FA Cup
27 January, 2013
Brentford
Simon Moore
21
Lee Hodson
18
Tony Craig
5
Harlee Dean
6
Shaleum Logan
14
Adam Forshaw
4
Jonathan Douglas
8
Toumani Diagouraga
20
Clayton Donaldson
9
Marcello Trotta
11
Harry Forrester
19
Substitutes
Scott Barron
3
Sam Saunders
7
Tom Adeyemi
12
Richard Lee
1
Paul Hayes
23
Jake Reeves
22
Stuart Dallas
15
Chelsea
22
Ross Turnbull
2
Branislav Ivanovic
24
Gary Cahill
26
John Terry
3
Ashley Cole
7
Ramires
8
Frank Lampard
21
Marko Marin
11
Oscar
34
Ryan Bertrand
9
Fernando Torres
Substitutes
10
Juan Mata
28
César Azpilicueta
29
Demba Ba
19
Paulo Ferreira
40
Hilario
30
Yossi Benayoun
57
Nathan Ake
Referee: Jon Moss
© 2013 STATS Europe BV. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS Europe BV is strictly prohibited.
Brentford almost caused one of the fourth round's biggest upsets at Griffin Park this afternoon, after drawing 2-2 with FA Cup holders Chelsea. The Bees led twice - through Marcello Trotta and then a Harry Forrester penalty - but Chelsea equalised on both occasions through Oscar and Fernando Torres. After a bright start from the visitors, it was the League One side who drew the first blood, when Trotta pounced on a loose ball to slam home past Ross Turnbull. The Chelsea goalkeeper had a difficult afternoon, having given away an indirect free kick for picking up John Terry's pass back earlier on. Chelsea came out for the second half with improved purpose and were rewarded on 55 minutes when Oscar brilliantly poked home from inside the box. But with just under 20 minutes on the clock, Brentford substitute Tom Adeyemi was set free down the middle, and as he tried to take the ball round Ross Turnbull, was brought down by the Chelsea goalkeeper. Yellow card to Turnbull; penalty to the Bees. Youngster Harry Forrester, who had been highlighted as the home side's key man going into the game, calmly slotted home to regain Brentford's advantage. But on 83 minutes, Fernando Torres - who hadn't had as much as a sniff up to this point - ended his goal drought with a tidy finish that he swept over Simon Moore. Brentford will travel to Stamford Bridge for a replay in a week or so, and if they play as valiantly as they did this afternoon, any result is possible.
That's it. Brentford led twice but were pegged back by Chelsea on both occasions, and the pair will now contest a replay at Stamford Bridge. A fantastic FA Cup tie, and a superb display from the League One side.
Mata is livid here, as Chelsea are denied a penalty for what looked like handball from Harlee Dean. The referee's angle wasn't brilliant, but it would have been a harsh call anyway.
Juan Mata loses his marker inside the box but can't control a long ball from over his shoulder.
There will be at least four minutes of added time at Griffin Park. Four minutes for Chelsea to find a winner, and four minutes for Brentford to hold on.
Simon Moore makes a good save to keep his Brentford side in the game, as he pounces on Frank Lampard's dipping effort to claim at the second attempt.
Sam Saunders comes on to replace Adam Forshaw for Brentford: Uwe Rosler's last throw of the dice.
Torres has barely had a sniff this afternoon, but he made no mistake here, pouncing on a loose ball to sweep home from the edge of the box. Tidy finish, and an important one in the context of Chelsea's defence of their FA Cup crown.
Fernando Torres ends his goalscoring drought and equalises for Chelsea!
And that will be Bertrand's last action this afternoon, as he's replaced - finally - by Demba Ba. Less than 10 minutes on the clock.
Great chance for Chelsea, as Ryan Bertrand nods wide after a cross from the right. Relatively unopposed there as well.
Brentford's two goalscorers have now both been withdrawn, as Harry Forrester makes way for Scott Barron.
Not the substitution we were expecting, as Cesar Azpilicueta (a right back) replaces Branislav Ivanovic (a right back) for Chelsea. Demba Ba remains on the bench.
A Chelsea corner spawns a number of decent chances for the visitors, but somehow Brentford survive. Twelve minutes left. Still time for things to turn on their head.
Wonderful stuff at Griffin Park, though not for the current FA Cup holders. It was definitely a penalty, so no complaints there. With 15 minutes left, Benitez must surely be looking to bring on Demba Ba to salvage something?
Harry Forrester keeps his head and even though Turnbull dives the right way, slots the ball home to regain Brentford's one goal advantage. The magic of the FA Cup displayed in perfect fashion.
Brentford have a penalty! Substitute Tom Adeyemi races through on goal and as he tries to take it round Ross Turnbull, the Chelsea goalkeeper brings him down. Incredible scenes! Turnbull is yellow carded and Harry Forrester has the chance to make it 2-1.
First change of the afternoon for Uwe Rosler, who brings on Tom Adeyemi in place of goalscorer Marcello Trotta.
Brentford are awarded two corners in quick succession. From the second, the ball falls to Adam Forshaw on the edge of the box, but the midfielder's left-footed effort is wild and flies well wide.
More possession for Brentford, but again it amounts to nothing. The Chelsea defence are doing well at not allowing their opponents an opportunity to shoot - something they failed to do in the first half.
First significant spell of Brentford pressure in this second half. The ball finds its way to Harry Forrester on the left flank but the move breaks down when the young forward's cross flies behind for a goal kick.
Brentford have barely been out of their own half since the break. That will worry Uwe Rosler. If the momentum continues to go with Chelsea, there will surely be only one winner come 90 minutes.
Just what Chelsea needed: an early equaliser. Oscar brilliantly controls a high ball on the edge of the box, before skipping past a couple of defenders and unconventionally poking home past Simon Moore. Really clever play from the Brazilian.
Oscar equalises for Chelsea with a really impressive finish!
It could be a long second half for Brentford, who have had to make a number of important interventions at the back already.
Chelsea are given a free kick in a good position that Frank Lampard is going to take. The midfielder powers the ball into the mixer, but Brentford remain resilient and clear their lines.
First chance of the second half as the ball breaks kindly for Ramires on the edge of the Brentford box. The Brazilian swings at it, but his effort flies well wide of the goal.
One change for Chelsea at half time, as Juan Mata comes on to replace Marko Marin, who really was poor in the first period.
Huge 45 minutes for both sides. Can Chelsea avoid humiliation by overcoming this defiant Brentford side? Or will the Bees record a famous victory? Only time will tell.
What a first half of football for the home side. They go into the break leading 1-0, thanks to a Marcello Trotta goal. The fact that their advantage is thoroughly deserved will worry Rafael Benitez, who surely must make some changes for the second period.
Gary Cahill commits a foul in the left-hand corner, giving Brentford a free kick in a decent position. The ensuing set piece breaks for Harry Forrester, who can't quite get a shot away after he skipped along the edge of the box.
Frank Lampard of all people squanders possession on the edge of the Chelsea box, allowing Harry Forrester to pump an effort goalwards. Ross Turnbull gets both hands behind it, but can only palm it to the feet of Marcello Trotta, who laps up the opportunity by slotting home comfortably. Uwe Rosler is seen telling his team to keep their heads on, and they should... after celebrating in style for a moment.
Marcello Trotta opens the scoring for Brentford, and you have to say it's been coming!
Brentford are awarded a free kick when Ramires upends Adam Forshaw. It's swung in from deep and after a couple of attempts, is beaten away eventually by Chelsea.
Chelsea haven't been knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower league club since Barnsley in the 2008 quarter-finals. Judging by how the game has gone so far, Brentford have a real chance of scuppering that stat today.
Chelsea's right-hand side is getting battered by Brentford. Marko Marin and Ramires looks unable to make a challenge or pick out a pass. And the Blues are not making it easy for themselves, giving the ball away in dangerous positions. Thankfully for them, Brentford haven't profited as yet.
Best chance of the game so far and it falls to Brentford. Shaleum Logan picks out Adam Forshaw on the edge of the box, and the striker's shot is mere inches away from making it 1-0. Turnbull was rooted to the spot.
Rafael Benitez won't be too happy with the way his side are playing. Their game so far is summed up by a Frank Lampard free kick that fails to beat the one-man Brentford wall. The Bees are looking increasingly threatening, and are, dare I say it, buzzing.
Another glimpse of skill from Harry Forrester, who comes inside from the left and slices a right-footed shot wide of Ross Turnbull's far post.
The longer the score stays at 0-0, the louder the Brentford fans will get. They were buoyed by the back pass incident, and have seen their side impress down the flanks particularly.
After a bright start from Chelsea, Brentford have begun to get a bit of a foothold in this tie now. Much was expected of Bees youngster Harry Forrester before the game, and he briefly shows his potential with a promising break down the left which is cut out by Gary Cahill.
The back pass incident really was rather odd. Ross Turnbull must have been expecting Terry to simply let the ball run straight through to him; either that, or he's forgotten the rules during his time sat warming the substitute's bench. It was a bit strange why the goalkeeper wasn't booked, too. Clayton Donaldson was running onto the ball and so Turnbull surely denied him a goalscoring opportunity.
Harry Forrester blasts the resulting free kick over the bar. All that stood between him and the Chelsea goal was a wall made up of every outfield player in blue. Tough chance.
Drama! A long ball over the Chelsea defence is tapped back to Turnbull by Terry, and the Chelsea goalkeeper picks it up! Clear miscommunication from the pair, and now Brentford have a central indirect free kick just inside the box.
First effort for Brentford, as Marcello Trotta advances with the ball before slicing his left-footed effort high and wide. He had better options so it was a wasted chance.
Chelsea have enjoyed the bulk of possession in these opening stages, but get put under a bit of pressure when John Terry passes back to Ross Turnbull. Brentford skipper Jonathan Douglas closes down the Blues 'keeper quickly, forcing him to skew the ball out for a throw-in.
Marko Marin picks the ball up 30 yards out and is allowed to turn and pick out Oscar on the edge of the box. The Brazilian shoots goalwards but drags his tame effort wide of Simon Moore's far post.
Oscar dinks the ball over the home defence into the path of the onrushing Ashley Cole, who whips a first time cross into the box towards Torres, but it's just too long for the Spaniard.
Less than a minute on the clock, and Chelsea almost work an immediate opening. Branislav Ivanovic's long throw into the box is flicked on by Fernando Torres, but Oscar can't quite get on the end of it, allowing Brentford to clear their lines.
Chelsea get things underway at a packed Griffin Park.
Turnbull, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Marin, Oscar, Bertrand, Torres. Subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Azpilicueta, Mata, Benayoun, Ake, Ba.
Moore, Hodson, Craig, Dean, Logan, Forshaw, Douglas, Diagouraga, Donaldson, Trotta, Forrester. Subs: Lee, Barron, Saunders, Adeyemi, Dallas, Reeves, Hayes.
Join us just before kick-off for the confirmed team news and all the action from Griffin Park.
Eden Hazard and David Luiz are the only absentees from the Chelsea first team for this afternoon's encounter. Hazard was sent off for violent conduct after appearing to kick a ballboy in his side's Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea, while Luiz is suffering from an ankle injury.
Defender Jake Bidwell will miss out through suspension, but Scott Barron and Harry Forrester are both expected to return to a Brentford side that is otherwise injury-free.
Brentford and Chelsea haven't faced each other for over 60 years, having last played out a fixture in the 1949/50 season when Chelsea nicked a narrow 1-0 win in that season's FA Cup. Prior to that, the sides met 10 times in the old, old First Division (now the Premier League), with Chelsea enjoying five victories in those games, and Brentford four.
Rafael Benitez claimed in midweek that finishing in the top four was more important to Chelsea than winning trophies, in a statement that could be his way of covering his back from any potential embarrassment this afternoon. Both Norwich and QPR fell foul to lower division opposition yesterday, and with Brentford going great guns in the league, we could be in for another upset today.
Brentford boss Uwe Rosler last faced Chelsea as a player for Southampton. It was 12 years ago and the Blues, visiting the new St Mary's Stadium, ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mario Stanic. John Terry and Frank Lampard both started on that day, and are both likely to feature again this afternoon. Rosler also netted against Chelsea in only his second game in English football – for Man City in 1994.
League One high fliers Brentford host the might of Chelsea at Griffin Park this afternoon, in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Kick-off is 12:00 GMT.