Malouda´s last-gasp winner caps Chelsea fightback

Chelsea maintained their 100 percent start to the Premier League campaign as Florent Malouda’s stoppage time strike sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory at Stoke on Saturday.

Abdoulaye Faye had given Stoke a shock lead in the first half after a mistake by Petr Cech, but Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba levelled for Carlo Ancelotti’s team just before the break.

Then in the dying moments, France winger Malouda struck to clinch Chelsea’s fifth successive win.

Ancelotti danced a jig of delight on the touchline and maybe breathed a sigh of relief that his decision to make several changes didn’t backfire.

Stoke should have known it wasn’t to be their day from the moment striker James Beattie was forced off through injury in the early stages.

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic had gifted Beattie a chance on goal after failing to take a ball out of the air with his chest. Beattie pounced on the opportunity yet as he drilled wide from the edge of the area, he fell to the floor.

On closer inspection it became clear he had twisted his right ankle on landing, and was immediately replaced by Ricardo Fuller.

At a time when Chelsea feel as though the entire football world is against them after the transfer ban that could stop them signing players for two years, they had further complaint on 17 minutes.

Rory Delap measured up one of his long throw-ins, and as he released the ball Salomon Kalou jumped in front of him to make a block.

Referee Mike Dean did not hesitate in showing the Ivorian a yellow card, claiming he was not far enough back from Delap as he made contact. Yet Chelsea were enraged, with John Terry leading their protests towards the official.

On 31 minutes Stoke went ahead when Glenn Whelan floated a seemingly harmless left footed cross towards the penalty spot, where Faye was unmarked and looped a header over Cech, who was off his line and completely out of position.

It was an uncharacteristic mistake by Cech, and one which would really test the togetherness of this Chelsea side.

There was another injury blow for Stoke on 40 minutes when goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had to be replaced by Steve Simonsen after picking up an injury.

Eight minutes injury time were then added, and Drogba produced a moment of brilliance four minutes into that period to bring the scores level before the break.

He had barely been given an inch of space all afternoon by Faye, but spun the defender on the outside after a neat pass from Frank Lampard and drilled a first time shot left footed into Simonsen’s far corner.

In the second half Stoke started brightly as Dave Kitson threatened with a close range header.

Set-pieces were causing particular danger for Chelsea and Robert Huth should have put the home side in front on 61 minutes but headed over from eight yards following a Whelan corner.

Chelsea then decided to introduce Nicolas Anelka as they stepped up their search for another victory.

In response, Stoke brought on Tuncay, who was in good shape following two goals for Turkey last weekend.

It was a nervous final 20 minutes for Tony Pulis’s side though, as Chelsea pushed on and would have been in front had Faye not made two tremendous blocks from Drogba.

Then, just as it seemed they had done enough, Michael Essien moved into the area, Anelka teed up Malouda, and the Frenchman drilled home.