Guardian

Lampard keeps Chelsea firing on all fronts as Pompey are floored

Carling Cup Third Round

Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 4 Lampard (pen) 36, Malouda 45, Lampard 49, Kalou 64

Sachin Nakrani at Fratton Park

The Carling Cup is not a priority for Chelsea but its significance to
those in charge of the team should not be underestimated. Victory in
the 2005 final kick-started Jose Mourinho's bountiful spell at the
club while failure to repeat the trick last season signalled the
beginning of the end for Avram Grant. So Luiz Felipe Scolari was more
than entitled to take pleasure from progressing past his first match
in the competition.

The outcome was, in truth, never in doubt after Chelsea's starting
line-up had been confirmed. Even in a weakened team places were found
for Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and, for the
first time since the Champions League final, Didier Drogba, and after
an initially slow start, they simply marched towards victory. Lampard
scored either side of half time while Florent Malouda and Salomon
Kalou claimed the others in a display that suggests Scolari's unbeaten
streak at Chelsea will continue for some time. Chelsea will also be
bolstered by the signing of the Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the
end of the season.

"I am very happy with how we played," said the Brazilian. "We kept
possession and the players who came into the team did very well. I am
also pleased that we have now started three competitions with three
wins, that is very good for us. This competition is important for us
and we want to win it. If I didn't want to win I would not have even
come to Portsmouth today."

Harry Redknapp struggled to hide his agitation after the match. "We
had a makeshift midfield and we worked very hard but we gave away
scandalous goals," said the Portsmouth manager. "The first one wasn't
a penalty. After that the other goals were poor. This was always the
least important game for me. We didn't want to get smashed up and we
did concede more goals away than we would like."

There was further angst from Redknapp over an easy goal for Lampard
just after half-time when David James parried a Kalou cross on to the
England midfielder's thigh and into the net. "It was a joke goal," the
manager said. Malouda's low strike just before half-time had already
secured the outcome, with Kalou making sure on 64 minutes.

Portsmouth have now conceded 10 goals in their past two games but
having been forced to put out a side weakened by injuries, Redknapp
refused to speak of a crisis. "We did OK today and I can't complain
about the effort of the players," he said. "We just have to move on
now."


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Independent:

Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 4: Ballack in the dock after Blues coast

By Jason Burt
Thursday, 25 September 2008

Passions are usually fiery down at Fratton Park and it was the same
last night with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp accusing Michael
Ballack of "diving" for a penalty to give Chelsea the lead in a League
Cup tie which ended in humiliation for the home side. "It was never a
penalty," Redknapp complained. "He left his leg in and dived."

His sense of injustice stretched to some "joke" defending from his
team which led to another of Chelsea's goals – he didn't name names
but it was clearly a reference to a goalkeeping howler by David James
– but it was Ballack's antics which provoked his anger. Maybe it was a
smokescreen. Redknapp's complaints stretched to being down to the
proverbial "bare bones" – and he is shorn of a first-choice midfield
right now – but Portsmouth were, indeed, "bashed up" by a Chelsea side
which oozed style and confidence.

They have somewhat appropriated headlines in this competition in
recent years – from Jose Mourinho's shush gestures and then defiant
salutes towards Roman Abramovich as he twice won the trophy, to Avram
Grant's clueless head-scratching as he lost it last season – but all
Luiz Felipe Scolari's 2008-09 version delivered was an emphatic
message of superiority. The manager barely stirred himself although
his players were stirring enough.

Redknapp's side are listing like a holed liner. They sank. And, in
doing so, they stank. Ten goals conceded in two games without reply
and an aggregate of 8-0 against Chelsea in two contests this season.

The goals came thick and fast either side of half-time. First Ballack
burst onto a cut-back by Salomon Kalou to fall under Nadir Belhadj's
challenge. Frank Lampard drilled the penalty low into the corner of
the net.

Kalou was provider for the second, laying a simple pass in for Florent
Malouda to drive a vicious shot beyond James. Chelsea's next goal was
soft. A centre by Kalou was too close to the goalkeeper only for James
to push it out – and straight into Lampard. The ball struck the
midfielder on the thigh, just a yard out, and trickled over the line.

Portsmouth were torn apart once more when Sylvain Distin dallied in
possession, Kalou stole the ball and, again, James was beaten with a
low, angled shot at his near post. "Scandalous," said Redknapp.
"People made mistakes who don't normally make them."

Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson;
Kaboul; Utaka, Mvuemba, Hughes (Wilson, 80), Belhadj (A Traoré, 69);
Crouch (Kanu, 69). Substitutes not used: Ashdown (gk), Defoe, D
Traoré, Little.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bridge; Belletti;
Kalou, Ballack (Ferreira, 69), Lampard (Sinclair, 74), Malouda; Drogba
(Di Santo, 79). Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Mikel, Mancienne,
Stoch.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

*Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has bolstered his squad by
signing the 33-year-old Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the end of
the season.


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Mail:

Lampard gives Portsmouth a history lesson as Chelsea make their
intentions clear again

By Matt Barlow

Luiz Felipe Scolari started a new course of English lessons this week,
to make his language more expansive. Perfection is his goal - four
trophies and a colourful vocabulary.

So far, Scolari has taken everything in his stride, including last
night's introduction to the Carling Cup, a competition which has
bewildered foreign managers in the past.

The Brazilian struck the balance just about right at Portsmouth,
resting players, giving others a run and securing a place in the
fourth round with the minimum of fuss.

But he was helped by Harry Redknapp's desire not to risk key players
such as Sol Campbell and Lassana Diarra. Now Pompey's defence has
conceded 10 goals in four days, following the 6-0 loss to Manchester
City.

As usual, Frank Lampard was in the goals against his Uncle Harry. He
scored twice, the first from a penalty, and the others came from
Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou.

History also haunted Pompey in their bid to follow their FA Cup
triumph with more silverware, having not beaten Chelsea in 24
attempts, stretching back to December 1960.

Chelsea, who signed Brazilian free agent Mineiro earlier in the day,
have taken the Carling Cup as seriously as anyone, winning it twice
under Jose Mourinho and losing last season's final to Spurs. Scolari
continued this tradition.

He had youngsters on the bench and handed a debut to £9million Serb
Branislav Ivanovic, but named an experienced line-up with Petr Cech in
goal and Didier Drogba, who made his first start since the Champions
League final.

Drogba took fewer than two minutes to get involved, unleashing a drive
from the edge of the box which flashed wide. Michael Ballack picked up
an early yellow card for a clumsy foul on Hermann Hreidarsson and
Lampard was needed in his own goalmouth, where his last-ditch block
denied John Utaka.

Chelsea's goalscoring midfielders were in more familiar territory,
though, on 36 minutes. Lampard and Drogba combined to release Malouda,
dashing down the left and the French winger dragged a low cross back
towards the edge of the penalty area.

Ballack and Nadir Belhadj raced to the loose ball and the German was
there first by a split-second. He toe-poked the ball and paused for
the contact from Belhadj. Then he crumpled to the turf.

Referee Steve Bennett had little option but to point to the spot, even
though Ballack had obviously played to win the penalty. Belhadj must
learn. Lampard stepped up to beat James with the penalty, just as he
did last month at Stamford Bridge.

Malouda made it two, seconds before the break, as Portsmouth were
caught napping at a throw-in. Wayne Bridge threw it to Kalou, who
nursed it back for Malouda to drill a shot beyond James.

Lampard had his second of the night, and his fifth of the season,
early in the second half and it was a bizarre moment. Kalou's cross
from the right somehow escaped James at the near-post, spilled onto
Lampard's knee and bobbled into the net. The goalscorer gave a shrug,
the referee gave a goal and, after a moment of stunned silence, the
travelling fans erupted.

Kalou added the fourth, dispossessing Sylvain Distin and firing low
past James. 'We want seven,' sang Chelsea supporters, a little touchy
about the idea that Manchester City might be shaping up as the new
force in English football.

PORTSMOUTH (4-5-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson;
Utaka, Hughes (Wilson 80), Kaboul, Mveumba, Belhadj (Traore 69);
Crouch (Kanu 69).
Bookings: Hreidarsson, Hughes, Johnson.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Bridge; Ballack
(Ferreira 69), Belletti, Lampard (Sinclair 74); Kalou, Drogba (Di
Santo 79), Malouda.
Booking: Ballack.
Referee: Steve Bennett.

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Mirror:

Carling Cup 3rd round: Portsmouth 0-4 Chelsea
24/09/2008

Goalkeeper David James conceded his 10th goal in just two games as
Chelsea cruised into the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

Chelsea picked up where Manchester City left off at the weekend by
rattling four past a hapless, injury-hit Portsmouth.

Frank Lampard scored twice - the first from the penalty spot - while
Florent Malouda and the eye-catching Salomon Kalou joined in the fun.

Portsmouth had not beaten Chelsea since a 1-0 League Cup victory at
Fratton Park in December 1960, in the days when Alfred Hitchcock's
Psycho had film fans screaming in their cinema seats.

Pompey fans have already witnessed two defensive horror shows this
season, with a 4-0 opening-day defeat at Chelsea followed by a 6-0
thrashing by City just last Saturday.

And they will have been covering their eyes again at Fratton Park as a
mixture of careless and comical defending gifted Chelsea another
resounding victory.

Nadri Belhadj conceded a needless penalty for Chelsea's first and
David James then failed to gather Kalou's cross, allowing Lampard to
bundle home the third.

The Ivorian was Chelsea's most lively player all evening and then
sliced through a non-existent Portsmouth defence to make it four.

"We want seven," taunted the Chelsea fans.

It has not all been X-rated at Fratton Park this season. The club
celebrated their UEFA Cup debut last week - but the fixture congestion
is testing Harry Redknapp's squad to the limit.

With injuries to cope with and a busy week ahead, including the return
tie at Vitoria, Redknapp made five changes but even with three
deep-lying midfielders they were again brittle at the back.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari made six changes to the side that
drew 1-1 with Manchester United but he continued the club's policy of
attacking the Carling Cup.

Didier Drogba returned to the starting XI alongside Lampard and
Ballack while £9million defender Branislav Ivanovic was awarded a
long-awaited first-team debut.

Drogba almost rifled the opening goal inside two minutes after some
neat Chelsea passing on the edge of the Portsmouth box.

Portsmouth responded in positive fashion. John Utaka accelerated past
Wayne Bridge but his cross was just too far behind Peter Crouch, who
had started up front on his own.

Lampard was forced into a last-ditch block inside his own six-yard box
after an inviting cross from Glen Johnson and Crouch crashed the
rebound into the side-netting.

But that was the best of the Portsmouth chances as Chelsea began to
assume control in a workmanlike, unflashy way.

Kalou squeezed his shot wide after latching onto a lofted ball from
Juliano Belletti before darting into the box again and forcing Johnson
into a well-timed challenge.

Chelsea manufactured the opening 10 minutes before the interval after
Drogba and Lampard combined to find Malouda down the left flank.

Malouda's cross was just behind the first ranks of blue shirts
flooding into the box but Ballack raced onto the loose ball.

He toed the ball forward and was brought down by a careless lunge from
Belhadj. Referee Steve Bennett pointed straight to the spot and
Lampard's low drive was unstoppable.

Malouda rifled Chelsea's second past James in the last minute of the
half after being picked out by a clever ball from Kalou, Portsmouth's
tormentor in chief.

Kalou was at it again moments after the re-start as Lampard scored his
second in bizarre circumstances.

James succeeded only in deflecting Kalou's cross onto Lampard's knee
and the ball dribbled almost apologetically into the net. Lampard
reacted sheepishly, as if he thought the goal would be disallowed, and
it was not until he raised his arm that the 3,000 Chelsea supporters
positioned down the other end even realised a goal had been scored.

The tempo was pedestrian with Portsmouth, featuring three deep-lying
midfielders, unable to offer anything in response.

After playing such an effective supporting role Kalou then helped
himself, cutting in from the right flank to beat a non-existent
Portsmouth defence and score from 12 yards.

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Telegraph:

Chelsea's Luiz Felipe Scolari makes statement of intent in Carling Cup
Portsmouth (0) 0 Chelsea (2) 4

By Oliver Brown

Ominous, very. On this evidence Luiz Felipe Scolari's promise to lead
Chelsea on a remorseless four-pronged pursuit of every piece of
silverware open to them was no idle platitude but a chilling statement
of intent.

It was the third round of the Carling Cup, for goodness' sake — not
the stage on which you expected to see John Terry, Frank Lampard and
Didier Drogba. Not when a club of Chelsea's resources could arguably
have got by at Fratton Park with the lightest sprinkling of stardust.
But Scolari hides any concern about player burn-out beneath his high
regard for every strand of competition.

The result itself was not one to cause many ripples. After all, the
last time Portsmouth beat Chelsea, the first episode of Coronation
Street was broadcast and the farthing had just ceased to be legal
tender. Then Harry Redknapp's team remembered the 4-0 walloping they
endured at Stamford Bridge last month and seemed to retreat into their
shells. Even the manager has assumed an air of defeatism in describing
Chelsea, claiming that their second XI could challenge for major
honours.

If Portsmouth's confidence dial had dipped dangerously low having
shipped six goals at Manchester City, it was switched to the 'off'
position after this. "We want seven," Chelsea's support crowed after
two goals from Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda's clinical strike had
taken their side out of sight.

Lampard was as alert as ever, creating all kinds of worry for his
Uncle Harry. Consistently Chelsea's pivot, he helped neuter
Portsmouth's five-man midfield and betrayed glimpses of his unerring
eye for goal. When Michael Ballack was fouled by Nadir Belhadj he was
the picture of composure, wrong-footing David James with his penalty
to set Chelsea on their way.

Chelsea's midfield flooded forward at will and it was simply strain
that told when Portsmouth succumbed again, allowing Salamon Kalou to
angle a deft cross to Malouda, who rifled his shot past James in the
last minute of a one-sided first half.

While Chelsea were in the ascendant by virtue of sheer flair, fortune
favoured them too.

The second half was but three minutes old when another fine pass could
only be deflected by James as far as Lampard, who knew little about it
as he watched the ball dribble across the line. Lampard looked
half-apologetic in celebration.

It is already a hackneyed caricature to paint Scolari's Chelsea as a
version of Brazil but some of their effortless passing did put you in
mind of South America. Kalou performed the next extravagant move when
he cut in from the right, did a merry dance past three of Portsmouth's
inert defenders and slid a low shot home from 12 yards.

The cheek of the Chelsea chants grew. "Who needs Robinho?" was the
next refrain from the away end and, indeed, the signs from this team
were that they had forgotten all about losing out on the Brazilian
striker to Manchester City, turning in a far less convincing display
just along the south coast in Brighton.

Portsmouth not having even pride left to protect, visiting fans merely
contented themselves with a rendition of "Big Phil, this way". The
wave was not forthcoming. Scolari, as he proved here, is a man of
almost frightening focus.

Match details

Portsmouth (4-5-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson;
Utaka, Mvuemba, Kaboul, Hughes, Belhadj; Crouch.
Subs: Ashdown (g), Kanu, A Traore, Defoe, Wilson, D Traore, Little.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bridge; Belletti,
Ballack, Lampard (Sinclair 73); Kalou, Malouda, Drogba.

Subs: Cudicini (g), Di Santo, Mikel, Ferreira, Mancienne, Stoch.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).


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The Times
September 25, 2008

Chelsea give Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth the blues
Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 4
Russell Kempson

Chelsea may not have fond recollections of the Carling Cup, having
been beaten in the final by Tottenham Hotspur last season, but it
would appear that they have long banished that memory. They progressed
to the fourth round, perhaps on course for a return to Wembley, with a
polished and, at times, embarrassingly easy victory at Fratton Park
last night.

It stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven matches and
the boast of Luiz Felipe Scolari, their manager, that he would like to
win a quadruple of trophies does not seem so fanciful. To start three
of the competitions — Barclays Premier League, Champions League and
Carling Cup — with 4-0 wins seems to be the most emphatic signal of
intent.

"Yes, I am happy," Scolari said. "We start the three competitions with
three wins. All of the competitions are important to me. Any name, we
want to win it. If I didn't think about winning, I wouldn't have put
out this team."

For Portsmouth, the conceding of ten goals in four days, having lost
6-0 away to Manchester City on Sunday, and a 0-8 goal count against
Chelsea in two meetings this season suggest problems, not least in
defence. An unsure display from David James, the England goalkeeper,
did not help.

Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, chose not to criticise his
under-strength line-up but admitted that the goals conceded were
unacceptable. "They were sloppy, scandalous," he said. "We did OK, I
couldn't fault the effort, but Chelsea are a fantastic team. It's very
difficult to contain them."

Redknapp, though, bridled at the suggestion that his defence had as
good as gone Awol this season. "Hang on," he said. "It's only over the
last two games. Before that, we won 3-0 away to Everton, beat
Middlesbrough 2-1 here and won 2-0 against Guimarães in the Uefa Cup.
It's only the past two games that we've leaked goals."

Fair point, well made. Yet the Portsmouth fans who were singing "Olé,
olé" at the end, when Portsmouth put together some slick passing
movements, were doing so sarcastically. Chelsea were 4-0 ahead, had
switched to cruise control and, such was their dominance, seemed in
danger of falling asleep on their feet.

Although Scolari made six changes to the team who had drawn 1-1 with
Manchester United on Sunday, the starting XI was still liberally
sprinkled with internationals. However, the duel between the Carling
Cup runners-up and FA Cup winners of last season took time to warm up.
There was little rhythm, no regular tempo, just a hotchpotch of mostly
wasted effort.

Chelsea, who opened their Champions League group A programme with a
4-0 home win over Bordeaux last week, gradually asserted their
authority and went ahead in the 36th minute. Nadir Belhadj and Michael
Ballack chased the ball, the Algeria defender arrived a fraction late
and the German tumbled a fraction theatrically.

Steve Bennett, the referee, ruled a penalty. "It wasn't," Redknapp
said. "He [Ballack] left his leg there and dived." No matter. Frank
Lampard scored from the spot against Portsmouth in West London last
month and, again, made no mistake, sending James the wrong way. On the
stroke of half-time, Chelsea stretched their advantage when Florent
Malouda sent the fiercest of right-foot drives skidding past James.

It looked grim for Portsmouth. Grim became impossible four minutes
into the second half, when Salomon Kalou crossed from the right and
James, flapping, could only divert it against Lampard's left thigh.
The ball rebounded and, as time seemed to stand still, trickled in.
Bennett almost apologetically signalled the goal.

"It was a joke goal," Redknapp said. "But I don't want to name
individuals." Portsmouth's display got worse, when Kalou guided past
James after Sylvain Distin's error, and Redknapp quickly consigned it
to the dustbin. "Tonight's history, we move on," he said. And Chelsea
move on to the improbable quadruple.

Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): D James — G Johnson, N Pamarot, S Distin, H
Hreidarsson — Y Kaboul — J Utaka, R Hughes (sub: M Wilson, 80min), A
Mvuemba, N Belhadj (sub: A Traoré, 69) — P Crouch (sub: Kanu, 69).
Substitutes not used: J Ashdown, J Defoe, G Little, D Traoré. Booked:
Hreidarsson, Hughes, Johnson.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, Alex, J Terry, W Bridge — J
Belletti — S Kalou, M Ballack (sub: P Ferreira, 69), F Lampard (sub: S
Sinclair, 74), F Malouda — D Drogba (sub: F Di Santo, 80). Substitutes
not used: C Cudicini, J O Mikel, M Mancienne, M Stoch. Booked:
Ballack.

Referee: S Bennett.


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Sun:

Pompey 0 Chelsea 4

From ANDREW DILLON at Fratton Park

HARRY REDKNAPP accused Michael Ballack of cheating as Chelsea handed
Portsmouth another hiding.

The Chelsea midfielder went down in the area under a 36th-minute
challenge from defender Nadir Belhadj.

Frank Lampard scored from the spot — the first of a double — to set
the Blues on the way to a romp, with Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda
also hitting the target.

But angry Pompey boss Redknapp said: "He dived. That was never a
penalty. I've seen it on video a dozen times.

"He left his leg in there and dived. It was a blow because we were
sitting in there and thought we could have gone in 0-0 at half-time.

"Then all of a sudden you are 1-0 down and then it's 2-0. But we gave
away some scandalous goals."

Pompey defender Hermann Hreidarsson was booked for a furious outburst
at prone Ballack as the German skipper lay on the ground.

But Redknapp also blasted blunder keeper David James, with his team
now counting the cost of conceding TEN goals in the last two games.

A James cock-up gifted Lampard Chelsea's third which ricocheted in off
his thigh as Pompey crumbled early in the second half.

The defeat comes just three days after Pompey were whipped 6-0 at
Manchester City.

And Redknapp added: "People have made mistakes that don't normally
make them. Let's hope it is out of their system now.

"You have to be at your best and at full strength to stand a chance
against Chelsea. The third goal was a joke. This was our least
important game and we have to move on now."

Didier Drogba started his first match under new Chelsea boss Phil
Scolari and managed almost 80 minutes following a lay-off due to a
knee injury.

Midfielder Ballack is also on the way back from ankle problems and the
pair eased back into action and put Chelsea firmly in control.

Ballack beat Belhadj to a loose ball and appeared to be tripped by the
Algerian. But he knew what to do as soon as contact was made.

Lampard stepped up and drove his spot-kick to James' right and after
the breakthrough it became a Chelsea training session.

With their tails up, Malouda drilled home a low shot on the stroke of
half-time from Kalou's neat cut-back.

Lampard added his bizarre third within four minutes of the restart and
was too embarrassed to celebrate properly by kissing the Chelsea badge
on his shirt.

Then Kalou's goal rounded off the romp with 26 minutes still to play.

Scolari said: "The Carling Cup is important to us, otherwise I
wouldn't have put out such a strong team.

"I'm pleased because we have started in three competitions with three wins."

Pompey's roller-coaster season has a chance to get back on track with
the visit of troubled Spurs on Sunday.

And skipper Sol Campbell and leading scorer Jermain Defoe will be
restored to the starting line-up.

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Express :

POMPEY HUMILIATED AS LAMPARD STRIKES - MORES BLUES FOR HARRY

By Tony Banks PORTSMOUTH..0 CHELSEA...4

Frank Lampard piled the misery on Portsmouth with two goals in their
4-0 Carling Cup demolition at Fratton Park last night.

Pompey, thrashed 6-0 at Manchester City on Sunday, had nowhere to hide
last night as Lampard led the Chelsea charge, opening the scoring
with a penalty in the 36th minute. Florent Malouda rifled in the
second. Chelsea made it three when Lampard bundled home Salomon
Kalou's cross and the Ivory Coast striker then added a fourth.

LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI says he is going for all four trophies in his
first season as Chelsea manager – and he means it as his quest for the
Carling Cup ended in a humiliation for Portsmouth for the second time
in five weeks.

Scolari's new style Chelsea simply brushed aside this feeble
Portsmouth performance with a peerless display at Fratton Park, as two
goals by Frank Lampard – one from the penalty spot – and one from
Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou increased Harry Redknapp's woes.

Under Scolari's Brazilian blend Chelsea are now unbeaten in seven
league and cup games while poor old Portsmouth have now conceded 10
goals in the space of four depressing days.

scolari made six changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester
United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with the fit-again Didier Drogba
starting his first game of the season.

Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic also made his first appearance
since his £9million move from Lokomotiv Moscow in January – having
shown great patience in a nine-month wait for his debut. Scolari, who
insists every game is equally important for his side this season with
every trophy, even the Carling Cup, a serious target, had been hit by
injuries after the United game.

That was one reason why Chelsea went out and signed the Brazilian free
agent midfielder Mineiro yesterday.

Mineiro, 33, who has been without a club since leaving Hertha Berlin
in the summer, has been signed on a deal until the end of the season.

Scolari has seen his squad badly stretched in the past two weeks,
losing Michael Essien for six months and then having both Deco and
Ricardo Carvalho ruled out for varying spells with injuries.

Pompey, still reeling from their battering at Manchester City four
days earlier, unsurprisingly made five changes.

They went into the game without a win against Chelsea since December
1960. Chelsea, beaten finalists last year under the hapless Avram
Grant, showed their intent from the start as Drogba unleashed a
25-yard drive from Michael Ballack's pass that zipped just a foot
wide.

Ballack, though, was then booked for baulking Herman Hreidarsson – and
from the free-kick Pompey almost replied in style, Peter Crouch's shot
on the turn hitting the side netting.

But Chelsea were beginning to click, and when Frank Lampard's clever
pass put Kalou through, the Ivorian should have done better than
wastefully drive wide.

Juliano Belletti angled a shot over the bar and Ballack nodded just
too high as Scolari's team continued to press.

The breakthrough came nine minutes before half-time. As Malouda put in
a cross, the Pompey defence went AWOL, and Nadir Belhadj brought down
Ballack as he raced onto the ball.

Referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot as Hreidarsson furiously
berated Ballack for diving as he lay prostrate.

Lampard though was coolness personified as he stroked home the penalty
to give Chelsea the lead – his second spot-kick success against Pompey
this season following his effort in the league on the opening day.

Just before half-time Chelsea struck again, as Kalou cleverly laid
back Wayne Bridge's throw to Malouda, with the Frenchman drilling the
ball low past goalkeeper David James, who might have dealt with the
shot in a better way.

Portsmouth's calamity night continued with another defensive disaster
four minutes after the break.

This time Kalou got away down to the byeline and pulled the ball back.
James pushed the ball straight onto Lampard, who could hardly avoid
bundling it into the empty net.

That made it eight goals conceded against Chelsea alone this season
for Pompey, after their 4-0 thumping at Stamford Bridge on the first
day of the season.

Redknapp's team rarely looked like disturbing Chelsea's utter
superiority, with Crouch all too often an isolated figure up front.

Their defence capitulated again just 12 minutes later.

This time Sylvain Distin dallied on the edge of the box and was robbed
by Kalou, who simply drove past the helpless James, to cap an awful
night for the South Coast club.

Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): James; Johnson, Pamarot Distin, Hreidarsson;
Kaboul; Utaka, Hughes, Mvuemba, Belhadj (Traore 69); Crouch (Kanu 69).

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Bridge; Belletti;
Kalou, Ballack (Ferreira 69), Lampard (Sinclair 74), Malouda; Drogba
(Di Santo 80). Goals: Lampard 36 pen, 49, Malouda 45, Kalou 64.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

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