Sunderland have moved out of the bottom three in the Premier League after scoring twice in three minutes to record a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over 10-man Chelsea at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.
Diego Costa gave Chelsea the lead within a quarter of an hour, and Wahbi Khazri's 41st-minute equaliser for Sunderland was cancelled out by Nemanja Matic on the stroke of half time.
The Black Cats responded once again in the second half as Fabio Borini squared the game at 2-2 just a couple of minutes before Jermain Defoe scored a crucial winner.
Matters went from bad to worse for Chelsea when John Terry was sent off in stoppage time following a second yellow card for bringing down Khazri.
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Sam Allardyce's men are now out of the relegation zone, one point above Newcastle United with two games left to play.
After a bright start, Sunderland soon became under the cosh as Chelsea ramped up the tempo and put pressure on the Black Cats' defence.
Cesar Azpilicueta appealed half-heartedly for a penalty in the seventh minute after he went to ground following a challenge from DeAndre Yedlin, but referee Mike Jones rightfully waved away the Spaniard's claims.
The first real opportunity of the match came on the 10-minute mark when Azpilicueta linked up well with Eden Hazard, who raced down the left wing before charging into the box and squaring the ball to Willian.
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The Brazilian unleashed a low shot, but it was comfortable in the end for goalkeeper Vito Mannone, who dropped down to deny Willian's strike from nestling into the net.
Chelsea's dominance paid off when Cahill's pass, which got a deflection on the way, dropped in front of Costa, who slotted the ball home six yards out from a tight angle.
Sunderland were under pressure for the majority of the first half, but they managed to create a handful of chances, one of which resulted in Defoe's offside header clattering off the post.
Borini also had a good opportunity when the ball was slipped through to him by Lee Cattermole, but the former Liverpool forward could not get a shot away after being swarmed by Chelsea defenders.
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Thibaut Courtois was called upon to make a save when Defoe's cross found the head of Yedlin, who took aim at goal, but the Chelsea shot-stopper had it covered.
At the other end, Costa missed an opportunity to add another when he failed to reach Branislav Ivanovic's pass, which fizzed across the face of goal.
Minutes later, Sunderland equalised with a stunning volley from Khazri, who sent the ball into the far corner of the net after Cahill's clearance dropped kindly for the scorer.
The sides looked to be ending the first half on equal terms, but the hosts were dealt a blow when the defence failed to clear their lines, and Patrick van Aanholt played Matic onside when the midfielder drilled the ball into the back of the net to regain Chelsea's lead.
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After the break, Sunderland tried to respond immediately when Yedlin delivered a teasing ball across the six-yard box, but Defoe could not reach it to send it in at the back post.
Mannone made a crucial save a few minutes later when Costa was played through on goal, and the Sunderland keeper managed to block the shot.
Cattermole was fortunate not to have seen a straight red card after lunging in on Hazard's ankle, which required treatment from Chelsea's medical staff, but he was given the green light to carry on.
Chelsea found their stride once again and came close to extending their lead when build-up play on the edge of the box ended with Costa on the ball.
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The Spain international delayed his shot from 12 yards out, giving Mannone time to assess the situation, and when the forward struck, the keeper was able to make a block.
Inside three minutes, Sunderland went from behind to leading thanks to goals from Borini, whose shot deflected off Terry before nestling into the back of the net, and Defoe, who scored his 15th league goal of the season by smashing it home from the middle of the penalty area.
Willian came close to responding immediately for Chelsea by getting a free kick on target, but Mannone got fingertips on the ball to push it over the bar.
It was a nervy finish for Sunderland as Chelsea looked threatening every time they moved forward, but the Black Cats were able to see the game out for victory.
As well as a defeat, Chelsea lost their captain in the fourth minute of stoppage time after he was sent off for a foul on Khazri, meaning that the defender will miss next week's game against Liverpool.
Danielle Joynson
