Chelsea 3-3 Everton: Blues Draw

Chelsea made an immediate impact with Michael Ballack sending an accurate pass through the middle of the Everton defense onto Frank Lampard who sent it just wide of the post.

Another Chelsea attack started with Didier Drogba accepting the ball from another great Ballack pass and struck sweetly, but the ball whistled past the right hand post.

The league leaders started the match well with some comfortable passes along the midfield, taking control in the early stages.

Chelsea conceded after 11 minutes when a free kick found Louis Saha, who headed the ball against John Terry and bounced off the post hitting Petr Cechs' back for an own goal: 1-0 Everton.

Chelsea start a superb passing attack. Lampard lays a perfectly weighted ball into the penalty area to Drogba who struck the ball smoothly into the top left corner to claim his 17th goal of the season: Chelsea make it 1-1.

Chelsea kept the pressure on with Nicolas Anelka and Drobga running rings around the Everton defense. Everton conceded a second goal after Anelka reacted intelligently to a mistake from Saha just inside the box and placed the ball into the top right corner: 2-1 to Chelsea.

Everton were awarded a free kick after Mikel obstructs Jo. The ball is sent into the Chelsea box but it deflects off John Terry and goes wide of the post.

Johnny Heitinga is given a yellow card in 36th minute after a strong challenge on Drogba just outside the box. Lampard forced the ball straight into the Everton wall and sends it clear by Heitinga who launched the ball into the stands.

A Chelsea free kick, minutes before the half-time whistle, is swung into the box by Drogba, which is caught comfortably by Tim Howard.

Jo picks up an ankle injury from an earlier challenge and is replaced by Ayegnani Yakubu.

Play continues and Chelsea fail to clear an Everton free kick with the ball shooting across the six-yard box settling at the sub Yakubus' feet who fires the ball into the goal: 2-2 seconds before half-time.

Chelsea come out in the second half strong, but its Everton who come out with a new found confidence.

Both teams give it their all, which evidently sees some forceful challenges. A free kick is awarded to Chelsea after Tony Hibbert unfairly fouls Anelka. Lampard takes the free kick, which finds John Terry, who side foots the ball towards goal from outside the box and goes wide.

John Heitinga blocks a fine shot from Joe Cole. Heitinga keeps Everton in the game with some incredible challenges and equally impressive blocks.

After consistent attacks from Chelsea, Everton concede with a Drogba goal. Drogbas' renowned strength played a big part in the goal with the in-form striker gaining possession after an assist from Branislav Ivanovich in the six-yard box and striking it into the top of the net: 3-2 Chelsea.

Minutes after play begins Everton set up an attack and the ball is sent into the Chelsea box. The Chelsea defense again fail to defend another Everton set play and Saha heads the ball into the goal to the dismay of Cech and the Chelsea team: 3-3 draw.

Everton are being kept in the game through the poor defending of the Chelsea back four. John Terry is trying to gain some control with some motivational words for his team mates.

Another strike from Anelka sees Heitinga block yet another shot. Heitinga takes a free kick after a foul on Yakubu but the the ball is deflected wide.

Chelsea take control with Joe Cole striking the ball powerfully towards the goal, but Howard saves. The league leaders have all the possession and are now looking eager to go ahead.

Ricardo Carvalho is clapped off after an impressive performance and is replaced by Juliano Belleti.

Drogba finds the ball with just one of the four extra time minutes passed to strike the ball sweetly but it flashes past Howard into the stands.

The Chelsea players crowd the Everton box and the ball is sent in. Ballack finds the ball and with one of the last chances of the game wastes a decent chance.

The ref checks his watch and it finishes 3-3. Everton are the first team to take points off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Another unhappy result for the league leaders.

Leigh Stringer, Goal.com