Chelsea steal late Cup win
Joleon Lescott conceded a late own-goal in front of England boss Fabio Capello
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Tuesday, 08, Jan 2008 11:07
Chelsea will go into the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final nursing a one-goal lead after a late 2-1 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge.
A scruffy own goal from Toffees' centre-back Joleon Lescott handed Avram Grant's side the win a minute into injury-time after the visitors had earlier pulled level through Aiyegbeni Yakubu.
The game started at a high tempo that never slackened as Juliano Belletti and Andy Johnson threatened at either end in the opening stages.
Shaun Wright-Phillips broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark with a neat finish in front of the watching Fabio Capello.
The diminutive winger squirmed free and fired low and hard into the bottom corner of Tim Howard's goal for the opener.
David Moyes' men came close to conceding again as Joe Cole's burst into the box and Michael Ballack's set-piece almost bore fruit for the Blues shortly after, but the Merseysiders hung on until half-time.
Ten minutes after the break and the visitors were handed the initiative as Jon Mikel Obi was sent off for sliding in late on Phil Neville.
Another ten minutes on and they found an equaliser through the impressive Yakubu's stinging half-volley.
The Nigerian pounced after a free-kick from James McFadden had floated clear over Hilario and Joseph Yobo squared the ball back into his path.
McFadden shaved the post as Everton continued to press the hosts back, but the winner went the other way as Lescott, under pressure from Wright-Phillips, nodded into his own net.