LONDON (AP) ― Fernando Torres scored the go-ahead goal from what appeared to be an offside position in the 81st minute, helping European champion Chelsea rally past Reading 4-2 in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
The unmarked Torres tapped the ball into the net from Ashley Cole’s cross for a 3-2 lead. Torres didn’t get his first league goal last season until Sept. 18 and he finished with just six.
“It was clearly offside which was really disappointing,” said Reading manager Brian McDermott, who protested to the referee’s assistant. “It’s just a shame he has made a mistake for such a crucial goal.”
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (right) and Reading’s Jem Karacan challenge for the ball on Wednesday. (AP-Yonhap News)
As Reading pushed forward in search of an equalizer, Eden Hazard broke free on a counterattack and set up Branislav Ivanovic for a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Frank Lampard’s 18th-minute penalty kick after Hazard was fouled by Chris Gunter put Chelsea ahead, but Reading took a 2-1 lead on Pavel Pogrebnyak’s header in the 25th and Danny Guthrie’s free kick four minutes later that bounced in off goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Gary Cahill made it 2-2 in the 69th when his shot was fumbled into the net by Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici.
Champions LeagueMalaga and BATE Borisov boosted their chances of reaching the Champions League group stage by winning the first legs of their playoffs 2-0.
Financially troubled Malaga defeated visiting Panathinaikos on goals by Martin Demichelis in the 17th minute and Eliseu in the 34th.
Vitali Rodionov scored in the 29th and 78th minutes for Belarus champion BATE against visiting Kiryat Shmona.
Cypriot club AEL Limassol won 2-1 at home against Belgium’s Anderlecht on goals by Dossa Junior in the 34th and Rui Miguel in the 73rd. Deiudonne Mbokani scored int he 62nd for Anderlecht, which played a man short after Milan Jovanovic was ejected in the 75th.
Dinamo Zagreb will take a 2-1 lead to Slovenia after beating Maribor on goals by Duje Cop on the 10th and Milan Badelj in the 74th. Maribor scored on Milan Badelj’s own goal in the 39th.
Sporting Braga and Udinese drew 1-1 in Portugal with Ismaily Santoss’ 68th-minute goal for the hosts canceling out Dusan Basta’s 23rd-minute score for the Italian team.
