Lampard steers Chelsea to victory over Sunderland

LONDON (AP) — Frank Lampard claimed an early winner as Chelsea beat Sunderland 1-0 in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Lampard was in the just right place to open the scoring in the 13th minute, pouncing on the rebound after Spain striker Fernando Torres had crashed a powerful volley off the crossbar. The 33-year-old Lampard scored for the third successive match since a recall by coach Andre Villas-Boas.

Sunderland's best chance of the first half fell to Nicklas Bendtner when he dragged Stephane Sessegnon's pass just wide with Chelsea keeper Petr Cech beaten. Bendtner's teammates James McClean and Craig Gardner had no better luck in the second half when both failed to convert easy chances.