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Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea: Ballack Leads Second Half Blitz

Bent's opener had the home crowd rocking, but the Blues improved after the break to score three in the space of 18 minutes and take the points back home...

Aug 18, 2009 10:40:00 PM

EPL: Michael Ballack, Sunderland - Chelsea (PA)

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EPL: Michael Ballack, Sunderland - Chelsea (PA)

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Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea - Lineups/ Stats
Premier League Fixtures, Results

Chelsea made four changes to the side which beat Hull City on the opening Premier League weekend: Ricardo Carvalho, Jon Obi Mikel, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka made way for Branislav Ivanovic, Deco, Michael Ballack and Salomon Kalou. Meanwhile, Sunderland were without Steed Malbranque, bringing Jordan Henderson into the starting line-up.

Chelsea had previously made a meal of beating Hull and went looking for a strong start at the Stadium of Light. However, Darren Bent scored his second in two games since signing from Tottenham Hotspur after 18 minutes to give the Blues a fright.

The forward was in the right place to slot Kenwyne Jones's deflected shot past Petr Cech.

The visitors were guilty of over-egging the pudding in the midfield areas during the first half. They did have a couple of decent chances, including Ballack's shot over the bar from inside the area, but it was otherwise an underwhelming performance until late in the opening period.

Ballack again went close, seeing an effort cleared off the line, before Lee Cattermole blocked from Jose Bosingwa.

Bent Out Of Shape | The hosts took the lead

Carlo Ancelotti's men went into the dressing room on the back foot, but the Italian gaffer must have passed on some words of wisdom, revitalising his side and prompting an impressive second half response.

First, Ballack finally etched his name on the scoresheet seven minutes in, following a spell of pressure, when he drove home from eight yards out.

With the hour mark just passed and Chelsea gathering steam, Didier Drogba was dragged to the turf inside the area by George McCartney, allowing Frank Lampard to step up and convert the subsequent penalty.

With twenty minutes remaining the early-season points were just about in the bag. Deco, who of course was so impressive at the beginning of last season before falling out of favour, found the net via the post as he struck for goal powerfully, relying on very little back-lift.

Despite being deadly at the weekend, Drogba found himself missing a great chance, his downward header bouncing over the bar when he should perhaps have buried the Black Cats.

Interestingly, both newly-signed starlet Daniel Sturridge and previously exiled veteran Andriy Shevchenko came off the bench for a run-out as Ancelotti paraded his attacking depth towards the end of the contest.

Yet there was to be no more punishment for the hosts. Sunderland crash back to earth after winning their first game, while Chelsea have six points in the bag despite two at-times shaky performances.

Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com

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