Anelka hits four as Blues batter Milanby RivalsDM

Updated: August 3, 2008, 8:18 AM EST 8 comments add this RSS blog email print Four goals from Nicolas Anelka helped Chelsea claim 3rd place in the Railways Cup tournament in Moscow after AC Milan were thrashed 5-0.

Milan's Brazilian star and Chelsea target Kaka did not feature as his team put in a miserable display, typified by some comically inept goalkeeping by Zeljko Kalac.

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A strong Chelsea line-up saw Michael Ballack make his first appearance of the Blues' pre-season following his late return to the squad after Euro 2008 duty with Germany.

But it was his central midfield partner Frank Lampard who put Luiz Felipe Scolari's side ahead in the second minute when his curling free-kick was missed by everyone and the ball flew in through Milan keeper Kalac's legs.

It was two in the eighth minute when Anelka latched on to a poor defensive header to fire home low from the edge of the area.

The Frenchman added a third 10 minutes later when Kalac's day went from bad to worse.

Attempting to clear a routine backpass, the Australian kicked nothing but air, allowing Anelka to steal in and tap into an empty net.

Chelsea were utterly dominant and Shaun Wright-Phillips very nearly headed a fourth soon afterwards as they sought to make amends for their shoot-out defeat to Lokomotiv Moscow two days ago.

A Milan side with no recognised strikers, but featuring former Arsenal star Mathieu Flamini in midfield, were providing little resistance and Anelka completed his hat-trick six minutes after the restart.

Deco played in Florent Malouda down the left and the winger's cross found his countryman, who headed accurately into the corner of the net.

Remarkably if was four for Anelka and five for Chelsea in the 58th minute when another flowing move down the left ended with Malouda centring once more for the former Bolton striker to volley home.

The Premier League runners-up took their foot off the gas in the last quarter but still dominated and the lively Malouda fired narrowly over with a good long-range effort.