Sunderland 2 Chelsea 4: No Torres, but Carlo Ancelotti's Side Continue Winning Ways

Filed under: Chelsea, Sunderland, Premier League, Football, Match Reports

Chelsea gained sweet revenge for their surprise 3-0 home defeat by Sunderland earlier this season.

Goals from Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou, John Terry and Nicolas Anelka maintained their recent improvement and represented a clear message to the teams above them in the Premier League.

Chelsea left no doubt they are still pursuing the title and £70 million men Fernando Torres and David Luiz will join a team brimming with confidence.

Sunderland, without new signing Sulley Muntari, played their part in an entertaining game, which was sparked into early life.

The first goal came after only four minutes when Sunderland full back Phil Bardsley picked up a loose ball on the halfway line.

Chelsea didn't sense the danger as the full back moved forward before cutting inside to unleash a shot that dipped and swerved inside the far post.

Chelsea equalised controversially when Ahmed Elmohamady was harshly judged to have fouled Ashley Cole and Lampard lashed in the spot-kick.

And Carlo Ancelotti's team were ahead in the 23rd minute when Anelka's through ball enabled Kalou to slide the ball past onrushing keeper Craig Gordon.

Sunderland may have feared the worst against the side with the best defensive record in the league, but they were level within three minutes when Kieran Richardson fired a low free kick inside the post.

There could have been more goals before the break with Gordon saving brilliantly from Michael Essien before Branislav Ivanovic hit the post from eight yards.

And Ancelotti's side stepped up the pace in the second half, going close on three occasions before Terry put them in front again on the hour.

The skipper turned in the loose ball for his second goal of the season after Gordon blocked a 20-yard shot from Lampard.

Chelsea, to their credit, went in search of more goals instead of sitting on their lead and were agonisingly close when Kalou's 67th minute shot hit the post and bar before rebounding clear. Anelka finally claimed that fourth in the closing minute when he tapped in a Florent Malouda cross.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/02/01/sunderland-2-chelsea-4-no-torres-but-carlo-ancelottis-side-co/

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