Chelsea humiliated by Bradford in FA Cup

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Chelsea 2 Bradford City 4

Chelsea were sent tumbling out of the FA Cup in sensational style as League One Bradford scored three times in the final 15 minutes to humble Jose Mourinho’s side.

Gary Cahill’s cute flick from a corner and Ramires’ lung-busting run and finish had put the Blues 2-0 up after 38 minutes.

But Jon Stead smashed home before the break and Bradford’s thorough examination of the Chelsea rearguard in the second half paid off when ex-Blues trainee Filipe Morais drilled home an equaliser.

With eight minutes to play, Andy Halliday latched on to Stead’s lay-off to fire into the top corner, and deep into injury time substitute Mark Yeates completed one of the biggest shocks in recent FA Cup history.

Before the game, Mourinho had said it would be a “disgrace” if his side lost – but he was left to rue his words after a brilliant performance from Bradford.

Mourinho made nine changes, handing a home debut to Andreas Christensen and giving Kurt Zouma, Mohamed Salah and Loic Remy chances to impress.

But it was one of the old guard who showed his class, as Petr Cech produced a world-class one-handed save to keep out Andrew Davies’ bullet header.

Chelsea went in front midway through the first half as Cahill stole in at the near post to turn home Oscar’s corner, with a turn of the boot reminiscent of Gianfranco Zola’s famous FA Cup special against Norwich.

Mourinho’s men doubled the lead thanks to the energetic Ramires, who won the ball from Morais on the halfway line, exchanged passes with Salah and slipped the ball home off the inside of the post.

But Stead reduced the arrears a few minutes later as Chelsea failed to clear a free-kick and the former Blackburn and Ipswich man beat Cech with a fierce drive.

And in the second half, the Bantams produced one of the most impressive displays by an opposition side ever witnessed at Stamford Bridge in the Mourinho era.

They pinned Chelsea back throughout, with Cech saving from James Hanson and Morais in quick succession.

Salah went close with a curling effort that just missed the post but Bradford got the equaliser their play merited on 75 minutes.

Chelsea struggled to deal with a long throw and although Cech blocked from Billy Knott, Morais slotted home the loose ball.

Then bedlam broke out in the Shed End, housing 6,000 jubilant and noisy Bradford fans, as Halliday found the top corner from the edge of the box to put City on the verge of a famous win.

Didier Drogba nodded over from close range and Bradford’s defence stood firm despite seven minutes of injury time, with Yeates wrapping up a memorable result for the Yorkshire club after more good work by the tireless Stead.

Chelsea: Cech; Christensen, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Mikel (Fabregas 71), Ramires; Remy (Hazard 76), Oscar, Salah (Willian 70); Drogba.
Subs not used: Courtois, Terry, Ake, Loftus-Cheek.

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