Cole nets late winner for Chelsea

Chelsea 1 Stoke City 0

Ashley Cole netted an 85th-minute winner to give Chelsea a hard-earned victory at Stamford Bridge.

Cole was on hand to finish from close range after Juan Mata delightfully flicked Branislav Ivanovic’s low cross into the England left-back’s path.

For all the home side’s possession up to that point, it was Stoke that came closest to breaking the deadlock, with Jon Walters heading Glenn Whelan’s 19th-minute free-kick against the bar.

Fernando Torres missed Chelsea’s best chance of the first half when Mata’s clever chip into the box left him with just keeper Asmir Begovic to beat, only for the striker to chest the ball down and then fail to connect with his shot.

Oscar, booked for diving after going down under a challenge from Ryan Shawcross, had a low shot saved by Begovic early in the second half before the below-par Eden Hazard missed a decent chance when he sliced an effort wide.

Hazard was replaced just after the hour mark, with Victor Moses coming on for his home debut.

Moses made an immediate impact, skipping away from Marc Wilson and picking out Oscar, whose deflected shot was saved at the near post by Begovic.

Stoke, who brought Michael Owen off the bench, threatened at times – not least when Matthew Etherington fired wide after being found by fellow substitute Kenwyne Jones, who then had a far-post header saved by Petr Cech.

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo opted to rotate his squad, naming John Terry and Frank Lampard among the substitutes with Ramires partnering John Obi Mikel in midfield and Gary Cahill coming in at centre-back alongside David Luiz.

Lampard was brought on for the final nine minutes, while Terry was introduced in order to protect the lead following Cole’s late breakthrough.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Mikel (Lampard 81), Ramires; Mata (Terry 88), Oscar, Hazard (Moses 61); Torres.
Subs not used: Romeu, Azpilicueta, Bertrand, Turnbull.

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