Premier League - Chelsea slip up at Fulham

Eurosport - Mon, 29 Dec 09:03:00 2008

Clint Dempsey scored a last-minute equaliser to snatch a point for Fulham against Chelsea in an entertaining 2-2 West London derby draw at Craven Cottage.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Fulham Fulham-Chelsea Dempsey - 0

USA midfielder Dempsey rose unmarked to head a Simon Davies corner past the stranded Petr Cech to extend Roy Hodgson's unbeaten run to nine Premier League matches.

It Dempsey's second goal of the afternoon, with his first giving Fulham an early lead after Chelsea failed to deal with another Davies set-piece.

A second-half brace from Frank Lampard had given Chelsea a 2-1 lead.

Fulham's last defeat was against Everton at Goodison Park on November 1 and they have not lost a single game to a top-five side this season, although are yet to play Manchester United.

Fulham were as organised as one would expect from a side who had previously only conceded 12 goals in 18 Premier League matches, repelling Chelsea's waves of attack and limiting their illustrious guests to shots from distance and snatched half-chances.

Didier Drogba should have done better on nine minutes when he raced clear in the box but could only find the side netting with a left-foot shot.

Seconds later the Whites went ahead. A Davies free-kick from deep on the left bypassed Chelsea's defence and afforded Dempsey time and space to take the ball on his chest and poke it into the unguarded net.

Drogba had another good chance on 18 minutes when he fired across Mark Schwarzer but inches wide from the right-hand side of the six-yard box.

Chelsea were forced in to two first-half changes, with Nicolas Anelka and Ricardo Carvalho on for injured pair Florent Malouda and Alex.

A neat Fulham counter attack could have seen them double their lead 10 minutes before half-time but Petr Cech was able to intercept Andrew Johnson's low cross before Bobby Zamora could pounce.

Johnson himself had a chance a minute later when he controlled John Pantsil's high ball from the right, but despite a good first touch he could only spoon the shot high and wide as he slipped off balance.

Anelka almost caught Schwarzer out with a long-range effort that bounced in front of the Australian but the ball rebounded off his chest and away to safety.

In the minutes before half-time, Chelsea bossed possession and went close through a Lampard screamer which was parried by Schwarzer.

Pantsil almost handed Drogba a goal when he mis-hit a clearance against his own chest, but the Ghana full-back got back in time to deny the Ivorian striker with a good block.

Fulham led into the break but Luiz Felipe Scolari's options were limited in that he had already used two of the three permitted replacements.

The Brazilian tactician had clearly fired up his players, as Chelsea came out with all guns blazing.

Branislav Ivanovic was desperately unlucky that his sweet volley was blocked by team-mate Anelka as it was headed for the back of the net.

Fulham's resistance broke soon afterwards and it was a defensive mix-up that handed Lampard his 10th league goal of the season.

A long ball over the top was flicked on by Drogba but Hughes seemed to have it covered until Schwarzer came rushing out and collided with Hughes.

The ball broke to Lampard running from deep and the England man rolled the ball in to the empty net for a 50th-minute equaliser.

The Blues were making most of the running but Fulham were dangerous on the counter attack.

Drogba fired over from close range after he muscled past Pantsil, Schwarzer was forced into a smart double save after Joe Cole shot from the edge of the box and Anelka lurked to finish the rebound, but Fulham went close themselves after Pantsil got forward to shoot just wide.

When Fulham went behind in the 73rd minute they again only had themselves to blame.

Johnson's raised foot on Deco gave Frank Lampard a 30-yard free-kick to drill low towards goal.

But it did not need the usual deflection to beat the culpable Schwarzer as the Cottagers' wall parted to allow his swerving low shot into the bottom right.

Fulham brought on Erik Nevland and Leon Andreasen in an attempt to grab an equaliser, and it came in the 90th minute when Dempsey was given the freedom of the box to power his header home.

Chelsea almost replied with an immediate winner but Drogba and Lampard were denied by Schwarzer and Pantsil.

The Whites held on for a point but drop to ninth after Wigan's win at Bolton.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 129 - 148 of 148

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  1. What are all you Chelsea liverpool and Untied­ supporters (?0 doing on this page....get over on to­ your own pages and leave this one clear for supporters­ of football - not supporters of trophy hunting­ megastores.

    From MICHAEL B, on Mon 29 Dec 7:01PM

  2. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER­ LEAGUE MATCHES

    From , on Mon 29 Dec 1:52PM

  3. Excellent display by Fulham, again getting points from­ the big four or five.

    From pfy1101, on Mon 29 Dec 11:42AM

  4. Chelsea - a stupid team that cant win... LOL....

    From Lee, on Mon 29 Dec 8:54AM

  5. please sell off anelka and buy a formidable­ striker,anelka is a useless striker..chelsea always win­ when drogba,malouda and belleti plays...Scolari please­ stop this your family selections and move to real­ business,...Bosingwa its time to go back to portugal!

    From FlirtiStarr6699, on Mon 29 Dec 8:15AM

  6. nezirhajdini, 139
    And who would you replace him with­ then. Come on, it's all too easy to just dismiss­ Scholari but what after that? I reckon that getting of­ my countryman Avram Grant was not the best move after­ all. But it's too late for regrets now.

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 29 Dec 8:13AM

  7. YES Liverpool to the END! No doubt about that. They­ have the quality to maintain the game all the way.­ After all it is a club with great history of which the­ current performance is a repeation of the same history.

    From Benedicto, on Mon 29 Dec 8:04AM

  8. Steven J 131
    Take a long look in the mirror­ Steven......a very long look......there are signs here­ of someone with a problematic complex.

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 29 Dec 7:59AM

  9. brian1or 128
    That is a fair comment here. I suppose if­ the opportunity arises to sell him, then any management­ board would jump at the chance.

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 29 Dec 7:55AM

  10. Steven J...low life....who looks like one with such a­ comment you have left there. Swearing is just another­ weakness on that Island of yours. Do us all a favour­ and switch off your PC and learn to compose proper­ sentences first....and more over, grow up.

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 29 Dec 7:51AM

  11. Steven J, not you again. I see you are totally wound­ up. Can't you see that you look even more idiotic­ by getting personal with people on here. Everyone is­ entitled to their opinion in the end so wind that neck­ in before your head gets the chop mate.

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 29 Dec 7:49AM

  12. sack scolari

    From nezir, on Mon 29 Dec 7:23AM

  13. First on the agenda is sack Scolari immediately. It is­ clear that none of the players want to play for him­ anymore.

    Deco must be sold by new year's­ day.

    Chelsea has players that can pass the ball in­ midfield but can't dribble at defenses without­ giving it away and worst of all can't finish in the­ final 3rd even if their life depended on it. The­ Chelsea defense has now become pathetic.

    Scolari's­ tactics of pushing the fullbacks up has been found out­ and is now a useless an ineffective.
    In fact, Chelsea­ have now become an embarrassment, period.

    Chelsea­ should only keep Cech, Carvalho, Terry, Mikel, Lampard,­ Essien, J.Cole.
    The rest of the squad don't care­ and are just collecting their money. They should be­ shown the door come January and Chelsea re-build with­ some good young players.

    From Jim V, on Mon 29 Dec 6:56AM

  14. unfortunate for the blues really. altough the first­ lampard goal was a bit lucky. the second was a rocket.­ but they were napping and cought a bit of the dempsey­ curse. man utd has a chance to pick up some major­ points vs borough tomorrow. and then beat chelsea at­ home. COME ON UNITED GO ON !

    From vintagesp33d, on Mon 29 Dec 6:33AM

  15. acquired performance always depreciate in the long run.­ Last season, the team (chelsea) was doing a bit better­ than this season. the secret is that in the last season­ the team spirit and performance built by the special­ one, Morinho, was not lost fully. So, the team was­ doing better not by skill of Grant, but of Morinho.­ This season, as time goes far the performance built by­ Morinho depreciates fully and Scolarie is not able to­ do anything new. So, don't expect the blues to do­ anything better this season unless Morinho is back to­ bridge.

    From bejerond, on Mon 29 Dec 6:09AM

  16. acquired performance always depreciate in the long run.­ Last season, the team (chelsea) was doing a bit better­ than this season. the secret is that in the last season­ the team spirit and performance built by the special­ one, Morinho, was not lost fully. So, the team was­ doing better not by skill of Grant, but of Morinho.­ This season, as time goes far the performance built by­ Morinho depreciates fully and Scolarie is not able to­ do anything new. So, don't expect the blues to do­ anything better this season unless Morinho is back to­ bridge.

    From bejerond, on Mon 29 Dec 6:09AM

  17. The World Champions sleeping keep your voice down,good­ luck blues

    From ksahdbkk, on Mon 29 Dec 5:41AM

  18. Chill out guys...the second half of the league season­ has just started. Liverpool at the top of the league­ now doesnt mean they are the league champion yet. By­ the way can anybody tell me which ship has never dock­ at the Liverpool port.

    From hisham n, on Mon 29 Dec 5:31AM

  19. @#$% scolari, @#$% dempsy,@#$% usa, chelsea will win­ nothing this year, iam getting so sick of chelsea , i­ wish jose come back,we miss the special one

    From monacomaville, on Mon 29 Dec 5:13AM

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    famous love hunting site,!!!!!!!![­ (((((********mixed loving .­ 【0m********))))))],We are all in need of­ love and care,seek someone to end the fear!

    From Bvus I, on Mon 29 Dec 4:46AM
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