CFR Cluj ended its Champions League efforts with a 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but equally earned a great deal of respect from their peers.Chelsea’s Michael Ballack said of Cluj:
“We knew from the first game with them how good they are – not just the result [a 0-0 draw] but their performance as well but it wasn’t just against us, Cluj also showed against Roma and Bordeaux that they can fight and play football.”
After Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea the lead five minutes before the half, the Liga 1 champions fought back and at the fifty-fifth minute Yssouf Kone headed the cross of Romanian international Cristian Panin into the net. Yet heroics were in store for Didier Drogba who scored with nineteen minutes remaining to give Chelsea the 2-1 victory.
While Cluj were impressive throughout the tournament, they unfortunately finished four and miss out on a chance for the UEFA Cup.
