12/02/2000  Chelsea 3 Wimbledon 1

Chelsea plunged unlucky Wimbledon deeper into the 
relegation mire with a deadly late triple salvo at Stamford 
Bridge.

Dons' new signing Andreas Lund had looked like repaying a 
huge chunk of his transfer fee with a goal on his debut, 
smashing home on 73 minutes after Dennis Wise gave away 
possession deep in his own penalty area.

But the Dons lead lasted only five minutes as Chelsea came 
from behind to win for the first time this season to close the 
gap on third-placed Arsenal to just one point.

Gustavo Poyet levelled the scores with a thunderous volley 
from 22 yards on 78 minutes after George Weah had headed the 
ball back to the Uruguayan.

And within moments Gianluca Vialli's side were in front, 
substitute Jody Morris crossing for Weah to head home from 
five yards.

Wimbledon were stunned, Chelsea rampant, and it was no 
surprise when Morris completed the comeback with a thumping 
drive from just outside the area to leave the visitors looking 
anxiously over their shoulders at the relegation dogfight.

The less said about the first half the better, particularly 
from the home side's point of view as they failed to register 
a single shot on target.

Lund was thrown straight in at the deep end, the 
£2.5million capture from Norwegian side Molde named in the 
starting line-up by manager Egil Olsen as the Dons looked to 
bring an end to Chelsea's 10-game unbeaten run.

Lund soon gave the home defence a taste of what they were 
in for after a clash of heads with Emerson Thome saw the Blues 
defender come off worst and in need of treatment with barely a 
minute gone.

Vialli, meanwhile, made just one change from the side that 
won at Spurs last week, Frank Leboeuf in for Marcel Desailly 
at the heart of the defence.

Chelsea created the first real opening after nine minutes, 
Didier Deschamps' clever chip finding Poyet in the area but as 
he brought it under control Hermann Hreidarsson flicked the 
ball off his toes for a corner.

The Dons were certainly not overawed and a minute later 
Lund threw himself at Martin Andresen's cross but his diving 
header was wide.

Most of Chelsea's attacking intentions were frustrated by 
an inability to break down Wimbledon's well-organised offside 
trap, Weah frustratingly caught out time and again like a 
first-year trainee.

A sell-out crowd had yet to witness the creation of a 
single clear-cut chance and the fans were reduced to cheering 
the appearance of substitute Gianfranco Zola as he warmed up 
on the touchline.

Cort's backheel released Kimble down the left but Ed De 
Goey was quickly out to gather the outswinging cross.

Chelsea's best chance of success looked like coming from 
midfield as Petrescu burst onto Deschamps' through-ball before 
going down on the edge of the area under Hreidarsson's 
challenge, referee Peter Jones waving away the home side's 
protests.

Belatedly Chelsea had come to life and put pressure on the 
visitors' goal, Cunningham clearing Weah's dangerous cross and 
Sullivan punching clear well under pressure.

Leboeuf then headed over from Harley's corner on 36 minutes 
before Robbie Earle squandered the best chance of the half 
hitting a volley tamely straight at De Goey after Cort flicked 
on Kimble's cross.

Lund was then booked in first-half stoppage time for a 
challenge on Leboeuf as the first half mercifully petered out. 


Chelsea began the second half with a greater sense of 
purpose and pinned back Wimbledon inside their own half for 
long periods.

But for all their possession the Blues still failed to 
trouble Neil Sullivan unduly, most moves breaking down just 
outside the area in front of the massed ranks of Dons 
defenders.

It was no surprise, therefore, to see the introduction of 
Zola after 62 minutes to the delight of the crowd, although 
not apparently to the delight of the replaced Petrescu who 
headed straight down the tunnel.

Zola's first significant contribution brought about 
Chelsea's first effort on target, his cross headed goalwards 
by Sutton but straight at Sullivan who saved easily.

Vialli then made a double substitution with 20 minutes to 
go, Morris replacing Deschamps and Tore Andre Flo replacing 
Sutton who left the field to a chorus of "What a waste of 
money" from the Dons faithful.

Those fans soon had more reasons to be cheerful as the 
visitors then finally broke the deadlock on 73 minutes with 
Chelsea skipper Wise the villain.

Wise was guilty of delaying his clearance too long deep in 
his own penalty area and was robbed by substitute Neal Ardley. 
He swung the ball back across goal for Cort to head down and 
Lund to smash the ball high into the net for a possibly 
priceless goal on his debut.

But the Dons' lead lasted only five minutes as Poyet 
equalised in spectacular fashion, hammering home a blistering 
volley from 22 yards for his 11th goal of the season.

And within seconds the home crowd erupted again as Chelsea 
took the lead, Morris given time and space to measure his 
cross to leave Weah a simple free header from five yards 
out.

Chelsea could have easily added to the scoreline, Flo going 
close with a low shot that was inches wide of Sullivan's far 
post.

As the Dons pushed forward in search of an equaliser they 
left themselves exposed at the back with Weah and Flo 
threatening to exploit a sudden new-found freedom.

The visitors still posed a threat at the other end, Lund 
stabbing wide as the ball dropped to him in the area, but 
Chelsea sealed the win a minute from the end, Morris thumping 
home the third from just outside the area to give a most 
unjust gloss to the scoreline.