Sunderland v Chelsea - live!

18 August 2009 19:04
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} 90+2 It's all over at the Stadium of Light and Chelsea record a deserved victory. Thanks for joining us for tonight's game. A full report and match reaction witll follow.[LNB]90+1 Sturridge has the chance to make it 4-1, but his shot from inside the box after another excellent move is too close to Fulop.[LNB]90 Two minutes of added time will be played.[LNB]89 The Stadium of Light is emptying rapidly as the home fans head for the exits having seen their side soundly beaten by an awesome Chelsea display.[LNB]87 Sturridge is keen to impress with his limited time on the field and he drills a low shot goalwards from the edge of the area but it goes narrowly wide.[LNB]86 Andriy Shevchenko, who seems to have spent his season in Milan growing his hair, replaces Deco for the closing moments.[LNB]84 Sturridge comes on to make his Chelsea debut in place of Drogba, while Richardson makes way for Reid for the home side.[LNB]83 Chelsea are playing keep-ball, with Sturridge and Andy Reid waiting on the sidelines to come on.[LNB]80 Cech gets a rare touch as Ballack plays the ball back to his goalkeeper and he clears downfield.[LNB]78 Sunderland have a brief spell of possession, but Richardson is eventually penalised after losing out to Bosingwa.[LNB]76 Kalou makes way for Malouda.[LNB]76 Drogba goes in the book for playing on and shooting after being flagged offside.[LNB]74 Danny Sturridge and Florent Malouda are on course to come on for the visitors.[LNB]73 Chelsea have been hugely impressive tonight. Despite going behind against the run of play there was no panic and they simply pressed relentlessly until Sunderland buckled.[LNB]70 GOAL FOR CHELSEA!!! Deco caps an impressive performance with a stunning strike. A multitude of Chelsea passes ends with the Portuguese playmaker drilling home from 18 yards off the far post. This game is over, and the only question is will Chelsea continue to press for more goals?[LNB]69 The pace and urgency from the visitors has understandably dropped, but they are still dominating possession and now probing patiently looking for openings.[LNB]67 Chelsea continue to press despite going in front. Cole is released down the left flank in behind the defence and his cross into the middle finds Drogba, whose diving header from 10 yards bounces down and off target.[LNB]64 Campbell and Leabitter's first involvement is to concede two free-kicks as they attempt to get up to the pace of the game.[LNB]63 Stunning pass from Lampard as he finds Drogba's feet in the area from inside the centre circle, but the striker fails to control.[LNB]62 Bruce makes two immediate changes, with Fraizer Campbell and Grant Leadbitter coming on for Jones and Cattermole.[LNB]61 GOAL FOR CHELSEA!!! Lampard steps up and makes no mistake from 12 yards out. Fulop goes the right way but cannot get near the kick which is low into the corner.[LNB]60 Drogba works his way into the box and is felled by McCartney. Stonewall penalty.[LNB]58 Chelsea continue to press, but Essien then fires in probably the worst shot of the night as the ball skews horribly off his boot and out for a throw-in about 10 yards from the goalline. Taxi!!![LNB]56 Chelsea are inches away from taking the lead as Lampard's great pass out to Cole on the left is then crossed into the box and just evades Drogba as he charges in.[LNB]55 Bent attempts to curl the ball over the wall, but Chelsea's players stand firm and it is headed away.[LNB]54 Ivanovic goes into the book for tugging on Jones' shirt as they challenge for the ball. Free-kick in a dangerous position for the Black Cats.[LNB]52 GOAL FOR CHELSEA!!! Sunderland's defence is finally breached as Lampard's resulting corner is flicked on with Ballack drilling home at the far post despite Cattermole's best efforts on the line. Inevitable equaliser.[LNB]52 Chelsea create yet another opening as Lampard guides a ball in towards Ashley Cole, who sees the ball taken off his head by a back-tracking defender.[LNB]50 Another Chelsea corner and the Blues should have equalised. A flag-kick from the right is flicked on to the far post where Drogba arrives unmarked, but powers his header over the bar.[LNB]49 Lampard is again involved as he crosses to the far post for Ivanovic to head down towards goal, but Fulop palms it away.[LNB]48 Lampard is given too much time and space outside the area and fires in a shot from 25 yards, but fails to catch it cleanly and it does not trouble Fulop.[LNB]47 Deco attempts to tease a pass through to Drogba, but it overruns and Fulop claims yet again.[LNB]46 Sunderland get the second half under way and will have to show more of the same defensive resilience, while Chelsea need more accuracy with their shooting, as despite all the Blues' pressure, Fulop has not been seriously tested.[LNB] No panic from Ancelotti at the interval as he sticks with the XI on duty in the first half. It makes sense given that they were utterly dominant, but could just not force the breakthrough. Sunderland are unchanged too.[LNB] If you're confident Chelsea can hit back in the second half, then Sky Bet are offering odds of 2/1 on the Blues making their dominance pay off and emerging as winners. Sunderland are 7/5 to hold on to their advantage and the draw is available at 17/10.[LNB]45+2 Bennett blows for half-time. Darren Bent has scored the only goal of the game, despite the fact that Chelsea have dominated possession and created nearly all the chances. Can Sunderlan hold out for another 45 minutes?[LNB]45+1 Lampard tries to pick out Kalou with a diagonal ball into the area, but Fulop is quickly off his line to gather.[LNB]45 Chelsea are able to clear their lines and go back on the attack as the fourth official shows there will be two minutes of added time.[LNB]44 With the interval approaching, Jones forces a corner for Sunderland, which Richardson ambles over to take. No hurry from the home side.[LNB]43 Deco flicks on in the box towards Drogba, but the Ivory Coast international is penalised for shoving Ferdinand in the back.[LNB]42 Richardson robs Cole on the edge of the Sunderland box, but the chance to ease the pressure is wasted as the midfielder cheaply gives the ball back to Chelsea. Not what the Black Cats need.[LNB]40 Chelsea aren't just knocking at the door, they are charging at it with a huge battering ram. Kalou is the next to shoot from inside the box, but again his effort is off target. How long can the Black Cats hold out for?[LNB]38 From the next corner, Ballack volleys goalwards but Sunderland clear off the line thanks to Cattermole. The onslaught continues with Bosingwa having two shots from close in out on the right with red and white shirts throwing themselves in the way of the ball.[LNB]37 Bosingwa, who is very advanced for a full-back, plays in Lampard down the right, with his clever cross headed behind for a corner by Bardsley. From the kick, McCartney is lucky not to deflect it into his own net, as it goes behind for another corner.[LNB]36 Deco shows quick feet and a good turn of pace to work space for a shot, but Sunderland's defence stand firm again and Fulop is able to save comfortably.[LNB]35 Lampard tries to play a diagonal ball over the defence into the path of Drogba, but Fulop is able to race from his goal to claim.[LNB]33 Drogba shows good strength again and finds Kalou, who attempts to slip it in to the on-rushing Deco, but puts too much pace on the pass.[LNB]32 Sunderland enjoy a rare foray forward into the Chelsea half, but Jones is beaten in the air by Ivanovic.[LNB]30 Yet more Chelsea pressure with a cross to the far post headed away by Bardsley for a corner with Drogba lurking. Fulop gathers under pressure from Ivanovic and is awarded a free-kick.[LNB]29 Richardson goes into the book after upsetting Bennett for questioning a decision and throwing the ball away.[LNB]27 Deco links up with Ballack down the right flank with the German delivering a superb cross into the box, which beats Fulop, but Henderson is on hand to head away at the far post.[LNB]26 Sunderland are being pushed further and further back by the visitors. Steve Bruce is barking instructions from the sidelines as the pressure increases on their slender lead.[LNB]25 Chelsea create another shooting chance as Bosingwa finds Drogba, who ignores the overlapping Cole in space, but shows great strength to set up Ballack. However, the Germany international fires over the top from 18 yards out.[LNB]23 Chelsea force another corner as Bent gets back to challenge Kalou, but the Blues waste the chance with Bennett spotting an infringement. Ivanovic is then given a talking to for giving his opinion.[LNB]21 Chelsea look to hit back immediately with Deco trying his luck from outside the box after Drogba's flick, but his effort curls away from goal.[LNB]20 What a start to his Sunderland career for Darren Bent, with a goal on his home debut hot on the heels of his strike at Bolton on Saturday. He is already repaying a decent chunk of his £12million transfer fee.[LNB]18 1-0 TO SUNDERLAND!!!! Totally against the run of play and out of the blue, the Black Cats take the lead. Jones holds the ball up on the edge of the box and fires in a shot which takes a deflection and rolls into the path of Bent, who calmly slots past Cech.[LNB]17 Chelsea continue to press and Kalou finds Cole with a clever ball over the top, but despite just keeping the ball alive, the full-back's cut-back is gathered by Fulop.[LNB]15 Chelsea break quickly and earn a free-kick in a dangerous area on the right of the penalty area after Bent is penalised for pulling back Bosingwa. Lampard flights the ball into the box, but Cana heads clear.[LNB]14 Henderson slides in on Cole, wins possession and looks to escape but is pulled back by referee Bennett's whistle as his foot was a little high.[LNB]12 Chelsea force a corner as Ballack breaks down the right and cuts it back across the face of goal where Fulop bundles it behind. The Black Cats then deal with the flag-kick comfortably.[LNB]11 Cana goes in hard, but farily, on Ballack out on the right flank and earns a warm round of applause from the home fans, who always appreciate that kind of commitment.[LNB]9 Ferdinand wins an important header under pressure from Drogba, and as the ball breaks to Essien on the edge of the box he creates space but then lashes his shot miles off target.[LNB]8 Bardsley has a chance to cross after working a short throw with Bent on the right flank, but fails to get enough distance on the ball and it is comfortably cleared.[LNB]6 Another chance for the Blues, who take the route one option with Drogba flicking on to Kalou, who knocks the ball into the path of Deco, but his shot is blocked by the Black Cats defence.[LNB]5 Youngster Jordan Henderson has had some good early touches, attempting to take on Cole down the left.[LNB]3 Sunderland have an early sight of goal too as Richardson flicks the ball through to Bent, who takes his shot early but fails to trouble Cech at his near post.[LNB]2 Ashley Cole is played in down the left and cuts the ball back to the edge of the area, where Lampard has space to shoot but fires high and wide.[LNB]1 Some nice early touches from the men in Blue as they look to give everyone a sight of the ball.[LNB]1 Chelsea get us under way at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] The two teams make their way onto the field into a cauldron of noise at the Stadium of Light. Handshakes are exchanged and kick-off is looming.[LNB] Black Cats fan Jason is backing the home side to pull off a shock tonight, and reckons Lee Cattermole is the man to watch to open his Sunderland account.[LNB] If you fancy a flutter, our friends at Sky Bet have a vast range of markets on tonight's match. Sunderland are on offer at 6/1, with Chelsea firm favourites at 1/2 and the draw a 3/1 shot.[LNB] Charlie is another Chelsea supporter who is slightly vexed by Ancelotti's team selection as he is not happy to see Ballack and Deco in the midfield. But he reckons Kalou deserves a chance up front after Anelka's display against Hull.[LNB] Neil is another Blues fan with concerns as he would prefer Lampard to be spearheading the midfield diamond, rather than Deco. But he's still backing the visitors to romp to a 3-0 victory with Drogba bagging another brace.[LNB] Chelsea fan Saad is less than impressed to see last season's top scorer Anelka on the bench, and is even more unhappy with Ivanovic's inclusion in the starting XI. Will Ancelotti be made to regret his early season tinkering?[LNB] What do you make of Ancelotti's team changes? How do you feel the Black Cats will fare against the title challengers? Drop me a line with your thoughts on tonight's game to rob.parrish@bskyb.com and I'll publish a selection of the best.[LNB] Steve Bruce makes just one alteration to his side who impressed with a 1-0 victory at Bolton on the opening day as youngster Jordan Henderson steps in for ankle injury victim Steed Malbranque.[LNB] Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has rung the changes after Saturday's 2-1 win over Hull City, with Branislav Ivanovic, Michael Ballack, Deco and Salomon Kalou all brought into the starting XI at the expense of Ricardo Carvalho, Florent Malouda, John Obi Mikel and Nicolas Anelka.[LNB]Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)[LNB]Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Deco. Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Shevchenko, Mikel, Malouda, Sturridge, Anelka.[LNB]Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Henderson, Cattermole, Cana, Richardson, Jones, Bent. Subs: Gordon, Nosworthy, Edwards, Campbell, Leadbitter, Reid, Healy.[LNB] Welcome to our live coverage of Sunderland v Chelsea from the Stadium of Light. The team news is just filtering through now and will be with you shortly.[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports