EPL: Chelsea jump above Spurs into third

POKER FACE ... Branislav Ivanovic after his outrageous backheel against Sunderland

LONDON: Chelsea leapfrogged Tottenham Hotspur into third place in the Premier League after coming from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 yesterday.

Chelsea's fightback enabled them to take advantage of Spurs' 2-2 draw with fellow Champions League hopefuls Everton at White Hart Lane, where Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a late equaliser to rescue the hosts in a pulsating game.

Rafa Benitez's Chelsea moved up to third place with 58 points from 31 games, ahead of Spurs on goal difference but with a game in hand. Fifth-placed Arsenal are two points behind, while sixth-placed Everton have 52.

Chelsea had fallen behind just before halftime when Cesar Azpilicueta steered Sunderland defender John O'Shea's header into his own net.

The visitors returned the favour two minutes after the restart with an own goal of their own by Matthew Kilgallon following a dangerous move by Chelsea substitute Fernando Torres before Branislav Ivanovic sealed victory in the 55th minute.

Earlier in the day, Liverpool lost ground on the group chasing Champions League spots when they were held to a 0-0 draw by West Ham United at Anfield, leaving them in seventh place with 49 points from 32 games.

Newcastle United pulled themselves further away from trouble with a 1-0 win at home to Fulham thanks to Papiss Cisse's stoppage-time winner.

Fans were still taking their seats at White Hart Lane when Adebayor struck with just 34 seconds on the clock -- the second fastest Premier League goal of the season after Robin van Persie's 31-second effort for Manchester United against West Ham in November.

The Togo striker stuck out his leg to meet a low cross from Jan Vertonghen on the left to put Spurs in front.
Everton's Phil Jagielka pulled one back in the 15th minute with a header and they went ahead in the 53rd minute through Kevin Mirallas.

Spurs chased an equaliser with Mousa Dembele hitting the bar with a deflected shot before Adebayor also rattled the woodwork and the rebound gifted Sigurdsson the 87th-minute goal.

"We left it late which didn't give us a chance to go for the third (goal)," Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas told ESPN television.
"We had to battle very hard to get the draw. We believe it (Champions League qualification) is going to go down to the wire." Reuters