 Shevchenko had a superb game for Chelsea |
Mark Viduka scored a stoppage-time goal to give Middlesbrough a shock win over Premiership champions Chelsea. Viduka picked up Yakubu's pass on the edge of the six-yard area to rifle past Blues keeper Carlo Cudicini and send the home crowd into raptures.
Andriy Shevchenko scored his first Premiership goal to give Chelsea the lead, poking home Wayne Bridge's cross.
But Middlesbrough's Emanuel Pogatetz headed in the equaliser in the second half from Fabio Rochemback's free-kick.
Chelsea could find themselves in a pickle on more than one occasion this season based on Wednesday's display at The Riverside.
Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough started well and came close to taking an early and deserved lead through Gaizka Mendieta, Chris Riggott and Yakubu.
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The visitors had already suffered one setback before kick-off, losing Arjen Robben to a calf injury in the warm-up.
New signing Salomon Kalou came into the starting XI for the Blues and looked very lively, although he was up against a very inexperienced Middlesbrough back four.
The Ivory Coast international came within inches of opening his league account when he just failed to get on the end of Didier Drogba's cross.
 Pogatetz rose above everybody to head in the equaliser |
Drogba and new strike partner Shevchenko appeared to be competing against each other, rather than aiming to forge a solid bond between themselves.
If that was the case, then the Ukrainian came out on top. He opened his Premiership account after Boro wasted their three early chances.
The move that led to the goal was brilliant.
Bridge, who had his second successive impressive game, sped down the left and exchanged passes with Michael Essien before rifling in a low cross that Shevchenko got to ahead of George Boateng.
Shevchenko was a joy to watch. He was clever without over-playing, and when he did come under a challenge, there were no histrionics.
His best moment was not the goal, but when he raced down the left and delivered a superb ball for Frank Lampard, whose header rebounded off the post.
Lampard had been quiet until then and did not have his best game - neither did his fellow midfielders.
The arrival on the pitch of teenager midfielder Lee Cattermole and striker Viduka appeared to change the game for Boro.
And with 10 minutes left, the home side were level.
Pogatetz headed home a free-kick from the left edge of the penalty area.
Then with time running out, Viduka swivelled on a sixpence to fire a low shot past Cudicini to send the home support wild.
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Davies (Cattermole 61), Riggott, Pogatetz, Taylor, Parnaby, Mendieta (Viduka 72), Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Morrison, McMahon.
Booked: Parnaby, Boateng.
Goals: Pogatetz 80, Viduka 90.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Bridge, Essien, Makelele (Wright-Phillips 84), Lampard, Shevchenko, Drogba, Kalou.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Boulahrouz, Mikel, Diarra.
Booked: Drogba, Paulo Ferreira.
Goals: Shevchenko 16.
Att: 29,198
Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
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