Luis Boa Morte rescued a valuable point to nudge Fulham closer to guaranteed
Premiership survival and put a dent in Chelsea's Champions League hopes.
Alain Goma's own goal gave Chelsea a deserved half-time lead in the west
London derby as he helped the ball into his own net after 37 minutes.
But Boa Morte scored a stunning solo effort when he breezed past Marcel
Desailly and fired home an angled drive after 66 minutes.
Emmanuel Petit made a crunching fourth-minute tackle on Sean Davis and referee
David Elleray showed who was boss by handing out the first booking.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink almost gave the home side the lead in the ninth minute
when he timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and meet Zola's pass
from the right flank. The Dutch striker nipped round Taylor but his shot was
blocked on the line by a combination of Steve Finnan and Andy Melville who
conceded the corner.
The ball was played short to Hasselbaink on the right and he drove the ball
dangerously across the face of the goal, but to Fulham's relief nobody could
apply the finishing touch.
Lampard looked to have won his side a 22nd-minute penalty as he went flying
under the challenge of Davis, but Elleray awarded a corner instead.
Fulham suddenly came to life as they worked the ball to Lee Clark down the
right. His low cross was almost turned in by Hammond as Chelsea's defence looked
exposed for the first time.
The ball was cleared only as far as Davis and he hit a 20 yard drive which
flew narrowly over Carlo Cudicini's crossbar.
Gianfranco Zola carved out another chance for Hasselbaink after 31 minutes
with a cross from the left, and the striker's header sailed over the bar from
six yards.
But Chelsea's pressure finally paid off when they took the lead on 37 minutes
after winning a free kick for Malbranque's foul on Le Saux down the left.
Zola's curling cross struck the bar and rebounded to Terry at the far post. He
nudged the ball forward with his chest and it struck the arm of Goma before
bouncing over the line for an own goal.
Fulham tried to respond and the lively Davis got past Desailly after 41
minutes, but he was stretching as his outstretched leg made the shot and
Cudicini pounced on the ball.
There was more bad luck for Fulham as Boa Morte showed his frustration
following a challenge by Petit and was booked for dissent a minute later.
Five minutes into the second half Lampard did well again as he fed Le Saux on
the left and his cross into the box was met by Hasselbaink's powerful header.
But Taylor dived to his right to keep the ball out and his side in the game.
Zola fed Hasselbaink on the left and his low cross was met by William Gallas
who came up from defence and slid in on the ball. Taylor again made an important
stop, but the loose ball fell for Lampard who could only scoop it against the
bar from point blank range.
Gronkjaer was in hot water for a late tackle on Davis after 58 minutes and was
booked - just as he was walking off to be replaced by Gudjohnsen for his 150th
English league appearance.
Gudjohnsen took up a central striking role alongside Hasselbaink with Zola
tucked in behind the two, a sign that Ranieri wanted to finish off his team's
dogged opponents.
But it was Fulham who found a second wind as they broke from defence and
scored a super equaliser courtesy of Boa Morte's stunning effort after 66
minutes.
The ball was worked to him by Clark and Davis on the right edge of the box and
he waltzed past Desailly before cutting back and drilling a shot inside the far
post to silence the home fans.
Jody Morris should have been watching this game from the stands, but after 76
minutes he found himself introduced to the action.
The midfielder was called on to the bench after Zenden was injured in the
warm-up, and he came on to replace De Lucas. It was a double switch as Melchiot
replaced Gallas.
As play restarted Zola let fly from 25 yars with a shot which Taylor had to
tip over his bar. The goalkeeper was soon punching clear a corner as Chelsea
kept up the pressure.
Chelsea were almost undone by their former defender Jon Harley with eight
minutes remaining. He got the better of Desailly and drilled in a low cross
which Le Saux scrambled away.
Coleman introduced fresh legs a minute later as Boa Morte and Malbranque were
replaced by Barry Hayles and John Collins.
Collins almost snatched all three points in injury time with a curling effort
which shaved the bar, and then Gudjohnsen raced upfield and sent his effort
narrowly wide.
Teams
Chelsea: Cudicini, Gallas (Melchiot 72), Desailly, Terry,
Le Saux, De Lucas (Morris 72), Lampard, Petit,
Gronkjaer (Gudjohnsen 59), Zola, Hasselbaink.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Cole.
Booked: Petit, Gronkjaer, Terry.
Goals: Goma 39 og.
Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Harley,
Malbranque (Hayles 83), Clark, Davis, Legwinski, Hammond,
Boa Morte (John Collins 83).
Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Sava, Knight.
Booked: Boa Morte, Clark.
Goals: Boa Morte 66.
Att: 40,792
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook