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It was a thrilling encounter between Chelsea and Everton, which ended in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Joao Felix opened the scoring for Chelsea early in the second half with a powerful left-footed drive that clipped the post on its way in.
However, Everton refused to give up and responded with a goal of their own on the 69th minute. Abdoulaye Doucoure scored from a set-piece, flicking the ball over Kepa after Tarkowski won the initial header at the back post. Despite Havertz’s valiant effort to clear the ball off the line, the referee deemed it a goal.
Chelsea regained the lead in the 75th minute, after Tarkowski gifted them a penalty. James was clipped by Godfrey and Tarkowski in the box, and after a long wait for Pickford to slow things down, Havertz stepped up and dispatched the penalty perfectly.
Everton refused to go down without a fight, and Ellis Simms equalized for them on the 89th minute. He was too strong for Koulibaly, into the box, and squirmed a finish under Kepa.
Both teams continued to battle until the final whistle, but ultimately, neither could find a winning goal. The result means that Chelsea missed a chance to go top of the table, while Everton continue to hover around the middle of the table.
Goal! Chelsea 2-2 Everton
Simms is too strong for Koulibaly, into the box and he squirms a finish under Kepa!
Goal! Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Pickford doing his best to slow things down and put Havertz off. Will it work? Nope. Havertz stutters his way to the ball and dispatches the penalty perfectly!
Goal! Chelsea 1-1 Everton
And it’s come from a set-piece. Of course. Tarkowski wins the initial header at the back post, Doucoure flicks it over Kepa and Havertz can’t clear it off the line in time.
Referee looks at his watch… goal given.
Goal! Chelsea 1-0 Everton
Chelsea ahead early in the second half as Felix’s left-footed drive from the edge of the box clips the post on its way in
Second half
Up and running again at Stamford Bridge!
Half-time
And that’s half-time. Chelsea started to click into gear again towards the end of the half, but Everton hold on. Halfway to the point they’ve come here for. The Blues have had chances, haven’t been clinical at all though.
Kick Off
And off we go!
Starting XI
Kante is indeed back in the Chelsea squad, with the Frenchman named on the bench this afternoon. Kovacic and Fernandez once again the starting midfield pairing.
Pulisic gets the nod over Mudryk in the front three, while James is fit to start at wing-back and Badiashile comes into the back three. For Everton, it’s the same side that beat Brentford. That means now out-and-out striker, plenty of pressure to deliver that creativity. Really strong Toffees side in midfield though.
Apex Football News 