Sunderland have stunned Chelsea to record a 2-1 victory after extra time in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals.
Chelsea looked to be closing in on a place in the last four when Frank Lampard bundled the ball home shortly after the start of the second half.
However, after Fabio Borini scored from inside the six-yard area with two minutes of normal time remaining, Ki Sung-Yueng fired home from 10 yards to earn the Black Cats a memorable victory.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Stadium of Light.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Capital One Cup clash between Sunderland and Chelsea.
Less than two weeks ago, these two teams took part in a seven-goal thriller at the Stadium of Light, with Chelsea edging out their hosts. Will we be fortunate enough to witness another entertaining encounter this evening?
The team news is in from the Stadium of Light. As expected, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has made plenty of changes ahead of their Premier League fixture with Arsenal next Monday.
SUNDERLAND XI: Mannone; Celustka, Dossena, O'Shea, Brown; Cattermole, Larsson, Gardner, Johnson, Giaccherini; Altidore.
CHELSEA XI: Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Cahill, David Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Lampard, De Bruyne, Willian, Schurrle; Eto’o
SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTES: Bardsley, Ki, Cabral, Roberge, Borini, Mavrias, Dixon
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Blackman, Terry, Essien, Oscar, Hazard, Ba, Torres
It had already been reported that Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole and Cesar Azpilicueta would return to Chelsea's starting lineup, but Mourinho has also included Kevin de Bruyne and Samuel Eto'o. Both players will be hoping to make their mark after both spending a spell on the sidelines due to lack of form and injury respectively.
As for Sunderland, they have made three changes from the team that started their goalless draw with West Ham United, with Andrea Dossena, Craig Gardner and Adam Johnson all coming into the side.
As I've already highlighted, Sunderland and Chelsea are no strangers to each other after their recent meeting on Wearside. Sunderland have improved under new head coach Gus Poyet, but they fell victim to a virtuoso performance from Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard as Chelsea won 4-3. The Belgian playmaker isn't in from the start tonight, but he could make an impact from the bench later on this evening.
Strangely, Sunderland have been drawn at home in each of their three previous fixtures in this competition, while Chelsea have been handed away ties, and that trend continues tonight.
Sunderland started off with an entertaining 4-2 success over MK Dons, before they ousted another League One outfit in the third round by edging out Peterborough United 2-0. The Black Cats faced Premier League opposition in the last 16, but they were able to overcome Southampton thanks to a late goal from Sebastian Larsson.
Chelsea entered the competition a round later than Sunderland, but they deserve their place in the quarter-finals after two victories on the road. Fernando Torres and Ramires got on the score sheet as the Blues won 2-0 at Swindon Town, before Mourinho guided his team to an identical success at Arsenal, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata scoring the goals.
PREDICTION! Since the arrival of Gus Poyet, Sunderland have proven that they can compete with the best teams in the Premier League, and I would expect no different this evening. However, despite Chelsea making eight changes, they still possess a remarkable amount of quality in the starting XI, and while Sunderland will no doubt have their moments, I expect Chelsea to come through by the odd goal. Chelsea 2-1.
You can also follow Manchester City's trip to Leicester City with Sports Mole this evening by clicking here.
Rather surprisingly, there doesn't appear to be many inside the Stadium of Light at the moment. I'd have expected a near capacity crowd for a game such at this.
The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch at the Stadium of Light. The home outfit get a warm reception but there are still plenty of empty seats.
Sunderland get us underway.
Chelsea start the game with a sustained spell of possession that has Sunderland chasing shadows. It appeaars as those the visitors might be prepared to play the patient approach tonight.
SHOT! Willian has had plenty of the ball so far, and his 30-yard ball to the left finds Schurrle. The German cuts inside onto his right foot, but his shot is straight at Mannone from 20 yards.
Chelsea get Willian on the ball once again, and the Brazilian twists and turns on the edge of the area before his low shot is well held by Mannone. This has been a good start from the Blues.
Sunderland surge down the left, but the move is brought to an end when Giaccherini's shot is blocked by Cahill. There are calls for handball, but the defender was only around two yards away from the ball.
SHOT! That's a tad ambitious even for someone of Frank Lampard's ability. The veteran had possession of the ball around 35 yards from goal, and his attempt was always rising high into the stands.
Sunderland have done well to slow down Chelsea's early dominance, but the home side are still struggling to get anywhere near Mark Schwarzer's goal. It could be a long night for Jozy Altidore in attack.
CHANCE! Schurrle leaves Brown on the deck after outmaneuvering the former Manchester United defender, but his cutback across the six-yard area evades everyone. Cole does his best to salvage the move at the back post, but the ball is cleared.
Samuel Eto'o has struggled to get into the game so far, but he does well to combine with Willian to get a shot on goal, but his driven effort is blocked. The Cameroonian could do with a goal tonight.
BOOKING! As cynical as you like from David Luiz. The Brazilian shoulder-blocks Giaccherini as the Italian looks to create an opening on goal, and it's a deserved yellow card.
BOOKING! Moments after Chelsea have a man booked, a Sunderland player enters the book. Andrea Dossena is the man who has been cautioned after bringing down Willian on the right touchline.
This has turned into a very scrappy encounter at the Stadium of Light. Neither side are getting into their stride, but the more that Chelsea struggle, the louder the home supporters are becoming.
Kevin de Bruyne can't be too far away from a booking. He's committed three or four fouls in the opening 35 minutes, and you get the impression that the referee is beginning to lose his patience with the Belgian.
SHOT! Sunderland lose possession, which gifts Willian an opportunity to break. The balls finds Lampard, but it is returned to the Brazilian, who fires narrowly wide of the far post.
SHOT! Chelsea are beginning to up the tempo in the final 10 minutes of the first half, and the Sunderland fans aren't impressed. Schurrle drives towards goal, but despite drifting inside his marker, he scuffs his shot wide of Mannone's post.
Adam Johnson goes on an incredible run from the centre of the pitch, but after dancing past three players, Chelsea clear. Just two minutes to go before the break, and I don't think that there will be much added-on time.
HALF TIME: Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
The half-time whistle goes at the Stadium of Light, and we are goalless at the break. It hasn't been the greatest of 45 minutes, and it can only get better in the second half.
Chelsea had eight shots on goal during that half, but only two were on target. However, it was a better effort than Sunderland, who managed just unsuccessful attempts before the break. The home side did have more of the ball though, with 53% of the possession.
Edin Dzeko netted a second goal for Manchester City shortly before the interval, so Manuel Pellegrini's side already have one foot in the next round with a 2-0 advantage over Leicester City.
Chelsea get us back underway on Wearside.
GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea (Lampard)
It doesn't exactly make up for his "goal" against Germany in the 2010 World Cup, but Frank Lampard is on the positive end of goal-line technology. The midfielder bundled the ball home at the back post from Azpilicueta's cross and although the assistant didn't flag, the referee rightly indicated that the ball was over the line.
CHANCE! That should be 2-0. Eto'o capitalised on a mistake in the Sunderland defence to move clear on goal, but he bent his low effort marginally wide of the post. Moments later, the Cameroonian had a second shot but it was deflected wide for a corner.
It's worth noting that Chelsea's opener could possibly have been an own goal by Lee Cattermole, who was playing close attention to Lampard. However, it would be harsh to take it off Lampard.
SHOT! Chelsea are pushing for a second at the Stadium of Light, but Mannone has just kept the home team in the game. Lampard played in De Bruyne down the right, and the Belgian's powerful strike was tipped wide by the Italian.
SHOT! Chelsea go close again. Schurrle does well down the right and his cross finds Eto'o. The Cameroonian lays the ball off to Lampard, who fires the ball inches over. Sunderland are getting camped in their own half.
SUBSTITUTION! Sunderland are bringing on Ki for Gardner. Gardner was questioning the technology shortly after the goal, so he probably deserves to be substituted just for that.
We have a streaker on the pitch at the Stadium of Light, who is giving the stewards the run around. It's drawing amusement from both coaches and the 20,000 inside the stadium. That will be a couple of minutes added to the end of the match.
SHOT! A sustained period of possession from the home side ends with Cattermole drilling a thunderous effort from 30 yards on goal, but it's an easy save for Schwarzer. That's the best that Sunderland have offered all evening.
SUBSTITUTION! Azpilicueta picked up an injury a few minutes ago, and he hasn't been able to recover. Michael Essien has been thrown on in the Spaniard's place.
De Bruyne is released down the right, but his low cross is sliced away for a corner by Wes Brown. Before it can be taken, Eto'o is replaced by Demba Ba.
SUBSTITUTION! The changes are coming thick and fast now. Sunderland's Adam Johnson has been withdrawn from the action, with former Chelsea man Fabio Borini being introduced in his place.
SHOT! Chelsea are beginning to increase the intensity again, and moments after seeing a shot deflected wide, Schurrle tricked his way past Cattermole before striking a solid effort on goal, but Mannone was equal to it.
EFFORT! That would have been some goal. David Luiz sent a 60-yard ball to Demba Ba, with the forward striking an audacious volley wide of Mannone's post. If he had connected properly with that, that would have been the goal of the month award wrapped up for December.
SUBSTITUTION! Mourinho introduces Eden Hazard for the final seven minutes of the match, unless Sunderland can force an extra 30 minutes.
Just two minutes to go at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland are having more possession, but they are yet to do anything with it.
GOAL! Sunderland 1-1 Chelsea (Borini)
If ever there was a commentator's curse...this was it. Sunderland net a surprise equaliser at the Stadium of Light through Borini, who reacted fastest after Schwarzer had parried an effort from Altidore. Unbelievable.
There will be five minutes of added-on time.
CHANCE! What a challenge from Gary Cahill! Fabio Borini looks ready to complete the most remarkable of turnarounds, but the England international dived in to prevent the ball finding the bottom corner.
FULL TIME: Sunderland 1-1 Chelsea
That's the end of 90 minutes at the Stadium of Light, but that's not it for tonight. We will now have 30 minutes of extra time, thanks to that late goal from Borini. Sunderland didn't quite deserve their equaliser, but they have made Chelsea pay for failing to make the most of their attempts on goal.
Jose Mourinho might be regretting making his final change now. He has no substitutions remaining, while Sunderland have one. That could prove vital.
Chelsea get the extra 30 minutes underway.
Chelsea begin the extra period on top, but De Bruyne can't find the top corner with a speculative effort from 30 yards. The Belgian hasn't played much football recently, so it will be a big ask of his fitness to come through the next half hour.
CHANCE! Chelsea are bombarding Sunderland's goal, but they can't regain the lead. Moments after Wes Brown makes a fine interception to deny Ba from heading home, David Luiz got in front of his marker to force Mannone into a sprawling save from his volley.
Wes Brown is having an absolute stormer in the centre of Sunderland's defence. Willian does brilliantly to get in down the left, but Brown lunges in to prevent his cross being converted into the net.
CHANCE! Now it's Sunderland's turn to go close! Some fine work from Giaccherini enables a cross to be floated to the back post for Borini, but the attacker miscued his volley and the ball trickled wide.
Both teams seem content to let the action drift until the interval. It's been a fast pace since the restart, and it's starting to take its toll.
HALF TIME: Sunderland 1-1 Chelsea
Sunderland get the action restarted. We have 15 minutes remaining at the Stadium of Light.
The home side earn an early corner after forcing Ashley Cole to put the ball behind, and Demba Ba does fantastically to nick the ball away from the awaiting head of O'Shea.
SHOT! Lampard and Ba link up well to create an opening for De Bruyne, but he drags his 20-yard shot just wide of the right post.
BOOKING! Essien brings down Giaccherini on the edge of the penalty area as the Italian winger threatened to burst into the box.
OFF THE LINE! Larsson's free kick is only cleared to Ki, whose effort is diverted on goal by Altidore, but Essien makes an excellent intervention on the line to prevent the home side taking the lead.
SAVE! How old is Mark Schwarzer? 41? He didn't look it then. The Australian stopper has just made a miraculous one-handed save to deny Ki, who was waiting for his header to find the top corner of the net. This period of extra time has been brilliant.
GOAL! Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea (Ki)
Oh my. Sunderland look to have won it in the closing stages at the Stadium of Light. Borini collected the ball in the penalty area before playing the ball to Ki. The South Korean cut inside Essien, before drilling a shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
That's the end of proceedings at the Stadium of Light, and Sunderland have stunned Chelsea to progress through to the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.
For 88 minutes of this match, Chelsea were fully deserving of their lead, but late goals in normal time and extra time have seen them dumped out of the competition. Jose Mourinho will not be impressed.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening, and we will be back tomorrow for the remaining two quarter-finals. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
