Chelsea's
hopes of securing a top-four finish were hindered by a 2-0 defeat by Everton
with the Merseysiders running out deserved winners at Goodison Park.
David Moyes' side started in positive fashion and went ahead in the fifth minute
when Steven Pienaar, making his second home debut, lashed the ball home from
close range.
Frank Lampard had Chelsea's best chance to level matters in the first half, but
he dragged his left-footed shot wide when unmarked in the penalty area from Juan
Mata's cross.
Andre Villas-Boas' side created very little after the interval and they conceded
a second in the 71st minute when Denis Stracqualursi slotted home after being
picked out by Landon Donovan.
The victory has lifted Everton into the top ten while Chelsea have dropped to
fifth in the standings following Arsenal's late 2-1 win over in-form Sunderland
at the Stadium of Light.
Chelsea had welcomed back Ashley Cole from suspension and Lampard after injury -
relegating new signing Gary Cahill back to the bench - but inspiration was
lacking.
Pienaar, by contrast, clearly wanted to make an impact from the outset and burst
forward in the first minute in a move that ended with Donovan prodding
harmlessly wide.
Chelsea failed to heed that warning and were punished after five minutes when
Lampard deflected a Tim Cahill ball over Branislav Ivanovic's head.
Pienaar raced into the box, controlled the bouncing ball on his chest and
smashed past Petr Cech into the roof of the net.
Everton quickly looked to build on their lead and David Luiz needed to head
behind an awkward Phil Neville cross under pressure from Stracqualursi.
Attack
Chelsea's first serious attack petered out as Torres, still without a league
goal since September, was forced to turn away from goal and play backwards.
Everton threatened again when Donovan shot powerfully but straight at Cech from
distance.
Chelsea were inches away from an equaliser as Daniel Sturridge met a low ball
from Mata, which Torres cleverly allowed to run across the edge of the area,
with a firm shot but it was deflected over by Neville.
Mata caused further problems for the home defence as he pulled the ball back for
Lampard but the England midfielder dragged his shot wide from 18 yards.
Leighton Baines combined well with Pienaar to break into the Chelsea box but
Cahill, ruled onside, was unable to control his pass as he turned to shoot.
Baines troubled Chelsea again with an inswinging free-kick but Cahill was
flagged offside as he stretched to reach a ball which rebounded off Cech's legs.
Chelsea's Raul Meireles was booked for kicking Stracqualursi as the Argentinian
tried to break clear and the Everton striker shot at Cech moments later.
Torres felt he should have had a penalty just before half-time when he was
blocked off by John Heitinga.
The former Liverpool forward complained to referee Mike Jones after the whistle
was blown but was led away to the tunnel by Everton's Marouane Fellaini.
Chelsea pushed forward in the opening minutes of the second half but Everton's
defence, well led by Sylvain Distin, remained firm.
Persistence
After soaking up the pressure, Everton's Stracqualursi showed great persistence
to win the ball from Ivanovic in the Chelsea area but his shot was blocked.
A loud cheer rang out when Torres was booked for a late challenge on Pienaar,
whose footwork continued to cause Chelsea problems.
Torres, who had worked hard but without looking like scoring, found himself in
the right position when Bosingwa crossed but headed straight at Tim Howard.
Ivanovic was unhappy when Donovan pushed him as the pair ran out of play and his
angry reaction earned a rebuke from Jones.
Villas-Boas attempted to inject fresh life into his side by sending on Florent
Malouda for Michael Essien, but the change did not appear to be appreciated by
all visiting fans.
Everton doubled their lead 18 minutes from time after Neville won the ball in
midfield from Cole and released Donovan.
The American ran at the defence and then flicked a fine ball into the path of
Stracqualursi, who calmly wrong-footed Cech and slotted the ball home despite
the keeper's desperate attempt to claw it away.
Cole had remained on the ground after the challenge by Neville and, after the
restart was delayed while he received treatment, he was unable to continue much
longer.
The England international full-back looked in much discomfort as he hobbled off
to be replaced by Ryan Bertrand.
Chelsea controlled possession in the closing minutes but the Everton defence,
with Distin again prominent, coped with everything.
Teams
Everton Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Donovan,
Gibson (Hibbert 89), Fellaini, Pienaar (Drenthe 74), Cahill, Stracqualursi
(Duffy 90)
Subs Not Used Mucha, Gueye, Barkley, Vellios
Goals Pienaar 5, Stracqualursi 71
Chelsea Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Ivanovic, Cole (Bertrand 77),
Meireles, Essien (Malouda 69), Lampard, Sturridge, Torres, Mata (Lukaku 77)
Subs Not Used Turnbull, Mikel, Ferreira, Cahill
Booked Meireles, Bosingwa, Torres
Attendance 33, 924
Referee Mike Jones
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