Chelsea battle back to beat Southampton

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Chelsea 3 Southampton 1

A blistering second-half comeback by Chelsea saw them clinch a deserved victory at Stamford Bridge.

Michael Essien’s bizarre error led to Jay Rodriguez scoring for in-form Southampton after only 13 seconds.

But Gary Cahill levelled from close range nine minutes into the second half, before the recalled Juan Mata crossed for skipper John Terry to head home.

Substitute Demba Ba added a last-minute third after being picked out by Ramires.

Jose Mourinho’s side, now second in the table, recovered after Essien’s moment of madness.

Juan Mata of Chelsea
Mata was recalled to the team.

The midfielder, making his first league start of the season, inexplicably lobbed the ball towards his own goal and over Cahill, enabling Rodriguez to nip in and shoot past an exposed Petr Cech.

Southampton, enjoying the club’s best start to a Premier League season, had won all six previous league games in which they had opened the scoring this term.

However, they were undone by two goals in the space of seven minutes.

After going behind, Chelsea pressed for an equaliser but Artur Boruc keep out Oscar’s header from an excellent right-wing cross by Fernando Torres, who also had a header saved by the Saints keeper.

Boruc’s 41st-minute save from Oscar was the Brazilian’s final contribution. He then went off with a knock and Frank Lampard was sent on by boss Mourinho, who then replaced Essien with Ba at half-time.

Ba was involved in the equaliser, which came after Lampard’s free-kick was tipped over by Boruc.

The resulting corner from Mata was met by the head of Branislav Ivanovic and after Ba poked the ball against the post, Cahill was able to nod over the line.

Worse followed for the visitors when Boruc went off with what looked like a hand injury and was replaced by Paulo Gazzaniga, who was soon picking the ball out of his net.

Mata served up a perfect delivery from the left and Terry, making his 400th Premier League appearance, sent a firm header into the far corner.

More good work on the left, this time by Ramires, led to the third.

Dejan Lovren switched off as the ball came into the area and the alert Ba got in front of him to score.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Essien (Ba 45), Ramires; Mata, Oscar (Lampard 42), Hazard; Torres (Mikel 84).
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cole, Schurrle, Willian.

 

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