Frank Lampard surpassed Bobby Tambling as Chelsea FC’s all-time leading scorer, registering a second-half double as the UEFA Europa League finalists won 2-1 at Aston Villa FC.
The England midfielder, who moved to the Stamford Bridge club from West Ham United FC in 2001, surpassed Bobby Tambling’s mark of 202 goals with his second of the match two minutes from time. The victory all but assures Rafael Benítez’s side of a top-four finish and with it UEFA Champions League football next season.
Lampard said: “Not much beats Munich because that was amazing for the team and the club, but personally it is another great day and I am really pleased. I’m delighted. Bobby’s a great man. I was pleased to level, but to go on and break the record was amazing.”
Villa took a surprise 14th-minute lead through Christian Benteke’s 19th goal of an impressive debut Premier League campaign. Brad Guzan made a string of saves to deny Chelsea a leveller before Ramires (45) received a second yellow card for a high challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Benteke went from hero to villain when he was dismissed on 58 minutes – also for a second bookable offence – and with the numbers even it took the Blues just three minutes to restore parity, Lampard cutting in from the right and scoring with his left foot from the edge of the area.
Then, with time ebbing away, Lampard tucked in his 203rd Chelsea goal from point-blank range after good work by Eden Hazard. “It is a fantastic achievement, I’m really pleased for him,” said Benítez. “To score the amount of goals that he has is amazing.”