Hiddink enjoys winning Bridge farewell

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 2:16 AM Posted by Beijing News


Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink enjoyed a winning farewell to Stamford Bridge as goals from Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka clinched a 2-0 win over Blackburn on Sunday.

Hiddink was taking charge of his last home match before resuming his role as Russia coach on a full-time basis after the FA Cup final against Everton on May 30.

The Dutchman has one more league game at Sunderland next week before that Wembley date, but this was his final appearance at the Bridge and Chelsea's players and fans gave him a rousing send-off.

Malouda struck early in the first half with a bullet header and Anelka put the result beyond doubt just before the hour.

Although Chelsea still have a chance of snatching second place from Liverpool, they are likely to finish outside the top two for the first time since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

But Hiddink takes no blame for that after revitalising a team in danger of missing out on the Champions League places altogether when he replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari in February.

He has lost just one of his 12 league games and was within seconds of leading the Blues to the Champions League final before Barcelona's agonising late goal.

Hiddink said: "It was surprising to me to see such a reaction from everyone because I was only here a short period.

"But I worked with a lot joy with these players and also received a lot of support from the crowd. I'm very proud of the players. They responded to everything I asked of them."

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce added: "They are a very good side and we didn't have anything to play for. Our injury situation didn't help."

Hiddink's side took the lead in the fourth minute. Portugal right-back Jose Bosingwa started the move as he surged into the Blackburn half before spreading play to Anelka on the right wing.

Anelka's cross was perfectly measured for Malouda, who timed his run to perfection and powered a superb header past Paul Robinson.

A second Chelsea goal looked on the cards moments later when Ashley Cole galloped clear down the left and centred to Anelka, but Robinson produced a fine stop with his legs.

Lampard went even closer when he met Anelka's cross with a first-time shot that cannoned back off the crossbar.

Allardyce left South African forward Benni McCarthy on the bench and persisted with towering defender Christopher Samba as a lone battering ram.

But Samba's lacking of goal-scoring instinct was illustrated all too clearly when he met Vince Grella's cross with a tame header that drifted over from close-range.

Bosingwa blotted his copybook when he earned a booking after a theatrical dive as he went past Stephen Warnock.

Drogba and Anelka were close to increasing Chelsea's lead but the Blues had already done enough to show their appreciation to Hiddink.



A participant attends the 17th Life Ball in Vienna. AFP/Joe Klamar

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