Chelsea overcame the absence of a host of big names to come from
behind and beat local rival Fulham 2-1 away in yesterday's Premier
League lunchtime kickoff.
Chelsea's Michael Ballack
(R) celebrates with team mate Shaun Wright-Phillips after scoring a
goal during their English Premier League soccer match against
Fulham at Craven Cottage in London January 1, 2008.
Fulham, under new manager Roy Hodgson for the first time, led
with a 10th-minute Danny Murphy penalty but Chelsea leveled with a
54th-minute Salomon Kalou header and won the match with a Michael
Ballack penalty eight minutes later.
Chelsea remains third on 44 points, one behind Manchester
United, which was to play Birmingham City at Old Trafford later
yesterday, and three behind Arsenal, which hosts West Ham
United.
A year ago Chelsea drew with Aston Villa and Fulham over the
Christmas period to lose touch at the top. After its 4-4 home draw
with Villa on December 26 it looked like the situation might repeat
itself.
Fulham, which had won only two league games previously and began
the day second-last, went ahead from the spot after Moritz Volz was
tripped by Joe Cole and had little trouble keeping its local rivals
at bay.
All season Fulham has performed well in the first half and of
the 37 goals it has conceded, 30 have come in the second half.
So, it was no surprise that it again lost its way as halftime
Chelsea substitute John Obi Mikel injected some forward power for
Avram Grant's team.
Chelsea duly equalized in the 54th minute when Alex nodded a
deep corner back across goal for Kalou to head in from close
range.
It took the lead eight minutes later when Clint Dempsey held
back Ballack as he sought to reach a freekick and the German
dispatched the resulting penalty.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily January 2, 2008)
