Arjen Robben grabbed the winner and was then promptly sent off as Chelsea came from behind to defeat Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Robben, who had been booked for an inocious tackle earlier in the match, received his second yellow for jumping the perimeter fence into the travelling Chelsea supporters as he celebrated his second-half strike.
The game took an unlikely turn in the twelfth minute as 16/1 long-shots Sunderland went ahead courtesy of a fine Liam Lawrence strike.
England centre-half, John Terry, made an uncharacteristic mistake as he headed downwards into Lawrence’s path instead of helping the ball out of play.
Lawrence made no mistake as he drilled home past the Petr Cech and the outstretched leg of Terry.
Sunderland held the lead for 16 minutes before the inevitable.
A long cross to the back post was skilfully headed back across the face of the goal by Joe Cole and poacher-supreme Hernan Crespo was on hand to nod home.
Mick McCarthy would have been happy at half time to be on level terms with the champions but his side’s brave challenge was undone midway through the second half.
A string of good saves by Kelvin Davis kept the Mackems in the game until the 69th minute, before a left-footed drive by Robben was deflected past the keeper by the unfortunate Dean Whitehead.
Sunderland pressed hard for an equaliser and McCarthy brought on two more strikers to try and get something from the game, but it was all in vain.
Despite a late penalty appeal, Chelsea eased out the remaining minutes with ten men and sent their travelling supporters home happy.
