Those opening hopeful moments of a match - where each team, unsure of what their opponent will offer, play hopeful of an early, shock goal - have faded. Ambitious runs with tight muscles and dry skin end after 15 minutes, the lack of goals telling each side to settle-in. Everton and Chelsea have both settled-in, spending more time on the ball, with defenders less likely to abandon positioning in search of a tackle. Thus, the mid-point of the first half has come and gone, with both sides still scoreless.
Everton FC Vs. Chelsea FC: Sides Settle-In, Scoreless After First Half Hour
If there is a reason for either side to worry, it's Chelsea's inability or unwillingness to challenge on the flanks to prevent crosses. During one stretch in the 19th minute, the holders were able to block successive crosses from Everton's left, but that stretch has been the exception. While the crosses have lacked precision and the target man's lacked ambition, Chelsea has yet to be punished by Everton's ability to pump crosses in, but in the 22nd minute, when an unmarked Sylvain Distin was able to head a ball down and toward goal, the Blues has their first minor scare, one that ended when Petr Cech came off his line to cover the ball.
In the 25th minute, Everton created the match's first legitimate chance, with the continued strong play of Marouane Fellaini leading to a won ball in midfield, a pass through the defense for Jack Rodwell. Soon to be troubled by a defender, Rodwell has no choice but to put his first touch on goal. His right-footed shot from 14 yards out went straight to an oncoming Cech.
Now in the 29th minute, a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov header - on the end of service from Phil Neville - is whistled offside before the Russian can redirect the ball onto Cech. Moments later, Nicolas Anelka hits the post after a offside whistle, Frank Lampard having put the forward in on Tim Howard. Regardless, the match remains 0-0, approaching the half-hour mark.
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