It was a game of ping pong at the Stadium of Light yesterday as the momentum changed many times during the course of the game. Chelsea were cruising in the first few minutes and should have wrapped the game in the first half itself. It should have been 3-0 to the visitors in the first half, that was how dominant Chelsea were. But as it has been a regular story this campaign, the blues allowed Sunderland to crawl back into the game and the players fighting for survival showed incredible character to make a comeback and win the all important game 3-2.
Diego Costa got the perfect start with a cool finish but Wahab Khazri equalised with a stunner of a volley. Matic restored the leaf before two goals in three minutes from Fabio Borini and Jermaine Defoe caused pandemonium at the stadium. A victory was essential for the black cats to stay up and Allardyce’s MSN responded in style. Let’s take a look at the four talking points from the game :
1. John Terry’s red card :
Terry might have played his last game for Chelsea after getting a second yellow card in the dying minutes of the game. He will be suspended for the trip to Liverpool and Leicester’s visit and this could have been the last time that the fans got to see the Legend in a blue shirt. It is rumoured that Terry will look to join the MLS but there might be a possibility that Conte will think otherwise and offer him a new one year deal.
2. Gary Cahill’s dismal performance :
Cahill got a yellow card after just 44 seconds into the game and if it wasn’t for Terry backing up, Cahill could have been sent off in the first minute. He has been out of sorts lately and needs some time on the bench to get his head clear and perform like he is used to.
3. Diego Costa is getting back his touch :
Though he is mostly associated with his antics not at all related to his football, Costa can play really well on his day. The mercurial striker has 16 goals this campaign which has been a season to forget to all those related to the club and with his goal against the black cats, Costa proved that he is a fine striker who can be a real menace to the defense.
4. The great escape is on :
Sunderland have been in the bottom three for the most of the season but now they are just one win away from a heroic escape. Defoe has been a saviour and without his 15 League goals, Sunderland would have been relegated in March. Allardyce had called on for a team performance and he got the perfect response from the team and Sunderland look set to avoid the drop at the expense of their bitter rivals.