Chelsea held to draw despite Drogba's double

Soccer Betting Lines

12/26/2006 - London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Only three days after Chelsea narrowly escaped Wigan with the maximum points on Arjen Robben's stoppage time goal, the Blues were not so lucky on Tuesday. Ashley Cole's late miscue led to an own goal, forcing Chelsea to settle for a 2-2 draw with Reading and dropping crucial points at Stamford Bridge.

The news got worse for Chelsea, as front-runners Manchester United got two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo en route to a 3-1 win over Wigan, increasing the Red Devils advantage to four points in the standings over Chelsea.

Didier Drogba continued his fantastic campaign with two goals in the match, the second coming in the 72nd minute to put Chelsea ahead 2-1. It looked as though Jose Mourinho's men would hang on for all three points and keep the heat on United, but then disaster struck in the 85th minute.

Reading's Kevin Doyle played a cross into the box that Cole, who came on as a second-half substitute, should have dealt with easily. However, the English international hurried his clearance, blasting it into teammate Michael Essien. The ball bounded off Essien and into the back of Chelsea's goal past a horrified Hilario.

The game started off well for Chelsea, with the Blues pressing forward and creating a myriad of chances.

Drogba missed a handful of opportunities, while strike partner Salomon Kalou and midfielder Frank Lampard also had narrow misses. Despite failing in his early efforts, Drogba atoned in the 38th minute to put Chelsea ahead.

A Lampard corner found the head of the Ivory Coast international, whose driving header crossed the goal line despite the efforts of Reading's Nicky Shorey, who could not keep it out.

Reading responded well after the restart, and pulled level in the 67th minute. Lampard lost possession in the midfield and Glen Little took hold of the ball and beat Essien down the right flank. Little then served up a ball in the Chelsea box that Leroy Lita slammed home with a diving header, making it a 1-1 match.

The home side had a quick answer, however, and surged back in front just five minutes later. Shaun Wright-Phillips set up Drogba's second tally of the match as he raced down the wing and crossed for Drogba, who was set up at the back post. Drogba made no mistake and finished easily for what many Chelsea supporters thought would be the match-winner.

The Stamford Bridge faithful then watched in disbelief as Cole's ill-fated clearance cost Chelsea a chance to move into the top spot in the Premiership.

In other EPL action on Tuesday, Jermain Defoe helped Tottenham down Aston Villa with a pair of goals in a 2-1 win, Linvoy Primus also hit the back of the net twice to lead Portsmouth to a 2-1 victory over West Ham at Upton Park. Blackburn moved four points clear of relegation as Benny McCarthy scored the lone goal in a 1-0 Rovers win over Liverpool, Nicolas Anelka handed Bolton three points with a 57th-minute goal in a 2-1 win over Newcastle, Everton and Middlesbrough played to a 0-0 stalemate, Stephen Ireland's first league goal of the season gave Manchester City a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United while Arsenal and Watford were tied at one at the break in the later game.

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