Saha scored Everton's third but not that he knew much
about it.
Didier Drogba did his best to seal a first win since
the Blues victory over Arsenal two weeks ago by netting twice. But
he was to blame as his headed clearance comically deflected off
Saha and into the Blues net.
Nicolas Anelka also got on the scoresheet but Cech's
blunder, Yakubu's first league goal of the season and Saha's late
equaliser sealed a point for the Toffees.
Chelsea had the first chance of the match when Michael
Ballack put Drogba clear but the striker's effort was just wide.
Everton hit back when Jo unleashed a 25-yard drive that Cech did
well to turn away for a corner. And the Toffees went in front in
the 12th minute when the home side were again caught out from a
set-piece.
Leighton Baines sent the free-kick into the penalty
area, Saha headed the ball on to the post, and it rebounded off the
back of Cech and into the net. Not since the opening day when
Hull's Stephen Hunt scored, had any opposing domestic side found
the net at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's response needed to be swift — and it
certainly was. The home side were level just fives minutes later as
Ricardo Carvalho broke forward before supplying a superb pass for
Frank Lampard to find Drogba.
The Ivorian hit a first-time shot into the roof of the
net for his 17th goal this season. Anelka then put Chelsea in front
in the 23rd minute when Everton failed to clear Lampard's corner.
The Frenchman collected Carvalho's neat pass and fired into the
roof of the net from close range.
Chelsea were now the dominant force but Everton still
posed the home side problems from set-pieces. The Blues' defence
looked suspect in the air as Baines free-kicks continuted to
threaten.
Lampard hit the wall with a 36th-minute free-kick and
Drogba's volley from the rebound was well wide. A shot from Anelka
a minute before the break forced Tim Howard to save at the second
attempt.
Everton, already ravaged by injuries, then had to
replace Jo with Yakubu after the Brazilian collided with Carvalho.
And the sub striker shocked the Blues with an equaliser when
Terry's clearance bounced off Carvalho and Yakubu pounced.
Bemused: Petr Cech and Branislav Ivanovic are
dumbfounded as Louis Saha levels
Carlo Ancelotti resisted making any changes at
half-time and his side began the second period in a positive
fashion. And in the 58th minute their pressure paid off when
Branislav Ivanovic crossed for Drogba to score his 18th of the
season.
He fired home from six yards at the far post after
Everton's defence failed to intercept the cross from the Serbian.
But astonishingly Chelsea again committed defensive suicide in the
63rd minute with yet another set-piece blunder. It was a comical
affair as Johnny Heitinga sent over a free-kick into the Chelsea
penalty area.
Drogba, helping out in a defensive role, headed the
ball into the back of the leaping Saha and it bounced back over
Cech and into the empty net.
Lampard had the chance to win it in injury time but he
screwed his shot wide.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho
(Belletti 85), Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel (Borini 88), Ballack,
Lampard, Joe Cole (Malouda 76), Anelka, Drogba. Subs Not
Used: Hilario, Zhirkov, Paulo Ferreira, Matic.
Goals: Drogba 18, Anelka 23, Drogba 59.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Neill,
Heitinga, Baines, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Jo (Yakubu 45),
Saha (Agard 90), Pienaar. Subs Not Used: Nash,
Coleman, Duffy, Akpan, Mustafi. Booked: Heitinga.
Goals: Cech 12 og, Yakubu 45, Saha 63.
Att: 41,579
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
