Fulham hold a disappointing Chelsea

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    Chelsea’s Oriol Romeu (left) and Fulham’s Clint Dempsey (right) in action

    Fulham did well to come a goal back to hold a disappointing Chelsea who took the lead through Juan Mata before Clint Dempsey found the equaliser.

    It was a calm and collected start to the game as both teams focused on not giving the ball away. The first significant attack of the match saw Daniel Sturridge use his pace to get past, John Arne Riise. His cross from the right to the near post meets Fernando Torres but he sends the ball wide.

    On 15 minutes Orlando Sa had a good chance go begging as he received a deep cross from Stephen Kelly on the right. The forward does will to rise above Jose Bosingwa but his header goes over the face of goal.

    While on the other end, Juan Mata sent in a cross into the box which sees Torres chest it down but his volley goes straight at David Stockdale who does well to force a save.

    Just before the half hour mark Moussa Dembele shows good skill as he passes Oriol Romeu, only to unleash a low diagonal shot from 22-yards out but it whiskers just wide of the goal.

    Raul Meireles cut in and hit a left-footed shot from 25 yards but it flies wide of goal, while Danny Murphy failed to find a decent ball to meet Brian Ruiz.

    Just before the final whistle Sturridge unleashed a shot from 25 yards but his effort rolls wide.

    The restart saw an immediate turn of events as Mata put his team in the lead. Ashley Cole sent in a cross into the box which was laid off by Torres to Mata leaving the Spanish winger to strike the ball into the corner from 17-yards out.

    Chelsea’s early goal gave Fulham an extra spurt of life as they laid on the attack in order to pull one back. The Cottages only had to wait eight minutes before Clint Dempsey pulled one back for Fulham. Brian Ruiz made a good run into the box where he sent in a goal cross for the easiest of tap-ins for Dempsey.

    Minutes later, Chelsea had penalty appeals waved away as Torres’ run into the box was ended- just before he was about to line-up his shot- by contact from Dembele.

    Meanwhile, Stockdale was forced into making two brilliant double saves from a Sturridge curler and a Florent Malouda back heel, which saw the ‘keeper just able to stretch out his leg enough to tap the ball away.

    Danny Murphy’s ball finds Sa in the box but Chelsea was well focused as they denied the ball from reaching Ruiz.

    On 78, Raul Marieles did well to swivel and turn around his marker before unleashing a dangerous shot that went just wide of goal.

    Just before the 90, from a corner Drogba’s touch at the near post forces a good reaction save from Stockdale to see the match end par with one goal apiece.