Frank Lampard scored a stoppage time winner as Chelsea moved to second in the Premier League with a tough 2-1 win over Wigan, reports viewlondon.Chelsea captain John Terry had given them the lead with a thumping half-volley. Wigan took the game to Chelsea and got a deserved equaliser thanks to an Olivier Kapo goal. But Lampard grabbed the points for Chelsea with a late close-range finish.
Chelsea, who were looking to make it three wins in-a-row under new manager Guus Hiddink, handed a Premier League debut to rising star Michael Mancienne and once again went with an attacking line-up which included both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba.
But it was Wigan who made the surprisingly better start. Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot made a surging run into the Blues half which led to Amr Zaki having a shot which was deflected just wide.
Chelsea were slow to get started but they looked dangerous once they got into their stride. Drogba saw a low right-foot shot go just across the face of goal and Jon Obi Mikel also had a rasping 25-yard shot tipped over by Chris Kirkland.
Wigan then failed to clear a Lampard corner and Chelsea skipper Terry was on hand to volley in the ball, which took a slight deflection on route to goal.
Despite going a goal down, Wigan still had their fair share of possession and were almost back on terms as Titus Bramble had a header cleared off the line by Ashley Cole.
The chances continued to come at Stamford Bridge in a very open game. Lampard was close to doubling the lead for Chelsea as he tried to lift the ball over Kirkland, which the England keeper did well to save.
Chelsea thought they had doubled their lead when Drogba was put through by Lampard and the Ivorian put the ball past Kirkland, but Bramble was on hand to make an acrobatic clearance.
Chelsea then looked to be heading for another home draw as Maynor Figueroa burst down the wing and put in a low cross into the box which Kapo flicked a leg at and it went in.
But Chelsea were not to be denied as they grabbed the winner in stoppage time and unsurprisingly the goal came from their talisman Lampard. Chelsea took a free-kick from the halfway line which Ballack headed on into the path of Lampard and the midfielder made no mistake with a header which he lifted over the hapless Kirkland.
Posts
