Chelsea Fights Back Again to Move Atop English Premier League

Source: Dan Baynes (Bloomberg)

Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Chelsea came back from a goal down to win for the second time in four days and move atop English soccer’s Premier League.

Second-half goals from Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Deco last night canceled out Darren Bent’s 18th-minute strike for Sunderland as the Blues won 3-1 at the Stadium of Light.

Chelsea, seeking its first Premier League title since 2006, also fought back to defeat Hull City 2-1 on the opening day and came from behind to beat Manchester United on penalties in the Community Shield, the annual season curtain-raiser.

“You have to maintain control of the game and we have done that in those three matches,” Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said in an interview with the BBC. “Even when we were behind, we were in control.”

Ballack started the latest rally seven minutes after halftime when he converted Lampard’s corner from close range. Bent had earlier put the home side ahead when he beat Petr Cech after Kenwyne Jones’s shot had been blocked.

Lampard added Chelsea’s second from the penalty spot in the 61st minute after Didier Drogba was tripped, lifting his tally to 132 goals for Chelsea to tie Jimmy Greaves in fifth place on the all-time list.

Deco sealed the win with 20 minutes remaining with a right- foot shot from the edge of the penalty area that went in off the inside of the goalpost.

“We tried our utmost, gave everything we could give, but in the end we just couldn’t cope with Chelsea,” Sunderland manager Steve Bruce told the BBC. “That is what we aspire to.”

In last night’s other Premier League match, newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers won 1-0 at Wigan to rebound from an opening-day home loss to West Ham. Wigan began the campaign with a 2-0 win at Aston Villa, which finished sixth last season.

Andy Keogh’s sixth-minute header sealed the victory for Wolves, who failed to win a single match away from home when they last competed in the top flight in 2003-04.

Manchester United continues its title defense tonight at Burnley, while last season’s runner-up Liverpool hosts Stoke City. Portsmouth visits Birmingham and Hull hosts Tottenham.