Cameron: Stoke @ Chelsea (4/5/14)

Geoff starts for Stoke. It is on NBC's main network, kickoff at 12:30 et.

I will be doing PBP and any relevant game analysis here for those who aren't able to watch. As the WC approaches, it is always nice to keep a close eye on guys who will likely go 90 minutes for us in one position or another in most matches..so I'll go ahead and start that now.

 

Sadly, I didn't even find that newsworthy at this point as it was expected

Still, looking forward to this as Stoke actually play some decent soccer these days. Not expecting much attacking at the bridge but this should be a great test for Geoff and he should see plenty of defensive action so this might be a good one to analyze.

 

2' in and Geoff has already been involved, completing 4 passes including a decent give and go. He's already playing in an advanced position and looks relatively comfortable on the ball though the players' footing seems unsure all over the field.

 

6' Geoff steps into midfield to cut-off a lazy ball by Chelsea and plays it centrally to Odemwingie. Seconds later he slips near the top of his own box but recovers to make a sliding pass to a teammate.

 

9' Sloppy defending by Stoke leads to a chance for Torres who drags his shot wide. Geoff not involved though he did well to open up as an outlet but was not used.

 

11' and Ivanovic wins a header over Cameron on a corner but doesn't make clean contact and puts it wide.

 

16' Stoke with some decent build-up off a shortly-taken FK leads to a corner for them.

Eventually leads to nothing as Shawcross tries a flicked-on header.

 

19' Begovic makes a save on a deflected Willian shot and parries it out for a corner which leads to an easily saved header. Geoff not particularly involved which is a good thing at Stamford Bridge. Each time he's had the ball he's played a crisp pass into a teammate which is about as much as can be said for him. He's also tracked back well and opened up to show when Stoke regain possession. This is what you want to see from an outside back in a match like this.

 

24' Odemwingie gives the ball up, eventually the ball is given away at the top of the 6 by Stoke and Begovic comes in to snatch the ball off of an anticipating Torres' foot.

Edit: on second look it was a good save by Begovic as Torres did indeed get the shot off.

 

26' Odemwingie does well to win a FK in a dangerous spot near the corner of Chelsea's 18.

Leads to a Chelsea throw-in.

 

27' Geoff gets beaten by Willian but eventually makes up for it by stripping I believe Schurrle and leading the break. However, after striding forward about 20-yards with the ball, he doesn't lead his pass correctly and it is cut out by Chelsea which negates the Stoke break. However, he did his primary job which is winning possession.

A minute later he clears a Lampard corner after a couple headers from various players. He had time to bring it down perhaps but it isn't something to be overly critical about.

 

30' and Geoff is involved multiple times as there is a weak shout for a Chelsea penalty. He gets wrong-footed by Schurrle and tries to slide in to cut off a pass to Torres in the box which he doesn't get to. He then ends up double-teaming Torres and getting nearly nutmegged but makes up for it well as he doesn't dive in too hard but does just enough to eventually stop him. On replay it clearly wasn't a penalty (but might be in CONCACAF).

After that his pass to Odemwingie is cutout.

 

32' Goal for Chelsea from Salah. Cameron not involved as Odemwingie was the one beat on the right side by Matic. Geoff possibly could have doubled up but I think he was covering the right area trying to occupy a passing lane.

 

Chelsea with almost all of the ball at this point but Stoke are organized in the back.

39th minute.