Chelsea 3 Everton 3: Saha strikes to dent Blues' title hopes

12 December 2009 22:13
From invincible to feeble in a matter of weeks; the ebb and flow of football's fortunes change like the tide, as John Terry was no doubt reflecting in the aftermath of yesterday's calamitous yet entertaining draw at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]Chelsea may have looked to be the all-conquering power of the Premier League after their overwhelming win against Arsenal just two weeks ago, justifying Terry's boast that they were beginning to feel unbeatable again as a team.[LNB]But given the fickle nature of the game, it was almost inevitable that they were then knocked out of the Carling Cup, lost a weekend later and then recorded two draws, results which demonstrated the defensive vulnerabilities which will give fresh hope to Manchester United and Arsenal.[LNB] Silence at the Bridge: Louis Saha pulls Everton level[LNB] [LNB]The point is not that Chelsea have suddenly become a bad team, whichwould be a nonsense; yet they have become easier to expose in the twoyears since Jose Mourinho departed.[LNB]Everton did so with ease and by the end, Chelsea's repeated failureswere laughable, so predictable had they become. Set-pieces should notbe an issue for defenders as accomplished as Chelsea's, but an Evertonside deprived of key men and with shaky confidence managed to embarrassthem three times twice from free-kicks and once from a long throw. [LNB]Jose would be aghast at the habitual weakness. 'We were unlucky aswe played well,' said Ancelotti, which was at least true for theattacking phases of their game.[LNB]'I'm not happy with the result but we deserved to win. You can saywe're in a crisis, but I don't think so. I don't lose trust in myplayers. We have the same possibility to win the title.'[LNB]It was England and Chelsea captain Terry who failed to command thedefensive line and he was at fault for the first two goals, not thatDavid Moyes was about to claim credit for exposing his fraility.[LNB]'I don't think Chelsea or John Terry have a weakness,' said theEverton manager. 'If he's struggling, then send him up to me atEverton; I'll cope with him.' For a manager missing Joseph Yobo,Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka in central defence, to say nothing ofPhil Neville, Tim Cahill Mikel Arteta and Leon Osman in midfield, itwas a moot point.[LNB]Having just seen a shadow team hold one of Europe's finest to a draw, Moyes was not about to downplay their achievement.[LNB]'I'd say it was our best performance of the season and I think you press would have to say so as well,' he said.[LNB]'It was a great draw. The last two results have been draws butthey've felt like victories. When I saw the team we had to put outtoday, I was really worried as to how it would end up but they showedgreat resilience and spirit.'[LNB]Chelsea's vulnerability was exposed in the 12th minute, when Leighton Baines swung in the first testing free-kick.[LNB] Three and easy: Didier Drogba puts Chelsea ahead[LNB]Louis Saha jumped alongside Terry the ball seemingly dropped on thestriker's head as Terry failed to clear. Enough contact was made,however, to glance the ball goalwards and though Petr Cech dived tosave, the ball struck a post rebounded off his back into the net.[LNB]Everton's lead was short-lived. On minutes Saha lost possession toRicardo Carvalho who advanced, fed Frank Lampard who in turn touchedthe ball to Didier Drogba and he calmly slotted home past Tim Howard.[LNB]Five minutes later Nicolas Anelka scored from close range afteranother Saha mistake and Stamford Bridge then awaited capitulation fromEverton.[LNB]It was not to be. Chelsea failed to press home their advantage. Evenbefore the equaliser was created from an old-fashioned long throw inthe fifth minute of first-half added time, Chelsea had been exposedfrom free-kicks and crosses. [LNB]For Everton's second goal Diniyar Bilyaletdinov lobbed the ball toMarouane Fellaini, which was enough to induce a rushed Carvalhoclearance. Terry dithered, allowing Baines a shot, which rebounded offgrounded Carvalho and Yakubu on for injured Jo scored with hisfirst touch from three yards.[LNB]Everton tightened up after half-time but a brief lapse ofconcentration undid their good work. Steven Pienaar failed to get closeto Drogba on 59 minutes, who volleyed home from Branislav Ivanovic'stesting cross to make it 3-2.[LNB]Yet when John Heitinga sized up a free-kick 40 yards out on 63 minutes, Stamford Bridge sensed what was coming.[LNB] Bemused: Petr Cech and Branislav Ivanovic are dumbfounded as Louis Saha levels[LNB]The Dutchman sent in the ball and for the first time, Chelseaactually won the initial challenge. However, Drogba forcefully headedthe ball onto Saha's head and the Frenchman, with his back to goal,flinched when contact was made, but again the ball looped goalwards,over Cech and in for another equaliser.[LNB]Lampard who in turn touched the ball to Didier Drogba and he calmly slotted home past Tim Howard.[LNB]Five minutes later Nicolas Anelka scored from close range afteranother Saha mistake and Stamford Bridge then awaited capitulation fromEverton.[LNB]It was not to be. Chelsea failed to press home their advantage. Evenbefore the equaliser was created from an old-fashioned long throw inthe fifth minute of first-half added time, Chelsea had been exposedfrom free-kicks and crosses. [LNB]For Everton's second goal Diniyar Bilyaletdinov lobbed the ball toMarouane Fellaini, which was enough to induce a rushed Carvalhoclearance. Terry dithered, allowing Baines a shot, which rebounded offgrounded Carvalho and Yakubu on for injured Jo scored with hisfirst touch from three yards.[LNB]Everton tightened up after half-time but a brief lapse ofconcentration undid their good work. Steven Pienaar failed to get closeto Drogba on 59 minutes, who volleyed home from Branislav Ivanovic'stesting cross to make it 3-2.[LNB]Yet when John Heitinga sized up a free-kick 40 yards out on 63 minutes, Stamford Bridge sensed what was coming.[LNB]The Dutchman sent in the ball and for the first time, Chelseaactually won the initial challenge. However, Drogba forcefully headedthe ball onto Saha's head and the Frenchman, with his back to goal,flinched when contact was made, but again the ball looped goalwards,over Cech and in for another equaliser.[LNB] I'll wield the axe if you flop against Everton, Ancelotti tells Chelsea starsChelsea boss Ancelotti shelves interest in Croatian defender SrnaCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail