Ellis Simms grabbed a last‑gasp equaliser as struggling Everton boosted their fight for Premier League survival with a dramatic 2‑2 draw against Chelsea on Saturday. Sean Dyche’s side were moments away from a damaging defeat until Simms scored his first goal for the club, silencing Stamford Bridge. Everton’s defiance came after they twice trailed in west London. João Félix put Chelsea ahead early in the second half with his second goal since joining on loan from Atlético Madrid in January. Abdoulaye Doucoure’s equaliser was followed by Kai Havertz’s third goal in his last three appearances, as the German converted a penalty in the closing stages.
Simms, who had been on loan at Championship side Sunderland earlier this season, showed he could be Everton’s saviour in the relegation battle with his crucial leveller. Everton are now two points clear of the relegation zone after extending their unbeaten run to three games. It was a bitter pill for Chelsea to swallow as Graham Potter’s team squandered the chance to clinch a fourth successive win in all competitions.
The match was marred by homophobic chanting from Everton fans, who could be heard singing “Chelsea rent boy”. In January it was announced that clubs could be charged by England’s Football Association if their fans sang the offensive song, which the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service defined as a hate crime last year.
Chelsea began brightly, with Mateo Kovačić volleying just wide from the edge of the area. Although Chelsea monopolised possession, Jordan Pickford kept Everton on level terms with a brave save, diving to block a shot at Félix’s feet. Félix, a constant menace with his quick feet and clever movement, forced Pickford to save an effort from 18 yards. Hampered all season by a lack of cutting edge, Chelsea had scored more than once in only two games in all competitions in 2023.
Netting three times at Leicester in their previous match had given Potter encouragement that he had solved Chelsea’s attacking woes. Their territorial dominance was rewarded in the 52nd minute when Ben Chilwell’s cross deflected to Félix just inside the Everton area; the Portugal star seized the chance with a low drive that beat Pickford and cannoned in off the far post. Félix’s first goal in seven games was nearly followed by an Everton equaliser moments later, when Michael Keane headed wide from Demarai Gray’s free‑kick.
Everton equalised in the 69th minute, conjuring a goal straight from the Dyche playbook. Dwight McNeil’s corner was flicked on by Ben Godfrey, and Doucoure nodded home from close range before Havertz could clear off the line. Chelsea were back in front seven minutes later after Reece James’ run was halted by Godfrey’s trip and a clumsy challenge from James Tarkowski in the area. Havertz, who had recently scored a crucial penalty in the Champions League last‑16 win against Borussia Dortmund, coolly sent Pickford the wrong way from the spot for his ninth goal of the season.
The drama peaked in the 89th minute when Doucoure picked out Simms’s surge into the Chelsea area. The striker shrugged off Kalidou Koulibaly’s weak challenge and fired a low shot that crept under Kepa Arrizabalaga, salvaging a point in heart‑stopping fashion.
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