(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Frank Lampard on Thursday marked his extended stay at Manchester City with the winning goal as the Barclays Premier League (BPL) champions completed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Sunderland to go joint top with Chelsea.
The former England midfielder celebrated the renewal of his stay at the Etihad Stadium until the end of the season by rescuing his Manchester City side just when they appeared to be on the verge of spurning a two-goal lead for the second time in consecutive league home matches. The second-half substitute guided a header from Gael Clichy's pinpoint 73rd-minute cross into the bottom corner for what proved to be the goal that took the wind out of Sunderland's sails.
It capped a frantic period of five goals in the space of just over 16 minutes. Yaya Toure had clattered home a brilliant long-range strike to give City a 57th-minute lead and Stevan Jovetic slotted in an impudent flick, with Clichy the provider once more. But a pair of City old boys in the form of Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson - the latter from the penalty spot after Pablo Zabaleta had fouled Billy Jones - brought the score back to 2-2 as Burnley did on Sunday, before Lampard had the final say.
In a later BPL game Chelsea lost to their hosts Tottenham 5-3.
The Blues had led courtesy of an early Diego Costa goal, but the home side equalised through Harry Kane after 29 minutes.
The game turned in the hosts' favour, however, in the space of a few minutes before the break when Danny Rose put them in front, before Andros Townsend scored from the penalty spot to make it 3-1 at the interval.
Their lead was extended early in the second half through Kane, but Chelsea refused to cave in and pulled one back through the outstanding Eden Hazard.
As Chelsea pressed forward in search of a third goal, though, they were hit with a sucker punch when Nacer Chadli's strike deflected off John Terry and beat Thibaut Courtois, before the Chelsea skipper reduced the deficit late on.
Jose Mourinho will be pleased with the character shown by his side as Chelsea chased the game during the second half, and attention now turns to the beginning of their FA Cup campaign, at home to Watford on Sunday.
After today's games Manchester City and Chelsea are running neck and neck on top of the BPL with 46 points each
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