29/02/2000  Marseille 1 Chelsea 0

Chelsea's Champions League campaign was thrown back into 
the melting pot on their return to European action as chaotic 
defending and an error by keeper Ed de Goey allowed Marseille 
to clinch a wholly-deserved victory.

De Goey, normally such a reliable figure, remained rooted 
to the spot as he allowed the inspired Robert Pires to squeeze 
a shot past him from the tightest of angles after just 16 
minutes

It may have been only the fifth goal that Chelsea had 
conceded in 11th Champions League games this season, including 
the qualifying games against Skonto Riga.

However, their first-half display was blighted by the sort 
of disorganised defending which so far this season only 
affected their Premiership campaign before Christmas but 
returned to haunt where they had previously been at their 
strongest - in Europe.

Indeed, it was only away to Hertha Berlin that Chelsea had 
previously struggled so much to impose themselves on a 
European game.

And while they entered this match at the top of their group 
with four points - whereas Marseille previously had none at 
all - they ended it needing to beat the French side back at 
Stamford Bridge next week to reignite their challenge.

The unexpected result from Rome, where Lazio succumbed 2-1 
at home to Feyenoord, further ensured that any of the four 
sides could still qualify as the Dutch side now stand top, 
while Chelsea are still second.

To make matters worse though, there was the unedifying 
sight of riot police letting off tear gas in the enclosure 
containing Chelsea fans, even if it was difficult to 
immediately assign blame, with reports of missiles being 
thrown by the Marseille fans.

And Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli, who was banished to the 
directors' box following his touchline dismissal last December 
against Lazio, certainly knows that his side cannot afford 
such a poor display again, even though they came close to 
equalising at the end.

Vialli, who had kept faith in youngster Jon Harley at 
left-back and dropped Celestine Babayaro, who was late back 
from the African Nations' Cup, from even the bench, was 
relying on mobile phone contact with assistant Graham Rix and 
coach Ray Wilkins.

However, in a stadium which was noisy if only two-thirds 
full at best, Chelsea were immediately in trouble against the 
French side, who beat Manchester United in the first group 
stage, even if they have been weakened by injuries and 
transfers since then.

Former Everton striker Ibrahima Bakayoko escaped down the 
right-flank past Harley and crossed to leave Cyrille Pouget 
with an open goal ahead of him.

However, Pouget, who had left the static figure of Frank 
Leboeuf trailing in his wake, stabbed his shot weakly and the 
ball dribbled harmlessly wide.

Chelsea steadied themselves briefly, with Tore Andre Flo 
being their main menace up front as he shot into the 
side-netting.

Then Harley showed his promise as he stormed down the wing 
and crossed deep for Flo to knock the ball down to Gianfranco 
Zola yet the Italian could not keep his volley on target from 
eight yards out.

Rix was soon on the touchline, shouting instructions to his 
side, yet Chelsea were still being undone at the back and 
Marseille duly took full advantage.

Midfielder Jerome Leroy lofted a through-ball over the head 
of Harley, who was straying out of position, and Pires went 
past Marcel Desailly as the centre-back seemed afraid to make 
a challenge just within the penalty area.

However, the angle was still tight and even though Pires' 
ensuing drive was powerfully struck, keeper de Goey should not 
have left such a large gap at the near post, allowing the ball 
to squeeze in off the upright.

In contrast, the Dutchman's opposite number, Stephane 
Trevisan, dived full-length to tip a shot from Flo around the 
post.

Chelsea's problems continued as a deflected cross then fell 
into the path of Pires, who was completely unmarked, and only 
Harley's last-ditch recovery tackle saved the visitors.

While Dennis Wise and Didier Deschamps were being 
completely over-run in midfield by Marseille's central trio, 
defenders Leboeuf and Desailly - who won the European Cup with 
the French side - were similarly disorganised.

There were acres of space on offer due to Marseille's 
intelligent movement and the fact that Gustavo Poyet was being 
forced inside from the left flank, but when Chelsea 
counter-attacked, they were all too often caught offside.

Zola did send one effort over the bar yet then the focus 
worryingly turned from the pitch to the terracing, where riot 
police let off tear gas in the Chelsea enclosure after 
missiles were reportedly thrown between the rival sets of 
fans.

The situation calmed down after the interval yet Chelsea 
were struggling to claw their way back into the game and, 
after Wise's claim for a penalty was waved away, the 
ineffective Deschamps was replaced by Roberto di Matteo.

The Italian, who had been out for the past seven matches 
with a broken arm, managed one shot on target while Flo 
volleyed over the bar and substitute Chris Sutton also forced 
a good save from keeper Trevisan.

However, although Chelsea certainly pressed forward with 
increased urgency, with one unseemly shoving match between the 
two teams, they flattered to deceive and midfielder Jerome 
Leroy troubled them from another tight angle as he shot into 
the side-netting.

At least Pouget's shot past de Goey was correctly ruled out 
for offside but even when Poyet was left with a free header 
from a corner in the final minute, keeper Trevisan pulled off 
a fantastic reaction save.

It was simply not Chelsea's night - and they cannot afford 
another weak display like this one if they are to progress to 
the quarter-finals.