Chelsea rescued by Hazard’s late penalty
Chelsea 2 West Brom 2
Eden Hazard scored a controversial last-gasp penalty as Chelsea rescued a point and denied West Brom a stunning victory.
The Blues looked set to lose their first home Premier League match in 66 under boss Jose Mourinho as Albion responded to Samuel Eto’s first-half opener to lead going into the final minute of injury time.
But Hazard, who returned to the side having been dropped for disciplinary reasons in midweek, coolly stroked home his 94th-minute spot-kick.
Chelsea legend Steve Clarke so nearly masterminded a famous win for the Baggies.
Chelsea posed little threat for 44 minutes as Albion boss Clarke’s plan to frustrate worked a treat.
Hazard saw plenty of the ball as Chelsea dominated possession, but they struggled to create space and chances and Mourinho became increasingly frustrated as the half wore on.
Oscar was the main attacking threat with his relentless running from midfield, and he almost scored with a fine free-kick that Boaz Myhill tipped over the bar.
However, it was Eto’o who broke the deadlock with less than a minute until the interval.
Hazard cut in from the left and when his low shot was well saved by Myhill, Liam Ridgewell hesitated and Eto’o pounced to net from close range.
Chelsea failed to capitalise though and the Baggies began to get on top.
Shane Long hit the outside of the post with a header but the warning was not heeded and the striker headed home from close range on 61 minutes.
And Stephane Sessegnon stunned Stamford Bridge to put the visitors ahead at the break when his tame low shot surprisingly beat Petr Cech.
Chelsea, who complained bitterly about a foul on Branislav Ivanovic in the build-up to the second goal, suddenly found some serious urgency to their play and with Juan Mata on as a substitute they began to create chances.
Ivanovic had a strike well saved, Mata went close and Willian headed wastefuly over.
And with seconds left, Ramires was adjudged to have been fouled by Steven Reid – prompting angry protests from Albion – and Hazard converted from the spot.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Azpilicueta (Mikel, 73), Terry, Cahill; Lampard (Ba, 64) Ramires; Oscar (Mata, 73), Willian, Hazard; Eto’o.
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cole, Luiz, Mata, Mikel, De Bruyne, Ba.
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09/11/2013 @ 6:11 pm
It’s ridiculous .
Mourinho is the “Over-clocking Manager”. He wants to win with extra effort and motivation of his players, and those techniques fail from time to time, and sometimes burn the components.!!!
What about good football techniques???
Doesn’t the manager win games with good strategies besides mediocre players??
Doesn’t the poor selections and changes count??
I told several times
Terry and Lampard friendship is going to pass the bill to Mourinho.
Some of genius and some of inexpert, He is blinded by
the fortune of last minute wins as with City and cant see the same
errors are repeating again and again.
With Newcastle Mourinho replaced everyone in the front and still don’t have a clue that the
problems are in the back with his two static friends.
Ay!
Mourinho……Ay! Mourinho….