03/11/2012 15:00 v Chelsea

Pablo Hernandez's strike in the 88th minute claimed a share of the spoils as the Swans held Champions League holders Chelsea at the Liberty.

After a goalless first half, it was the visitors who edged ahead as Gary Cahill's flick-on from a corner was nodded in via the post by Victor Moses.

But Spanish international Hernandez denied Roberto Di Matteo's side, with the winger coolly curling a 20-yard effort past Petr Cech late on to score his second goal in his last two outings at the Liberty.

Both teams made lively starts, with the Swans carving out the first opportunity within four minutes as Angel Rangel got on the end of Hernandez's pass but the right-back's cutback cross was cleared.

Chelsea responded as Fernando Torres met a corner, but Leon Britton cleared off the line.

Back came the Swans, with Hernandez getting forward down the right. His cross was met by Michu, who connected at full stretch but his volley was way off target.

Eden Hazard then blasted over after the Swans defence failed to clear as the clock ticked past the 20-minute mark.

Chelsea came again, with Moses latching on to a loose ball and crossing to Torres, but his header was weak and straight at Gerhard Tremmel.

Immediately the Swans pushed on, with Hernandez finding Jonathan de Guzman, whose cross was only half-cleared. Wayne Routledge teed up Ki Sung-Yueng, but John Obi Mikel dived in to courageously block his effort.

Ashley Williams then did well to track back and block Torres when the Spaniard was found in space during a swift counter, but that was the last action of a good first half for the Swans.

Di Matteo made a change at the break with Ramires replacing Oriol Romeu, with the visitors creating the first opportunity of the half as Hazard's low shot was well-saved by the diving Tremmel before Moses nodded over Torres's cross.

The Swans responded with Ki finding Michu, who was stopped in his tracks by Cahill, but when Routledge shifted the loose to Hernandez, Ashley Cole had to be quick to clear for a corner

Tremmel then had to be at his best to keep Hazard's free-kick out for a corner, but the visitors got their goal seconds later.

Cahill flicked on and Moses nodded into the net via the post on 61 minutes.

Michael Laudrup then made a double change as Danny Graham and Nathan Dyer replaced Britton and Routledge.

Cech collected de Guzman's effort following neat work from Rangel and Dyer, before Laudrup made another change for the last ten minutes as Itay Shechter replaced Michu.

And it paid off as Shechter paid a part in the equaliser. Hernandez cut inside and after found Shechter. The Israeli international was tackled by Cahill, but the loose fell to Hernandez who, from 20 yards out, curled his effort past Cech and into the corner.

That gave the hosts a massive boost for the remaining few minutes, and sub Graham went close to grabbing the winner as he latched on to a through ball, only for Cahill to block it out for a corner.

Then came four minutes of added on time, but neither side found the winner as they each took a deserved share of the spoils.


SWANS: Gerhard Tremmel, Angel Rangel, Garry Monk (capt), Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Leon Britton (Danny Graham, 65), Ki Sung-Yueng, Jonathan de Guzman, Wayne Routledge (Nathan Dyer, 65), Pablo Hernandez, Michu (Itay Shechter, 79).
SUBS: David Cornell, Alan Tate, Dwight Tiendalli, Kemy Agustien.

CHELSEA: Petr Cech (capt), Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Oriol Romeu (Ramires, ht), Fernando Torres, Oscar (Ryan Bertrand, 79, John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses (Daniel Sturridge, 73), Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta.
SUBS: Ross Turnbull, Paulo Ferreira, Marko Marin, Lucas Piazon.