Clint Dempsey is in fine form for Fulham, having scored four times in his last six matches. He'll try to add to that tally Monday afternoon as the Cottagers host Chelsea in a West London derby (2:55 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3.com).
The match is notable for other reasons than just Dempsey being involved. It is also Fernando Torres' second game since joining Chelsea on transfer-deadline day, and he is getting the start in place of Didier Drogba atop the Blues' 4-2-3-1 formation. The Blues' other new signing, David Luiz, is starting aside John Terry in central defense.
With a victory, Fulham would vault into the top half of the Premier League table. Chelsea needs the three points in order to keep its thin hopes of another league title alive and also to keep pace with Tottenham in the race for a 2011-2012 UEFA Champions League berth.
If you will be watching the match, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.
I still feel proud of Deuce even though he missed the penalty… he played a good game. It’s a shame that he doesn’t get any support around him.
Okay kids, let that be a lesson for you. Placement over power for pens every time.
Dempsey was exhausted, and I agree with McHanaBana that Droga running up with him (wtf?) could have thrown him off.
I don’t think this will hurt his confidence because Dempsey always seemed like a very confident person anyways.
Wow, Dempsey should’ve won the game for Fullham.
unlucky deuce…. could have had the headlines for a week with that one.
sometime you bite the bar. sometimes the bar bites you.
And that is why Clint doesn’t take penalties. My goodness that was a weak effort.
Demps was too tired to take that pen. But Drogba was encroaching on the thing like hell. Shoulda been retaken.
I don’t think that was a penalty-hopefully this doesn’t hurt Dempsey’s confidence
That’s why Dempsey should not take PK’s… So frustrated
ah dempsey 🙁
Worst. game. ever.
That makes me extremely upset.
Drogba was 6 yards inside the 18 when Dempsey hit the ball.
dang….
Freakin’ Petr Cech! Ruined Dempsey’s shining moment.
Ouch. I feel sick after that miss.
clint misses no
That is crap.
That penalty should be retaken.
THE LEGEND OF DEUCE GROWS!!!!!!!! draws a penalty!! Clint now has the craftiness and smarts to go with great skill. HE IS THE COMPLETE PLAYER! and he’s gonna take it too??? oh…………..no. dear no. i was just gonna hit send and…it got saved. SON OF A…they’ll probably never let him take one again. that wasn’t far wide enough.
ohhhhhh noooo
Oh Clint
eh…. he didn’t deserve it but come on deuce!
Ah damn….Why did he go down the middle?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
DEMPSEY NOOOOOOOOOOO
Come on Clint…..
Dempsey to take this
Dempsey draws the penalty in stoppage!!!!
YEEEEESSSSSSs dempsey
NOOOOOOO YEESSSSS
CLINT DEMPSEY THE MOTHER F*$&#$ LEGEND
Yes!
PENALTY ON CLINT DEMPSEY
CLINT!!!! Draws Penalty!
Dempsey!!!!!!!
HAHAHA demspey
Europa League next year for Chelsea?
Fulham with some opportunities in the past few minutes. Still defending like bosses. Nice to see Dempsey own Terry, though.
while fulham might only be 3 points clear of the relegation zone, I’d remind you that this minnow beat some rather impressive teams last year in their run to the Europa finals. Fulham certainly isn’t a team that is fighting relegation year after year.
Torres looked much better than Droga currently does.
It feels good seeing Dempsey out-muscle Terry for that.
He didn’t have much of a chance in my opinion, not much of an angle
Super tight angle. At least he stung Czech’s hands.
Dempsey would have been the story of even greater legends had he scored that incredible goal.
The wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round…
Absolutely.
I think it settles on the fact that there is so little connecting between the forwards and midfield. Anelka is supposed to be that player, but he clearly does not understand the role.
Does anyone know if the Monday night feature game is anything like Monday Night Football?
*the score
If Fulham were overmatched, they score would be a lot higher. They’re obviously playing for a tie, yes, but their defense has been pretty awesome. The scoreline is a combination of good defending and Chelsea seeming to think that the goal is somewhere around the field’s corners.