Sunderland 2-3 Chelsea
Last Updated: Sun, 24 May 2009 18:19
Chelsea claimed all three points but Sunderland are safe after a thrilling second half which saw the Blues edge a five-goal haul.
The first half was an open affair and evenly contested but neither side could find a breakthrough. The closest effort of the half fell to Florent Malouda who saw his driven effort cannon back off the crossbar.
The second period of 45 was a completely different contest with Chelsea starting the brightest and forcing an early lead. Nicolas Anelka, looking to claim the Premier League's golden boot unleashed a rocket of a shot from 30 yards out on the 47th minute which Martin Fulop could not stop and the ball flew into the top corner.
Minutes later Kieran Richardson levelled the match up following a fumble from Petr Cech who dropped a Grant Leadbitter cross and Ricardson was on hand to tap in from seven yards.
Both teams kept pressing and on 74 minutes substitute Salomon Kalou put Chelsea back into the lead. Malouda played out a corner to Kalou on the edge of the box and the Ivorian smashed in a hammer of an effort from the edge of the area.
Ashley Cole then netted the Blues' third of the game, following up a Malouda volley to slide home from 18 yards on 86 minutes.
Sunderland didn't give up though and made for a nervy end to the game as the match drifted into injury time, a perfect delivery from Andy Reid fell onto the head of Kenwyne Jones who nodded in from six yards.
As it was though, the FA Cup finalists grabbed all three points but with results going their way, Sunderland stay up to fight in the Premier League next season.