Source: Daily_Mail
Everton 2 Chelsea 1: Terry pays the price as Saha pounces to net Goodison winner
He had plenty of advance warning, but John Terry was still powerless to prevent Louis Saha adding to his woes and putting a dent in Chelsea's Barclays Premier League title hopes at Goodison Park last night.[LNB] The troubled Chelsea skipper has been in turmoil in recent weeks, following a series of indiscretions that cost him the England captaincy, and David Moyes advised him against expecting any upturn in fortunes as he prepared to lock horns with in-form former Manchester United striker Saha.[LNB] Everton's astute manager has proved himself a sound judge on many a previous occasion, and his reputation for calling the shots was duly reinforced as Saha intensified Terry's discomfort by equalising Florent Malouda's early opener and firing a dramatic winner in the 75th minute.[LNB] At the double: Louis Saha celebrates after bagging the winning goal for Everton [LNB]As he reflects on a calamitous evening for himself and his side, Terrymay just conclude that, as in his private life, his latest misery wasentirely self-inflicted.[LNB] A rare lapse of concentration cost him dearly for Saha's first goal andan equally unusual positional error carried an even greater price as heallowed Everton's lethal front- runner to advance unchallenged for his 14th goal of the season.[LNB] Moyes had based his calculations on Saha finally breaking free of any uncertainty over his future by signing a new two-year contract worth �55,000 a week. It enabled him toconcentrate on what he does best, and Terry will be the latest to testify that few in the Premier League do it better.[LNB]In trouble: Saha takes advantage of Terry's recent woes and nips in to score the all-important goal [LNB]There had been little sign of the defensive mayhem to come for Chelsea as they started with their customary swagger in midfield, piecing together slick passing moves and leaving Everton chasing shadows.[LNB] Frank Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic both squandered openings, after impressive build-ups, but there could be no faulting Malouda's accuracy when he made the most of a chance set up by a route one approach in the 17th minute.[LNB] Moyes may just have questioned the standard of defending, though, as Didier Drogba was allowed a free header from Petr Cech's clearance and Malouda held off a challenge from Phil Neville to drill a crisp low shot beyond Tim Howard.[LNB] That should have been the cue for Chelsea taking complete control, particularly as they had never lost with Malouda on the scoresheet, but Everton had other ideas as they hit back with a 33rd-minute leveller that highlighted another, far more worrying, statistic about Carlo Ancelotti's side.[LNB] As Landon Donovan swung over a corner from the right, Saha peeled away from Terry and planted a near-post header past Cech to leave Chelsea mulling over the stark reality that 16 of 21 set-pieces conceded in the league this season have led to goals.[LNB] First blood: Malouda wastes no time putting Chelsea ahead at Goodison Park [LNB]If that came as a jolt, the alarm bells started sounding at the end of the half, as Saha had a point-blank shot blocked by Cech in the 44th minute and Ricardo Carvalho up-ended the lively Donovan just inside the area for the clearest of penalties.[LNB] Saha struck his kick well enough, but Cech read his intentions and took off to his left to palm it to safety and earn the gratitude of his team-mates, Carvalho in particular.[LNB] [LNB]MATCH FACTSEVERTON (4-4-1-1): Howard 6; Neville 7,Heitinga 6, Distin 6, Baines 7; Donovan 8, Arteta 6 (Rodwell 74min), Osman 6,Bilyaletdinov 5 (Gosling 86); Cahill 6;Saha 7 (Senderos 90).Booked: Donovan.[LNB]CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 6; Ivanovic 7,Terry 7, Carvalho 6, A Cole 6 (Ballack 56, 6); Mikel 7, Lampard 7, Zhirkov 6; Anelka(Kalou 66, 6), Drogba 7, Malouda 6.Booked: Mikel.Man of the match: Landon Donovan.Referee: Alan Wiley.[LNB]Saha's demeanour as he trudged off seconds later, still reliving the miss and shaking his head in dismay, suggested it might have sapped his confidence. Appearances can be deceptive, however, as Chelsea were to discover in the 75th minute, as Terry erred once more and Saha made the most of his good fortune yet again.[LNB] All the know-how and experience that has made Terry one of England's most dependable defenders suddenly deserted him, as he jumped under a long through-ball from Sylvain Distin and looked on aghast at the sight of Saha chesting it down and volleying unerringly past Cech.[LNB] Drogba headed a late corner against the bar in a spirited Chelsea rally, but the way the ensuing scramble panned out said everything about Chelsea's malaise on the night. The ball eventually fell to Terry on the edge of the area, but he was left facing merciless jeers from all sides after leaning back and sending a side-foot finish high and wide into the Gwladys Street stands. [LNB]A delighted Moyes said: 'Saha should have scored four, not two. I have given him a slight pat on the back but not a proper one! We played really well. To go a goal behind and come back I don't know too many teams who do that against Chelsea.'[LNB]While Moyes celebrated his first ever victory over Chelsea, Ancelotti's assistant RayWilkins, rallied round Terry, saying: 'I don't agree that his head wasn't right. That wasn't the case at all. he got caught under the ball for the second goal, but he has been absolutely outstanding for us all season.[LNB]'It was just the slightest of blips, but you have to give Saha some credit for taking thechance so well. [LNB]'Carlo has given John time off this weekend, but he will be back for the Wolves game.Ashley Cole has picked up quite a nasty knock on the ankle, but we are going to have to assess it back at the training ground.'[LNB] Terry set for new world of pain as troubled Chelsea skipper faces SahaConquerer Carlo vows to lead Roman's empire to victory on three frontsEVERTON FC
