Kickoff (Cape Town)
17 August 2008
Michael Essien was absent with a calf injury as Chelsea begun their bid to wrestle the English Premiership title from Manchester United with an emphatic 4-0 win over Portsmouth.
The Ghanaian midfielder watched from the stands as Chelsea's midfield of John Mikel Obi, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack - until he was pulled off injured in the first half - and new boy Deco put on a great show to smash Portsmouth.
But Chelsea boss Luiz Scolari expects to have Essien back for Chelsea's next game away to Wigan next Sunday.
"I have some injuries. Essien is out for Sunday, Didier Drogba is out, but they are working every day with the doctors and our fitness coach and progress for the next two weeks," he said before today's game.
"I expect they can train every day, and maybe Essien next week."
Scolari has said Essien is an integral part of his side for the coming campaign and on the evidence of their display against Portsmouth, his return will make them an even stronger side.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Black Stars defender John Paintsil put in an impressive premiership debut for Fulham at rightback but the Cottagers still lost 1-2 to new boys Hull FC.
Fulham had taken the lead at the KCC Stadium but the new boys fought back before winning it late on courtesy Caleb Forlan's strike after an error by Paul Konchesky.
In the Championship, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie continued from where he left off in midweek when he scored on his debut with a fine display in Birmingham's 2-1 away win at the Saint Mary's against Southampton.
The Ghanaian international beguiled Southampton's right-sided defenders on several occasions. Twice he provided James McFadden with excellent openings, one of which he missed completely and the other miss-hit before he was pulled off after 76 minutes for Kevin Phillips, who hit the winner for Birmingham.
Quincy's speed of foot and thought though would surely have impressed Alex McLeish before he was pulled off.
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