Tears rolling down the face, singing the words listed above. These moments should not happen to this football club. Beating Liverpool at Anfield was incredible, a once in a lifetime experience. That was our 15 minutes of fame, our day in the newspapers. On that day, Liverpool left out Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and probably were not the same. Luke Steele produced a debut performance to remember. Last night Chelsea left out Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba but just replaced them with Michael Ballack and Nicolas Anelka. It was a miss-match. A starting 11 signed for a total of £525,000 against one that cost a total of £107.51m
What followed in the 90minutes however could not have closed the gap anymore than it did. The last time Chelsea came to Oakwell they scored six, and that was a good few years before Roman brought his roubles to the table. Last night thanks to some incredible defending Chelsea never even had six proper attempts on target.
Barnsley started with Istvan Ferenczi and Kayode Odejayi up front for the first time since New Year's Day where they created an appalling partnership at Scunthorpe. Last night though they tormented John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea's first choice partnership) The night was a fairytale for Odejayi. Booed by a section of supporters in the 2-2 draw with Southampton on the 29th December, it has been a long road back for the huge Nigerian. But he reached the pinnacle as he simply DESTROYED Terry all night long before heading the crucial goal in the second half.
The game could indeed have been out of sight by half-time as Chelsea looked anything but FA Cup holders and former Premier League Champions. They had hit seven goals without reply in the two games prior to this but it was The Reds, with just one goal in the last four games who should have been ahead. Juliano Belletti had to stick out a leg to deny Odejayi before Carvalho cynically brought him down. Amazingly though referee Steve Bennett kept his cards in his pocket.
The only one looking likely to cause damage for Chelsea was Joe Cole who showed his class throughout- even though he seemed to have too much to say to the ref on occasions.
You knew Chelsea only needed once chance however and they so very nearly got it on 29 minutes.
Wayne Bridge got away from Marciano Van Homoet on the left hand side before playing in a cross. Rob Kozluk though produced a fine header to turn the ball over the top with Cole lurking.
And then Barnsley thought they had got the lead on 38 minutes.
Stephen Foster headed the ball across goal to Ferenczi, who spun expertly but saw his shot crash back off the post with Carlo Cudicini beaten. A minute later Odejayi again burst past Carvalho but his low effort was turned around the post by Cudicini's legs.
Chelsea knew they had to up their game and came flying out after the break but could not break down a rock solid Barnsley defence marshalled superbly by Foster and Dennis Souza. Bobby Hassell was also having a blinder in midfield. He blocked and tackled anything that moved and Chelsea became frustrated. Steele managed to claw a Cole effort away from Anelka but that was about the closest Chelsea got.
As Chelsea continued to be denied by the Barnsley wall that had formed in front of Steele, the 22,410 in the second highest Oakwell crowd since the stadium went all-seater sensed something special could be on the cards and the grand old stadium literally erupted on 66 minutes when the unthinkable happened.
Martin Devaney produced a once in a lifetime cross at Anfield from which Foster levelled the scores against Liverpool but he produced an almost identical cross to give The Reds an incredible lead against Chelsea.
Michael Essien trod on the ball in midfield and Brian Howard fed Ferenczi who played the ball out wide on the right to Devaney. A lovely overlapping run from Van Homoet lured Bridges away and Devaney whipped in a beauty deep into the area, Odejayi got above and in front of a flailing Cudicini and despite Carvalho's best efforts on the line the ball went in the back of the net. BARNSLEY 1-0 CHELSEA flashed the scoreboard. You had to look twice to believe it.
Avram Grant threw on Salomon Kalou and Claudio Pizarro but it made no difference as The Reds held firm. Wright-Phillips blazed over on 77minutes before Odejayi got the standing ovation he so richly deserved when he was replaced by Michael Coulson.
Pizarro thought he was in on 86 minutes but Foster was there with a marvellous block and you knew it was Barnsley's day when right at the death Anelka pulled the ball back for Terry, and the Chelsea and England captain blazed his effort high into the North Stand.
Fans raced onto the pitch at the final whistle as emotions simply spilled over. Chelsea, the FA Cup holders joined Liverpool on Barnsley's scrapheap and Barnsley Football Club are in the Semi-Finals of the FA Cup for the first time since they won the trophy in 1912. The old Wembley stadium was open for 77 years and Barnsley finally got their in its last year. The new Wembley is exactly a year old today and next month the Super Reds will be there. After Liverpool and Chelsea whose next?!
N.B: The FA Cup Semi-Final Draw is tomorrow (Monday 10th March) at 1.25pm. It is live on BBC2 and Sky Sports News. Barnsley are ball number 4. The Semi-Finals will take place at Wembley Stadium on the weekend Saturday 5th April 2008 and Sunday 6th April 2008. Therefore Barnsley's home Championship clash with Hull City scheduled for 5th April will be rearranged.
Player Ratings: Luke Steele: Thanks to a superb defence had nothing much to do. Showed great composure on crosses what a story it is for him. 7 Rob Kozluk: Went to ground too quickly in the first but had his body everywhere in the second period. 8 Stephen Foster: Absolutely outstanding! Mark Lawrenson even questioned why he isn't in the Premier League. Denied Anelka, Cole and Terry with blocks. Nothing would go past him. 9 Dennis Souza: Like Foster was an unbreakable wall. Blocked and tackled everything Superb! 9 Marciano Van Homoet: His pace helped him keep up with Bridge and Malouda. Neither could beat him. 8 Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Played with no fear. Busy and always wanting the ball. Was a real threat on the counter-attack. 8 Brian Howard: Was up for the cup no doubt! Tackled, ran, blocked and nearly got away at the death before Carvalho took him out! 9 Bobby Hassell: Oh what a performance! Deployed as a defensive midfielder but often playing as a fifth defender. He was superb. Put everything on the line for the cause. A mammoth performance! 9 Martin Devaney: Quiet in the first half but came to life after the break. Another world class cross led to the goal before bloody nose forced him off. 8 Istvan Ferenczi: He needed a big performance and produced one. Was out on his feet at the end after an incredible show. Demeaned a glorious goal by the post in the first half. 9 Kayode Odejayi: He is what the FA Cup is all about. Booed by some fans at the end of last year, one goal in 34 appearances and then bang- the winner in an FA Cup Quarter-Final against Chelsea and a performance in which he absolutely destroyed one of the best defensive partnerships in the world! Unbelievable! 9 Substitutes: Sam Togwell (for Devaney 73) Became a sixth defender when he came on and hey even he played well. What ever next! Some great headers and one crucial block from Pizarro. 8 Michael Coulson (for Odejayi 80) From Scarborough to Wembley via a loan spell at Northwich Victoria. This kid is living the dream! 7 Unused Substitutes: Diego Leon, Jacob Butterfield, Daniel Nardiello BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Kayode Odejayi: Its harsh to single somebody out but after all the abuse Kayode has took he deserves it more than most. Impressed by Chelsea's: Joe Cole. Chelsea were poor but Cole tried his best to get them going Ref Watch: Steve Bennett: Seemed to be siding towards the Premier League boys at times but kept control of the game. |
CHELSEA: Cudicini, Essien, Carvalho, Cole, Ballack, Malouda (Kalou 63), Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Terry, Belletti (Pizarro 74), Anelka.
Subs: Hilario, Mikel, Ben Haim.
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Kayode Odejayi: Its so unfair to single one person out after a fantastic team performance but for all Odejayi has had to endure he deserves this more than most.
Impressed by Chelsea's: Too many of Chelsea's "stars" were not on their game but Joe Cole was classy throughout
Ref Watch: Steve Bennett: Good on the whole but did seem to give his Premier League pals the benefit of the doubt on occasions. Carvalho was lucky to stay on the pitch!
Other Reports:
FootyMad
Official Website
BBC
FA Cup Quarter-Final Results: Saturday 8th March 2008:
Manchester United 0-1 Portsmouth
BARNSLEY 1-0 Chelsea
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Saturday 8th March 2008:
Blackpool 2-2 Southampton
Charlton 1-2 Preston
Coventry 1-0 Norwich
Crystal Palace 2-1 Colchester
Hull 2-0 Scunthorpe
Leicester 0-0 Bristol City
Plymouth 0-1 Sheffield United
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 QPR
Stoke 1-1 Burnley
Barnsley lie in 19th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 43 points from 36 games.
We are 13 points off the Play-Offs, 20 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 23 points off First place and 4 points above the Relegation Zone
Up to and including 9/3/08
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Seven: Barnsley v Ipswich Town, Tuesday 11th March 2008 Kick-Off 7:45pm
Tickets for the big game are priced at:
East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers
Adults £22.00
OAP/Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00
Barnsley Chronicle Family Area
Adults £22.00
OAP £13.00
Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00
East Stand Lower and West Stand Lower
Adults £21.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00
Enterprise PLC Stand (Pontefract Road End)
Adults £20.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00
All Disabled Areas £20.00
Helpers FREE OF CHARGE
To book tickets for forthcoming matches simply phone the Oakwell Box Office on 0871 2266777. Alternatively call at the Box Office in person; contact the Box Office by fax on 01226 211444 or e-mail boxoffice@barnsleyfc.co.uk. Please note that Juvenile U11 tickets must be purchased in advance from the Oakwell Box Office and this price will not be on sale on the turnstiles under any circumstances.
On The Road:
Coca Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Eight: Crystal Palace v Barnsley, Saturday 15th March 2008 Kick-Off 7:45pm
Tickets:
Adults - £25.00
Senior Citizens (Over 60) - £15.00
Juveniles (15 and Under) - £15.00
Supporters can also purchase special family tickets for this game.
Adult Family Ticket - Two adults and two juveniles - £52.00
Concessionary Family Ticket - Two senior citizens and two juveniles - £32.00
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Selhurst Park. Coaches will depart Oakwell at 9:45am on the day of the game and the fare is £19.00