On the most astonishing evening of the
entire season, Chelsea surrendered their lingering chance of the
Premier League title, Jose Mourinho’s 77-game unbeaten home League
streak and much of their self-respect.
When the Football Association come to review the shameful events at Stamford Bridge, the punishments will be spectacularly severe.
In the last few minutes of this extraordinary collision, one of the Chelsea coaches, Rui Faria, was dragged back by his hair by Mourinho as he attempted to attack referee Mike Dean.
Minutes earlier, Dean had awarded Sunderland the penalty which won them the match, and while replays reinforced the correctness of Dean’s decision, Chelsea’s anger was beyond all bounds.
But
that kick was rolled in by Fabio Borini, on loan from Liverpool, and
the bottom side had beaten the team with designs on the title. The
consequences for Chelsea will prove more savage than the mere loss of a
football match.
The plot seemed to have taken a familiar form in the 12th minute, when Willian’s corner came whipping in from the left, hip-high. Samuel Eto’o reached out, snaked his leg around a nervous defender and produced a scoring shot of surprising power. Sunderland had not been bursting with confidence up to that point, but we now saw it draining away.
Sunderland were performing like a team expecting the worst. Their approach was apprehensive, with Connor Wickham asked to do an unreasonable task, marooned at the front and required to scamper hopefully after lost causes.
But the 17th minute brought totally unexpected equality. Seb Larsson’s left-wing corner was pulled way back to Marcos Alonso, who was in acres of space. He struck a strong, optimistic drive from upwards of 25 yards, which bounced in front of Mark Schwarzer and into the path of the willing Wickham, whose chip was delicately accurate. Schwarzer was starting his first game of the season, the result of Petr Cech suffering a minor ailment.
Sunderland’s confidence came surging back. True, Wickham was still left to fend for himself, but they were beginning to do themselves justice. Gus Poyet stood in his technical area, barking, frowning and fretting. Mourinho sat and brooded as the Chelsea build-up grew slower and more ponderous.
When the Football Association come to review the shameful events at Stamford Bridge, the punishments will be spectacularly severe.
In the last few minutes of this extraordinary collision, one of the Chelsea coaches, Rui Faria, was dragged back by his hair by Mourinho as he attempted to attack referee Mike Dean.
Minutes earlier, Dean had awarded Sunderland the penalty which won them the match, and while replays reinforced the correctness of Dean’s decision, Chelsea’s anger was beyond all bounds.
Winner: Liverpool loanee Fabio Borini coolly slotted home the penalty to give Sunderland a vital three points
Frustration: Chelsea handed the initiative to Liverpool after slipping up
Missed opportunity: Demba Ba sees a chance go begging
Opener: Samuel Eto'o volleys home to make it 1-0 to Chelsea after 12 minutes
Match facts
Chelsea:
Schwarzer 5, Ivanovic 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Terry 6.5, Azpilicueta 6,
Ramires 4.5, Matic 6.5, Salah 6.5 (Schurrle 66, 6), Oscar 5.5 (Ba 59,
6), Willian 6.5, Eto'o 6.5 (Torres 74, 5).
Subs not used: Luiz, Lampard, Mikel, Hilario.
Booked: Torres
Goal: Eto'o 12.
Sunderland: Mannone 8.5, Vergini 5, O'Shea 7.5, Brown 7.5, Alonso 7, Cattermole 7, Johnson 6 (Giaccherini 66, 6), Larsson 6.5 (Celustka 90), Colback 6.5, Borini 6, Wickham 6.5 (Altidore 66, 6.5).
Subs not used: Ba, Scocco, Ustari, Mavrias.
Booked: Cattermole, Brown.
Goal: Wickham 18, Borini (pen) 82.
Man of the Match: Vito Mannone
Ref: Mike Dean
Att: 41,210
Subs not used: Luiz, Lampard, Mikel, Hilario.
Booked: Torres
Goal: Eto'o 12.
Sunderland: Mannone 8.5, Vergini 5, O'Shea 7.5, Brown 7.5, Alonso 7, Cattermole 7, Johnson 6 (Giaccherini 66, 6), Larsson 6.5 (Celustka 90), Colback 6.5, Borini 6, Wickham 6.5 (Altidore 66, 6.5).
Subs not used: Ba, Scocco, Ustari, Mavrias.
Booked: Cattermole, Brown.
Goal: Wickham 18, Borini (pen) 82.
Man of the Match: Vito Mannone
Ref: Mike Dean
Att: 41,210
The plot seemed to have taken a familiar form in the 12th minute, when Willian’s corner came whipping in from the left, hip-high. Samuel Eto’o reached out, snaked his leg around a nervous defender and produced a scoring shot of surprising power. Sunderland had not been bursting with confidence up to that point, but we now saw it draining away.
Sunderland were performing like a team expecting the worst. Their approach was apprehensive, with Connor Wickham asked to do an unreasonable task, marooned at the front and required to scamper hopefully after lost causes.
But the 17th minute brought totally unexpected equality. Seb Larsson’s left-wing corner was pulled way back to Marcos Alonso, who was in acres of space. He struck a strong, optimistic drive from upwards of 25 yards, which bounced in front of Mark Schwarzer and into the path of the willing Wickham, whose chip was delicately accurate. Schwarzer was starting his first game of the season, the result of Petr Cech suffering a minor ailment.
Sunderland’s confidence came surging back. True, Wickham was still left to fend for himself, but they were beginning to do themselves justice. Gus Poyet stood in his technical area, barking, frowning and fretting. Mourinho sat and brooded as the Chelsea build-up grew slower and more ponderous.
