Chelsea 1-0 Everton: Late drama ensures 3 points
Chelsea moved 4 points clear at the top as they ran out 1-0 winners at home to Everton thanks to a dramatic 93rd minute winner.
John Terry returned to the side to help the Blues keep a clean sheet and to also steal the points away from Everton at the very last.
Everton took the game to the home side in the first half, undoubtedly having the best of the play but also failing to take the chances that fell their way.
Chelsea’s attacking force failed to shine through for the duration of the game, with Oscar having a very weak game, and Hazard and Willian unable to influence the play how they normally would.
Keven Mirallas’ chance was most notable, but the Belgian mishit his volley from the edge of the area.
Jose Mourinho admired how Everton played and admitted that the Toffees had the better of the first half:
“For 20 minutes we were in control, after that Everton were in control. They pass the ball well.”
However, the scoreline stood at 0-0 at half time, mainly thanks to both goalkeepers who both made fine saves to keep their teams in the game.
Chelsea replaced Oscar with Ramires at half time, with the latter injecting more pace and drive into the heart of the midfield – the area where Chelsea lost most battles in the first half.
Tim Howard was on fine form yet again to deny Branislav Ivanovic what would have been his third goal in recent games.
Chelsea later brought on Fernando Torres and Andre Schurrle in an attempt to win the game – both missing all chances that came their way.
Deep into stoppage time, Phil Jagielka fouled Ramires as he drove forward and conceded a freekick around 35 yards from his goal.
John Terry had been missing through injury for the last three games but, as predicted in our preview of the game, he returned to the side along with Frank Lampard; the combination which made the winning goal:
The midfielder swung over a tempting freekick and John Terry, forward for set pieces as always, got a vital toe to it to turn it in. Tim Howard was hopeless to continue his heroics that he had performed up to this point.
Everton had little time to react and, despite winning a late corner, could do nothing to deny Chelsea the points as Petr Cech collected and the final whistle blew.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho knew the importance of the win as his side retained their place at the League’s summit:
“It’s a good feeling to win in the end. The players did everything, they wanted to win.”
In his comments at the end of the game, Mourinho also hailed the performance of Cesar Azpilicueta, who has been the model of consistency while playing at left-back this season.
Chelsea moved four points clear thanks to today’s game being an early kick off, however rivals Arsenal and Manchester City both have winnable games against Sunderland and Stoke respectively. City also have an extra game to play.
Chelsea’s next game is a trip to Turkey to face Didier Drogba and his Galatasaray team, before a trip down the road from the Bridge to face near neighbors Fulham in the league.
