Frank Lampard became the first midfielder to chalk up 150 Premier League goals but it was not enough to earn Chelsea victory as it was held 1-1 at west London rival Fulham Monday. The 33-year-old Lampard struck from the penalty spot in the 45th minute after Salomon Kalou was brought down in dubious circumstances in the box. Fulham equalized with seven minutes to go when Clint Dempsey headed his 16th league goal of the season from a right-wing corner. Chelsea remained sixth in the table, two points behind Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United who are level on 59 points with five games to go in the race for the fourth and final Champions League qualifying berth for next season. Earlier in the day, Newcastle defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-0 while Spurs suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat by Norwich City. “This was a big missed opportunity for us,” said England international Lampard. “We saw the Spurs result – we knew we could close the gap and we wanted to win the game. “My achievement doesn't feel too good right now because this feels like a defeat. We feel we had a big hold of the game and we let it slip. “Personal landmarks are great and will be especially good when I look back at the end of my career but it is a shame that today's goal didn't get us a win. I can't enjoy it when it doesn't get us three points.” Chelsea will have to win the Champions League for the first time to qualify for the competition again next season if it doesn't finish in the top four. The Blues face Barcelona in the semifinals next Wednesday, three days after their FA Cup semifinal match against Tottenham. The priority is making up the two points on Newcastle and Tottenham in the league. “We're still in there, hanging in there,” Chelsea interim coach Roberto Di Matteo said. “We knew Craven Cottage is a difficult place to come. We're getting closer to the teams ahead of us.” Malaga goes 3rd Malaga rose into the Champions League positions in the Spanish league Monday after beating 10-man Racing Santander 3-0 Monday. Racing was a man down from the second minute after Francisco Perez received a red card for pulling down Jose Rondon with only the goalkeeper to beat. Mario Fernandez saved the penalty attempt by Santi Cazorla, but the hosts dominated the rest of the way. Francisco “Isco” Alarcon curled a right-footed shot into the corner of the net for Malaga's 22nd-minute opener. Cazorla added another from a pass by Enzo Maresca in the 64th, and substitute striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy headed in to seal the win in the 84th. “The league isn't over, there are seven games to go. But it's very important to be in third place,” Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini said. “It isn't easy reaching this point in front of clubs like Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Valencia.” Malaga dispossessed Valencia of third place for the first time in 21 rounds. After 13 games without a win, Racing is seven points from safety. “We aren't capable of winning, and the only thing we can do is keep working to find solutions,” Racing coach Alvaro Cervera said.
