Milan pulled level for a second time in the 76th minute when a Kaka corner from the right cleared Ferreira and Costacurta arrived at the edge of the six-yard box to drill the ball past Cudicini.

Lampard tried a cheeky shot from 45 yards out which had the Milan goalkeeper backpedalling but cleared the bar.

In the 85th minute, John Terry was booked for a dangerous, late tackle on Kaka, and Glen Johnson was lucky not to be booked for an equally reckless challenge on Serginho a minute later.

From the resultant free-kick, Shevchenko scored the Milan winner. The Ukrainian’s powerful, low shot sped round the Chelsea wall and sneaked inside the right-hand post.