Chelsea unable to close the deal

GROUP E: Racing Genk 1 Chelsea 1:CHELSEA'S RECENT stutter has affected their European campaign. Andre Villas-Boas would contest that a draw secured away from home in this competition should ever constitute the prolongation of a blip but his side suffered the same lapses of concentration, and outbreak of sloppiness, in Belgium last night that have afflicted them domestically.

There was to be no real respite in Genk after the “disastrous week” Chelsea had endured – the visitors’ principal consolation the reality that Genk were considerably less ruthless than Arsenal had been on Saturday.

Better opponents would have prospered when Chelsea dawdled, familiar gaps opening up in their defence and a missed penalty blunting their challenge.

The point secured here leaves four more technically still required to be certain of winning the group, which is still eminently achievable. But the management will surely not be satisfied with current progress.

Chelsea had arrived in Belgium licking their wounds after Saturday’s five-goal scorching by Arsenal, their defence having been pierced far too often for comfort in that derby, and with the allegations surrounding their captain, John Terry, further influencing the mood.

The defender was rested here, as he had been for the home fixture against Genk, but took to the bench as confirmation came through from home that the Metropolitan Police has now launched a formal investigation into the defender’s alleged racist abuse of Anton Ferdinand in last month’s game at Loftus Road.

There is no escaping that controversy at present, with sections of the travelling fans delivering a chorus of: “We know what you are, Anton Ferdinand, we know what you are.”

That was sad to hear, though the supporters were at least offered a distraction as their team gradually asserted some dominance. The contest should have been decided by the break only for profligacy to undermine the visitors’ attacking promise.

Even so, Genk had failed to make any real impression when Chelsea were at their sloppiest.

The lead was established by Ramires, exchanging slick passes with Fernando Torres before forcing his shot from an acute angle through Laszlo Koteles’s attempt to block. The Brazilian might have added another, leaping above Nadson only to nod wide.

The hosts should have been in a hopeless position by the interval. Raul Meireles, imperious in possession, had struck the angle of post and bar from distance and Anthony Vanden Borre, formerly of Portsmouth, was close to scoring an own goal from Florent Malouda’s driven cross.

When the Frenchman was offered space to deliver again, his cross struck Thomas Buffel’s hand to earn a penalty. But, after Nicolas Anelka had missed from the spot against Everton last week and with Frank Lampard on the bench, David Luiz saw his attempt pushed away by the diving Koteles. That felt merely wasteful at the time, but it soon felt critical.

The odd flurry of Genk pressure, often sparked by Kevin de Bruyne, duly created anxiety in the early exchanges of the second half.

Kennedy Nwanganga might have pilfered an equaliser only for Petr Cech to smother the chance. But the slackness had not been eradicated. With the contest drifting beyond the hour-mark, Fabien Camus burst into space vacated by Jose Bosingwa and crossed for an unmarked Jelle Vossen to score through a cluttered six-yard box.

Genk’s first Champions League goal of the campaign jolted the visitors out of their lethargy, Juan Mata, Daniel Sturridge and Lampard arrived from the bench to provide the cavalry, though the frustration mounted. Meireles headed straight at Koteles while Lampard, a yard out, failed to convert Sturridge’s inviting cross. If that felt comical, so too was Anele Ngongca’s panicked clearance as Malouda’s late attempt threatened to drift into a gaping net. This was not to be Chelsea’s night.

Guardian Service

RACING GENK: Koteles, Vanden Borre, Hyland, Nadson, Ngcongca, Tozser, Buffel (Dugary 69), Camus, De Bruyne, Vossen (Barda 86), Nwanganga (Limbombe 82). Subs not used: Sandomierski, Sarr, Durwael, Ofori-Appiah. Booked: De Bruyne.

CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Ivanovic, Cole, Ramires (Lampard 66), Romeu (Mata 77), Meireles, Malouda, Torres, Anelka (Sturridge 66). Subs not used: Turnbull, McEachran, Kalou, Terry. Booked: Meireles.

Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen(Norway).