Substitute Mark Viduka completed a remarkable fightback as Middlesbrough condemned Chelsea to defeat - 2-1 -at the Riverside Stadium for the second successive season. The Australian blasted home a last-minute winner after defender Emanuel Pogatetz had pegged the visitors back 10 minutes earlier.

It looked like being plain sailing for the visitors after 30 million hitman Andriy Shevchenko had put them in front with just 16 minutes gone. But Salomon Kalou failed to make it 2-0 within two minutes and Frank Lampard hit the bar with a second-half header to leave the Teessiders in with a chance.

Aiyegbeni Yakubu, who had earlier wasted two golden opportunities, might have earned his side a penalty with 15 minutes remaining, but his strike partner supplied the decisive touch in the nick of time to give new manager Gareth Southgate a dream start in his opening home game.

Twenty years to the day that Boro were forced to play a Division Three fixture at neighbouring Hartlepool after only just avoiding financial meltdown, the latest generation ran out determined to celebrate a promising future rather than a difficult past.

And for quarter of an hour, Southgate's team looked well capable of repeating their heroics against the champions last season when they sent them back to London on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline.

Indeed, had lone striker Yakubu, a scorer on that day six months ago, made better contact with Stewart Downing's 12th-minute cross, they would have been in front, and deservedly so.

But having surrendered a two-goal advantage at Reading on opening day, Boro allowed the visitors to fight their way back into the game, and how. Chelsea, for whom Kalou replaced Arjen Robben before kick-off after the Dutchman was injured in the warm-up, had hardly mounted a serious attack when they took the lead.

Michael Essien picked up possession wide on the left and as Wayne Bridge ran in behind full-back Andrew Davies, slid the ball into his path. Bridge's pull-back was perfect for Shevchenko, and although the Ukrainian's strike was not the sweetest under pressure from George Boateng, it was good enough to beat the wrong-footed Mark Schwarzer.

It might have been 2-0 within two minutes had Kalou managed to make contact with Didier Drogba's cross, and the home side found themselves under the cosh as the half wore on.

As they became increasingly careless in possession, Jose Mourinho's men stepped up a gear and Schwarzer had to tip a 27th-minute free-kick around the post.

Only Chris Riggott's intervention prevented Drogba, who had earlier been floored by an X-rated challenge by Davies, from converting Paulo Ferreira's cross, and Essien called Schwarzer into action with a well-struck drive.

Stuart Parnaby sent a dipping long-range effort wide two minutes before the break, but the tide had turned decisively.

Drogba, who had been unhappy with some of the challenges that had come his way before the break, returned late for the second half and was promptly booked for making his way on to the field without permission, hardly improving his mood.

To their credit, Boro started to force their way back into the game with Brazilian Fabio Rochemback, who had been largely anonymous before the break, starting to make an impression.

Southgate made his move on the hour when he changed both personnel and system.

Midfielder Lee Cattermole came on for full-back Davies and Downing switched to the right as he and Andrew Taylor were asked to operate as wing-backs.

However, the game might have been over within two minutes after Shevchenko broke down the right and crossed for Lampard, whose header came down off the crossbar and was punched away by Schwarzer.

As the game opened up, Yakubu passed up another gilt-edged chance to register when he beat the offside trap to reach Downing's lofted cross, but again failed to hit the target.

Viduka, who had started the game on the bench, was introduced as a 72nd-minute substitute and within three minutes, had flicked the ball cleverly towards Yakubu inside the penalty area.

The Nigerian neatly turned Ricardo Carvalho, and with the defender tugging at his shirt, went to ground, but referee Howard Webb waved his claims away.

But with 10 minutes remaining, Boro got their equaliser, Pogatetz meeting a Rochemback free-kick with a sweet header to leave Carlo Cudicini helpless.

And there was even better to come when, after the Chelsea defence had failed to deal with Downing's cross, Viduka fired home from close range to snatch victory.