BlueLion.

Match report - http://www.talkchelsea.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=4337

Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea F.C. Sunday 24th May 2009, Premier League, Stadium of Light, Sunderland Salomon Kalou celebrates his superb finish at the Stadium of Light. Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole all found the net as Chelsea finished their Premier League campaign with an entertaining victory over Sunderland. With the second half barely having been kicked off, Nicolas Anelka found himself in space inside the Chelsea half, and ten seconds later, the Frenchman had secured the Barclay's Premier League Golden Boot with a fantastic finish into the top corner. Kieran Richardson equalised for Sunderland soon after, following an error in judgement by the usually-reliable Petr Cech, but goals from Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole ensured Chelsea returned to Stamford Bridge with another three points. A late Kenwyne Jones header late on did narrow the margin of victory, but Guus Hiddink's men head to Wembley in a rich vein of form. Sunderland went into the game knowing they needed a result against the Blues to secure their Premier League status, but a 1-0 victory for Aston Villa over Newcastle at Villa Park, coupled with Middlesbrough's 2-1 defeat away to West Ham meant that the Black Cats were safe from relegation, with Phil Brown's Hull City joining them despite losing 1-0 at the KC Stadium to Manchester United. Although with much less to play for than their Northern rivals, Chelsea still fielded a strong line up at the Stadium of Light, with nine of the starting eleven also beginning the game against Blackburn the previous weekend. Alex da Costa and Frank Lampard were both rested, with Juliano Belletti and Branislav Ivanovic deputising. Kenwyne Jones played as the line striker for the hosts against an in-form Chelsea side, but it was Blues talisman Didier Drogba who was the most-involved player in the opening exchanges; audaciously chipping an effort onto the roof of the net moments after unleashing a stinging volley that Hungarian goalkeeper Martin Fulop did well to save. Drogba then tamely headed wide after a busy period of play that saw Branislav Ivanovic excel at the other end of the pitch. The Serbian reacted well to volley clear a loose ball in the Chelsea penalty area after Cech had fumbled a cross, and then brilliantly headed away a devilish cross from former Manchester United defender Phil Bardsley. During the fracas, Juliano Belletti hobbled off to be replaced by Michael Ballack, and the Brazilian is now a doubt for next Saturday's FA Cup final with Everton, who triumphed 2-0 over Fulham. News then filtered through of an Aston Villa goal against Newcastle, which sent the home fans into uproar. The Chelsea players did their level best to dampen the celebrations, with Malouda having a shot saved by Fulop before rattling the crossbar with another drive, before Fulop denied Drogba with some assured goalkeeping. But with the chase for the Golden Boot at the forefront of the minds of many Chelsea fans, it was appropriate that Nicolas Anelka both opened the scoring and secured that particular personal triumph with a rasping effort from 24 yards out. Gaining possession inside his own half, the Frenchman strode forward with the ball, beat two defenders and then unleashed the truest of shots from outside the penalty area that rose line an arrow into the top corner. It was a goal more than deserving of securing the Golden Boot, and Anelka acknowledged the Chelsea celebrations with his trademark butterfly celebration. Petr Cech then went from villain to hero during a good period of play for the hosts. The Czech missed a Leadbitter cross from the wing, allowing Richardson to lash home the equaliser just six minutes after the Blues had taken the lead. The Blues goalkeeper redeemed himself with a terrific save from Steed Malbranque after the French winger had played a one-two and then fired a low shot towards goal, only for a combination of Cech and Ballack to clear the ball away. Salomon Kalou then entered the fray and was instantly involved; first setting up Malouda, who saw his well-struck effort deflected over from the edge of the area, before the Ivorian himself smashed Chelsea into the lead with a blockbuster effort. The ball fell to the young Chelsea winger on the edge of the area, and after earning himself a yard of space after an intelligent, athletic touch, the Chelsea number 21 launched the ball into the top corner from 18 yards for his eleventh goal of the campaign. Cech then denied Bardsley with another decent stop, before Anelka forced Fulop into action after a brisk counter-attack from Chelsea. Ashley Cole then scored his second goal for the Blues with an astute right-footed finish. Malouda's shot was saved by Fulop who did well to block the influential winger's shot, but was hopeless to deny Cole, who picked up the loose ball and lashed it beyond two players on the line for Sunderland. Kenwyne Jones halved the deficit with a thumping header in stoppage time, but Chelsea hung on to claim a deserved victory, and both sets of supporters were cheering at the final whistle - Sunderland had avoided the drop. Just. With the FA Cup Final just around the corner, Chelsea can take great confidence from their performance, and with both the Blues and Everton in good form, this final has all the makings of a classic Wembley encounter. ___________________________________________________________________ The TalkChelsea.net Star Man award goes to... Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea F.C. Involved in everything, Anelka secured the Golden Boot with an emphatic strike to open the scoring. Match Fact - Petr Cech made his 150th Premier League appearance for Chelsea at the Stadium of Light, and remains unbeaten against the Black Cats. Sunderland: Fulop; Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins; Malbranque (Healy), Whitehead ©, Tainio (Reid), Richardson (Murphy), Leadbitter; Jones Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry ©, A Cole; Belletti (Ballack), Mikel (Mancienne), Essien (Kalou); Anelka, Drogba, Malouda .

25 goals in a season is a wonderful achievement, well done sir!

Very entertaining game, enjoyed watching it.

Great, let's become the PL's retirement home.

If we get a penalty on Sunday, who takes it? Lampard; for his 20th of the season, or Anelka; to win the golden boot? I vote Drogba

Absolutely agreed. He is also far more involved when he plays through the middle, and he can sometimes have poor games out wide. He's far more consistent as a midfielder.

Completely agree with you, if we'd have had Essien's drive and Cole's creativity over the whole season, things could have looked a lot rosier. However, we'll have them both back at the start of next season, and we can look forward to seeing them on the same teamsheet.

Joe Cole, by some distance, is the one player in our team that offers some flair into our play, and I can't wait for him to be back. It's vital that he is back in the team next season, he's scored so many important goals for us.

Yes mate, Admins do count as part of the staff team

Yeah, includes NI mate. When I say British, meaning the British Isles.

Brilliant

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If Ancelotti comes, which I hope he doesn't, he should talk tactics with Hiddink, not Mourinho.

Well David 'Average Manager' Moyes has turned Everton into a top five side with hardly any funds at all and has established a good brand of football with a solid core of English players.

Glad Terry got his recognition award, although I would have thought Frank would have been presented with one as well, for surpassing 400 appearances and/or 125 goals.

Don't give a fuck about UEFA or the Champions League to be honest. Platini can suck my balls.

Fuck UEFA, we're staying at home.

This game, in my opinion, will be as tough as the FA Cup final. Sunderland have it all to play for; we do not. They will have their supporters behind them, and it is very, very likely we will rest some of our big names on Sunday. This is a game between two teams of eleven men - forget the names of the clubs; this is gonna be one helluva difficult match.

Ivanovic > Maicon

David Moyes please.

I'd love him to play in the FA Cup final, and go to Italy as a winner and a Chelsea legend.

Can't beat Theresa Green IMO.

You're welcome, apologies for it being so late.