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Chelsea logo
Premier League
May 19, 2013 at 4pm UK
 
Everton logo

2-1

Torres (76'), Mata (7')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Naismith (14')

Live Commentary: Chelsea 2-1 Everton - as it happened

Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage of Chelsea's 2-1 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.
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Chelsea secured a third-placed finish in the Premier League on Sunday thanks to a 2-1 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Juan Mata gave the hosts an early lead before Steven Naismith saw that the two sides went in level at the break.

However, Fernando Torres netted his first goal of 2013 in the final 15 minutes to see Chelsea over the line.

Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded.


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Hello there and a warm Sports Mole welcome to you on this final day of the Premier League season as Chelsea welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge.

It's an afternoon of goodbyes across a number of fixtures today and it's no different here at the Bridge. Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez takes charge for the final time before he steps up his search for a new job, while David Moyes oversees his last game for Everton ahead of his move to Manchester United this summer.

EVERTON: Howard; Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Distin; Gibson, Fellaini, Pienaar, Mirallas, Naismith; Anichebe

David Moyes makes one change for his final match in charge at Everton as Steven Naismith comes in for Leon Osman.

EVERTON SUBS: Mucha, Hibbert, Heitinga, Oviedo, Jelavic, Barkley, Duffy

CHELSEA: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Ake, Lampard; Mata, Oscard; Torres, Ba

Meanwhile, Chelsea have made two changes from the side that won the Europa League on Wednesday as Demba Ba and Nathan Ake replace Cesar Azpilicueta and Ramires.

So then, both Rafa Benitez and David Moyes end their tenures with their respective sides today. Benitez, who it's safe to say has been battling Chelsea's fans since his appointment back in November, goes out with success in the Europa League and Champions League qualification. Even the most die-hard Chelsea fan is sure to be happy with that, even though they might not admit it...

Moyes' time at Everton has been a far more harmonious one in terms of his relationship with supporters. He may not have any trophies to show for his 11-year spell at Goodison Park, but an FA Cup final in 2009 and Champions League qualification in 2005 have given the Toffees plenty to shout about.

CHELSEA SUBS: Turnbull, Azpilcuetai, Ferreira, Christensen, Marin, Benay, Moses

Of course, we know where Moyes will be managing next season. Replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United is arguably the most high-profile job in club football and it's the Scot who will be in the dugout at Old Trafford for the new campaign. However, it's not certain where Benitez will be popping up. The Spaniard has stated his intention to stay in the Premier League, but will any teams be coming in for him?

If you think that there is nothing riding on this game today, think again...

Everton can set a new Premier League points record for the club if they win at Stamford Bridge this afternoon. The sixth-placed Toffees are currently on 63 points, while their best ever showing was 65 in 2008.

Meanwhile, Chelsea could be forced to play a third-placed playoff with Arsenal if results go against them. If the Blues draw, then Arsenal can take advantage if they win by a single goal AND score two more than Chelsea. Confused? What it means is that if all of that happens, the two teams will be level on points, level on goal difference and level on goals scored. They would both then have to play a one-off match at Villa Park to determine who qualifies automatically for the Champions League group stage and who has to face a two-legged playoff to seal their place in the competition.

Everton will be keen to get some revenge this afternoon following Chelsea's 2-1 win at Goodison Park when the sides met back in December. Steven Pienaar gave the hosts an early lead before two goals from Frank Lampard secured the points for the visitors.

Without wanting to worry Everton fans, this could also be the last time that they see Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini in blue shirts. The pair have both been linked with following David Moyes to Manchester United...

Here are some short highlights of Chelsea's win at Goodison Park earlier in the season:


Just under 10 minutes to go until this one gets underway! How do you reckon the result will go? Will Chelsea's Europa League exploits mean that the team is tired? Will Everton do their best to give David Moyes a winning send-off?

Stamford Bridge is looking resplendent in the sun. It's near enough a full house and the players are waiting to emerge from the tunnel.

Here come the players! The managers come out shortly after and there's far less jeering for Rafael Benitez than when he first appeared as Chelsea interim manager at the end of last year.

Right, it will be Chelsea to get this one underway...

The home side are looking lively in these opening couple of minutes. Everton are struggling to get hold of the ball. Meanwhile, there a really bubbly atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge.

CHANCE! Chelsea nearly take the lead through Ba, but the striker whacks his effort over the bar. Fellaini played a sloppy ball to teammate Jagielka that Ba intercepted inside the penalty area, only to shoot well over the crossbar.

Wonderful play from Torres as the Spaniard's persistence down the left side allows him to cross low into the box. However, Fellaini is there to clear the danger.

GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 EVERTON (MATA)

Chelsea take the lead through Juan Mata, but it's a nightmare for Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard. The American made a complete mess of Demba Ba's low shot and Mata was there to comfortably slot in the rebound.

CHANCE! The visitors come close to an equaliser, only for Naismith to fluff his lines. Gibson played in Coleman down the right before the defender picked out the Scot in the box. However, he could only lash the ball over from about 10 yards. A bit more composure there and the game could be level.

Gibson is the latest player to have a crack at goal, but again the ball flies into the stand as he tries to fire one in from 20 yards. Meanwhile, Ba's acrobatic attempt at the other end trickles wide.

GOAL! CHELSEA 1-1 EVERTON (NAISMITH)

Naismith makes no mistake this time as Everton hit back with an equaliser! The midfielder exchanged passes with Anichebe on the edge of the box before surging through and dinking the ball calmly past Cech and into the net. A great finish.

OFF THE POST! What a game we have here! Gibson nearly gives the visitors the lead with a strike from 20 yards, but it comes back off the woodwork after being deflected by Luiz.

CHANCE! Now it's Torres who almost gives Chelsea the lead at the other end. The striker met Lampard's cross in the area, though he could only head wide. The Spaniard should have done better there.

Everton are starting to gain some control in this match now. It took them a while to get going but they have responded excellently since going behind.

Solid defending from Distin there. The Frenchman had Torres running at him on the edge of the box and stood up brilliantly to dispossess the striker.

It's all Everton at the moment. Chelsea are starting to look a bit lethargic following Wednesday's Europa League final. The away side are passing and pressing so much better and currently look the most likely to score.

A bit of pinball in the Everton area, but the visitors manage to survive. That Chelsea attack came from Luiz marauding forward from the back before pinging in a dangerous cross. Everton eventually cleared the ball before Ake lashed the ball over from 25 yards.

Chelsea want a corner, but the referee says no. Ba shot over from a tight angle and thought that the ball had come off Jagielka last. However, replays show that the striker's shot was too high.

CHANCE! Close again for Everton. Mirallas is picked out at the back post, but the Belgian makes a poor connection and the ball harmlessly finds the arms of Cech.

BOOKING: Torres is the first player to get a yellow card this afternoon as he takes down Coleman from behind. Not the best tackle that the Spaniard has ever made.

PENALTY APPEALS! Chelsea want a couple of penalties as Torres and Oscar both go down in the area when the ball is pumped in. Torres is a bit lucky not to get a second yellow card as he sarcastically applauds the linesman for not awarding a spot kick.

Gibson, who is known for his spectacular long-range shooting, goes for goal again from about 30 yards. However, this time he narrowly shoots over.

CLOSE! Some lovely football from Everton nearly gives the the lead. Pienaar collected to ball from Baines before exchanging passes with Anichebe in the area. The South African then created a yard of space to get the shot away, but his effort was blocked by Luiz. That one looked like it might well have beaten Cech.

CHANCE! Now Chelsea nearly take the lead! Lampard plays a neat one-two with Ba before slamming his left-footed shot into the stand from 18 yards. The midfielder would have been expected to do better there considering his touch in front of goal this season.

There will two minutes of additional time at the end of this first half...

HALF TIME: CHELSEA 1-1 EVERTON

Referee Anthony Taylor blows the half-time whistle to bring an end to a thoroughly entertaining 45 minutes as Chelsea and Everton go in 1-1 at the break. Juan Mata gave the hosts an early lead when he pounced after Tim Howard had failed to hold Demba Ba's shot. However, the visitors hit back soon after through Steven Naismith, who showed great composure to dink the ball past Cech.

The third-place playoff looks very unlikely as is stands because Arsenal are currently drawing 0-0 at Newcastle United. If the score was to remain the same here, then the Gunners need to win 3-2 to force the Champions League decider.

There is of course a full fixture list in the Premier League today, so here come the half-time scores...

PREMIER LEAGUE HALF-TIME SCORES:

Liverpool 1-0 QPR
Man City 1-1 Norwich
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
Southampton 0-0 Stoke
Swansea 0-1 Fulham
Tottenham 0-0 Sunderland
West Brom 1-3 Man Utd
West Ham 2-0 Reading
Wigan 2-1 Aston Villa


It's almost impossible to tell how the next 45 minutes will go at Stamford Bridge. Both sides have shown plenty of attacking intent so far and both have looked likely to add to their tallies this afternoon.

The teams are out and it will be Everton to get us going...

SAVE! Howard is forced into a save early in this second half and it's a good one. Cahill manages to get a shot away in a crowded penalty area following a corner, but the Everton goalkeeper gets down low to bat the effort away from the dangerzone.

Fellaini has a crack at goal from the edge of the box that Cech saves comfortably. The Belgian could of crossed it there and had plenty of options in the area.

CHANCE! Ba is played through on goal by Ake and manages to get his shot away on the angle, only for Distin to block heroically.

CHANCE! The resulting corner sees Ivanovic smash the ball over from 10 yards while under no pressure whatsoever. That was a woeful effort from the Serbian.

It's all happening now as Pienaar shows nimble feet to break through in goal. However, the midfielder dwells far too long on the ball and is dispossessed by Oscar.

Yet more confusion in the Everton penalty are as the ball bobbles around from a Chelsea free kick. Ivanovic and Cahill both try to fire the ball at goal, but Jagielka is there to snuff out the danger with some immense defending.

Everton just can't make their latest counter-attack count. Pienaar and Baines combined before a wasteful touch from Pienaar saw the move break down inside the area. There was certainly potential there for the Toffees.

CHANCE! Chelsea nearly go ahead! Mata is picked out by Ba, but the Spaniard can't get the ball out of his feet inside the box and the opportunity goes to waste.

SUBSTITUTION: Changes for both sides as Demba Ba is replaced by Victor Moses, while Victor Anichebe and Steven Naismith both come off for Nikica Jelavic and Jonny Heitinga.

The two managers certainly aren't looking relaxed down on the touchline. Both Benitez and Moyes continue to give instructions to their players as we enter the final 20 minutes of action.

The two teams are struggling to get hold of this match right now. There's a lot of loose passes being knocked about, while the chances have dried up in front of goal.

GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 EVERTON (TORRES)

Sorry for the slight delay, we were just ironing out some technical issues. Anyway, WE HAVE A GOAL! Chelsea take the lead and it's Fernando Torres who strikes for the first time in the league since December. The Spaniard got on the end of Victor Moses's knockdown before smashing the ball past Tim Howard from close range.

SUBSTITUTION: Chelsea make another change as Cesar Azpilicueta replaces Juan Mata.

It must be said that Everton had a glorious chance to go in front before Torres struck. A mistake from Ivanovic allowed Baines to put a low cross into the area before Jelavic, who had to stretch, scraped the ball wide from six yards. It was some miss.

SAVE! Cech is there to deny Everton an equaliser. Jelavic managed to head Baines' cross towards goal, only for the Chelsea shotstopper to show great reflexes in keeping the ball out.

SUBSTITUTION: Chelsea make their final change as Oscar comes off for Paulo Ferreira.

We'll have three minutes of added time at Stamford Bridge...

FULL TIME: CHELSEA 2-1 EVERTON

The full-time whistle goes and Chelsea have secured third place thanks to a 2-1 win over Everton.

Juan Mata gave the hosts an early lead before Steven Naismith levelled things up at the break. However, Fernando Torres netted his first league goal of the year to give Chelsea the points.

Anyway, that's all from me for now. However, don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the post-match reaction across all of today's Premier League games right here on Sports Mole.

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