Things You Never Knew...

Having met a few people in school who seem to opine otherwise, I feel I must clear something up. Michael Ballack's goal last night was NOT taiko, neither was it a product of luck or any fortuitousnesses on the part of Chelsea. It was a wonderfully worked goal in more than one sense.

As usual, a clever Mourinho substitution was integral. Shaun Wright-Phillips possessed enough pace to cut across half the pitch and raced to the byline. He had the burst of speed necessary to reach the ball first ahead of a weary and embattled Blackburn defence, and was able to cut it back. Salomon Kalou had one attempt blocked, but Blackburn were unable to clear their lines. It fell to Ballack who was lurking at the edge of the six-yard box totally unmarked - whose fault is that? He then had the presence of mind to aim for the far corner - just beyond the stretch of the (mostly excellent) diving Brad Freidel.

That said, however, I still feel that going to extra time was unnecessary - extra half-hour of football that Chelsea could I'll afford, and the heartbreak for Blackburn who must've thought they were in with a whiff of a chance.