Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland

by Amar Azamat Stamford Bridge

The statistics don’t lie. For all the criticism that Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea received this season, there is no doubting that they were deserving Premier League champions.

They made heavy weather of this victory over Sunderland, however, after falling behind to Dick Advocaat’s men before turning things around in front of jubilant home supporters, who saw their team regain the crown they last wore in 2010.

Steven Fletcher opened the scoring for Sunderland before a Diego Costa penalty levelled things for Chelsea before the end of the first half.

However, Loic Remy scored a brace in the second half to seal the win.

Sunderland, their place in the Premier League secured following their recent goalless draw against Arsenal, began the match confidently. Fletcher gave the visitors the lead with a firm header on 26 minutes when he converted a corner kick from Adam Johnson.Both Petr Cech and Didier Drogba were in the Chelsea starting line-up but neither of these players, a part of Mourinho’s title-winning squad in 2004/05, will be expected to be at the club next season.

Drogba’s departure was confirmed early in the day. His last action was to be carried off by his teammates after limping out of the game with barely half an hour of the match gone. He was replaced by Costa.

Chelsea were back in the match shortly before the interval when winger Juan Cuadrado was fouled in the penalty area by John O’Shea. Costa stroked the spot kick beyond Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone.As the match went into the second half, Chelsea’s attackers pushed for more.

Cuadrado was released by the impressive Eden Hazard but was unable to complete the move.Sunderland’s players continued to create chances. On 58 minutes, Jermain Defoe’s goalbound shot was cleared off the line by full-back Cesar Azpilicueta. However, on 70 minutes, Remy put his side into the lead. Credit must go to the superb Hazard for creating space for Remy, who beat Mannone with a low shot.

Despite pushing for a response, Sunderland conceded another to Remy late on.