Chelsea remain at the top of the Premier League table, but they needed a bit of luck to get there after Everton put together a solid performance at Stamford Bridge. The Toffees looked set to hang on to a draw until the dying minutes of stoppage time when Tim Howard failed to deal with a free kick, helping Chelsea to walk away 1-0 winners.
Chelsea vs. Everton: Final score 1-0, so close to a result for the Toffees
Oh, Tim Howard. Someone give him a hug.
Scott Heavey
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Both of Everton’s efforts that tested Cech came from Leon Osman. He made Cech tip the ball over the crossbar on a drive from just outside the box in the 12th minute, but was lucky to force Cech to work on the second. His 58th minute shot took a massive deflection and Cech did well to put it out for a corner.
Chelsea had nearly three times as many shots as their visitors, but never truly tested Howard until the very end. Their best chance of the first half came off a corner Everton failed to clear, which resulted in a good chance from 10 yards, but Samuel Eto'o put his shot right into Howard. Chelsea also had a shout for a penalty in the 52nd minute when Phil Jagielka appeared to handle the ball in the box, but nothing was given.
The final half-hour of play was all in Everton’s half, but the Toffees defended well, keeping men in front of the ball at all times. Chelsea had a good late chance fall to substitute Andre Schürrle, who was free at the back post off a cross in the 85th minute, but he made poor contact on a volley attempt and missed badly. Ramires almost helped the crowd to blow the roof off Stamford Bridge with a brilliant 90th minute shot from 20 yards, but he missed wide to Howard’s right by a mere inch. It looked like Everton were going to hang onto a draw heading into stoppage time, but Chelsea finally broke through at the very end.
In the 93rd minute, Phil Jagielka was whistled for a foul on the right side of the pitch, 25 yards from goal. Frank Lampard hit a brilliant curling delivery towards the back post that barely eluded the mass of players in the center box, eventually falling at the back post. A sliding John Terry unsettled Howard, who deflected the ball into his own net.
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Ivanovic, Matic, Lampard, Hazard, Oscar (Ramires 45’), Willian (Torres 61’), Eto’o (Schürrle 69’)
Goals: Howard (og 90’)
Everton: Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Pienaar (McGeady 80’), Osman (Barkley 63’), Mirallas (Deulofeu 75’), Naismith
Goals: None
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