[AMERICANS ABROAD] Clint Dempsey had a chance to give Fulham a major upset win over Chelsea and break his single-season EPL scoring record, but keeper Petr Cech stopped his weak effort from the penalty spot in stoppage time and gave Chelsea a 0-0 tie with the Cottagers.

Dempsey, who has nine goals this season, was fouled by David Luiz when he burst down the right side of the penalty area in the third and final minute of stoppage time and the otherwise excellent Brazilian defender took him down.

Cech dived to his right and stopped Dempsey’s shot and then watched as the American's bicycle kick on the rebound sailed wide.

Fulham coach Mark Hughes said Dempsey should have had another chance because of Didier Drogba's obvious encroachment.

"Drogba was encroaching in the box," he said. "[Referee] Mike Dean saw it: he was alongside Clint as he kicked it. Mike Dean saw that, so it should have been retaken."

The tie left Chelsea, the defending champion, 12 points behind Premier League leader Manchester United in fifth place.