CHELSEA CRACKERS STUN TOFFEES!
Three goals of exceptional quality enabled Chelsea to overcome a shambolic defensive display and beat Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park. The hosts led twice through Mikel Arteta and Joseph Yobo, but were denied by long-range efforts from Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
Chelsea close the gap at the top of the Premiership behind Manchester United to two points, with the leaders in action against West Ham later on Sunday afternoon.
The champions lined up without their captain John Terry, who fell victim to a back injury, and his Terry’s stand-in Khalid Boulahrouz immediately came under pressure from Andy Johnson and Victor Anichebe, making his first Premiership start.
Johnson could - and probably should - have had a penalty on 17 minutes when Boulahrouz pulled him back and Hilario brought him down, but referee Mark Halsey said no.
The official was in more accommodating mood on 38 minutes when Boulahrouz hauled Anichebe to the ground, although he had to consult his assistant first.
Mikel Arteta dispatched the penalty clinically, firing into the bottom-left corner with Hilario diving the wrong way.
Half-time brought a tactical change in the introduction of Salomon Kalou for Geremi, and a verbal rocket from manager Jose Mourinho.
The response was nearly immediate, with Michael Ballack firing in a brilliant free-kick on 49 minutes, albeit via the hand of Tim Howard and the right-hand post.
Kalou then hit the post when a corner was not cleared and it looked like Chelsea would run riot.
But Terry’s absence was felt again at an Everton corner, as Yobo leapt above Michael Essien and his header glanced in off Michael Ballack.
Andriy Shevchenko came off the bench on 73 minutes and at least looked engaged in the game, although he missed two chances he might have score in his former life at Milan.
Ten minutes from time, Lampard unleashed a strike to rival that scored by Michael Essien against Arsenal last weekend.
The England midfielder collected the ball on the left of centre, 25 metres from goal, and slammed a perfectly placed drive into the top right corner, leaving Howard no chance.
Chelsea piled forward and Drogba hit the woodwork with a shot on the turn four minutes from time.
The winner looked inevitable, and it was. Drogba chested the ball down 35 metres out and thumped an incredible dipping volley over Howard and in.
The American is not enjoying the best of times, having recently been beaten by an even longer-range volley from Portsmouth’s Matthew Taylor.
Chelsea need Terry back quickly as even they cannot rely on three wondergoals every week, but on this occasion their highly-paid attacking stars earned their pay cheques and more.
