Kito Chelsea Guangzhou China Challenge Game against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical at the Guangdong Olympic Stadoim on Wednesday, July 23, 2008.Chelsea first half (4-2-2-2) Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira 21), Carvalho, Terry ©, A Cole; Essien, Mikel; Lampard, Deco; Anelka, Kalou.
Chelsea second half (4-3-3) Cudicini; Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge; Deco (Ivanovic 62), Mikel, Lampard ©; Kalou (Wright-Phillips 57), Di Santo, Malouda.
Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari
Referee Zhao Liang
Environment: a warm and humid evening on Chelsea's first ever match in China.
Kit: Guangzhou -white shirts, blue shorts, white socks. Chelsea - all blue.
First-half
Kick- off Guangzhou
1 Warning Early half chance for the hosts after Carvalho gives away a corner, but Chelsea clear.
5 Shot Anelka combines with Deco on the edge of the box, forcing the Guangzhou keeper into a low save. First proper chance of the game.
11 Chance This time it's Lampard and Kalou exchanging possession on the edge of the home area, before the midfielder shoots wide.
13 Close Essien rifles narrowly over from distance.
19 Close Debutant José Bosingwa is withdrawn from the action clutching his left leg.
19 CHELSEA GOAL Salomon Kalou scores the first goal under Luiz Felipe Scolari as he finishes neatly into the far corner after being released by Frank Lampard. Deco had worked the ball cleverly into his midfield partner.
21 Chelsea substitution Paulo Ferreira, wearing his new number 19, replaces Bosingwa, who has already departed the action.
22 Chance Kalou should double his goal tally from close range, but is denied by the onrushing Li Shuai.
32 Pot Luck Essien again has a go from fully 30 yards, forcing Li Shuai into another low save. Guangzhou came close moments earlier with a half-volley from Bai Lei.
35 Pass Ferreira sends the pass of the game so far behind the defence into the path of Anelka, who rounds the keeper and pulls back to Lampard. Of balance, the midfielder is unable to convert and Guangzhou clear.
43 Post Anelka works some space for himself and shoots low from a narrow angle, beating the Guangzhou keeper but not the woodwork, and the ball rebounds away to safety.
44 Save Cech digs out the save of the game from Xu Liang's free-kick. Looking well-beaten at his near post, the Chelsea man somehow clawed the ball on to the post and away.
Half-time: Guangzhou 0 Chelsea 1
Second-half
Kick-off Chelsea
48 Attack, Attack, Attack Both Chelsea full-backs are at the centre of the action, as first Ferreira forces a save from the keeper, then Bridge finds the post from 20 yards.
50 CHELSEA GOAL Frank Lampard returns to usual business as he scores an audacious lob from 25 yards, catching Li Shuai well off his line.
57 Chelsea substitution Shaun Wright-Phillips replaces Salomon Kalou.
62 Chelsea substitution Branislav Ivanovic is awarded his first team outing, replacing Deco.
64 Wide Malouda and Bride link up well, and the Frenchman cuts inside, shooting on his right foot. The effort is close, but dragged slightly wide.
67 Break Lampard plays a 60-yard pass for the breaking Wright-Phillips, who does well to turn his defender before shooting just wide. Seconds later Di Santo is one-on-one but hits the post with his left foot.
70 Close Bridge's cross is goalbound before the goalkeeper beats it away, and then Di Santo fashions a chance and is unlucky, hitting the side netting.
78 CHELSEA GOAL Franco Di Santo nets his first Chelsea goal from close range, after Florent Malouda drives low across the area. The Argentine youngster had exchanged passes with Lampard inside the centre circle before the ball was played wide to the winger.
87 CHELSEA GOAL Wright-Phillips makes it four, smashing home from close range after Bridge had pulled back from an advanced position.
Full-time: Guangzhou 0 Chelsea 4
Shots on target Guangzhou 3 Chelsea 11
Corners Guangzhou 5 Chelsea 6
Fouls Guangzhou 4 Chelsea 10
Offsides Guangzhou 0 Chelsea 2
Comment
Luiz Felipe Scolari's first match as Chelsea manager ended in a comfortable victory, bettering the score line achieved by Manchester United here a year ago, when they won 3-0.
In addition to the manager there were debuts for Deco, José Bosingwa, Branislav Ivanovic and Franco Di Santo (half-time sub), the latter pair being half-time substitutes.
The new manager, who had kept tight-lipped about his formation, abandoned the familiar Chelsea 4-3-3 in favour of a famous Brazilian 4-2-2-2 formation, with full-backs Bosingwa and Ashley Cole invited to join the attack as much as possible.
At half-time, he returned to the shape favoured by José Mourinho and Avram Grant, with Malouda and Kalou supporting Di Santo in the central role.
Franco Di Santo's was his first Chelsea goal, and took 33 minutes of his debut to arrive.
