Before the Premier League can draw its curtains on another fantastic season, one more round of games must be played. Chelsea face a Sunderland side at Stamford Bridge who are still not safe but look to have scraped survival after flirting with the relegation zone for parts of the season. There have been some controversial games between these two sides over the years, here are my five famous meetings:
Sunderland 1-2 Chelsea – 15th January 2006
In what was just Jose Mourinho’s second season in charge of the club, Chelsea visited the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland. All the pressure was on Chelsea, who were then Champions on a charge to retain their Premier League crown. The game did not start the way Jose Mourinho would have hoped, Liam Lawrence put Sunderland ahead through a low driven effort that flew past Petr Cech.
The controversy came when Chelsea finally managed to take the lead through Arjen Robben. Robben had scored to put Chelsea in front after Hernan Crespo equalised earlier in the game. In the heat of his excitement, Robben jumped into a group of ecstatic Chelsea fans. Only to be shown his second yellow card seconds after he had scored because of his leap into the supporters. The winger had been booked earlier in the game and Chelsea finished the game with ten men.
Sunderland 3-4 Chelsea – 4th December 2013
This free scoring game showcased the sublime talent of Eden Hazard. The Belgian scored two fantastic goals after Chelsea had gone a goal down through Jozy Altidore. Frank Lampard levelled with a close range header.
Chelsea failed to capitalise after Eden Hazard put the Blues back in front with John O’Shea later equalising to put the game back on level terms at 2-2. The game was a very open and attacking match, both teams had their fair share of attacks. Chelsea regained the lead through another excellent goal from Eden Hazard and later extended their lead through an own goal from Phil Bardsley.
Most fans felt the two goal lead would put the game to bed, right? No, Chelsea made it hard for themselves and a third Sunderland brought Gus Poyet’s side within a goals reach of the Blues. Chelsea ran out eventual winners, but had to endure a nervous finish.
Chelsea 7-2 Sunderland – 16th January 2010
Back in Chelsea’s title winning season under Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea faced a Sunderland side at Stamford Bridge shortly after the turn of the year. Chelsea named a strong starting XI to continue their push to the Premier League crown. Michael Ballack, Florent Malouda and Nicholas Anelka all started for Chelsea.
The game was a free scoring one and Chelsea found themselves winning 4-0 at half time. The goals continued into the second half as Sunderland failed to mount any serious come back. Former Chelsea player, Bolo Zenden made it on to the score sheet for Sunderland. Despite the consolation goal, second half goals from Ballack, Anelka and Lampard saw a rampant Chelsea side ease to a 7-2 victory.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea 17th December 2013
Another recent meeting between the two sides, this time however in the quarter final of the Capital One Cup. The two sides went head to head to set up a potential Semi-Final clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho fielded a weakened side at the Stadium of Light as he focused on an important league clash with Arsenal just days later. Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front after a dominant start from Chelsea. Mourinho had one foot in the Semi-final when Fabio Borini struck a late equaliser to send the game into extra time.
From here on in, Sunderland seized the advantage. The game was heading in only one direction as Sunderland put Chelsea under immense pressure. Despite dominating for large parts of the first 90 minutes, Chelsea were out played by Sunderland in extra time. On loan Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng goal the deserved winner to send Gus Poyet’s side through.
Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland – 19th April 2014
A game that will go down in the history of both Chelsea and Sunderland. With the end of the season looming ever closer, Sunderland were still not safe from the drop. Former Chelsea player, Gus Poyet attempting to save them from relegation.
A home victory was nothing short of the normality, especially after Samuel Eto’o had put Chelsea in front. Sunderland equalised through Connor Wickham as Chelsea failed to defend from Sunderland’s set piece. Jose Mourinho had never lost a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, until this day back in 2014. The fortress that Jose Mourinho had built at Stamford Bridge was shattered by a Fabio Borini penalty, a former Chelsea player.
A record that Jose Mourinho had held since he first arrived at Chelsea back in 2004, was broken just over a decade later. Sunderland went on to survive for another year in the Premier League. Jose Mourinho would later steal the show with his critical post-match comments regarding the referees.
