Match Report: Everton 1 – Chelsea 1
Chelsea substitution Salomon Kalou came to our rescue after a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup 4th round at Goodison Park
We appeared to be heading for an exit after falling behind to a Louis Saha header. But Kalou, who had entered the field just five minutes earlier, booked a replay at Stamford Bridge as he finished off a swift counter-attack 15 minutes from time.
It came just moments after Petr Cech had produced a brilliant save to prevent Seamus Coleman doubling the Toffees’ lead.
Both sides went close to a late winner as Ramires struck a post for Chelsea and Jermaine Beckford also tested Cech.
Everton’s first spell of pressure ended with Leighton Baines delivering a deep cross but Coleman’s header back across goal was cleared. A sliced clearance by Ashley Cole allowed Everton captain Phil Neville to launch a long throw into the box and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov almost profited but the Russian failed to make firm contact.
John Terry went close to opening the scoring when he headed narrowly over from a Florent Malouda corner after 17 minutes.
Everton came to life midway through the first half as Marouane Fellaini robbed Michael Essien and Saha sent Jack Rodwell through. The youngster got a clear sight of goal but Cech reacted quickly to block his shot. They had another opportunity moment later as Neville picked out Bilyaletdinov with a cross from the right but his header was comfortably taken by Cech. We responded with fit-again Frank Lampard slipping Nicolas Anelka through on goal but the Frenchman was flagged offside.
Anelka timed his run better when Ramires threaded a fine pass through the defence but this time Howard rushed out of goal to block his shot.
Mikel Arteta tried his luck from distance in the closing minute of the first half but drilled a low shot wide of Cech’s post.
After the restart the Toffee’s lifted the tempo and had an early opportunity after Coleman’s persistence won possession on the right. The Irishman fed Rodwell and his cross was almost turned in on the volley by Saha at the back post but Ramires blocked on the line. Fellaini then brought a fine save from Cech as he met an Arteta cross with a firm header after Cole had needlessly pushed Coleman to concede a free-kick. Fellaini turned provider to set up Arteta with a shooting chance on the edge of the area with a good nod down but the Spaniard flashed wide.
Everton were rewarded for a good spell of pressure when Saha got behind Terry and rose highest to head home a Baines corner in the 62nd minute. It maintained Saha’s personal record against us, having scored three times last season and in the 2009 cup final defeat.
Cech brilliantly prevented Everton from adding a second by saving at point-blank range as Coleman met a teasing Baines cross with a diving header.
The true value of the save became clear moments later as we broke up the field to equalise.
Sub Kalou, who had seen little of the ball, finished off a swift counter-attack by charging into the area and finding space to hit a low shot into the far corner.
The game then appeared to meander towards a replay but Everton were almost caught out five minutes from time as Ramires struck a fierce shot against the post from 25 yards.
Everton substitute Beckford then pounced on a Branislav Ivanovic error to test Cech with a well-struck shot but the Chelsea keeper saved superbly.
Ancelotti concluded.
‘I think a draw was the right result, because we played better in the first half, they played better in the second half,’ ‘The result was good, we were 1-0 down and it wasn’t easy at that moment to come back into the game.
The replay will take place at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 19th February.
Gill Reeves – CSG Disabled Rep
Stats from the BBC website:
Everton
• 24 Howard
• 03 Baines
• 05 Heitinga
• 15 Distin
• 18 Neville
• 23 Coleman
• 07 Bilyaletdinov
• 10 Arteta
• 25 Fellaini
• 26 Rodwell (Beckford 86)
• 08 Saha
Substitutes
• 01 Mucha,
• 02 Hibbert,
• 06 Jagielka,
• 21 Osman,
• 16 Beckford,
• 19 Magaye Gueye,
• 37 Baxter
Chelsea
• 01 Cech
• 02 Ivanovic
• 03 A Cole
• 17 Bosingwa
• 26 Terry
• 05 Essien
• 07 Ramires
• 08 Lampard (Mikel 85)
• 15 Malouda (Kalou 70)
• 11 Drogba
• 39 Anelka
Substitutes
• 40 Hilario,
• 19 Ferreira,
• 43 Bruma,
• 12 Mikel,
• 46 McEachran,
• 55 Sala,
• 21 Kalou
Ref: H Webb
Att: 28,376