Raul Jimenez put Wolves ahead with his 14th goal of the season early in the second half
Eden Hazard scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a point for Chelsea against Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard curled into the bottom corner in the second minute of added-time to deny Wanderers a memorable victory.
Raul Jimenez finished off a swift counter-attacking move to put Wanderers ahead with their only shot on goal nine minutes into the second half.
That looked to be enough, particularly when substitute Willian saw his curling effort well saved by Rui Patricio late on, but Hazard struck to salvage a draw with his 16th goal of the season.
Despite only managing two attempts on goal all game, Wolves may feel aggrieved at only securing a point having defended diligently, restricting Chelsea to half-chances and efforts from distance.
Chelsea only had one shot on target during the first half, an effort from Gonzalo Higuain from a tight angle that was comfortably pushed behind by Patricio.
Maurizio Sarri's side improved after going behind, with Pedro having a shot tipped over before Higuain failed to convert when the ball flashed across the box following a corner.
It was hard to see Chelsea scoring as the game entered added time but Hazard showed neat skill to turn away from Ruben Neves and finally beat Patricio from 18 yards.
Hazard secures unlikely point
Chelsea were looking to maintain momentum after three successive victories in all competitions following their Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City.
After making a number of changes for Thursday's Europa League last-16 first leg win over Dynamo Kiev, Maurizio Sarri restored many of his key players to the starting line-up, including Hazard and N'Golo Kante.
However, they were subdued for much of the game, particularly during the first half where they managed just one shot on target.
Chelsea enjoyed 75% possession but precious little of it was in dangerous areas, with Wolves content to sit back and look to hit on the counter.
Half-hearted penalty claims were turned down when Hazard's corner hit Jimenez on the arm as he attempted to clear.
Romain Saiss then had to be alert to clear the ball away from Hazard after Willy Boly's headed clearance inadvertently landed in his path.
Jimenez's goal after the break jolted Chelsea into action, with Pedro and Higuain going close, but it took a dramatic intervention from top-scorer Hazard to finally breach the Wolves backline.
The point was not enough to move Chelsea back into the top four, had they won they would have moved fourth, two points behind Tottenham and still with a game in hand.
Instead, they remain sixth and that could well mean that the Europa League is their best opportunity to qualify for next season's Champions League, placing greater emphasis on their second leg in Kiev on Thursday.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Chelsea
1Arrizabalaga
28Azpilicueta
2RüdigerBooked at 78mins
30David Luiz
33Emerson
7Kanté
5JorginhoSubstituted forWillianat 72'minutes
17KovacicSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 56'minutes
11PedroSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 61'minutes
9Higuaín
10E Hazard
Substitutes
8Barkley
12Loftus-Cheek
13Caballero
18Giroud
20Hudson-Odoi
22Willian
27Christensen
Wolves
11Rui Patrício
27SaïssBooked at 66mins
16Coady
15BolyBooked at 75mins
2DohertyBooked at 37mins
32Dendoncker
8Neves
28João Moutinho
19Castro Otto
9JiménezSubstituted forTraoréat 89'minutes
18JotaBooked at 80minsSubstituted forGibbs-Whiteat 82'minutes
Substitutes
7Cavaleiro
10Hélder Costa
17Gibbs-White
21Ruddy
29Vinagre
37Traoré
49Kilman
Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
40,692
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamWolves
Possession
Home76%
Away24%
Shots
Home22
Away2
Shots on Target
Home6
Away1
Corners
Home13
Away0
Fouls
Home8
Away14
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Chelsea 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Chelsea 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Posted at 90'+4'
Attempt missed. Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by João Moutinho following a set piece situation.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).
Posted at 90'+4'
Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+3'
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rúben Neves tries a through ball, but Morgan Gibbs-White is caught offside.
Posted at 90'+3'
Attempt missed. Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Goal!Posted at 90'+2'
Goal! Chelsea 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Willian following a corner.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Leander Dendoncker.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Matt Doherty.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt blocked. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gonzalo Higuaín.
Posted at 90'
Attempt blocked. César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Willian.
SubstitutionPosted at 89'
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Adama Traoré replaces Raúl Jiménez.
Posted at 88'
Attempt blocked. Emerson (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Willian with a cross.
Posted at 87'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Rui Patrício.
Posted at 87'
Attempt saved. Willian (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Emerson.
Posted at 84'
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Matt Doherty tries a through ball, but Raúl Jiménez is caught offside.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea).
Posted at 84'
Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Morgan Gibbs-White replaces Diogo Jota.
BookingPosted at 80'
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 79'
David Luiz (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
BookingPosted at 78'
Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 78'
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).
Posted at 78'
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 77'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Raúl Jiménez.
Posted at 76'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Rúben Neves.
Posted at 76'
Attempt blocked. Willian (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
BookingPosted at 75'
Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 75'
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 74'
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 74'
Foul by João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Chelsea. Willian replaces Jorginho.
Posted at 71'
Emerson (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 71'
Foul by Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 70'
Attempt saved. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 69'
Attempt missed. Gonzalo Higuaín (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi with a cross.
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Source: bbc.com