Chelsea twice came from behind to register a draw in a thrilling battle with Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
The match took some time to get going, but it eventually burst into life in a pulsating second half with six goals scored, marked by two in stoppage time, one of which a controversial 98th-minute leveller from John Terry.
He was picked out after some deft yet crucial touches from Branislav Ivanovic and Oscar following some direct football from the reigning champions. Everton fans might argue the goal came well over the allotted seven added minutes with Terry standing in a clear offside position when the ball left Oscar’s head.
Nevertheless the goal stood and gained Chelsea a draw with defeat looking a certainty after substitute Ramiro Funes Mori hooked home Gerard Deulofeu’s cross in the 90th minute.
Everton had established that lead after making all the running early in the second half. John Terry turned national team mate Leighton Baines’ cross into his own net on the 50-minute mark, with Baines the creator once more only six minutes later.
His delivery from a similar area was controlled brilliantly by Kevin Mirallas who lashed a half-volley into the corner.
Yet it took Guus Hiddink’s side only four minutes to get itself back into the game, and six to draw level. A calamitous misjudgement of Cesc Fabregas’ long ball by Phil Jagielka allowed Diego Costa in behind with Tim Howard left to hopelessly mop up. He couldn’t, Costa rounded him and netted.
Fabregas then got a goal of his own after some direct running, receiving a one-two to see a love drive deflected beyond the stranded Howard. Mori and Terry’s goals would follow in extraordinary circumstances. Seven added minutes saw that frenetic period play out after injuries to Bryan Oviedo and Costa, leaving the sides to share the spoils.
Everton remain in 11th with 29 points, four ahead of 14th-placed Chelsea.
Controversy at the death
Terry’s goal came with some question marks attached to it. The captain appeared to be standing in an offside position when the ball nicked off Oscar’s head, leaving Roberto Martinez up in arms.
Part of the issue, Martinez said, was that the equaliser came well beyond the 97th minute, the minimum additional time that was assigned by the referee.
That is just a minimum of course, so by the letter of the law the referee is allowed to continue play for as long as he sees fit, something that is always something to mull over whenever such a situation arises. But Martinez may have a point. Any chance of an attack appeared dead after the clock ticked over 97 minutes.
Hard done by? You be the judge.
About Everton? Really, nothing new
These 90 minutes said a lot more about Everton than they did Chelsea.
It is true that Terry’s back-heeled strike was offside and that referee Jones allowed play to continue almost one minute beyond the seven minutes of added time when all attacking play appeared lost.
Yet for Everton the entirety of the blame cannot be levelled at the officials. They twice held the lead – 2-0 and 3-2 – yet could not make certain either one.
An uncharacteristic individual error from Jagielka, yet one that was typical of the team this season, handed Chelsea a lifeline with plenty of time left to play, a lifeline that ballooned the reigning champions’ confidence and momentum.
In the end it was a total case of déjà vu. This match followed the exact same script as the one that played out at the Vitality Stadium some weeks ago, when again, Everton scored in stoppage time only to blow it in the final play of the match. On that occasion, Junior Stanislas made them pay, Terry this. Regardless of whether the England veteran was offside or not, it was inexcusable for the Toffees to allow the ball to reach such a dangerous position sitting on a 3-2 advantage in the 97th minute.
Is it a mentality issue? A structure issue? Whatever it is, Roberto Martinez must resolve it. He has one of the most talented squads in the Premier League at his disposal, yet it continues to throw away points and languish in the bottom half.
For a club of Everton’s stature and expectation, such a position in the scenario is simply not good enough.
Champions show fighting spirit
While Everton totally blew it, one must congratulate Chelsea on their recovery mission.
A title-winning side has never slumped in the season after as horribly as Chelsea have, but the Londoners gained a point through perseverance, with, admittedly, a touch of good fortune.
Still, they made the most of it, accepted Everton’s invitation back through the door and saw out the entirety of the match with Jones clearly adjudging the late running to still hold attacking promise.
Attack is what they did, earning a point that, based on Terry’s celebration, meant plenty to the team he leads.
Seasoned manager Hiddink looks to have instilled belief back into this team, though it is still far from out of the woods and not yet looking likely of mounting a late challenge on the top half.
Baines finding his feet
The last two seasons have been mostly spent on the physio’s table by the England left-back. It has been a slow process that has seen him suffer niggling injury after niggling injury, with no real form seemingly gained in his first few games back in the fray, understandably.
But Baines looked back to his vintage best at the Bridge, notching up two assists in almost identical circumstances: the first a curling delivery from the left that ricocheted of Terry and in, the next a cross that picked out Mirallas who turned and scored spectacularly.
If there was a positive to come from the game for Evertonians, it would be this. One of their most talismanic is, seemingly, fit and firing.
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