Fernando Torres scored a last-gasp winner to shock title contenders Manchester City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge this evening,
In a titanic struggle against a much-fancied side, it was The Blues who came out on top after an opening strike by Andre Schurrle was pegged back early in the second half through a fine Sergio Aguero blaster.,
Then came the moment, then came the man and Torres, the much-maligned £50m striker struck a blow to the City side to in the 90th minute.
But this was Torres of old, fighting lost causes, taking chances, albeit missing a sitter and leading the forward line with such intensity that City, missing Vincent Kompany, never fully settled.
But it was the German Andre Schurrle who opened the scoring in this must-win match for Jose Mourinho's side and it was Torres who was provider.
City, took a while to get to grips with Chelsea in the opening exchanges but were fully worth the equaliser when it came early in the second half. Sergio Aguero proving what a potent striker he is with a blaster from the edge of the Chelsea penalty area.
Both managers made substitutions with the intention of winning the game and thankfully for the home side fans, it was they who struck in sensational fashion with the clock heading into the 91st minute.
A harmless looking lofted pass by Willian was chased down by Torres after Matija Nastasic and Joe Hart completely failed to communicate, and the spain hit man, slotted home the winner that his endeavour fully deserved.
That win propels the Blues back into second place of the Premier League just behind North London rivals Arsenal.
It was an excellent start from Chelsea, playing with a very high tempo, forcing City onto the defensive from the first blast from referee Howard Webb's whistle.
And the home side should have reaped their reward on three minutes when a clipped ball by
Oscar wrong footed the City rearguard and Gary Cahill, still up from a previous corner volleyed in spectacular fashion from 10 yards out. But unfortunately for the centre back he lashed the ball over a grateful Joe Hart's crossbar.
City gradually got to grips with the pace of the game and inched their way forward towards Petr Cech's goal.
Three quick successive corners around the 15 minute mark emphasising the point.
Sergio Aguero, showed lovely skill and tenacious attitude as he cut through the Blues's fe fence on 19 minutes. But the Argentina striker ran out of puff and could only tickle the ball towards goal from the byline, which Cech gleefully picked up.
Frank Lampard entered Webb's book on 23 minutes after the midfielder showed a bit of frustration at City's dominance in possession and upended Fernandinho in the centre circle.
But parity was restored four minutes later when Pablo Zabaleta cut down Hazard with a tackle from behind.
Jose Mourinho looked crestfallen on 39 minutes when Fernando Torres beat the offside trap elegantly then, inexplicably rifled the ball over Hart's goal. Had the Spain forward showed a bit of composure, he would have put Chelsea into the lead.
The battle co to used and Matija Nastasic received a yellow card from Webb for hacking down Torres two minutes later.
Torres redeemed himself with a powerful right-sided run where he destroyed left back Gael Clichy on 33 minutes. He cut the ball across goal where German Andre Schurrle was neatly on hand to tuck the ball home at the near post to put Chelsea 1-0 up, his first goal for Chelsea.
Quite what Torres had for breakfast is unclear, but whatever it was I want some of it, as he produced a mesmeric run on 36 minutes, this time on the left, and the cut into the edge of the city penalty area. She then let fly with a bullet of a right-footer which beat Hart but rattled off the apex of the crossbar and left post and then onto safety.
City, while only one down can still pose a threat and so it proved three minutes before the break whenAguero outpaced Cahill and hit a fine right-footer from close range which Cech did well to parry away.
Yaya Toure's speculative long-range shot which sailed over Cech's goal was the last action of the half.
There were no changes at half-time as City opened the second period with positive intentions and were rewarded with a fantastic strike by Aguero four minutes in to level the match.
Chelsea were caught cold as the striker zipped behind Cahill and collected an inch-perfect ball by Samir Nasri and rifled home a powerful left-footer from the edge of the penalty area which left Cech stranded.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini, looking like a cross between Father Ted and Dave Allen jumped up out of his dugout in delight.
Javi Garcia almost made it two minutes later but his downward header was not powerful enough to get past Cech.
Webb made a tough decision to deny Hazard a penalty on 56 minutes when the Belgian twisted the blood of Zabaleta and, under a challenge from the Argentina player, crashed to the ground.
Most of the 45,491 crowd thought it was a spot kick, Webb decided otherwise.
Hart was called into action soon after as the Blues found their feet at last, but he was well position to grab a glancing Torres header from a Lampard free-kick.
Garcia was next to get a yellow card, on the hour, but should have had a straight red as he elbowed Torres in the face sending the striker sprawling onto the Stamford bridge pitch.
Cech spared Chelsea blushes when he kicked away a David Silva shot from close range.
A minute later on 65 minutes, Jose Mourinho decided the current crop of players were not going to win the game for him and he brought on Willian and Mikel for Shurrle and Lampard respectfully.
Pellegrini opted to bring on speed merchant Jesus Navas for Nasri with 20 minutes to go as both sides felt that three points were within their grasp.
The game was becoming increasingly feisty, with off the ball challenges going unpunished and clear ones a also.
Ramires attempted an audacious 25-yarder and his blaster was only inches over Hart's crossbar.
Pellegrini then replaced Garcia for Aleksandar Kolarov with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Mourinho responded with the introduction of Samuel Eto'o for Hazard as the minutes ticked down - seven remained as the Cameroon striker entered the fray.
He was followed onto the pitch by Alvaro Negredo for Aguero three minutes later.
A whipped Willian free-kick should have forced a save from Hart at least, but the effort zipped past the goalkeeper's right post.
Then sensationally, Chelsea won the game.
Just as the fourth official was about to put up four minutes of added time, Willian lofted the ball forward, Nastasic, caught between two stools, chose incorrectly headed back towards Hart. But the England goalkeeper was racing out and the ball went past him. It was then a straight race between Torres and the covering Martin Demichelis. As the ball headed to the byline, but Torres, in his best match of the season by far, stretched out his right boot and directed the ball, just before it went out of play, into the open net.
They was tension in the final seconds but Chelsea heard out and have for the first time this season beaten a top title contender.
Teams:
Chelsea, Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Tors, Oscar, Schurrle, Hazard, Cahill, Terry
Subs, Schwarzer, Luiz, Mata, Mikel, Willian, Azpilicueta, Eto'o
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Nasri, Garcia, Aguero, Silva, Clichy, Fernandinho, Demichelis, Nastasic, Toure
Subs, Pantilimon, Richards, Milner, Negredo, Dzeko, Kolarov, Navas