Premier League, Stamford Bridge – Chelsea 1 (Willian 90) Everton 0
Willian’s deflected goal in the final minute of regulation time gave Chelsea a slender 1-0 win over Everton, who finished the game with 10 men.
The visitors produced a resilient defensive display but finally succumbed when the Brazilian’s low half-volley squirmed through a crowded penalty box and past Tim Howard.
In the previous minute Gareth Barry was sent off for a second yellow, and Branislav Ivanovic was lucky not to also see red for leaning in on James McCarthy with his head in the resulting melee.
Chelsea thought they had won it moments before that red card but Ivanovic’s celebrations were cut short as he was deemed offside when turning home from a Nemanja Matic shot. They only had to wait a couple of minutes to score for real, though, and it’s a goal that keeps them seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Despite Chelsea’s dominance the best chance of the match fell to Everton but Romelu Lukaku saw his close range effort saved brilliantly by the outstretched leg of Petr Cech. They will live to regret that moment and despite an impressive defensive performance, they have just one win in ten.
KEY MOMENTS
6’ – Close! Willian strikes one from the edge of the box and it flies just over Howard’s crossbar.
9’ – Lukaku goes close! Everton break with pace and the Belgian striker is through on goal but his effort is too close to Cech who deflects the ball behind with his legs. Should have done better.
13’ – Great save! Chelsea enjoy a period of sustained pressure and when the ball is swung into the box Howard is forced into a fine save from a close range Loic Remy header.
19’ – Agonisingly close! Azpilicueta flights a beautifully weighted ball into the box and Hazard is centimetres away from touching it past Howard. He can’t quite extend his leg far enough to make contact, though, and the Everton keeper gathers and breathes a sigh of relief.
32’ – More danger averted for Everton. Hazard cuts in onto his left and fires off a fierce low shot. Howard has to be careful – three braying Chelsea players are in close proximity.
67’ – Another save from Howard! The American is down at full stretch to deny Willian and importantly parries the ball away rather than into the path of the braying Chelsea attackers.
68’ – What a chance and what a save! Oviedo puts in a low cross and Lukaku is unmarked inside the six yard box. He opens his body out but Cech sticks a leg out and saves. How did that not go in?!
86’ – GOAL DISALLOWED! Chelsea think they’ve won it! But the linesman spoils the party. Matic shoots from the edge of the box and it’s diverted in by Ivanovic, who was just in an offside position. Good call.
88’ – Gareth Barry is sent off! It’s a second yellow for a clumsy one on Willian and he trudges off the pitch. That was his 11th yellow of the season and he was already facing a two-game ban.
90’ – GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 EVERTON. There’s no doubt this time – Chelsea have scored at the death! It’s Willian and it’s a powerful low half-volley which flies through bodies and may take a nick off an Everton leg. Either way, Howard is fooled and Chelsea have the lead.
KEY STATS
Chelsea have won 33 and lost just one of their last 40 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge.
Everton have just one win in ten in all competitions.
Chelsea have kept 16 clean sheets in their last 20 Premier League home games, conceding just six goals in that run.
Before tonight Everton were unbeaten over 90 minutes in six games.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League home matches against Everton (W11, D9).
TALKING POINT
Premier League winners in waiting? Before the game Chelsea were seven points clear at the top of the table. But with Everton standing firm and Man City 4-1 up against Stoke, it looked like there might be a twist in the title race. But at the death Chelsea made sure that wasn’t so. And isn’t it this kind of performance that wins titles? Those late winners, three points ground out against resilient opposition, were a mainstay of Alex Ferguson’s tenure at Manchester United. This could go down as a crucial night in the title race.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eden Hazard (Chelsea). The Belgian is has been racking up the man of the match awards this season but there’s no harm in another one. He was Chelsea’s liveliest player tonight, popping up all over the pitch and looking a real threat whenever he touched the ball. Although he didn’t make the decisive contribution he was the main reason for one of the toughest matches Everton’s defenders will have to endure this season.
PLAYER RATINGS
Chelsea: Cech 7; Ivanovic 6, Zouma 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6; Ramires 7, Matic 8; Cuadrado 7, Willian 8, Hazard 8; Remy 7…Subs: Cahill 6, Fabregas 7, Drogba 6.
Everton: Howard 8; Coleman 6, Stones 6, Jagielka 7, Oviedo 5; Barry 6, Besic 7, Lennon 8, Barkley 6; Naismith 6, Lukaku 6…Subs: Gibson 6, Mirallas 6, McCarthy 7.
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
Mark of champions
Eurosport – Patrick Fletcher – 2/11/15, 11:16 PM
