Chelsea's quest for an historic quadruple of trophies was laid to rest as a
Patrick Kluivert goal saw Newcastle maintain their bid to lift the FA Cup
for the first time in 50 years by booking a place in the sixth round with
a 1-0 victory.
Jose Mourinho's decision to rest roughly 100 million pounds worth of
talent backfired as the Stamford Bridge club paid the price for
concentrating too heavily on the Champions League trip to Barcelona, with
their first loss to an English club in four months.
Mourinho introduced substitutes Frank Lampard, Eidur Gudjohnsen
and Damien Duff at half-time in an attempt to cancel out Kluivert's fourth
minute winner, which has saved bookmakers an estimated 20 million pounds
they were expecting to pay-out had Chelsea claimed four trophies this
term.
However the move proved ill-advised as his side were forced to operate
for the last 40 minutes with 10 men after Wayne Bridge, the England
international, was stretchered
off and taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle as
he fell awkwardly following an innocuous challenge with Newcastle skipper
Alan Shearer.
Chelsea ended the game with nine men after Carlo Cudicini, the Italian
goalkeeper, was red carded for an injury-time professional foul on
substitute Shola Ameobi, to see him suspended for Sunday's League Cup
final.
There were further worries for Mourinho as Duff and William Gallas left
the pitch limping with injuries which make them doubts for Wednesday's Nou
Camp date.
Mourinho took defeat - only the third of the season for his side - on
the chin. "I'm stupid if I
say we are not sad because we lost."
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-21 11:01
