Everton v Chelsea 11/05/97 4.00Everton (0) 1 Chelsea (2) 2 FT Barmby 77 Wise 14 Di Matteo 36 FA Cup finalists Chelsea warmed up for their Wembley showdown against Middlesbrough by chalking up a nerve-jangling victory after playing with 10 men for 69 minutes. Norwegian keeper Frode Grodas was sent off after rushing out of his goal to try and intercept a through ball from Everton player-caretaker manager Dave Watson. But in the process he bowled over Duncan Ferguson 20 yards out and referee Peter Jones quickly brandished a red card after speaking to his assistant. Manager Ruud Gullit brought on substitute keeper Kevin Hitchcock for striker Gianluca Vialli, who was clearly unhappy at finishing the match so early. Gullit then lost both of his front-runners after an hour with Mark Hughes limping off after stretching for a loose ball. But they managed to hold out and take the points despite being under pressure in the final quarter. Vialli had almost put Chelsea ahead after four minutes when he turned quickly in the area, only to see his shot diverted by the legs of Neville Southall. However Everton went behind in the 13th minute with a marvellous piece of invention by Dennis Wise. Hughes won the ball off Michael Branch and tried to release Roberto Di Matteo. The pass was overhit and the ball broke to Wise on the left of the area. He spotted Southall marginally off his line and saw his delightful chip dip just under the bar for a superb goal. 
Even though they were reduced to 10 men, Chelsea increased their lead 15 minutes later against an Everton side who only secured their Premiership status in midweek. Wise worked the ball out to Dan Petrescu on the right flank and his cross was perfectly weighted. Di Matteo timed his run to perfection, got between Watson and Richard Dunne, and glanced the ball home. The Italian star's header confirmed Chelsea's superiority with the Goodison crowd becoming increasingly frustrated, not for the first time this season. Everton were limited to a couple of half chances in the opening period with Claus Thomsen having a shot blocked and Ferguson sending a header from a Nick Barmby corner over the top. The appearance of a blonde streaker at the beginning of the second half brightened the mood of the fans but only for a couple of minutes. Chelsea were playing at their own pace and Watson must be glad he is handing over the managerial reins. Everton carved out enough chances in the last half hour to draw level but their finishing was woeful. Ferguson was at least industrious but knocked a header wide following a cross from John Hills, making his debut, when he should have scored. Marc Hottiger pulled a shot wide and Gary Speed followed the same pattern to groans of disapproval. Everton pulled a goal back with 13 minutes remaining through Barmby but it was too little too late. Watson got on the end of a corner from Hills and Hitchcock could only push out his powerful header. Barmby was on hand to pick up the scraps. Petrescu nearly added a third for Chelsea when he was clean through only for Southall to block his path. Everton sub Danny Cadamarteri could have sneaked a point for the home side on his debut, only to knock his effort wide, and the curtain came down on their season in disappointing fashion. 
Everton: (3-5-2) Southall, Barrett, Watson, Dunne, Ball, Hottiger, Thomsen (Cadamarteri, 46), Hills, Speed, Barmby, Ferguson. Subs not used: O'Connor, Gerrard, Eaton, McCann. Chelsea: (4-5-1) Grodas, Petrescu, Leboeuf, Clarke, Vialli (Hitchcock, 21), Hughes (Nicholls, 60), Wise, Di Matteo (Burley, 81), Minto, Sinclair, Newton. Subs not used: Johnsen, Granville. Booked: Clarke, Petrescu, Sinclair. Attendance: 38,321. Referee: P Jones (Loughborough). |
