Chelsea finish as runners-up
2008-05-11 18:55
London - Matthew Taylor scored a 90th-minute equaliser on Sunday for Bolton to draw 1-1 at Chelsea as the Blues finished the Premier League season as runners-up behind Manchester United.
Man United won 2-0 at Wigan to finish with 87 points, two ahead of Chelsea.
Substitute striker Andriy Shevchenko had given Chelsea 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute at Stamford Bridge, but Taylor sent the ball through goalkeeper Petr Cech's legs to seal the draw.
Chelsea lost captain John Terry early on after he was carried off with a serious arm injury that looks set to keep him out of the May 21 Champions League final against Man United.
Chelsea pressed from the start as striker Didier Drogba headed one effort across goal and hit another high and wide from close range.
But the home side was hit in the ninth when Cech leaped to collect the ball and caught Terry in the head with his knee, sending the Chelsea captain crashing to the ground.
The crowd fell quiet as Terry thumped the turf in pain while Chelsea's medical staff ran to treat him.
Terry was carried off and replaced by Juliano Belletti before being taken to a hospital for treatment.
Drogba hit a free kick wide and defender Gretar Rafn Steinsson denied the Ivory Coast striker a chance in the 28th with a well-timed interception in the area as Kevin Nolan, Gavin McCann and Joey O'Brien worked hard in midfield to deny Chelsea time on the ball.
Tough tackles by Bolton
Only Joe Cole seemed to find space to attack, although his most dangerous effort, a low shot in the 36th, was saved by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
Those listening to earpiece radios passed news of United's opening goal at Wigan around the ground, quieting the home supporters among the 41 755 fans, who for the rest of the first half managed to rouse themselves mainly to protest against tough tackles by Bolton.
O'Brien, McCann and Kevin Davies were all booked for late or rough challenges in the first half as Bolton restricted Chelsea to a handful of half chances.
Shevchenko replaced defensive midfielder Claude Makelele for the second half and, knowing that United was winning, Chelsea attacked relentlessly from the first whistle.
Florent Malouda had a deflected shot tipped onto the bar by Al Habsi and Belletti a shot blocked in the area, before Drogba forced the best chance so far with a surging run from the edge of the centre circle.
The striker burst through the visiting defence before drawing a save from Al Habsi with a rising shot.
That brought the first in a string of corners, the third of which ended up with the ball breaking to Shevchenko about 5m from goal. The Ukraine striker hit it instinctively for his first goal since December.
- AP