Premier League leaders Chelsea could only manage a point after Everton held them to a 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea should have taken the lead in the fourth minute when Drogba was sent clear only to drag his effort wide of the post. That miss looked to be costly when Everton took a shock lead on 12 minutes in fortunate fashion. Baines sent in a cross which Saha did well to head towards goal, the ball bounced off the base of the post only to rebound off Cech and into the net for an own goal. That was to first goal to be conceded to Stanford Bridge since the opening day of the season.
It didn’t take Chelsea long to get back on level terms. On 17 minutes Carvalho broke forward and fed the ball to Lampard down the right. His lay-off was met by Drogba who smashed a first-time effort into the roof of the net for 1-1. Chelsea pushed forward and took the lead 5 minutes after the equalizer after Anelka headed home from close range after Everton failed to clear their lines.
Now Chelsea had the lead everyone in the ground expected them to roll Everton over, but sub Yakubu found himself free 6 yards out to poke home for 2-2 after both Terry and Carvalho failed cut out Baines’s charge into the box. Half time arrived and nobody could have envisaged such an up and down first half.
The second period began in similar fashion with both sides looking to push forward at every opportunity. Chelsea stuck the first blow on 57 minutes when Drogba met Ivanovic’s cross to steer the ball home at the far post. Again Everton wouldn’t lay down and managed to grab the equalizer for the second time only minutes after Chelsea had taken the lead. Again set pieces were Chelsea’s downfall, Drogba met Heitinga’s cross only to head the ball onto Saha’s back and the ball bounced over Cech into the net for 3-3.
Chelsea went looking for the winner, with Ballack going close twice, but the game ended 3-3 after a classic encounter. A great point for Everton but Carlo Ancelotti will be disappointed with his sides failure to extend their lead at the top.
