Cudicini denies Sunderland

Williams' superb last-ditch tackle denies Gudjohnsen

Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea

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Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini produced an outstanding performance to deny Sunderland victory at the Stadium of Light.

The Italian made a string of fine saves, including a Kevin Phillips' penalty, to earn his side a share of the spoils.

Sunderland striker Phillips could have had a hat-trick but he simply could not find a way past the inspired Cudicini.

And the England international will look back on his missed chances, knowing that they ultimately cost his side a much-needed win.

The game started brightly, with an intriguing competitive edge to the encounter.

Sunderland's defence initially struggled to cope with Chelsea's potent strikeforce of Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen.

  Key moments

32 mins: Carlo Cudicini saves a certain own goal

46 mins: Kevin Phillips' penalty is saved

53 mins: Cudicini denies Phillips again

54 mins: Thomas Sorensen saves from Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink

The dangerous duo almost gave Chelsea the breakthrough on the quarter-hour mark.

Hasselbaink's defence-splitting pass found Gudjohnsen, who raced into the Sunderland area.

Yet Darren Williams somehow made up the ground on the Icelandic striker and made a superb last-ditch tackle to end the attack.

For all their midfield dominance, Sunderland lacked any real attacking threat in the opening period.

Carlo was fantastic - our aim is to put Chelsea into the Champions League next season

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri

Their eagerness in the middle of the pitch was not matched in the final third.

Gavin McCann, who last week submitted a transfer request, was in commanding form.

Alongside him, Kevin Kilbane produced a sublime pass to set up Phillips for Sunderland's first real shot on goal.

The England striker brought the ball under control and unleashed a dipping volley which Cudicini did well to turn away for a corner.

Cudicini then made a superb reflex save to keep out what seemed set to be a certain own-goal by John Terry.

Phillips missed a hat-trick of chances

Chelsea finished what had been an otherwise ordinary half with a beautiful free-flowing move, with Mario Stanic at the fore.

If the first 45 minutes had not offered much in the way of entertainment, the second half started in explosive fashion.

Sunderland were awarded a penalty after Celestine Babayaro had fouled Kilbane.

Phillips blasted the spot-kick, but Cudicini was equal to it and made a brilliant save.

The Italian keeper's heroics did not end there after he again denied Phillips, stopping the striker's close-range header with his legs.

Their goalkeeper made three really outstanding saves, possibly more, and it's just one of those days

Sunderland boss Peter Reid

At the other end, Thomas Sorensen was also called into action, gathering Hasselbaink's shot.

The game ebbed and flow at a terrific pace, but neither side could break the deadlock.

Chelsea did have the ball in the back of the net towards the end, but Mario Melchiot was adjudged to have fouled Sorensen in the build-up.

The game remained goalless which, on reflection, was no less than Cudicini deserved for his magnificent display.

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Sunderland: Sorensen, Gray, Williams, Thome, McCartney, Arca, Thirlwell, McCann, Kilbane, Laslandes, Phillips. Subs: Macho, Butler, Clark, Quinn, Schwarz.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Babayaro, Terry, Gallas, Melchiot, Stanic, Jokanovic, Dalla Bona, Lampard, Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen. Subs: de Goey, Zola, Forssell, Keenan, Slatter.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).