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VIEW MATCH REPORT

Monday 16 Jan 2006
Sunderland 1 2 Chelsea
Top of the League Chelsea go 16 points clear after dispatching Sunderland ..

Arjen Robben made it 2-1 to the visitors and was promptly sent off for his goal celebration, as Chelsea came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 and go 16 points clear at the top.

The Black Cats made a bright start and deservedly took the lead on 12 minutes when Liam Lawrence rifled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

Sunderland had chances to double their lead but Chelsea eased their way back into match and forged an equaliser on 27 minutes when Claude Makelele's right-wing cross was headed back across goal by Joe Cole and Hernan Crespo was on hand to nod home from close range.

Anthony Le Tallac might have headed Sunderland back into the lead on the stroke of half-time but Petr Cech was equal to his 15-yard header.

It was Chelsea who made all the early running at the start of the second period and Kelvin Davis had to be at his best to make a number of fine saves from Frank Lampard, Arjen Robben and Crespo.

But Davis could do nothing to prevent Robben handing Chelsea a 69th-minute lead when he cut in from the right and his left-footed strike flew into the net via a deflection off the head of Dean Whitehead.

But Robben's moment of joy soon turned to despair when his celebration of jumping into the crowd resulted in him picking up his second caution of the afternoon.

However, the 10 men continued to pose all the questions and it was Jose Mourinho's side who came closest to adding to the scoreline in the closing stages as they extended their lead over second-placed Manchester United to a huge 16 points.