LONDON: Ellis Simms grabbed a last-gasp equalizer as struggling Everton boosted their fight for Premier League survival with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Saturday.
Sean Dyche’s side were moments away from a damaging defeat until Simms scored his first goal for the club to stun Stamford Bridge into silence.
Everton’s show of defiance came after they twice trailed in west London.
Joao Felix had put Chelsea ahead early in the second half with his second goal since joining on loan from Atletico Madrid in January.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s equalizer was followed by Kai Havertz’s third goal in his last three appearances as the German converted penalty in the closing stages.
Simms was on loan at Championship side Sunderland earlier this season, but the 22-year-old showed he could be Everton’s savior in the relegation battle with his crucial leveller.
Everton are now two points clear of the relegation zone after extending their unbeaten run to three games.
It was a bitter pill for Chelsea to swallow as Graham Potter’s team squandered the chance to clinch a fourth successive win in all competitions.
The match was marred by homophobic chanting from Everton fans, who could be heard singing “Chelsea rent boy.”
It was announced in January that clubs could be charged by England’s Football Association if their fans sang the offensive song.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service defined the term as a hate crime last year.
That was an ugly side to a memorable match that started with Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic volleying just wide from the edge of the area.
Chelsea were monopolizing possession but Jordan Pickford kept Everton on level terms with a brave save as the keeper dived to block at Felix’s feet.
Felix, a constant menace with his quick feet and clever movement, forced Pickford to save his effort from 18 yards.
Hampered all season by a lack of cutting edge, Chelsea had scored more than once in just two games in all competitions in 2023.
Netting three times at Leicester in their previous match had given Potter encouragement that he had solved Chelsea’s attacking woes.
There was undoubtedly more vibrancy about Chelsea and Felix rewarded their territorial dominance in the 52nd minute.
When Ben Chilwell’s cross deflected to Felix just inside the Everton area, the Portugal star seized his chance with a low drive that beat Pickford and cannoned into the net off the far post.
Felix’s first goal in seven games was nearly followed by an Everton equalizer moments later when Michael Keane headed wide from Demarai Gray’s free-kick.
It was a warning Chelsea failed to heed as Everton equalized in the 69th minute.
Conjuring a goal straight from the Dyche playbook, Everton struck from Dwight McNeil’s corner as Ben Godfrey flicked on and Doucoure nodded home from close range before Havertz could clear off the line.
Chelsea were back in front seven minutes later as Reece James’ run was halted by Godfrey’s trip and an equally clumsy challenge from James Tarkowski in the area.
Havertz scored a crucial penalty in the Champions League last-16 win against Borussia Dortmund recently and he coolly sent Pickford the wrong way from the spot for his ninth goal this season.
But there was a sting in the tale in the 89th minute as Doucoure picked out Simms’ surge into the Chelsea area.
The striker shrugged off Kalidou Koulibaly’s weak challenge and hit a low shot that crept under Kepa Arrizabalaga to salvage a point in heart-stopping fashion.
Simms strikes late as Everton earn valuable draw at Chelsea
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Simms strikes late as Everton earn valuable draw at Chelsea
- Everton's show of defiance came after they twice trailed in west London
- Joao Felix had put Chelsea ahead early in the second half with his second goal since joining on loan from Atletico Madrid in January
Real Madrid edge Valencia to stay on Barca’s tail, Atletico slump
- After Spanish champions Barca had beaten Mallorca on Saturday, Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid eked out a tight victory at Mestalla to keep the pressure on their arch-rivals
BARCELONA: Kylian Mbappe scored his 23rd goal of the season in La Liga to help Real Madrid claim a battling 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday and close the gap to leaders Barcelona to one point.
Third-place Atletico Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Real Betis, three days after thrashing the Andalusian side in the Copa del Rey, falling further away from the top two.
After Spanish champions Barca had beaten Mallorca on Saturday, Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid eked out a tight victory at Mestalla to keep the pressure on their arch-rivals.
Missing suspended forward Vinicius Junior and injured midfielder Jude Bellingham, Los Blancos lacked sparkle but did enough to claim three points on Spain’s east coast.
Alvaro Carreras put the visitors ahead midway through the second half and Mbappe struck late on to seal their win.
“It was going to be a game where we had to have a lot of patience. I think it was a win that came because of how solid we were, and our focussed performance,” said Arbeloa.
“I think that we were fair winners.”
England international Trent Alexander-Arnold made his return after injury as a substitute in the second half of Madrid’s victory.
Arda Guler and Mbappe had chances in the first half, while Madrid right-back David Jimenez, from the club’s youth academy, came closest to scoring but was denied by goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Midway through the second half, Carreras conjured a goal out of nothing to give Madrid the lead.
Coming in from the left, the defender used his weaker right foot to stroke the ball inside Dimitrievski’s near post.
Valencia might have levelled but Lucas Beltran’s effort on the stretch clipped the post.
Madrid eventually secured the three points in stoppage time as Brahim Diaz teed up La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe to finish from close range.
“Right now he’s the best player in the world, for what he’s showing day after day and game after game,” said Arbeloa, who reiterated that Mbappe could live up to his boyhood idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy at Real Madrid.
“As I’ve said before, it seemed like Cristiano was something alien, impossible to equal, and that nobody would get close, but Kylian is on a good path... it’s not easy, obviously, but if anyone can, it’s Kylian.”
Valencia’s fans, some of whom had waved white handkerchieves during the match in protest at the club’s situation, headed for the exits with Los Che 17th, one point above the drop zone.
“It’s normal that (the fans) are nervous, I would be too,” admitted Valencia captain Jose Gaya to DAZN.
Revenge mission
Antony’s first-half strike helped Betis win at Atletico, earning his side revenge for their cup mauling, and leaving Atletico 13 points behind leaders Barcelona.
Betis, fifth, continued their push toward the top four, now trailing fourth-placed Villarreal by four points, although they have played two more matches than the Yellow Submarine.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico waltzed into the Copa del Rey semifinals with a hefty 5-0 win at Betis on Thursday, but this was a far closer affair at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium.
“It’s a tough defeat to take after the great game we had in the cup. We weren’t as good as the other day,” admitted Atletico captain Koke to Movistar.
“They set up a lot tighter at the back... We had very few chances and they played a great game.”
Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini made five changes to the team which crumbled at home and his side were determined to prove a point in the Spanish capital.
“I’m very happy for the goal and even more so for the victory — it’s been a very difficult week,” said Antony, who curled home after 28 minutes, beating Jan Oblak at his near post.
“We had to change, there was no other option... we’re sorry (to the fans) for the game in the cup.”
Atletico had the ball in Betis’s net with 15 minutes to go when Diego Llorente headed Giuliano Simeone’s cross into his own net, but Antoine Griezmann was judged to be fractionally offside and interfering with play.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao beat Levante 4-2, Sevilla and Girona shared a 1-1 draw, and Getafe won 2-0 at Alaves.
