Chelsea 1 - 1 Everton

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Sunday Nov 11 2007 02:00

Tim Cahill's last-gasp overhead kick earned Everton a point after Didier Drogba looked to have done enough to secure all three for Chelsea.

Drogba scored the goal which extended the Blues' unbeaten home record in the Premier League to 69 matches as Everton grabbed a deserved point at Stamford Bridge.

The Ivorian struck on 71 minutes, but Everton's defensive display reaped dividends with seconds remaining when Cahill equalised with an acrobatic effort.

It was the Toffees who had the first chance on goal on 15 minutes when Ayegbeni Yakubu put a deep right-wing cross into the path of Steven Pienaar, but the midfielder completely mis-timed the flight of the ball when he was free in the six-yard box.Ricardo Carvalho suffered a back injury on 22 minutes after a challenge with Yakubu and, after returning to the pitch, limped around in midfield.Frank Lampard had Chelsea's first effort on goal when Nuno Valente headed his trademark drive from just outside the Everton area off the line on 26 minutes.

Chelsea boss Avram Grant eventually replaced the hapless Carvalho on 28 minutes with Tal Ben Haim.

Everton had another let off when Drogba and Lampard set up Joe Cole but he couldn't get a shot away, before Tim Howard produced a fantastic one-handed save to deny another Lampard piledriver.

Drogba missed an open goal on 45 minutes when a quick break by Wayne Bridge found Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The wideman sent in a low ball across goal, but Drogba, like Pienaar earlier, completed mis-timed the ball with an open goal going begging.

Everton boss David Moyes must have fancied his chances of winning the game as he brought on two strikers as half-time with Victor Anichebe on for Yakubu and James McFadden replacing Phil Neville.

Grant was forced into bringing on Salomon Kalou on 64 minutes for Wright-Phillips.

Chelsea almost scored twice within seconds soon after when first Howard tipped away a deft Lampard chip before right-back Tony Hibbett scrambled the ball off the line after a left-foot drive from Alex.

Chelsea finally broke the deadlock with 19 minutes remaining when a corner from Kalou was met by Drogba at the near post and the Ivory Coast hitman glanced a powerful header past Howard.

It is Drogba's seventh goal for the Blues this season.

Drogba almost hit number two when he went on a long, mazy run but finished the move off with a limp shot which Howard grabbed gleefully.

But Everton deserved their point and it came with a minute to play when McFadden's shot on target was deflected into the air and Cahill produced an overhead kick from six yards out that beat the stranded Carlo Cudicini.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    Referee Wiley blows for full time and the Blues' will look back on this game as one which they should have hit at least three and claimed just as many points.
  • 90
    Kalou this time is caught offside and time really is running out for Chelsea who look shocked at this possible outcome.
  • 90
    Pienaar picks up the fourth yellow of the afternoon as he cleverly brings down Mikel to waste time.
  • 89
    Chelsea get desperate here after conceding and Drogba has a rush of blood to the head as he charges through on goal only to be caught offside.
  • 87
    Everton equalise totally against the run of play after McFadden's deflected shot finds CAHILL three yards out and the Australian's overhead volley beats Cudicini to break Chelsea's clean sheet record which had reached over eight and a half hours!
  • 84
    Cross by Bridge from wide but Yobo clears the danger once again for the visitors.
  • 82
    Gravesen brings down the dangerous Drogba and Lampard takes the dead-ball but the ball flies out for a goal kick.
  • 80
    Goalscorer Drogba beats a couple of Everton defender's and lets off a shot from 18 yards but his shot is scuffed and easily saved by Howard who holds on to the ball.
  • 78
    Cross from Lampard into the centre but Yobo gets up well once again to nod the ball out of the box.
  • 77
    Cahill leaps to power a header at goal but the midfielder - well known for his aerial threat - sends his header over the bar.
  • 75
    Carsley makes way for Thomas Gravesen as Everton look to tighten up in the midfield.
  • 74
    Pienaar floors Kalou and as the foul is given, Everton take the opportunity to make a change.
  • 72
    Hibbert breaks from defence and sends in a cross into the heart of the Blues' defence but Alex gets up brilliantly to clear the danger.
  • 70
    Chelsea finally break the deadlock through DROGBA, his powerful header flies into the roof of the net from a Kalou corner on the right.
  • 68
    The corner is swung in by that man Lampard and Alex gets up to force a header goalwards but Tony Hibbert clears the ball off the line!
  • 67
    Lampard has been in brilliant form this afteroon and lets off a cracker from 25 yards which Howard does well to tip over the bar.
  • 66
    Essien picks up a yellow for unsporting behaviour.
  • 65
    Grant brings off Wright-Philips for Salomon Kalou and in fairness the former has had a rather ineffectual performance.
  • 63
    Everton race down the other end and McFadden lets off a shot from 20 yards but he is off target and theball flies over the bar.
  • 62
    Essien drives forward and Chelsea really are building the pressure but the Ghanaian's effot rom 25 yards is fierce but off target to the right hand side.
  • 60
    Wright-Philips' crosses have been out of sorts once again here today as the former Man City man sends another cross into the stands.
  • 58
    Cole lofts in a searching cross once more for a team-mate but the stopper Howard comes out to collect.
  • 57
    Carsley hits a shot from 20 yards but the Irishman's so drifts over the bar.
  • 55
    The Toffee's break forward with the ball though Valente who curls in a ball but Bridge removes the danger.
  • 54
    Belletti sees yellow after fouling Anichebe and the Brazilian is now on thin ice.
  • 53
    Cole takes the corner and whips it into the centre but Yobo removes the danger once more, what a game the defender is having!
  • 52
    Lampard lifts in a free-kick deep into the box but Cahill is back to carry out his defensive duties and clears for a corner.
  • 51
    Wright-Philips is fed the ball by Lampard out on the left and curls in a cross but Valente this time clears for Everton.
  • 49
    Bridge flies forward once again and lifts in another good looking ball for a team-mate to run onto but Yobo once again does his job and clears the danger.
  • 47
    Cahill runs out wide and sends in a lovely cross but Ben Haim does well to turn the ball out of the box with his head.
  • 45
    Yakubu has also left the field and has been replaced by Victor Anichebe.
  • 45
    Neville has been forced off through injury and James McFadden takes his place, it may just be a tactical change but this will worry the on-looking England Boss Steve McClaren.
  • 45
    The second half kicks-off and it appears that Neville has not re-appeared for the second 45.
  • 45
    A dominant first half from Chelsea but the Blues are yet to capitalise on their pressure as the half ends goaless.
  • 45
    Lee Carsley sends in a cross looking for Yakubu but Bridge is there ot intercept.
  • 44
    Bridge crosses in from deep but Howard comes out to pluck the ball out of the air.
  • 43
    Left-back Bridge tries his luck from 25 yards but he's being pretty optomistic from there as his effort drifts well wide.
  • 42
    Drogba fires in a shot from 25 yards but he' never scoring from there as his effort flies over te bar.
  • 41
    Cole whips in a corner onto th head of Drogba once again, this time the effort is on target but Howard holds on to the ball.
  • 40
    A brilliant corner is put in by Lampard plumb onto the head of Drogba but the striker can only put his effort over the bar!
  • 39
    Neville picks up the first booking of th afternoon as he shows dissent after fouling Mikel.
  • 38
    Lampard takes the corner but his inswinging ball is cleared by Joleon Lescott.
  • 37
    Chelsea come close through Lampard who hits a rasping shot at goal from 18 yards and Tim Howard does brilliantly to tip it round the post.
  • 35
    Everton find themselves in unfamiliar circumstances in this first half as Tim Cahill hits a dropping ball from Lee Carsley's cross but his volley flies a couple of feet wide of Carlo Cudicini's goal.
  • 35
    Drogba crosses in for Wirght-Philips who has made his way into the box and the England winger shoots but finds Valente in the way once again!
  • 34
    Lampard storms forward and lets off a pile-driver at goal but finds Valente in the way and the ball makes its way to safety.
  • 32
    Bridge sends in a ball from deep on the left which Valente deals with as Chelsea look to attack using the flanks, surely a goal must come soon?
  • 30
    Cole cuts in from the right after swapping over with Wright-Philips and sends in a shot but his targeting is off and the ball flies wide.
  • 29
    Carvalho is forced off early after straining his back trying to hold off the challenge of Yakubu and Chelsea bring on Tal Ben Haim.
  • 27
    Wright-Philips collects the ball from Mikel and races down the right before attempting a cross but this boy really is hit and miss and his cross ends up with the fas behind the goal.
  • 25
    Cole has a chance to whip in another corner after constant helsea pressure but ashis ball reaches Lampard at the far post the latter jumps unfairly with Neville and the referee awards the visitors a free-kick.
  • 23
    The stand in Chelsea Captain Lampard takes the corner out on the right to the centre of the box but his ball in is woeful and Everton can clear with ease.
  • 21
    Lampard sends a ball just outside the penalty box searching for the run of Drogba who collects the ball and fires in a trademark powerful effort which clips the legs of Leon Osman and ricochets out for a corner.
  • 19
    Yakubu makes his way out to the right with the ball and Everton, now without a striker in the box send men forward but Carvalho manges to get to the ball first and head clear.
  • 17
    Nuno Valente swings in the ball from the right but his cross is poor and the ball ends up in open play.
  • 16
    Shaun Wright-Phillips gets some kind of revenge on Cahill for his earlier foul and brings down the Australian.
  • 14
    Lampard adopts a cautious approach to the free-kick and simply passes the ball short as Chelsea look to build possesion.
  • 13
    Tim Cahill slides in on Mikel John Obi and gives away a free-kick.
  • 11
    Lampard tries to send Drogba away with a delightful ball but the Ivorian is caught just offside as he races through.
  • 9
    Joe Cole takes the resulting set-piece, he crosses into the box but the ball is too long and rolls out for a throw-in.
  • 8
    Pienaar brings down Essien who appears to have been singled out as the danger man in these early stages and referee Alan Wiley awards a free-kick.
  • 6
    Rodrigo da Costa Alex steps up to take the free-kick and chooses to play a short ball across the half-way line to Frank Lampard who brings the ball forward.
  • 5
    Phil Neville commits the first foul of the match, tripping Michael Essien in the middle of the park.
  • 4
    Steven Pienaar tries to find lone striker Ayegbeni Yakubu with a long through ball but the home defence let the ball run through to Cudicini who plays a short ball out to Ricardo Carvalho.
  • 3
    Chelsea win the ball back and sendit out to the left and to Wayne Bridge who has made a surging run, the England man sends in a cross of his own but Yobo once again gets to the ball first and removes the danger.
  • 1
    Juliano Belletti races own the right flank and whips in a teasing cross for the head of Didier Drogba but Joseph Yobo clears the danger.
  • 0
    Chelsea get the match underway here at Stamford Bridge and immediately spray the ball out wide to the right.
  • 0
    Everton XI: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Pienaar, Carsley, Neville, Osman, Cahill, Yakubu.
  • 0
    Chelsea XI: Cudicini, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Bridge, Essien, Wright-Phillips, Obi, Lampard, Joe Cole, Drogba.
  • 0
    Today's referee for this early kick-off is Alan Wiley, the experienced official from Staffordshire has handed out one red and 30 yellow cards in nine matches this season.
  • 0
    Everton have injury woes of their own with Mikel Arteta, Leighton Baines, Alan Stubbs and James Vaughan all doubtful for today's clash.
  • 0
    Chelsea play host to Everton today without injured Petr Cech and John Terry but welcome Ashly Cole to the squad as the bid to build on their seven and a half hours without conceding a league goal.

Statistics

Chelsea
Shots on target 10
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 13
Offsides 4
Corners 9

Everton
Shots on target 2
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 16
Offsides 1
Corners 1

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