Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea - Match Reports and Highlights

Match Reports

The Observer, Stuart James: “On an afternoon of extraordinary drama in the Midlands, Frank Lampard etched his name into Chelsea history when he struck twice in the second half to surpass Bobby Tambling’s club record of 202 goals and give Chelsea the three points that secures Champions League football next season. Victory, however, came at a huge cost for Chelsea, who lost John Terry and Eden Hazard to injury and finished a pulsating game with nine men. Terry departed on a stretcher, with his left leg in a brace after he collided with Nathan Baker, while Hazard pulled up with a hamstring strain in injury-time, the Belgian’s pained expression shared by those on the Chelsea bench who reacted with despair.”

The Independent on Sunday, Simon Hart: “He was the last player off the pitch, staying behind to soak up the adulation of the away supporters in the Doug Ellis Stand and, frankly, who could blame him? With his two goals yesterday Frank Lampard did not just secure another Champions’ League campaign for Chelsea, but wrote his name in the Stamford Bridge history books as the club’s top scorer. Lampard had begun the day a goal shy of Bobby Tambling’s record but ended it with goals 202 and 203 of a brilliant 12-year Chelsea career. They were goals that summed up his continued importance to the club that has still not offered him a new contract as he cancelled out Christian Benteke’s first-half strike on the hour, and then appeared in the six-yard box at the perfect time to bury Eden Hazard’s low cross late on.”

The Sunday Telegraph, Gerry Cox: “Football purists may consider it sacrilege to play league matches on FA Cup final day, but Aston Villa and Chelsea served up a lunchtime feast packed with incident, significance and controversy. Chelsea came from behind to effectively seal at least a place in the Champions League qualifying round thanks to two goals from Frank Lampard, who equalled and then surpassed Bobby Tambling’s 43-year-old club goalscoring record of 202.”

The Official Chelsea FC Website: “Chelsea effectively sealed a top-four finish for the season and Frank Lampard made history in a dramatic game at Villa Park. The Blues came back from conceding early on and going down to 10 men, the vice-captain netting twice in the second half to pass Bobby Tambling and reach 203 Chelsea goals - the all-time club record.”

Goals and Highlights

14’ Benteke 1-0 61’ Lampard 1-1 88’ Lampard 1-2 Match of the Day highlights

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