Chelsea enjoyed a huge let-off as Fernando Torres' highly-controversial goal helped send them top of the Barclays Premier League and denied Reading a famous result at Stamford Bridge.
Torres appeared a yard in front of play when he completed his side's comeback from 2-1 down in an early-season thriller but his finish was allowed to stand by Lee Mason and his assistants.
It was harsh on Reading, who brilliantly battled back from Frank Lampard's penalty to lead at half-time through Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Guthrie.
Match-winner: Fernando Torres pops up to score the decisive goal at Stamford Bridge
That scoring feeling: Torres (left) celebrates his strike with Frank Lampard (second right) and Ashley Cole (right)
MATCH FACTS
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Mikel (Sturridge 68), Lampard; Ramires (Oscar 57), Hazard, Mata (Meireles 84); Torres.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Bertrand.
Goals: Lampard (pen) 18, Cahill 70, Torres 81, Ivanovic 90
Reading: Federici; Gunter, Harte, Gorkss, Pearce; Leigertwood, Guthrie, Karacan (Le Fondre 72), McAnuff, McCleary (Robson-Kanu 86); Pogrebnyak (Hunt 77)
Subs not used: McCarthy, Mariappa, Tabb, Cummings.
Goals: Pogrebniak 25, Guthrie 29
Booked: Karacan, Pogrebnyak
Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 41,733
Click here for the latest Premier League table, fixtures and results
Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Bertrand.
Goals: Lampard (pen) 18, Cahill 70, Torres 81, Ivanovic 90
Reading: Federici; Gunter, Harte, Gorkss, Pearce; Leigertwood, Guthrie, Karacan (Le Fondre 72), McAnuff, McCleary (Robson-Kanu 86); Pogrebnyak (Hunt 77)
Subs not used: McCarthy, Mariappa, Tabb, Cummings.
Goals: Pogrebniak 25, Guthrie 29
Booked: Karacan, Pogrebnyak
Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 41,733
Click here for the latest Premier League table, fixtures and results
Branislav Ivanovic scored into an empty net in the final minute of stoppage-time after Federici bombed forward in search of a draw.
The victory put Chelsea top of the table for the first time since November 2010, a fact pointed out by manager Roberto Di Matteo ahead of a fixture brought forward due to the European champions' involvement in the UEFA Super Cup.
But the Italian will be concerned at how hard his side made it for themselves against the npower Championship winners, who had several other chances to score.
For 25 minutes, it was the Chelsea show, with Eden Hazard showing the skills that yesterday saw Di Matteo dub him an "artist".
The Belgian had taken less than two minutes to make his mark on his league debut at Wigan and it could have been the same story tonight had he not screwed Juan Mata's through ball wide.
Hazard, Mata and Ramires were constantly on the move behind Torres and more fine football saw the latter force a good stop from Federici.
We're back in it: Gary Cahill is congratulated by John Terry after equalising for Chelsea
Good hit: Cahill (centre) blasts home Chelsea's equaliser thanks to a mistake from Reading keeper Adam Federici
The £32million man tormented Chris Gunter to distraction and when the leg was dangled, he hit the deck, giving Mason no choice but to award the penalty, Lampard giving Federici no chance from the spot.
If Chelsea thought the floodgates would open, they were given the rudest possible awakening as Reading amazingly turned the game on its head in the space of four minutes.
Pogrebnyak equalised with a brilliant header, getting in front of Cahill to glance home Garath McCleary's cross.
In front: Ian Harte congratulates Danny Guthrie (right) on scoring Reading's second goal at Stamford Bridge
Howler: Chelsea keeper Petr Cech fails to stop Guthrie's free-kick in the first half
But the visitors had an almighty howler from Cech to thank for going in front, the goalkeeper embarrassingly allowing Guthrie's powerful free-kick to spin off his body and into the net.
John Terry powered over a header from Mata's free-kick and Hazard's blockbuster was also too high but Chelsea had lost the initiative and had lost their way at the back.
Terry was being given a torrid time on his 550th club appearance and conceded a free-kick that Ian Harte whipped in and Alex Pearce somehow failed to connect with.
Feed the Pog: Pavel Pogrebnyak heads in Reading's first goal of the night after beating Cahill to the ball
Opener: Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard (third right) scores from the penalty spot
Ivanovic blazed over after the restart but Chelsea were struggling to penetrate a wall of yellow as Di Matteo sent on Oscar for Ramires before the hour mark.
Jem Karacan became the first player booked for upending Mata and Pogrebnyak quickly followed for tripping Ashley Cole but the home side were just as ragged.
Man in the middle: Referee Lee Mason gestures to Chelsea captain John Terry after a foul on a Reading player
It immediately paid off in unexpected fashion thanks to another goalkeeping howler from Federici, who palmed Cahill's swerving 25-yarder into his own net.
Reading sent on Adam Le Fondre for Karacan and Noel Hunt for Pogrebnyak but the force was with Chelsea and Mata screwed wide before they completed their own comeback thanks to a huge slice of luck.
That's yer lot: Branislav Ivanovic scores Chelsea's fourth goal and the sixth of the night
Reading went for broke late on, with Hal Robson-Kanu replacing McCleary and Federici bombing forward and they were caught out when Hazard squared for Ivanovic to tap home.
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