Late Malouda strike shatters Stoke

12 September 2009 17:13
Carlo Ancelotti saw his Chelsea side stretch their 100% record to five matches at the Britannia Stadium as a stoppage-time goal from Florent Malouda secured a 2-1 victory. The Italian coach must have been living on his nerves as Stoke threw themselves into every challenge and looked like taking a point. However, Chelsea kept plugging away and got their rewards when Malouda finished well following a knock back from Nicolas Anelka. Potters manager Tony Pulis has assembled a team that battles and scratches for every 50-50 ball and his side made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute after Glenn Whelan swung in a cross from the right. Skipper Abdoulaye Faye was the first to react inside the area and powered a header beyond a stranded Petr Cech. Stoke lost two players in the opening 45 minutes with James Beattie and then Thomas Sorensen going off injured, and Didier Drogba pulled Chelsea level in first-half stoppage time with a shot into the corner after getting away from Faye.

Source: Eurosport