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Chris Ison
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Chelsea v Sunderland, Premier League

Chelsea took on Sunderland, as they sought to maintain their title bid.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland 

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

We’ll have the team news for you in a moment.

Here are the teams…

CHELSEA: Schwarzer; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Salah; Eto’o. Subs: Hilario, David Luiz, Mikel, Lampard, Torres, Schurrle, Ba.

SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Vergini, Alonso, Brown, O’Shea (c), Cattermole, Colback, Larsson, Johnson, Borini, Wickham. Subs: Celustka, Altidore, Ba, Giaccherini, Scocco, Mavrias, Ustari.

We’re underway…

Conor Wickham holds the ball up well, and Borini flashes a pot shot wide.

Wickham caused City problems during the week, and he could do the same to Chelsea today.

SW

Sunderland are defending very deep at the moment, with Chelsea enjoying 69% of the possession so far.

This could be a long day for Gus Poyet’s side.

GOAL FOR CHELSEA!

Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland: It’s a simple goal, as Eto’o side-foots in from a corner despite the attentions of the Sunderland marker (10 mins).

That’s the striker’s 12th of the season.

GOAL FOR SUNDERLAND!

Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland: Schwarzer can only parry an Alonso pot shot from the edge of the box into the path of Wickham, who gratefully converts (16 mins).

Game on!

Chelsea undoubtedly missed Cech there, as Schwarzer should have done better.

It’s the first goal the Londoners have conceded in over 14 hours of football — Man United’s Javier Hernandez was the last man to score for an opposition side at Stamford Bridge.

John O’Shea is walking rather gingerly at the moment.

The Irish defender may have to come off.

Here are the two goals so far…

 

Oscar has just curled a free-kick straight into the arms of Mannone.

Half an hour played, could Sunderland harm the title hopes of a top team for the second game in succession?

Opta Joe

Some more poor marking by Sunderland from a corner leads to Mannone having to touch an Ivanovic header onto the bar.

Both sides have looked vulnerable from corners at times.

Mannone is forced to make an excellent double save, initially from a strong Matic shot, as Chelsea go close again.

Shortly thereafter, Larsson has to make a goal-saving challenge to stop Ramires from scoring into an empty net, after Mannone fails to properly collect what looked an easy enough cross to deal with.

Terry has just made a bad mistake to allow Adam Johnson in on goal, but the winger fails to capitalise, dwelling on the ball and allowing the defender to get back and make a recovery tackle.

Chelsea have looked surprising nervy at the back so far.

HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-1 SUNDERLAND

It’s been a very entertaining first-half to watch, though it’s unlikely either side’s fans will have enjoyed watching this nerve-ridden affair.

Both goalkeepers have looked shaky, and Schwarzer in particular will feel he should have done better for the Sunderland goal.

Chelsea have dominated possession-wise, without looking especially convincing in attack — that said, they have gone close on a couple of occasions and will probably feel they deserve to be ahead.

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Chelsea v Sunderland - Stamford Bridge Chris Ison Chris Ison

Sunderland’s Connor Wickham (second right) scores.

Amid all the chaos towards the end of the first-half, Ramires ill-advisedly slapped Larsson and the referee seemed to ignore it.

The Brazilian international is lucky to be still on the field after that impetuous act.

MD

The second half has begun…

Willian bursts forward on the counter-attack and plays it to Eto’o, and the striker hits a first-time shot narrowly wide.

Bright start to the second half for Chelsea.

Ramires’ shot is deflected out for a corner, as Chelsea continue to pressurise the Sunderland area early on.

The ensuing corner is headed out innocuously for a goal kick.

Sunderland are defending very well at the moment and Chelsea are finding it very difficult to break them down.

It’s hard to see the visitors being able to keep this up for 90 minutes though.

Somewhat inevitably, Lee Cattermole has just been booked.

The midfielder cynically drags back Oscar, as the Brazilian bursts towards goal.

Demba Ba has replaced Oscar, as Chelsea look like they’ll go two up-front.

Just under an hour has been played.

Mannone has already made a few good saves.

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Chelsea v Sunderland - Stamford Bridge Chris Ison Chris Ison

Ba and Willian continue to link up cleverly. The midfielder eventually crosses to the ex-Newcastle man, but he can’t quite connect with the ball and his shot goes well wide.

Meanwhile, there’s been some substitutions, as Giaccherini takes the place of Johnson, Altidore has replaced Wickham and Schurrle comes on for Salah.

Mannone is down after taking an awkward fall following a challenge by Ba.

That looks a bad injury for the Sunderland goalkeeper.

Torres has replaced Eto’o in Chelsea’s attack.

The Londoners are starting to get a bit desperate with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Sunderland now have a corner.

Liverpool and City fans must be enjoying this.

Torres attempts an ambitious bicycle kick after a hopeful cross is only half cleared, but his attempt goes well over.

Chelsea aren’t exactly knocking at the door at the moment, and don’t look especially threatening going forward.

PENALTY TO SUNDERLAND!

GOAL FOR SUNDERLAND!

Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea: Azpilicueta gives the ball away and then fouls Altidore in the box.

Borini then hits the ensuing penalty straight down the middle to give Sunderland an improbable lead (81 mins). 

Incredible stuff!

Neville

JW

There was fury on the Chelsea bench after that goal.

h/t @James_Dart

There will be five minutes of stoppage time.

Chelsea still don’t really look like scoring.

Here’s the goal.

FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 1-2 SUNDERLAND

Chelsea have lost at home for the first time ever in the league in all of Jose Mourinho’s time in charge (that’s his first loss in 77 matches, to be exact).

And more importantly, Liverpool now appear to have one hand on the title.

Right, that’s all from me for now, but we’ll have more reaction to come on what has been an incredible result.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Luis Suarez chats to Paul McCartney about Liverpool, culture and Uruguay’s World Cup hopes>

SNAPSHOT: Striker celebrates breaking scoring record by… breaking a vinyl record>

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