Chelsea 2
Drogba 38, Drogba 72
Reading 2
Lita 67, Essien(O) 85
Chelsea 2 Reading 2 December 26 2006
Chelsea wasted the chance to leapfrog Man Utd as Michael Essien's late own goal handed Reading a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The champions bossed early proceedings and broke the deadlock when Drogba headed home Frank Lampard's corner on 38 minutes.
Steve Coppell must have read the riot to act to his troops as they came out fired up and went for the Blues, deservedly getting an equaliser when Glen Little's cross was headed in by Leroy Lita.
Shaun Wright-Phillips came on for the poor Andriy Shevchenko and the winger set up Chelsea and Drogba's second goal on 72 minutes, when the Ivory Coast striker headed past Hahnemann once again.
But the visitors never gave up hope and equalised five minutes from time when Kevin Doyle's cross was turned into net by Ashley Cole's clearance off Essien's thigh, giving Hilario no chance at all.