Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

Mucha Mucks It Up

By Luke   O'Farrell  ::  27/10/2011   10 Comments (»Last) Everton made five changes from the late win at Fulham. Jan Mucha, who was to have a night to forget, replaced Tim Howard in goal. John Heitinga got a chance at centre back as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was given a rare start and Louis Saha and Tim Cahill started in attack. Chelsea made 10 changes with only David Luiz surviving from the defeat to QPR. Their bench was formidable with over £120 million worth of talent warming it.

Chelsea controlled possession from the kick off and Lukaku fired into the side netting after getting the better of Heitinga. Everton's first real chance came after 5 minutes; as Saha brought a good near post save from Turnbull after good work from Cahill and Bilyaletdinov. Saha had another effort soon after and his shot from distance brought another stop from Turnbull.

Around the 15 minute mark, Chelsea wasted a chance to take the lead with Anelka missing a penalty. Heitinga dived in and clumsily fouled McEachran. Mucha went the wrong way, but thankfully for Everton, Anelka's penalty went wide of the right hand post.

Both sides began creating chances as the half wore on. Bilyaletdinov fired straight at Turnbull after good work by Drenthe on the right and Heitinga sliced an effort wide from a free kick. Whilst at the other end, Lukaku put an effort beyond the far post from inside the area.

Chelsea took the lead 5 minutes before the interval after a mistake by Mucha. Kalou's poorly hit cross-shot squirmed through the Slovakian's hands and into the far corner. Everton seemed shaken by the goal and Heitinga almost turned a cross into his own net. The resulting corner led to Anelka firing wide from inside the area. Distin headed wide from a Drenthe corner on the stroke of half time, as Everton pressed.

Chelsea had a lot of the ball first half without really threatening. Young Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu was impressive first half whilst Fellaini and Rodwell were Everton's two stand-out performers. Royston Drenthe had looked threatening when in open space. Half time saw Tony Hibbert introduced for Phil Neville who hadn't had his greatest game in an Everton shirt.

Hibbert was soon involved after half time, making a good tackle to prevent Kalou from advancing into the area. Chelsea almost doubled their lead when Bilyaletdinov gave the ball away and Chelsea quickly countered. Mucha was alert to the danger and made a good low save to deny Anelka.

Just before the hour mark, Everton had a golden opportunity to get back into the game. Turnbull was given a straight red after bringing down Saha inside the box. Baines stepped up but his spot kick was poor and Cech saved easily with his legs. The Chelsea keeper also saved the rebound from the same player and Cahill headed the follow-up wide of the far post. You got the sense it wasn't Everton's day after that.

Bilyaletdinov had a shot saved and hit another wide as Everton pressed for an equaliser. Chelsea brought on Mikel to shore up the midfield, as Drenthe came close to levelling the match. His well struck free kick hit the crossbar with Cech rooted to the spot. Drenthe again looked Everton's best hope, firing over from distance after beating three Chelsea players.

Stracqualursi came on for Rodwell with 15 minutes remaining as Everton pushed two up front. Rodwell had an impressive game in midfield, covering a lot of ground and imposing himself on the match. Marouane Fellaini was dominating the midfield by this point and Everton had a real strangle hold on possession.

David Moyes threw on Seamus Coleman for Bilyaletdinov who battled hard but ultimately lacked the pace to have a real impact. Coleman's impact was instant, providing the assist for Everton's equaliser. Heitinga played a good ball to Coleman on the right-wing and Saha was on hand to head the substitute's cross into the bottom right hand corner.

Everton, buoyed by the equaliser, had chances to win it in normal time. Hibbert fired in a cross that came to Drenthe on the far post. His shot across goal flew narrowly wide. Stracqualursi then missed Everton's best chance of the night, from a Drenthe free kick, headed over when totally unmarked.
An Ivanovic effort from distance flew over as the clock struck 90 and at the other end, Saha fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area. That was to prove the last chance for either side as the final whistle went and the teams readied themselves for extra time.

Distin showed good strength and pace to deny Sturridge at the start of extra time and Luiz fired in speculative free kick from 40 yards that Mucha dealt with. A couple of minutes later signalled the end of Everton's hopes of advancing to the quarter finals. Drenthe picked up a needless sending off by clattering into Bertrand. Drenthe's dismissal was stupid and tarnished an otherwise good performance as he remained a constant threat throughout.

Chelsea now pressed as both sides had 10 apiece. Only a brave goal line block from Baines prevented Anelka putting Chelsea ahead. Ivanovic then drew a good save from Mucha as Chelsea upped the tempo and Everton seemed to tire. Everton were undone 4 minutes from the end. The midfield were slow closing down Malouda's stinging effort and Sturridge fired home the loose ball after Mucha's initial save.

Saha twice came close to a second as he fizzed in a low shot that Cech barely kept out and hit another just wide. Chelsea saw out the remaining few minutes comfortably.

Heitinga used the ball well; Distin was again Everton's stand out performer in defence and the defence improved with Hibbert's introduction. Baines had another steady game but will be cursing his penalty miss. Cahill's injury is clearly hampering him and whilst Saha took his goal well, he displayed a distinct lack of effort throughout.

Marouane Fellaini was man-of-the-match. He pressurised the Chelsea midfield, won tackles, passed it well and never stopped. His two Maradona turns during extra time were the highlights of the match. He was unfortunate to end up on the losing side after such a display but Everton's missed chances cost them in the end.

Ratings:

Mucha 5 Neville 6 Heitinga 6 Distin 7 Baines 6 Drenthe 7 Rodwell 8 Fellaini 9 Bilyaletdinov 6 Cahill 6 Saha 6

Subs: Hibbert 7 Stracqualursi 6 Coleman 7

Reader Comments (10)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

About these ads