Fernando Torres' late goal salvaged Chelsea a replay
with Brentford after an enthralling 2-2 draw in their
fourth round tie at Griffin Park.
League One Brentford twice took the lead as they
threatened a major shock, but cup holders Chelsea
responded to keep themselves in the competition.
Marcello Trotta, who is on loan from Fulham, gave
Brentford a deserved half-time lead only for Oscar to
draw Chelsea level with a fine solo effort early in the
second half.
Harry Forrester restored Brentford's lead from the
penalty spot on 73 minutes after Ross Turnbull brought
down Tom Adeyemi.
However, Torres had the final word as his superb
curling effort from the edge of the box seven minutes
from time spared Chelsea's blushes.
Fit-again John Terry started his first game under Rafa
Benitez but it was almost a nightmare return when
Turnbull was penalised for clutching his captain's
backpass.
Turnbull's refusal to release the ball for a quick indirect
free-kick could hardly have been more ironic in the
wake of the Eden Hazard saga, Forrester eventually
blazing over the crossbar.
Brentford made the breakthrough three minutes before
half-time when Adam Forshaw's sliding tackle robbed
Frank Lampard and Forrester unleashed a shot Turnbull
needlessly parried straight to Trotta, who fired in the
rebound.
There was plenty of time for Chelsea to get their act
together and it took them only 10 minutes into the
second half to do so, Oscar pouncing on a loose
clearance and bamboozling the Brentford defence
before drilling into the top corner.
But Brentford refused to panic, drawing Chelsea's sting
before withdrawing Trotta for Adeyemi with 20 minutes
remaining. It was inspired, the substitute winning a
penalty almost immediately after being upended by
Turnbull after racing on to Clayton Donaldson's brilliant
through ball. Turnbull might have seen red but escaped
with a booking before Forrester buried the spot-kick
right in the bottom-left corner.
Substitute Demba Ba made the difference, challenging
for an 83rd-minute ball that fell to Torres, who
instinctively curled it into the top corner from 18 yards.
Lampard went close to a winner and Mata appealed
furiously for handball in the box against Harlee Dean
but that would have been a travesty of justice.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
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