Southend United have forced a replay after snatching a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Clarke header in injury time secures replay
Southend United have forced a replay after snatching a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea dominated the match from the outset and took the lead through Salomon Kalou after he headed in Frank Lampard's corner on 31 minutes.
Chelsea continued to dictate play in the second half, until an inspired Shrimpers triple substitution changed the game.
Southend defender Peter Clarke hit the bar on 82 minutes following teenage full-back Johnny Herd's cross.
But Clarke would not be denied a second time as he headed Herd's throw-in in front of 6000 away fans.
Blues keeper Steve Mildenhall pulled off a world-class save in the dying moments to set up an unlikely replay a week on Wednesday.
It was just reward for the League One side who valiantly kept out Chelsea's wave of attacks in a pulsating second half.
But Chelsea's need for a first-class finisher was further underlined after an afternoon when they failed to kill off their lowly opponents.
Chelsea's first attempt in the fifth minute was typically lamentable with Frank Lampard sending a 30-yard free-kick well wide of the target.
Drogba should then have put the Blues ahead in the 10th minute but he waited too long to shoot and former Chelsea youngster Anthony Grant managed to get in a superb tackle to deny the Ivorian.
Lampard then fed Joe Cole inside the penalty area but the England international's shot fizzed across the face of the goal and beyond the far post.
In the 14th minute, another Lampard effort from the edge of the penalty area was deflected to safety but the Shrimpers were living dangerously.
But despite their possession, Chelsea were unable to find a chink in the Southend rearguard.
United defender Clarke had to be alert to stop a low cross from Ashley Cole reaching Drogba in the 20th minute and Kalou wasted a clear chance by shooting over from 20 yards seconds later.
Chelsea continued to pile on the pressure and when Lampard found the rampaging Ashley Cole in the 22nd minute, a goal seemed the only eventuality.
However, the England left-back's right-foot shot from 12 yards was saved by Steve Mildenhall and moments later Drogba placed a shot wide with just the United goalkeeper to beat.
Opener
Chelsea continued to dominate and eventually opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Kalou rose unmarked to head home a corner from Lampard.
Three minutes later Drogba could not find the power to beat Mildenhall with a close range header after Ashley Cole had set him up with a cross to the near post.
The goal had enabled Chelsea to with go about their work with calmness but their attempts to increase the scoreline from set pieces were woeful in the extreme.
Juliano Belletti decided it was his turn to try his luck from long-range in the 38th minute but his effort was caught by a surprised onlooker in the second tier of the 'Shed' stand.
Southend had enjoyed little success in attack but a cross from Jean-Francois Christophe had to be turned over his own crossbar by Branislav Ivanovic in the 39th minute.
It was a rare moment of panic in the Chelsea defence and moments later they were back in attack.
But once again their finishing lacked the required quality and Belletti was again guilty of sending his 20-yard effort high and wide.
Southend were unlucky two minutes before the interval when Junior Stanislas made Paulo Ferreira look distinctly ordinary with a great run down the left flank.
However, his low cross into the six-yard box was cleared by a relieved Chelsea defence.
In the 52nd minute Drogba brought a fine save out of Mildenhall when he met a cross from John Obi Mikel.
Chelsea continued to push for a second and Mildenhall was forced to punch clear off the head of Ricardo Carvalho in the 63rd minute.
There was little respite for Steve Tilson's side but they continued to defend valiantly inside their own penalty area.
Goal-line clearance
In the 66th minute Belletti saw his header cleared off the goal-line as the Premier League side searched in vain for a second.
Southend were beginning to show some attacking desire as the game wore on but they were restricted to the odd counter-attack.
The Premier League side pushed the ball around with confidence but their cutting edge was well below par.
In the 82nd minute, Lampard endeavoured to put the game beyond Southend but his 20-yard lob was straight at Mildenhall.
Crossbar
Chelsea then had a narrow escape a minute later when a cross from Johnny Herd was met by Clarke under pressure from Cudicini.
The United defender got to the ball first but his header bounced off the top of the crossbar to Chelsea's relief.
But worse was to follow when defender Clarke stunned Chelsea with a 90th-minute equaliser from close range.
Chelsea were denied a late winner by Mildenhall when he somehow kept out a header from substitute Franco Di Santo.
| Team Name |
Chelsea |
Southend United |
| Possession |
55% |
45% |
| Goals |
1 |
1 |
| Shots On Target |
8 |
1 |
| Shots Off Target |
7 |
2 |
| Blocked Shots |
4 |
0 |
| Corners |
15 |
4 |
| Fouls Conceded |
10 |
13 |
| Offsides |
1 |
1 |
| Yellow Cards |
2 |
2 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
|
