CHELSEA 1 0 EVERTON
City held at bay by Willian
WILLIAN struck in the fi nal minute at Stamford Bridge last night to keep Chelsea seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Just as champions Manchester City looked set to narrow the gap as they romped to a 4- 1 triumph at Stoke with Sergio Aguero scoring twice, Willian sparked delirious scenes with a rasping drive that deflected past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.
It had been a frustrating evening for the leaders, who had their own keeper, Petr Cech, to thank as he made a series of fi ne saves after coming in to replace Thibaut Courtois.
SOMETIMES, in times of crisis, you have to call on the old hands. And in Chelsea’s case, there are none better than Petr Cech’s – but it was young buck Willian who struck the late winner that kept Chelsea seven points clear in the title race.
Jose Mourinho’s side were stuttering and stumbling until the Brazilian let fl y with a low shot from the edge of the area that fl ew past the defi ant Tim Howard.
But Chelsea last night owed a massive vote of thanks to veteran goalkeeper Cech.
The 32- year- old was recalled in place of the dropped Thibaut Courtois, and he produced two saves right out of the top- drawer to stop Blues old boy Romelu Lukaku. Had it not been for the Czech, Everton could have won this game long before Willian’s precious strike.
Mourinho sprang a surprise as he dropped Courtois for the fi rst time since the Belgian came back to the club in August after erratic displays at Aston Villa and against Manchester City.
Cech came in, and £ 26.8million January signing Juan Cuadrado made his full debut – with the injured Oscar dropping out.
Chelsea started strongly as Nemanja Matic strode through two tackles to shoot just over, and Everton were lucky when Steven Naismith appeared to clearly handle Willian’s cross, but got away with it.
The Brazilian curled a shot just over the angle as Chelsea got into their rhythm. But then Lukaku, on his fi rst visit back to Stamford Bridge since leaving permanently in the summer, showed his power as he pounced on Ross Barkley’s pass and forced Cech to save with an outstretched foot.
Everton keeper Howard produced an equally good save to keep out Loic Remy’s fl ashing header. But as Chelsea poured forward the chances kept coming, and the Frenchman then skidded a shot just wide of the post.
Then Eden Hazard’s low shot was well saved by Howard at the second attempt as the pressure continued to mount. Everton boss Roberto Martinez’s ensured his side mostly had 10 men behind the ball as they fought off the siege.
The Colombian Cuadrado showed speed going forward but kept running into blind alleys, as did too many of his colleagues. He got into good positions, but then took one touch too many.
Hazard was one who became more direct, and he fi red in a shot that Howard had to parry away. But the American World Cup hero produced an even better stop when he tipped Matic’s free- kick round the post. He was there again when Willian curled in a shot from the left.
But Everton were then foiled by the save of the night. As Chelsea failed to clear a corner, Bryan Oviedo fi red in a low cross, and when Lukaku shot from fi ve yards, somehow Cech once again saved with an outstretched leg. The old man had fully justifi ed his recall with two pieces of brilliance.
Even when Matic’s shot was defl ected in, Branislav Ivanovic was offside. It was that kind of night. Gareth Barry’s sending off for two yellow cards at the death looked likely to make little difference.
But from the free- kick Howard punched clear, and Willian met the ball on the edge of the area. It may well be a crucial moment in this season’s title race.