Chelsea came through with a much deserved win in a nine-goal thriller against Everton encapsulated by two goalscoring spells in either half of the match. Chelsea started the game by scoring two goals in three minutes, but things got chaotic in the second half with five goals scored in eleven minutes as both defences appeared to collapse under pressure, the game eventually ending 6-3.
It looked like ‘easy street’ for the London side after Diego Costa made it three goals in three matches since his £32m move from Atletico Madrid and Branislav Ivanovic scoring the second.
Kevin Mirallas’ brilliant header on the stroke of half-time gave the hosts hope, only for Seamus Coleman’s own goal to hand the initiative back to Chelsea as the madness began. Steven Naismith and Nemanja Matic traded goals before substitute Samuel Eto’o made it 4-3 against the club he left in the summer, only for Ramires to give Chelsea breathing space again and Costa to add a late second.
Up until Naismith’s strike Chelsea appeared to have everything under control, with Costa showing the new attacking edge which was lacking from Mourinho’s side last season. The Brazilian-born Spanish international was a constant menace, lurking with intent on the shoulder of the last defender and regularly capitalising on Everton’s errors.
More suspect defending saw last man Leighton Baines push out a fraction too slowly to make it obvious Ivanovic was offside – which he fractionally was – and the Serbian finished with the poise of a striker. Mirallas’ glancing header from Coleman’s cross was the first time Everton had got around the back six Chelsea had employed since going ahead so early.
Costa, put through again by Fabregras, was denied only by the outstretched leg of Howard before Eden Hazard’s cross from the byline was turned in by Coleman. But the game was far from over as a brilliant run by Lukaku took three defenders away with him to allow Aiden McGeady to pick out Naismith in space and make it 3-2.
Matic’s strike then deflected in off Jagielka before Eto’o, who signed a two-year deal in the week, headed in Baines’ free-kick within six minutes of coming off the bench. Ramires’ one-two with Matic provided Chelsea’s crucial fifth and, after Mirallas volleyed against the post, Costa added his second in the 90th minute when substitute Muhamed Besic, making his debut, fluffed a backheel in the centre-circle which presented the Spanish international with a run on goal.
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