BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | Chelsea comeback thwarts Charlton

Charlton 2-3 Chelsea

Chelsea came back from two goals down to beat 10-man Charlton at the Valley.

Charlton appeared to be heading for their fifth straight win over the Blues, despite having to play for more than an hour with just 10 men.

Paul Konchesky gave Charlton an early lead before seeing red, and Richard Rufus soon put Charlton 2-0 up.

Key moments

7 mins Konchesky gives Charlton the lead after a Ferrer mistake

26 Less than 20 minutes later Konchesky's game is over as he is sent off

33 Rufus heads 10-man Charlton 2-0 ahead

43 Zola gives Chelsea hope as he tucks away a pull-back from Zenden

84 Cole equalises for Chelsea

89 Lampard scores a late winner for the Blues

But Gianfranco Zola scored crucially just before half-time, and late goals by Carlton Cole and Frank Lampard gave Chelsea the three points just when it looked like Charlton would hold on.

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Konchesky's opener came after an error by Albert Ferrer let him in to knock a crisp shot past Carlo Cudicini.

But the goalscorer's day soon turned sour when inside the half-hour mark he was sent off for a challenge on Chelsea new boy Enrique De Lucas.

The pair were challenging for an aerial ball and Konchesky appeared harshly done by referee Graham Barber.

I was astonished that he sent Paul Konchesky off - I know the boy wouldn't lead with his elbow to hurt someone

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley

Chelsea immediately went on the offensive, and Hasselbaink went close when Boudewijn Zenden found him with a pin-point cross.

Just minutes later Rufus showed Hasselbaink how to finish when he headed home a free-kick with the Chelsea defence in disarray.

The Dutchman almost made amends for Chelsea when he laid on a ball for Zenden, who struck the bar when he perhaps should have done better.

Konchesky walks after his red card
Konchesky's match lasted less than 30 minutes

But Chelsea hit back at a crucial moment just before half-time when Zenden got away down the right and pulled the ball back for Zola to cut the deficit.

Chelsea then had Charlton on the back foot for most of the second half, with Emmanuel Petit forcing Dean Kiely into a good save.

But the Addicks were holding firm, and Petit was soon replaced by Eidur Gudjohnsen as Claudio Ranieri looked to turn the game round.

Zola continued to drive Chelsea forward, but they created few clear chances.

But in a crucial substitution, Carlton Cole came on for Zola and equalised in the 84th minute after a surging run.

When I win I am lucky and when I lose I am a donkey - it's not a good balance

Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri

Substitute Mathias Svensson almost won it for Charlton with two minutes left, but Cudicini pulled off a quality save.

And Chelsea completed the comeback when Frank Lampard cracked home the winner from the edge of the box with a minute to go.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Rufus, Rowett, Powell, Stuart, Jensen, Bart-Williams (Kishishev 58), Konchesky, Euell (Svensson 86), Johansson (Lisbie 80).
Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Fortune.

Sent Off: Konchesky (26).

Chelsea: Cudicini, Ferrer, Gallas, Desailly, Babayaro, De Lucas, Lampard, Petit (Gudjohnsen 63), Zenden, Zola (Cole 74), Hasselbaink (Gronkjaer 74).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Melchiot.

Booked: Babayaro, Desailly, Zenden.

Attendance: 25,640

Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).