Late Cech Heroics Deny Dempsey Penalty Conversion, Preserve 0-0 Draw

In the second half, Chelsea looked better, though aside from the opening of the period, much of that was due to Fulham’s tactics. The Cottagers seemed willing to play for a draw from the 70th minute on, a decision that looks foolish given what Fulham as able to accomplish near the end.

But that’s Fulham. That’s Mark Hughes, who now has 13 draws on the season. They stay in 12th while Chelsea stays in fifth, both teams earning a point from today’s West London Derby.

Dempsey, with his chance to bring his goal total to 10 and win the match, stepped to the spot. But the penalty was ill-placed, off the foot of a dead tired man. Cech’s dive to his right saved the ball, with Dempsey’s overhead attempt on the rebound going wide.

There’s only six minutes left at Craven Cottage, the score still 0-0.

For now, Drogbe remains on the bench, with Fulham and Chelsea still tied, 0-0.

Now almost 20 minutes into the second half, the hope that Chelsea would play as their former selves has started to fade. The second half is starting to look like the first, with Fulham and Chelsea still tied, 0-0.

In the 41st minute, Chelsea’s trademark referee battering comes out, one of the first signs of their frustration. Mike Dean calls John Terry over, telling the Blues captain that their pique will not be tolerated today. It’s 0-0 in the 42nd minute, but it’s not Mike Dean’s fault.

It was the first time since the beginning of the match that Torres had been relevant, though barely so. The Chelsea striker made little attempt to win Cech’s ball, and when, two minutes later, a ball was crossed from the right, Torres was weak side of the play.

That cross led to Frank Lampard going four feet high of the crossbar from 15 yards. Though the shot wasn’t close, it was still telling that Chelsea was able to generate space for Lampard in the middle of Fulham’s box.

Thus the match stays scoreless, now in the eighth minute: Fulham 0, Chelsea 0.

Against a Fulham team that has seven points in their last four, a road draw may not be the worst result. Mark Hughes is slowly guiding his team out of a relegation battle, one they had embraced after a season’s start that saw the Cottagers fall in love with draws. Since the calendar turned, the Cottagers are 5-2-2, three points clear of the drop, leaving their magnanimous ways in September and October.

SB Nation will have live updates throughout the match, which kicks-off at 3:00 p.m Eastern. Here are the teams: