Chelsea put four past Black Cats

John Terry
12 April 2012

Nicolas Anelka and John Terry ensured £50million new boy Fernando Torres was not needed as Chelsea won 4-2 at Sunderland.

The England defender struck on the hour and the Frenchman added a fourth at the death to win a compelling contest and gain revenge for their side's 3-0 humiliation by the Black Cats at Stamford Bridge in November.

Frank Lampard had earlier cancelled out Phil Bardsley's opener from the penalty spot, but Terry's intervention proved crucial after Kieran Richardson equalised four minutes after Salomon Kalou's 23rd-minute strike.

The game was only four minutes old when Bardsley picked up possession on halfway and with nobody closing him down, made his way towards goal and sent a swerving right-foot shot past Petr Cech.

Chelsea were level within 11 minutes. Quite what Ahmed Elmohamady was trying to do when he climbed all over Ashley Cole as the pair fought for Michael Essien's teasing cross may remain known only to him, but referee Mark Halsey had little choice but to point to the spot and Lampard needed no second invitation.

Chelsea went ahead eight minutes later when Anelka pounced on a loose ball to slide Kalou in, and the Ivory Coast international deftly tucked a shot past the advancing Craig Gordon.

It was Sunderland who struck the next blow when, after Elmohamady had been felled by Mikel, Richardson sent a free-kick through a crumbling wall and into the back of the net.

Branislav Ivanovic hit the crossbar and Didier Drogba headed straight at Gordon in a whirlwind finish to the half, and even the spectators were glad of the break by the time the whistle sounded.

Chelsea regained the lead on the hour when, after Gordon had pulled off a fine save to keep out Lampard's powerfully-struck effort, Terry hit the rebound into the ground and saw it arc over the keeper and into the net.

Gordon was relieved to see Kalou's 67th-minute shot hit both posts and run to safety, but Anelka instead struck at the death to seal an impressive victory.

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