Source: Telegraph
Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2: match report
Table-topping Chelsea raced to their most emphatic win of the season with an imperious destruction of an all-at-sea Sunderland. [LNB]Nicolas Anelka struck twice and Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack were also on target with Bolo Zenden and Darren Bent mustering Sunderland's consolations. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionPremier League fixturesTelegraph player raterTransfer TalkSport on televisionHow Steve Bruce's side must dread the sight of Chelsea. They were crushed 5-0 in London last season and outclassed 3-1 at the Stadium of Light in August. They were lambs to the slaughter as Chelsea turned on the style once again. [LNB]The rout was underway within eight minutes, Anelka turning clear of an uncertain Lorik Cana, sprinting forward and stepping around goalkeeper Marton Fulop before rolling the ball home. [LNB]Sunderland had already been fortunate to escape when Joe Cole scuffed a shot at the Sunderland goalkeeper and Ashley Cole headed wide, and the tone of the afternoon was well and truly set. [LNB]Chelsea, despite being without their Africa Cup of Nations contingent, were two clear in the 17th minute.Malouda won the ball from George McCartney in the centre circle, skirted two ieneffective challenges and buried a shot from just inside the penalty area. [LNB]Six minutes later it was three, Ashley Cole showing delightful control, first to slip the ball passed Cana, then to curl it beyond Fulop. [LNB]Anelka should have scored again when put through by Juliano Belletti but no matter, within a minute Chelsea had fashioned a superb fourth goal. Anelka played in the overlapping Ashley Cole and his cross was met perfectly by Lampard, who slid the ball between a wrong-footed Fulop and the near post. [LNB]Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti withdrew John Terry and the marauding Ashley Cole at the interval, sending on Alex and Yury Zhirkov, but there was no respite for Sunderland. [LNB]Anelka's powerful drive cannoned off the underside of the visitors' crossbar before, in the 52nd minute, an unmarked Ballack headed home from Joe Cole's free-kick. [LNB]There was a moment of respite for Sunderland when Stamford Bridge old boy Zenden, introduced as a half-time replacement for Steed Malbranque, scored a 56th-minute consolation but Chelsea were far from done. [LNB]Anelka claimed his second and Chelsea's sixth when presented with an open goal after Fulop's miscued punch in the 65th minute. Lampard registered another as the 90 minutes ended and Bent posted a footnote for Sunderland in the last seconds. Blue murder indeed.[LNB]
