An incredible second half saw Everton and Chelsea share the points in a six goal thriller.
Wow. A truly terrible first half set up one of the best 45 minutes of football that has been seen all season long. Chelsea have been notoriously bad at home so far this year, while Everton have looked like world beaters, and yet, managed to only beat themselves on more than one occasion.
While the first half was dire, Everton exploded the second half. Well, really it was John Terry. Baines has been gradually returning to form over the past few weeks, and in the second half, he returned to his marauding best. With Baines bombing down the left wing, the first goal came in the most amusing of fashions.
The English left back found his way to the Chelsea byline, whipped the ball across the six yard box with that wand of a left foot of his. John Terry, as he so often is, was in the perfect position to clear. Unfortunately, he was unable to clear the ball, with a huge ricochet of his standing foot and past the sprawled Courtois to break the deadlock.
The second goal came only moments later with a wonderful goal from Kevin Mirallas. The ball was flicked on by Baines, and Mirallas, after a truly beautiful first tough, span and volleyed the ball into the bottom corner. At this point, Everton were looking comfortable and on to the win.
Chelsea, however, came roaring back with two quick goals. The first was from Diego Costa who beat an Everton defender and Tim Howard to Cesc Fabregas’ pass to poke the ball home.
The comeback was well and truly completed when Fabregas equalized after collecting a lovely little back heel from Costa and sliding the ball past Howard.
However, the game still had plenty of time to go, and Everton were far from out of it. They indeed secured the three points with a Funes-Mori goal in the closing stages, with the central defender knocking in a cross at the back post completely unmarked. It was terrible defending and is representative of the Chelsea season.
When everyone thought it was over, the man who broke the deadlock, John Terry, the Chelsea hero stepped up for the London club and with a lovely back heel, equalized to secure a point for Guus Hiddink’s men.
This was a truly terrible first half, and a truly terrific second. A mental game with goals and drama led to the two sides share the points in what is probably a fair result. Great game.
Highlights
John Terry own goal, and it's a cracker https://t.co/ywjoXCJk1z
— Back Page Football (@bpfootball) January 16, 2016
What a goal Mirallas. Fantastic. https://t.co/rmFR1VvpLv
— Sir Jenkinson (@theEpicGooner) January 16, 2016
Fabregas goal! #CFC pic.twitter.com/6lqK8in6Ej
— PrimeChels (@prime_Chels) January 16, 2016
Jesus. This is some of the worst defending Ive ever seen from Champions for Funes Mori goal https://t.co/ucosMMwnkC
— Never met a wise man, if so it's a woman #UTFR (@lperiofficial) January 16, 2016
Next Week
Everton host a struggling Swansea side in the lunchtime game on Sunday.
Chelsea travel to Arsenal in a difficult game in the late Sunday game.