Hapoel stun subdued Chelsea

Frank Lampard (right) impressed in Chelsea's midfield

Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-0 Chelsea

Chelsea set themselves a tough task to make it through to the third round of the Uefa Cup by conceding two late goals in Tel Aviv.

And Mario Melchiot did not help their cause by getting himself sent off for kicking out at an opponent.

The Blues might feel aggrieved at letting in such late goals, but the home side fully deserved their victory.

This is one of the greatest moments of Israeli football

Hapoel coach Dror Kashtan

They were lively throughout and would have scored more had goalkeeper Mark Bosnich not been in such outstanding form for the visitors.

It was always going to be a testing night for the Blues. They arrived in Israel without six of their first team and were forced to hand debuts to Bosnich and 17-year-old defender Joel Katamarike.

The sides observed a minute's silence for the murder of the Israeli tourism minister at the start of the game.

And Chelsea wore shirts without the logo of their sponsor, Emirates Airlines, as it was felt it could cause offence to their hosts.

Vital intervention

Chelsea were lacklustre in the first half - they struggled to retain possession and mustered only one shot during the entire 45 minutes.

That effort came courtesy of Mario Stanic on 15 minutes. The Croat struck a fierce shot from the right-hand corner of the area that went wide of the far post.

Hapoel were lively and Milan Osterc and Sergei Klashenko were particularly impressive for them.

Chelsea defender John Terry made a vital intervention after 20 minutes when he slid to dispossess Klashenko as the striker prepared to shoot.

But Terry's central defensive partner, Katamarike, was enduring a difficult debut.

Shimon Gershon celebrates his goal

Klashenko got in front of the 17-year-old near the interval and unleashed a fierce angled drive that Bosnich did well to save.

Chelsea started the second half more brightly but faced a massive setback when Melchiot was sent off after 53 minutes.

The Dutch international was rightly shown the red card for kicking out at Shimon Gershon in the Chelsea area.

Yet Chelsea were ironically far more impressive with 10 men. Coach Claudio Ranieri brought on Sam Dalla Bona for the hugely disappointing Boudewijn Zenden and Gianfranco Zola went out to the left wing.

It will be very difficult to stay in the Uefa Cup

Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri

Zola started to get more of the ball and linked up well with Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink.

But the home side still created the better chances.

Bosnich had to be sharp to save twice from Osterc in quick succession.

And then came the late hammer blows. Gershon scored with a penalty after Terry had handled a right-wing cross from Bachar.

And then, deep into injury-time, Klashenco headed a Yossi Abuksis cross emphatically home from nine yards.

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Hapoel Tel-Aviv: Elimelech, Bachar, Gershon, Domb, Antebi, Abuksis, Unishenko, Halmai, Pishont, Milan Osterc, Klashenco. Subs: Rahamin, Knafo, Benny Hadad, Saban, Hillel, Haftke, Luz.

Chelsea: Bosnich, Melchiot, Terry, Babayaro, Kitamarike, Stanic, Lampard, Jokanovic, Zenden, Zola, Hasselbaink. Subs: Dalla Bona, Forssell, Aleksidze, Keenan, Slatter, Baldwin, Evans.

Referee: D van Egmond (Holland).