Everton FC News: Superb Saha exposes John Terry with brace

Feb 11 2010 by Philip Kirkbride, Liverpool Daily Post

Everton FC News: JOHN TERRY is reportedly to be granted compassionate leave by Chelsea this weekend but Everton were in no mood to offer similar sympathy last night.

As they did in December’s 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge, Everton did much to tarnish the championship credentials of the Londoners whist adding greater credence to their own beliefs reclaiming a European place after a torrid start to the season may not just be stuff of pipe dreams.

Twice Louis Saha took a leaf out of the nations tabloid’s last night by exposing the latest shortcomings of former England captain Terry to hand Everton the win in an enthralling encounter.

Three points were the least the Goodison outfit deserved after providing a thorough examination of the league leader’s title aspirations and the victory, Moyes’ first as a manager against Chelsea in 23 attempts, will have done wonders in repairing damaged pride suffered in the wake of Saturday’s Merseyside derby and takes them up to ninth in the table.

Everton made two changes from the side which came unstuck in the clash with Liverpool; out went the injured Marouane Fellaini and suspended Steven Pienaar, in came Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Mikel Arteta making his first start for almost 12 months.

Few gave David Moyes’ men a chance of victory when the sides met in the ‘battle’ of Stamford Bridge in mid December but a display of high resolve and huge commitment gave Everton a point in a pulsating 3-3 draw – the hope was his 300th Premier League game in charge of the Goodison outfit would break the Scot’s duck against the Londoners and produce a similarly positive outcome to that seen before Christmas.

The early boos which greeted the touch of Chelsea skipper Terry were as predictable as the swagger with which the visitors approached the initial exchanges.

Fears around Goodison were Wednesday night’s 8pm kick-off had come too soon after the misery of the 213th Merseyside derby at Anfield; Carlo Ancelotti’s men were after all in imperious form, top of the league and with five wins out of their last six games.

Chelsea’s dominance of the play suggested such gloomy predictions would materialise, however for all their possession only an off target Frank Lampard drive a Branislav Ivanovic volley, which met similar a fate, were all the visitors had to offer as means for concern.

Intricate play was yielding little for the away side so they opted for route one and in doing so claimed the first goal of the game.

Goalkeeper Peter Cech’s clearance upfield was flicked on by Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda stole in behind a flat-footed Phil Neville to fire first time beyond Howard – Everton were undone once more by play of the most simplistic nature.

As Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City and most recently Liverpool did before them, Chelsea exposed the Goodison outfit’s ability to shoot themselves in the foot.

Yet Everton were to return the tactic in kind when Louis Saha grabbed his 100th League goal in the 34th minute as they eventually built up a head of steam.

The home side had created little up to that point, other than Leighton Baines firing a powerless shot on goal, but from Landon Donovan’s corner Saha heaped more misery on Terry by beating him to the ball at the near post and nodding past Cech.

The irony with which both first half goals arrived will not have been lost on either manager.

Nicolas Anelka almost burst Everton’s bubble but fluffed a chance from six yards out after Drogba had powered to the by-line and cut the ball back for the Frenchman.

But the France international in Everton’s ranks, Saha, set the half up for a final flurry of action – however he would fail to deliver on his lines.

Played into the area by Donovan, Saha’s close range effort was smothered by Cech before the American regained possession and was then felled by Ricardo Carvalho to hand Moyes’ men a penalty.

Up stepped Saha, sure to net his 101st goal in the English league, but Chelsea’s stopper sprung finely to his left to palm out the spot-kick and keep the scores level at the break; however, the balance of the tie had dramatically tipped in Everton’s favour.

That pressure carried into the second half as Bilyaletdinov forced Cech to tip over his bar smartly from an effort which in truth looked more like a cross, before Saha got the better of Terry once more to fashion a chance which he scuffed marginally wide – it would not be the end of their personal dual.

Goodison was by now overwhelmed with a blazing atmosphere as Chelsea looked uncertain and nervous under the relentless surge Everton were mounting – it was turning into an evening where the intimidating reputation of their home patch was coming into fruition.

Back to basics play would prove the order of the day as Everton finally reaped their reward in the 75th minute, but the manner in which Saha controlled Baines’ long punt upfield was anything but amateur.

Out foxing the jumping Terry, Saha chested the ball down and strode onto the ball before smashing beyond Cech with a left foot volley – a calibre of goal a select band of player are capable of.

Another of those who can mimic Saha’s exquisite is Drogba who almost levelled the game soon afterwards when heading against bar but, for all Chelsea’s late pressure, Everton stood firm to claim a fine win.

Not even the launch of the Premier League’s sexual health awareness campaign was enough to convince Moyes’ men of extending any love to the league leaders, such sentiments were in short supply.