Frank Lampard: An impeccable finish and a dream come true

Seldom do we get to see so many ups and downs in a single match. Red cards for both teams, a goal not given, three classic finishes, major injuries, and ultimately a deserved winner. First Chelsea went down to ten men, and then Villa equalised on that front!

But the ultimate gain from today’s match was a record 203rd goal for Frank Lampard. This was a real dream come true. In fact, each and every Chelsea fan wanted this to happen for a long time. Perhaps it was the most deserving goal of the season and the most deserving goal scoring record. The record, held earlier by Chelsea legend Bobby Tamling, had stood for ages, but now no more. 203 – the magical number has been finally achieved by Lampard, after much toil and remarkable consistency. Additionally, being the only midfield player in the history of the EPL to score 10 goals each season for a decade, is a massive achievement. Almost all Chelsea fans, upon seeing the decisive goal, felt that their life’s ambitions had been fulfilled. Now, with this record, Frank has achieved the heights every footballer dreams of.

What a perfect move it was for the goal. A brilliant pass provided by Hazard, and a much needed deft touch by Lampard. Also, by executing this one, he led Chelsea to a crucial win.

The work rate has been tremendous ever since he joined Chelsea. Every single year he has shown the desire to score more and more goals, in turn helping his team. Additionally, he has scored a number of beautifully executed free kicks, as well as an infinite number of penalties – on target almost every single time. What is even more remarkable is that he has also fulfilled his defensive duties, whenever the need has arisen.

In today’s match, Chelsea were denied a clear goal after a goalmouth scramble by Cahill, which the referee missed. However, Lampard remained composed despite a sense of injustice, and put away the chance that came his way late in the game.

It is due to his long list of qualities, that admiration has been pouring in from fans, managers, media, even opponents. Even after the recent retirement of Sir Alex, Lampard was one of the first to portray his respect for the retiring legend, while also highlighting Sir Alex’s qualities.

Whatever happens going forward, Frank Lampard will remain one of the true legends of the game. He is the best midfielder to ever play the EPL in my opinion.

What a perfect farewell – though we all hope it isn’t a farewell!