Winner

By Since66
July 25 2012

In the early hours of Thursday morning (1.55am UK time), Chelsea kick-off their 3rd match of the USA tour against the best of the MLS – MLS All-Stars – a team which is expected to include the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Landon Donovan.

The final piece of Bobby Di’s USA squad jigsaw arrived in Philadelphia on Monday.

Fernando Torres - 2012 FA Cup Winner, 2012 Champions League winner and Euro 2012 winner – was waiting at the hotel to greet the squad as they arrived from New York after their 1-1 draw against PSG in the early hours on Monday morning.

Torres isn’t expected to feature against the All-Stars, but he has started to train with the squad and is working to play some part in Chelsea’s final tour game against AC Milan in Miami on Saturday night.

The PSG game wasn’t a comfortable experience to watch, perhaps the early hours, tiredness, fatigue and lack of sleep trying to stay awake for the kick-off may have been contributing factors, but I thought PSG ruled the roost throughout the first-half and Lavezzi caused Chelsea as many problems as he did in the 1^st leg of the Champions League game against Napoli.

I also couldn’t understand why Sam Hutchinson found himself further forward than Kakuta and the unlikely pairing struggled to defend when PSG exploited the gaps left down Chelsea’s right.

I have also said this many times over and I will say it again.

When John Terry – Captain, Leader, Legend - is absent from the pitch, Chelsea struggle.

Chelsea do not have a ready made replacement and it is about time the management recognises this issue and start to groom someone ready to takeover from JT when he finally hangs up his boots.

Once JT, Ivanovic and Ashley Cole came on the pitch, Chelsea settled defensively. 

When Essien, McEachran, Ramires joined the fray Chelsea improved their domination of the midfield and Marin, Piazon and Malouda improved Chelsea’s creativity in the final third.

It was a passing combination between Piazon and Ramires down Chelsea’s right in the closing minutes of the second-half that saw Piazon score his first goal for the club and Chelsea’s equaliser with eight minutes to go.

Despite the 1.55am (UK time) kick-off, we will endeavour to bring you regular updates on the message board below as Chelsea chase their second win of the tour.

2012 FA CUP WINNERS, 2012 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS

TWITTER: @WVOMChelsea

Chelsea on Tour: Match 3 v MLS All-Stars in Philadelphia

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 25/07/2012 05:20

50 Years Over 100 Years
25/07/2012 05:20

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Since 66
26/07/2012 01:49

Chelsea team

Hilaro

Ivanovic
Cahill
Terry
Cole

Essien
Lampard
Ramires

Marin
Lukaku
Benayoun

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Since 66
26/07/2012 01:50

Henry
Donovan
Beckham

all start for the MLS

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Since 66
26/07/2012 01:51

Chelsea playing in the new away kit

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Since 66
26/07/2012 01:53

Games just kicked off

0-0

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Since 66
26/07/2012 01:55

De Rosario with a tame early shot saved gently by Hilario

0-0

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Since 66
26/07/2012 01:58

5mins played

0-0

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:00

Ashley Cole with Chelsea's first attempt from an acute angle which goes over the bar

0-0
7mins

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:03

10 mins

0-0

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:07

15mins
0-0

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:11

very tame 18mins

0-0

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:13

20mins played

0-0

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:14

1-0 to MLS All-Stars

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:15

Wondoloski the MLS scorer

22mins
1-0 MLS

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:17

Henry got the ball down the left, crossed it. JT got a touch the ball rebounded off Wondoloski's bum, bounced down and all he had to do was slot it past Hilario from close range.

MLS 1-0 Chelsea

25mins

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:18

Lukaku on the break instead of shooting tried to play in Super Frank who was crowded out

still 1-0

26mins

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:22

Lengthy stoppage after Connor collides with Essien

still 1-0

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:22

Game restarts with a free-kick to Chelsea

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:23

30mins played

still 1-0 MLS

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:24

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:25

MLS 1-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:26

First attempt on target from a JT header from a Super Frank header into the far corner

1-1

32 mins

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:07:26:02:27:30 by Since 66.

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:28

1st sub of the night

Valdes on for MLS replacing Collin

35mins

1-1

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:33

5 mins to go till half-time

still 1-1

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:35

Henry goes close with one of his famed 'curlers'

still 1-1

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:40

Half-time from Philadelphia

MLS 1-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:53

Four Chelsea changes to come

Turnbull
Ferreira
Luiz
Malouda

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Since 66
26/07/2012 02:58

2nd half just kicked off

1-1

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:01

Luiz on for Terry
Ferreira on for Cole
Malouda on for Benayoun

and obviously Turnbull for Hilario

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:02

Lukaku has his first shot since Seattle. Way over the bar

48mins

still 1-1

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:04

50mins

still 1-1

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:06

Beckham is wearing a striking pair of pink boots

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:09

More action in 10 mins than during thw whole of the first half

still 1-1

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:11

Very good save at the near post from Kennedy from a Super Frank shot

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:12

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:12

Super Frank scores Chelsea's 2nd

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:14

From the resulting corner the ball broke at the edge of the area, Ramires skipped in to the byline and crossed for Super Frank to scoop in at the far post after Kennedy had completely misjudged the flight of the ball

MLS 1-2 Chelsea

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:17

Piazon on
Mikel on
Meireles on
Hazard on

63mins

MLS 1-2 Chelsea

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:18

65mins

still

1-2 Chelsea

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:24

70mins

still

1-2

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:30

MLS equalise through Pontius after a wonderful crossfield ball from pink boots Beckham

MLS 2-2 Chelsea

76mins

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:31

De Bruyne on
Chalobah on

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:31

Penalty shoot-out is game ends in draw

78mins played

2-2

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:33

10 mins left

still 2-2

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:36

7 mins left

still 2-2

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:40

5mins left

2-2

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:42

2 mins plus stoppage time before penalties

still 2-2

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:43

Chelsea appeal for a penalty, not given

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:44

into stoppage time

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:45

MLS score a third on the break

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:46

Johnson put through and his shot is deflected by Luiz over Turnbull's head

MLS 3-2 Chelsea

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:47

Final score from Philadelphia

MLS All-Stars 3-2 Chelsea

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Since 66
26/07/2012 03:48

Next up

AC Milan on Saturday in Miami

K.O 11.30pm UK time

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