West Ham 2-2

Independent:

Chelsea 2 West Ham United 2

Cesc Fabregas penalty rescues point after spirited Hammers display

Miguel Delaney Stamford Bridge


There might have been some doubt – and, from Slaven Bilic, some anger – about whether Michail Antonio actually tripped Ruben Loftus-Cheek inside the box in the 89th minute at Chelsea, but there is no doubt about the consequence: West Ham United were tripped up in their otherwise impressive chase for a Champions League place.

Bilic’s side were just minutes way from jumping into fourth above both Manchester clubs before the derby at the Etihad today, only for Cesc Fabregas to hit the contentious penalty that made it 2-2 and peg them back. Bilic described the decision as “unacceptable”.

The West Ham manager said: “To concede the type of goal, it’s simply not a penalty. We are gutted.” He rightly felt West Ham deserved the win, but once it gets to this stage of the season, teams have to make sure. West Ham failed to make sure they went 2-0 up and then 3-1 up when they could have, so remain in fifth.


Yet this great game deserved a dramatic finale; its quality was illustrated by the standard of the first three goals.

On 17 minutes, Manuel Lanzini curled a gorgeous strike over Thibaut Courtois to make it 1-0, before Fabregas (pictured) hit his first with a supreme curling free-kick in first-half stoppage time.


Andy Carroll made it 2-1 on 61 minutes just a moment after coming on as a substitute, having been picked out by a sublime no-look Dimitri Payet reverse pass.

Throughout there were a number of borderline refereeing calls, none more so than at the decisive moment. Just two minutes after Bertrand Traoré had cleared a Carroll header off the line, Willian ran through the West Ham defence before releasing Loftus-Cheek.

Antonio appeared to catch the Chelsea youngster’s ankle, although possibly just outside the box. But Loftus-Cheek fell inside the box, and Fabregas tucked the penalty just inside the post.


West Ham had been dominant, and should have been out of sight by this stage. At 1-0, Aaron Cresswell shot wide after a divine Lanzini flick to set up the chance, and the full-back then smashed the crossbar from an angle in the second half.

Bilic lamented: “We tried to play too sexy… but were not penetrating enough.” Chelsea, for whom physio Jon Fearn returned to the bench for the first time since the opening day of the season after being criticised by the then manager, Jose Mourinho, will have been relieved to escape with a draw.


Chelsea: (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar (Loftus-Cheek, 84), Kenedy (Pedro, 45); Rémy (Traoré, 62).

West Ham: (4-2-3-1) Adrian; Antonio, Ogbonna, Reid, Cresswell; Noble, Kouyaté; Valencia (Emenike, 75), Payet, Lanzini (Obiang, 81); Sakho (Carroll, 60).


Referee: Robert Madley.

Man of the match: Lanzini (West Ham)

Match rating: 7/10


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Observer:

Cesc Fàbregas’s disputed late penalty denies West Ham victory at Chelsea

Chelsea 2 - 2 West HamPremier League Stamford Bridge

Jacob Steinberg at Stamford Bridge


As a measure of West Ham United’s startling transformation into contenders for Champions League qualification, perhaps nothing illustrates it better than a draw here feeling more like a defeat than a decent result after a moment of high controversy in the dying minutes denied Slaven Bilic’s side their first win in this part of the capital since 2002.

Before Robert Madley awarded Chelsea a penalty with one minute of normal time left, despite Michail Antonio’s foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek appearing to take place just outside the area, it had seemed more likely that West Ham were going to score a decisive third goal to add to the strike from Andy Carroll that made it 2-1 in the 61st minute.

Carroll had seen a header cleared off the line, Thibaut Courtois was required to make a fine save and West Ham were looking comfortable, knocking the ball around with tremendous assurance, until Antonio was penalised for bringing Loftus-Cheek down after Willian had led a sudden Chelsea break, allowing Fàbregas to equalise from the spot.


For West Ham, the wait for their first double over Chelsea since the 2002-03 season goes on, while they squandered the chance to take Manchester City’s place in the top four for at least 24 hours. They led twice, opening the scoring with a classy effort from the outstanding Manuel Lanzini, but their inability to kill Chelsea off was punished.

While Guus Hiddink argued that Madley was right to give Loftus-Cheek, an 84th-minute substitute, the benefit of the doubt, Bilic was furious with the referee. “I don’t like to moan or find excuses because the way the boys played, we have to be really proud,” he said. “But now we have to play a replay against Manchester United because a big decision went against us and then to concede this kind of goal, it was not close to the line. It was simply not a penalty. He wasn’t sliding, so it shouldn’t be difficult for the referee.”


However, once their sense of injustice evaporates, West Ham will reflect on a performance that further emphasised that they possess the talent to maintain their challenge for a place in the top four. A sign of their enhanced confidence could be glimpsed when Adrián controlled an awkward, looping backpass from Dimitri Payet on his chest early on, juggled the ball on his thigh and volleyed it clear under pressure, and Bilic’s selection was bold, with Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia able to start together in attack for the first time in almost a year.

West Ham were bright and positive, breaking with energy, passing inventively and threatening in the wide expanses in front of Chelsea’s back four even before they went ahead thanks to Lanzini’s peach of a goal in the 17th minute.

Bilic has tapped into the club’s sense of playing with style and adventure with his positivity and the shot that Lanzini curled past Courtois was a wonderful piece of skill. When Payet was tackled by Mikel John Obi, Lanzini collected possession 25 yards out, assessed his options and floated a shot towards the top-left corner that was in from the moment it left his right foot. The Argentinian hit it with curl and dip, the ball bending away from Courtois, and the away end was transformed into a pit of writhing, jubilant celebration.

Chelsea were stunned, almost into submission and when Lanzini, whose impudent touches and ease on the ball made him a delight to watch, carved them open with a delightful backheel, Aaron Cresswell would have made it 2-0 if Branislav Ivanovic had not deflected his effort past the left post.


There were other near-misses and the home side had absorbed a lot of pressure by the time Fàbregas equalised with a lovely free-kick on the stroke of half-time. Although Loïc Rémy toiled in place of the suspended Diego Costa up front, Chelsea demonstrated their resolve after going behind, despite the disappointment of their exits from the Champions League and the FA Cup last week, and they slowly began to offer their supporters glimpses of the champion spirit of old.

They raged at not being awarded a penalty when Valencia appeared to control the ball with his right arm, but when Winston Reid was booked for fouling Oscar on the edge of the area, Fàbregas’s execution was perfect, Adrián’s dive futile.

Chelsea remained vulnerable to West Ham’s counterattacks, however, and Cresswell had already rammed a shot against the bar shortly before Carroll scored with his first touch a minute after coming on for Sakho. Payet released him, deceiving the defence with a sublime pass, and the striker threaded his shot past Courtois.

West Ham failed to take their chances and although Chelsea seemed to have run out of ideas, with Alex Pato a glum presence on the bench, the sight of Payet collapsing to the floor near the halfway line when Madley pointed to the spot summed up the frustration for West Ham’s players.



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Telegraph:


Chelsea 2 West Ham 2: Cesc Fabregas dents neighbours’ top four hopes

Ben Findon, at stamford bridge


West Ham’s drive into the top four, and the prospect of the unimagined riches of Champions League football festooning their new home at the Olympic Stadium, may have been frustrated by Cesc Fabregas’s controversial late penalty in a feisty London derby but this was a display to keep alive the unlikely European vision.

Slaven Bilic’s side, all silk and steel, led twice and for long stretches looked like they would end a 14-year wait for victory at Stamford Bridge.

A spectacular first-half drive from Manuel Lanzini and a composed finish just past the hour-mark by Andy Carroll, within seconds of coming on, had taken West Ham to the brink of a win that would have moved them ahead of Manchester City and into the top four.

Yet Fabregas, who had earlier struck home from a free-kick moments before the end of the first-half, kept his composure on an increasingly frantic afternoon to give Chelsea a debatable 89th-minute reprieve.

“I’m proud of the boys, they played fantastically well for the majority of the game. I know we deserve more than a draw, we were the better team,” Bilic said. “But to concede a goal that late on was gutting. And it was simply not a penalty but we are not getting those decisions.”

Guus Hiddink, who has yet to taste defeat in his 14 league matches in charge since returning to Chelsea last December, backed the penalty award.”I think it was on the line when he was tripped, and he was about to score,” he said. “A draw was a fair result but although we have been unbeaten we are drawing too many matches now.”

The sparks were always flying as both clubs served a reminder that their showdown remains a proper derby, a cultural collision between two ends of the Capital. High-rolling west London, where achievement is part of the local birthright, pitted against the aspirational east-enders, who always have a point to prove.

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” the Chelsea supporters chorused scornfully but the more noise came from the visitors’s end, the noisy neighbours relishing their side’s rapid ascent.

West Ham, however, have little to fear at places like Stamford Bridge nowadays and a brisk, confident opening was rewarded by a sublime goal in the 17th minute.

A loose ball pinballed across the face of the Chelsea penalty area to reach Lanzini, who took a touch before unleashing a magnificent right-footed drive that flew beyond Thibaut Courtois, the helpless home goalkeeper.

Chelsea were without the artistry of the injured Eden Hazard and the predatory senses of the suspended Diego Costa and although Kenedy and Willian attempted to fire up the home side, West Ham rarely looked in trouble.

That was until the dying seconds of the first half, when Chelsea suddenly hauled themselves level. There was a fair amount of self-inflicted injury by the West Ham rearguard, the luckless Winston Reid miscuing a routine headed clearance then impeding Oscar as he attempted to right the damage.

Willian had gone close with a free-kick a few minutes earlier but this time it was Fabregas’s turn and from 20 yards out the whip and curl carried it away from goalkeeper Adrian and Chelsea were level.

And, for a while, Chelsea seemed reinvigorated, attacking from the restart with new urgency. Oscar was inches from turning in Branislav Ivanovic’s long cross.

West Ham, however, kept shape and purpose. Aaron Cresswell barrelled forward once again, sending an angled shot skimming against the underside of the crossbar. It was a warning Chelsea failed to heed.

Just past the hour mark, Bilic introduced Andy Carroll. Seconds later, Chelsea failed to track the big new arrival, who was put clear by Dimitri Payet and finished with a low shot in front of the West Ham followers.

Just as West Ham could taste victory, it was ripped from their grasp.

Willian raced forward, feeding substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek who tumbled with Michail Antonio in close attendance. To the visitors’ dismay, referee Robert Madley pointed to the spot and Fabregas applied some further dead-ball expertise and burst a few West Ham bubbles.


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Mail:

Chelsea 2-2 West Ham:

 Midfielder Cesc Fabregas converts late penalty to bag his side a share of the spoils at Stamford Bridge

By SAM CUNNINGHAM FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

A controversial late penalty for Chelsea earned them a draw and prevented West Ham from moving in to the top four.
With three minutes remaining and West Ham leading, substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek went to ground under pressure from Michail Antonio and referee Robert Madley awarded a spot-kick, which Cesc Fabregas converted to save his side a point.

It was questionable as to whether the Chelsea midfielder was inside the box when he tumbled, or if Antonio even made contact rather than the player tripping over his own feet.


West Ham manager Slaven Bilic was understandably furious. He said: ‘To concede from a penalty that wasn’t a penalty is unacceptable. Basically to concede a goal that late is gutting, no matter how you concede it. It was not close to the line. It was way out and simply not a penalty.’

West Ham were into the top four in the ‘as-it-stands’ table for all of 58 glorious minutes as they twice went ahead. There is a growing feeling that — with their well-organised manager and talented, skilful squad — they can do the unthinkable and secure Champions League football to the Olympic Stadium by the time they move in this summer.

They have not mounted a serious challenge for a place in the top four since they finished third in 1986 — 30 years ago this May and three decades of yo-yoing in and out of the top-flight.


‘We could have two points more. We could go over Manchester City, put the pressure on them, we could make a gap with the teams that are below us queuing and we deserved it,’ said Bilic. When Manuel Lanzini put them ahead in the first half, they temporarily overtook City, until Fabregas equalised with a free-kick moments before the break.

Andy Carroll then came off the bench to put them ahead once again but Fabregas scored two minutes from time and the point left West Ham fifth, back where they had started the afternoon.
‘If there was any doubt [about the penalty], it was the benefit of the doubt which made the referee make the decision,’ said Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink. ‘I thought he was on the line when he was tripped. Loftus-Cheek was about to score. It was a very close call. On the line and the line is part of the box, I think.’

Lanzini’s opener was the sort of goal which would fit comfortably in the Olympic Stadium on a crisp, chill Champions League night.

West Ham moved the ball quickly through Chelsea’s half in the 17th minute and Dimitri Payet was almost through on goal until John Obi Mikel slid back to tackle. The ball, however, rolled on to Lanzini to the left of the area and he cut back inside with his first touch before curling a shot over Thibaut Courtois and into the far right corner.

The Chelsea fans had taunted their West Ham rivals with chants of ‘Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that’ shortly before but never has their been a less appropriate time and for West Ham to have the greatest chance to try and prove that, one day, it could be wrong. Just after the half-hour they produced a stunning move which should have produced a second. Diafra Sakho passed to Lanzini who let the ball run through his legs, flicking it with the back of his heel into the path of Aaron Cresswell, who was overlapping from left-back and his low shot was deflected just wide by Branislav Ivanovic.

But for all West Ham’s good work, Chelsea were level in first-half stoppage time less than a minute from the break. Fabregas curled a beautifully struck free-kick into the left of goal. ‘The last 10 minutes of the first half we tried to play a little bit sloppy, a little bit too sexy, not penetrating enough,’ said Bilic.
Early in the second half they traded chances with the defending Premier League champions as if they were their contemporaries.


In the 50th minute, Willian passed out wide to Ivanovic on the right, whose low cross went right through to Oscar running in at the back post, but he shot first time with the outside of his right, instead of a side-footed left and missed.
Cresswell, in yet another foray forward, hit the bar in the 57th minute. It looked like an intended cross but the ball arrowed up and towards goal, confounding Courtois but coming back off the underside of his upright.

Carroll was brought on for Sakho on the hour and within a minute of entering the field put West Ham back ahead. Rarely is the assist better than the strike for a goal but Payet’s reverse pass to play in the striker was sublime and his finish scuffed but enough.
The half of the Shed End holding the West Ham fans was rattling so violently it was a wonder it did not fall down.

Chelsea tried their hardest to quieten them. Fabregas headed just over, Terry headed just over, Oscar’s volley was blocked and, when the ball bounced up, Fabregas sent an overhead kick, yet again, just over. When they scored the penalty, Chelsea’s relish in denying their rivals was palpable.
‘Our target now for the rest of the season is to see if we can get a European spot,’ said Hiddink. And what he meant by that comment was qualification for the Europa League. West Ham, by stark contrast, maintain the loftier ambition of securing Champions League football. It is not over yet.

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, MATCH ZONE AND LEAGUE TABLE FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Ivanovic 6, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6; Mikel 6, Fabregas 8; Willian 6.5, Oscar 6.5 (Loftus-Cheek 84), Kenedy 7 (Pedro 46 6); Remy 6 (Traore 62 6.5).
Substitutes not used: Begovic, Baba, Matic, Pato.
Manager: Guus Hiddink 5.5
Booked: Ivanovic, Willian, Fabregas.

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Adrian 6; Antonio 6, Reid 6, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 6.5; Kouyate 6, Noble 6; Lanzini 7.5 (Obiang 82), Payet 7.5, Valencia 6.5 (Emenike 75 6); Sakho 6.5 (Carroll 60 7.5).
Subs not used: Randolph, Oxford, O'Brien, Song.
Manager: Slaven Bilic 6
Booked: Reid, Ogbonna, Kouyate, Adrian, Antonio.

Referee: Robert Madley 4.5
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Man of the Match: Fabregas
Attendance: 41,623


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Mirror:

Chelsea 2-2 West Ham: Cesc Fabregas brace rescues a point for Guus Hiddink's men - 5 things we learned

BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA

Fabregas twice pulled the Blues level after Maunel Lanzini and Andy Carroll scored for the visitors at Stamford Bridge


Cesc Fabregas scored a late penalty to deny West Ham a place in the top four.

Fabregas scored his second goal of the game from the spot in the 89th minute to earn Chelsea a 2-2 draw.

West Ham were heading for fourth after Andy Carroll came off the bench to put them ahead a minute after he came on.

Manuel Lanzini had put West Ham in front in the 17th minute, a lead cancelled out by Fabregas's free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

And the Spanish midfielder had the final word from 12 yards after Michail Antonio tripped Ruben Loftus-Cheek just inside the box as he bore down on goal.



1. No more 19th century football


West Ham should have won, having led 2-1 with just minutes to go, but there was still further evidence of how far West Ham have come under Slaven Bilic.

Two years ago Jose Mourinho accused the Hammers of playing '19th century football” under Sam Allardyce to get a point at Stamford Bridge. But this was no backs to the wall display.

They went toe-to-toe with Chelsea, more than matched them and should have claimed all three points and a place in the top four.

With the squad he has built, West Ham no longer have any need for defensive displays under Bilic or to fear anyone.



2. Lanzini has steel and style

Lanzini lined up in central midfield for and the little Argentinian produced a big performance in the West Ham engine room. Despite his slender frame he showed he can mix it alright.

He stood out for his simple hard work and non-stop running as much as his brilliant opening goal.


3. Bilic has found the best role for Andy Carroll


Despite all his injury problems Andy Carroll still has plenty to offer if he is willing to accept being a super sub.

When he comes off the bench he is almost a guaranteed game changer as his strengths are so different to most players in the Premier League.

He instantly gave Chelsea something different to think about when he came on at Stamford Bridge and scored after just a minute on the pitch. This was his third goal out of four this season as a sub.


4. Chelsea aren't on their holidays

They may have dropped more points but Chelsea haven't taken their foot off the gas yet. They didn't play badly or like a side who were already on their summer holidays.

If they were they wouldn't have fought back twice to earn a point. They had a strong spell at the start of the second half but conceded when they were on top and responded well to going behind a second time and were rewarded with another equaliser.

They have little to play for between now and the end of the season but the prospect of trying to ensure they retain their places when Antonio Conte arrives in the summer should keep Chelsea's players on their toes.


5. Kenedy has bright future

In a bleak season for Chelsea, Kenedy's emergence has been another positive. He has been playing left-back recently but despite the return of Chelsea's first-choice defence Guus Hiddink still found a way to get him in the side, playing him further forward down the left

flank in Eden Hazard's absence, ahead of the likes of a much more experienced player like Pedro. That is a sign of the impression he has made on the Dutchman.


Player ratings

Chelsea

Courtois 6 - No chance for either goal but did produce two sharp saves from Valencia and Carroll.

Ivanovic BOOKED 6 - Booked trying to make up for his mistake and caught out for winner.

Cahill 6 - Won't be happy with his role in either goal.

Terry 7 - Produced one vital goalline clearance on his first start for over a month.

Azpilicueta 7 - Returned to left back and looked good in both halves.

Mikel 6 - Conceded loads of fouls. Fortunate not to be booked.

Fabregas BOOKED 8 - Pushed and probed all game and stepped up with two goals.

Willian BOOKED 6 - Couldn't fault work rate but unable to produce moment of inspiration.

Oscar 5 - Really quiet for most of game and blew great second half chance.

Kenedy 7 - Lively and produced some eye-catching skill. Always tried to make things happen.

Remy 5 - Only on edges of the game and threatened once or twice.


Subs

Pedro (Kenedy 46) 6

Traore (Remy 62) 5

Loftus-Cheek (Oscar 84) 5



West Ham:

Adrian BOOKED 7 - Good saves from Willian and Remy. Couldn't do anything about either goal.

Antonio BOOKED 6 - Undid his good work after solid shift as emergency right-back by conceding late penalty.

Reid BOOKED 8 - Marshalled defence well but push on Oscar to concede free-kick was costly.

Ogbonna BOOKED 7 - Growing in strength by the game. Numerous vital blocks and interceptions.

Cresswell 7 - Got forward well and almost scored twice, hitting the bar the second time.

Kouyate BOOKED 7 - All-action display. Always there to get a foot or stick his head in.

Valencia 5 - Worked hard but posed little attacking threat after bright start.

Noble 7 - Continued his good form. Always available and kept things ticking over.

Lanzini MOTM 8 - Dictated play in central midfield and scored brilliant goal.

Payet 7 - Not his best game – has set high standards - but still set up Carroll.

Sakho 7 - Led line well. Good target-man for West Ham to play off.


Subs

Carroll (Sakho 60) 7

Emenike (Valencia 75) 5

Obiang (Lanzini 82) 5



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Express:


Chelsea 2 - West Ham 2: Fabregas saves Blues as Hammers slip up in Champions League race

CESC FABREGAS scored a late equaliser to stop West Ham inflicting Guus Hiddink’s first home league defeat as interim Chelsea manager.

By TONY STENSON


But whatever the Dutchman’s legacy will be at Stamford Bridge, Slaven Bilic is surely breathing down the neck of Claudio Ranieri to be named manager of the season after transforming West Ham into a team of believers.

But Bilic didn’t believe the penalty that denied his side three points should have been awarded: He said: “I am not saying it was a foul or not but where it was, and it was a long away from our 18-yard line. It was an unbelievable decision.”

But Hiddink disagreed: “I thought it was on the line and that is a penalty. He was tripped and when that happens the referee usually gives the benefit of the doubt.”


Despite the late blow, the Hammers boss, it seems, can do nothing wrong and his ability to influence games with tactical changes has been magnificent.

In the 59th minute yesterday he sent on Andy Carroll who, with his first touch, put the Hammers ahead. Bilic has also unearthed a very special talent in Dimitri Payet. Goal here Manuel Lanzini is not far behind while Michail Antonio, once a non-league journeyman, is now pushing for an England place.

Give people hope and they dream. Bilic is doing just that, with West Ham, heading towards their new home, on the verge of an FA Cup final and hunting down a place in the Champions League. Champions Chelsea, in contrast, have continually fluffed their lines this season.


They might still be unbeaten at home in the Premier League with Hiddink in charge, but they have not won much either.

West Ham’s fighting spirit, their energy and athleticism never faltered as they ruthlessly exposed Chelsea and it was no surprise when Lanzini scored a goal of true beauty.

The Argentinian’s curling shot from 20 yards made Thibaut Courtois look like a statue. It was mainly Chelsea attacking and West Ham defending with ease until one minute into first-half added time, when Oscar was fouled by Winston Reid and Fabregas curled in the free kick.

Oscar wasted a 50th-minute chance, turning his shot into the side-netting and Aaron Cresswell hit the Chelsea bar seven minutes later.

Enter Carroll, who beat the offside trap to turn in Payet’s pass. He also had an effort cleared off the line before Antonio tripped sub Ruben Loftus-Cheek to give away the spot-kick that Fabregas tucked away.


MAN OF THE MATCH: WINSTON REID – Stood firm in West Ham’s defence when Chelsea decided to throw everything forward. Masterly defending.


CHELSEA: Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Mikel; Kenedy (Pedro 45); Willian, Oscar (Loftus-Cheek 83); Remy (Traore 81).

WEST HAM: Adrian; Antonio, Ogbonna, Reid, Creswell; Kouyate, Noble; Sakho (Carroll 59), Payet, Lanzini (Obiang 81); Valencia (Emenike 74).


Referee: R Madley


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Star:


Chelsea 2 West Ham 2: Late Fabregas penalty snatches point as Hammers miss out on top four


SLAVEN BILIC fumed over the 89th-minute penalty that stopped West Ham recording a first win at Stamford Bridge in 11 attempts.


By Tony Stenson


They were leading 2-1 when Michail Antonio clumsily collided with Chelsea sub Ruben Loftus-Cheek and referee Robert Madley pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Cesc Fabregas to score his second set-piece goal of the game to preserve Chelsea’s unbeaten league run under Guus Hiddink.

But Bilic was angry, claiming at worst that the incident was outside their penalty area.



He said: “It was an unbelievable decision. It was not close to the line.

“It was way out and simply not a penalty. Basically, to concede a goal that late is gutting, no matter how you concede it.

“A penalty that wasn’t a penalty. It is unbelievable. I don’t like to moan or find excuses, because the way the boys played we have to be really proud.”



Even though the late penalty saved Chelsea’s blushes, it could not disguise West Ham’s rebirth.

Bilic is surely competing with Leicester’s Claudio Ranieri for the Manager of the Year gong for the way he has transformed West Ham.

The Croatian’s ability to affect the course of a game with tactical changes has been magnificent and in Dimitri Payet he has found a special talent.


Goal hero Manuel Lanzini is not far behind while Antonio – once a no-hope, non-league journeyman – is now pushing for an place with England.

Give people hope and they dream. Bilic is doing just that. He has ensured West Ham are creating a tremendous buzz as they head towards their new Olympic Stadium home and has sparked hopes of this being the beginning of an exciting spell in the club’s history.

They are on the verge of an FA Cup Semi-Final and hunting down a place in the Champions League.


Bilic added: “We played fantastic the majority of the game.

“They are champions, they have a good team. But I think, I know, we deserved more than a draw.

“We were the better team apart from one period of the second half before we scored the second one.


“We could have two points more. We could go over Man City, put the pressure on them, make a gap with the teams below us queuing and we deserved it. We are gutted.”

Chelsea may not have lost in the Premier League under Hiddink – but they have not won many either.

It was easy to see why yesterday. They create countless chances but rely on set-pieces to score when Diego Costa is not around.


Willian did force a save from Adrian within the first nine minutes of spell-binding stuff from both sides.

But the Hammers proved their form is no fluke and offered much in return.

So it was no surprise when Lanzini scored a goal of true beauty. The Hammers muscled their way into Chelsea’s half and, when ball broke for to the Argentinian, he curled his sixth goal of the season into the net from 20 yards.

It was mainly Chelsea attacking, West Ham defending until one minute into added time of the first half when Oscar was fouled by Winston Reid and Fabregas curled in a 20-yard free-kick.

Oscar wasted a 50th-minute chance, when he could only find the side-netting from Branislav Ivanovic’s ball.


West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell hit their crossbar seven minutes later. Chelsea kept pummelling away but West Ham made the breakthrough.

On came Andy Carroll and he cleverly beat an offside trap to turn in Payet’s pass with his first touch.


He also had another effort cleared off the line a minute before Antonio tripped sub Loftus-Cheek to give away the 89th-minute penalty for the equaliser.

Hiddink said: “The penalty was a decision which was seen different from the many angles. It is why we need television replays.

“I thought it was on the line and that is a penalty. He was tripped and when that happens the referee usually gives the benefit of the doubt.”

Hiddink says he will use his final eight games to give his up-and-coming talents a run out, saying: “I am not afraid to say, ‘Okay we’re not in Europe so let’s think differently and give youngsters a chance’.”

Everton 0-2

Independent:

Romelu Lukaku double sends former club crashing out of the FA Cup

Everton 2 Chelsea 0

TIm Rich Goodison Park

For those who wanted FA Cup ties that matter, this was it. It was gladiatorial and for Everton and Chelsea everything depended on it. By the finish, Romelu Lukaku had killed off Chelsea’s season and Diego Costa and Gareth Barry had been dismissed. For the managers it was a result that defined their season. Guus Hiddink’s second spell as Roman Abramovich’s salvage operator will not, like the first, end with him lifting the FA Cup.

For Lukaku, goals have not been a problem; the ones that took Everton through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup were his 24th and 25th of the season. It has been scoring goals that matter.  These mattered desperately. The first was a superb mixture of strength and precision. He held off Cesar Azpilicueta, cut through John Obi Mikel and Gary Cahill and then drove his shot past Thibaut Courtois. The question would be how Everton would react. Only Dick Dastardly, the villain of Wacky Races, has lost more leads than Roberto Martinez.

Now, Everton finished things. Put through by Ross Barkley, Lukaku looked up with the eyes of an executioner and fired the ball through his countryman’s legs. In the Main Stand by the directors box, middle-aged men leapt into each other’s arms. Their season would go on.

For Costa and Barry the night would very soon be coming to a halt. They had been niggling at each other all evening and now the Spaniard retaliated, almost appearing to bite Barry as he did so. This was his second yellow and Barry’s – for a foul on Cesc Fabregas – was not long in coming. One was howled off, the other left to an ovation.

Martinez had made his reputation in an FA Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park. It was Wigan’s emphatic 3-0 win here which persuaded the Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright, he would not have to look very far for David Moyes’ replacement. That tie had been settled by half time. When the interval came around for this match, the only pattern in the game was provided by the bruises dished out by some fearsome tackling.

Kenwright watched alongside Farhad Moshiri, who, having paid for 49 per cent of the club was seeing for the first time what his money had bought. There was precious little skill on offer but the atmosphere came as standard.  For both of the great under-achievers in this year’s Premier League, it was approaching last orders in the Last Chance Saloon.

At Goodison and Stamford Bridge, it suddenly seemed very late in the season and everybody knew it. Chelsea thought the quarter-final important enough to pay for a blue-and-white scarf on every one of the 6,000 seats in the Bullens Road Stand occupied by the club’s supporters.

The play was frenetic. Costa, who had not impressed in the Champions League defeat by Paris St-Germain with his fitness, began this match by driving into Barry whom he appeared to catch in the face. Seamus Coleman exacted some retribution on Pedro and was then clattered by Chelsea’s young Brazilian, Kenedy, employed as a makeshift left-back.

There was precisely one real opportunity in an unforgiving first half and it came when Phil Jagielka brought down Fabregas 25 yards out. Willian, who was probably the one footballer to show some fight as Jose Mourinho’s regime collapsed around him, sent the free-kick over the wall to be tipped into the Gwladys Street End by Joel Robles.

That was just before the interval and, as if to compensate in what had been a tit-for-tat, blow-for-blow encounter, Tom Cleverley promptly forced Courtois into his first save of the evening in the two minutes of first-half stoppage time. The teams walked off to boos for Costa and a rendition of Mr Blue Sky.

It wasn’t a blue-sky kind of tie. It was nasty, brutal and very dark. For most of the quarter-final, Costa had been prepared to be a theatrical villain for Goodison’s benefit but now, slipped in by Fabregas early in the second half, he showed his delicacy of touch by holding off Ramiro Funes Mori while taking the ball past Robles and sliding it across the very face of the Everton goal. The ball bobbled along what for Hiddink would have been just the wrong side of the thin white line.


Everton: (4-3-3) Robles; Coleman, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Baines; Cleverley, McCarthy, Barry; Lennon (Stones, 88), Lukaku (Niasse,90), Barkley (Besic, 90).

Chelsea: (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Kenedy (Terry, 85); Mikel, Matic (Rémy, 82); Willian (Oscar, 73), Fabregas, Pedro; Costa. .


Referee: Michael Oliver

Man of the match: Lukaku (Everton)

Match rating: 7/10



=====================



Guardian:

Romelu Lukaku strikes twice for Everton as Chelsea’s Diego Costa is sent off

Everton 2 - 0 Chelsea

FA Cup Goodison Park

Paul Wilson


Two late goals from Romelu Lukaku secured Everton a place in the FA Cup last four at his former team’s expense, in a slow-burner of a game that finished explosively with both sides going down to 10 men.

Lukaku’s well-taken double brought some much-needed quality to an otherwise ordinary tie, though it was what happened shortly after his second that could have the greatest repercussions. Diego Costa was sent off for the first time in his Chelsea career for two separate cautionable offences against Gareth Barry, though replays of the second suggested he may have bitten his opponent.

He was not sent off for biting, just for pushing his head into Barry’s face. Though some of the pictures look incriminating, the Everton player does not appear to be making a complaint. Barry was booked for his part in the scuffle, then he too received a second yellow for a later foul on Cesc Fàbregas. “Gareth has said it is nothing to worry about,” Roberto Martínez said. “He is just disappointed he picked up a second yellow card.”

Chelsea were able to field a decent side after all the injury scares. Eden Hazard was missing but Costa was surprisingly restored after having to leave the field early against PSG in midweek. He seemed in the mood too, picking up a first booking after just 10 minutes for spikily getting in Barry’s face a little too literally, then tumbling in the area in search of a penalty from Phil Jagielka’s challenge when he would probably have been better staying on his feet.

Romelu Lukaku scored both goals against his old team, the first a wonderful solo effort, while Diego Costa was sent off on a miserable day for Chelsea

Costa even took his gloves off midway through the first half, though after a feisty opening the game had settled down a bit by then. Chances were few in the first half-hour. Kenedy could have opened the scoring after a run down the left but shot too high when he got a sight of goal, while Lukaku could not quite reach a promising Séamus Coleman cross at the other end after Leighton Baines had done well to find his fellow full-back in space.

That was about it for first-half goalmouth action until a couple of minutes before the interval, when Joel Robles was obliged to make the first save of the game, tipping a free-kick from Willian over the bar after Jagielka had been penalised and booked for a high challenge on Fàbregas.


There was still time for another set-to between Costa and Barry before the teams turned round, and even the first Everton shot on target, though Tom Cleverley really required more power and direction to properly trouble Thibaut Courtois.

Martínez had promised an exciting game to welcome the new major shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, on his first visit to Goodison, and this was not it. Though fiercely contested, the first half will not live long in the memory. This quarter-final was billed as the last chance of silverware for two clubs who have had disappointing seasons, and that was what it looked like. Disappointing.

At least Everton showed more attacking conviction in the second half, to bring the crowd to life. Ramiro Funes Mori headed over the bar from a Cleverley corner, then Ross Barkley found room to manoeuvre on the right and almost sent Lukaku clear.

It was Chelsea who came closest to scoring in these minutes, though, and possibly Costa should have done better than roll the ball harmlessly across the face of goal after Fàbregas had picked him out. In the context of an uneventful game the chance was a big one. Everton allowed Fàbregas far too much time and space on the ball and he found Costa almost instinctively, only for the striker to take the ball slightly too wide in avoiding Robles and leave himself an almost impossible shooting angle.

After an hour the game had finally developed into something approaching a full-blooded end-to-end cup tie, with Aaron Lennon showing up well for Everton and Barkley ending a promising move with a mishit shot into the crowd. A perfectly weighted through ball from Cleverley brought a glimmer of a chance for Lukaku, who saw the possibility straight away but was foiled by an even quicker reaction from Courtois, who left his line intelligently to get a hand to the ball and clear the danger.


Just as Martínez was preparing to send Gerard Deulofeu on to extend Everton’s attacking options, Lukaku opened up Chelsea on his own. Though Barkley found him in space on the left he was closer to the corner flag than the goal. There seemed no way through yet the former Chelsea player muscled into the penalty area despite César Azpilicueta’s desperate attempt to pull him back, easily slipped an unforgivably feeble challenge from Mikel John Obi, then turned Gary Cahill one way and then the other before finding Courtois’s bottom corner.

A goal of such quality after so much mediocrity seemed certain to settle the game but five minutes later Everton had another. Chelsea lost the ball from a throw-in in their own half, Barry diligently winning possession and allowing Barkley to find Lukaku, who ran in from the right this time and found Courtois’s opposite corner just as unerringly.

All that was remained was for Costa to see red for giving Barry another facial in retaliation for a heavy challenge from the Everton player. Though Barry, too, failed to make the final whistle the spotlight is clearly on Costa, whose previous crimes will be as nothing if the charge of cannibalism is added to the list. “I didn’t see it, so it is difficult to say yes or no,” Guus Hiddink said. “Diego was chased a bit in the game. Everton did not to anything outside the rules but they went after him.”



=====================


Telegraph:


Everton 2 Chelsea 0

Reality bites for Chelsea as Romelu Lukaku seals win


Sam Wallace, chief football writer, at goodison park


It is the nature of Chelsea’s dismal season that even on the day that the last chance of a trophy slipped from their grasp, and so too the prospect of European football next year, Diego Costa conspired to make life even more intolerable for them.

The Chelsea striker was sent off for two yellow cards, the second of which was for a head thrust into Gareth Barry’s head and neck that might even have seen the striker attempt to bite his opponent, although the evidence was inconclusive. If the Football Association decides that the offence did take place then it will be the last we see of Chelsea’s trouble-maker in chief for some time.

The chances are that Costa will not find himself charged on this occasion, even if he did press his face deep into Barry’s neck in the Christopher Lee fashion, chiefly because Roberto Martinez appeared to exonerate him in the aftermath. The Everton manager said that Barry had dismissed the incident and the midfielder was more concerned with his own red card, for a second bookable offence later on.

If Costa’s explosion was not bad enough, the game was decided by two brilliant goals from Romelu Lukaku, the striker sold in the summer of 2014 to accommodate the arrival of Costa, a decision that the club must look upon now with a sense of bewilderment. Their manager at the time Jose Mourinho is now gone, and Chelsea have lost out on one of the brightest young strikers in Europe.

Lukaku is the kind of goalscorer whom Chelsea would once have used the muscle of Roman Abramovich’s wealth to acquire but the game has changed now. Sitting in the Goodison Park stands for the first time was Everton’s new biggest shareholder, the billionaire Farhad Moshiri, whom the club hope will make them more resistant to losing their best players.


These were two truly brilliant goals from Lukaku and they sounded the death knell for Chelsea’s season. Even Hiddink veered slightly off-message after the game, reminding all concerned that he had at least rescued the club from the threat of relegation, recalling how, when he took over in December, there were some at Stamford Bridge “sweating” about just bad it could get.

In front of the new boss, and following the 3-2 defeat to West Ham at Goodison last weekend, this came at the right time for Martinez who has a place in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley. It was, in truth, an evenly matched game but Lukaku’s superb first goal disturbed the balance and there was to be no way back for Chelsea.

Martinez was still talking about the West Ham defeat as if it was some kind of administrative error that never should have happened and for which he and his side were somehow not culpable. Yet there is no doubt that a FA Cup run will lift the club after a season that has been underwhelming to say the least.

The only surprise was that Barry, on a yellow card for fouling Costa in the lead-up to the incident that saw the Chelsea striker sent off, then needlessly felled Cesc Fabregas for a second booking. Hiddink accused Everton of having targeted Costa but he can hardly have been surprised and where once the Brazilian was capable of playing on his opponents’ short fuses they seem to do the same to him now.  

Costa had got himself booked early in the first half, a little harshly, for a stray hand that was flapped into the face of Ramiro Funes Mori who hit the ground like he had run into a lamp-post. As fingers were wagged there was a moment when some Costa-induced chaos might take over but Oliver gave him a yellow card and that was enough.

Costa was a surprise start given that he had requested to come off in the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday which was the end of Chelsea’s Champions League lives. Ideally, Hiddink said, Costa would not have played at Goodison but it was an all or nothing game and player and manager decided to take the risk.


Martinez’s team started the stronger, pressing all over the pitch and not permitting their visitors to linger on the ball. Aaron Lennon was a difficult presence to contain for the 20-year-old Brazilian left-back Kenedy, although the Chelsea man never shied away from the task. Joel Robles, the FA Cup alternative to Tim Howard, made one fine save from Willian’s free-kick late in the half.

John Terry was back for Chelsea, albeit only on the bench. Gary Cahill did make one fine saving tackle when Barkley broke away on 52 minutes down the right and played in Lukaku down the right channel, where he was stopped by one of Cahill’s trademark tackles.

Not until just before the hour did Costa get his first sight of goal, a move that started with Branislav Ivanovic’s quick forward pass through the Everton midfield to the feet of Fabregas, who turned and moved it on to Costa. The striker took the ball wide of Robles and then, as the angle reduced to almost nothing, failed to squeeze the ball between the posts with his left foot.

Lukaku’s first goal began when he picked the ball up nowhere near goal on the left side and brushed Cesar Azpilicueta aside before going past John Obi Mikel and Cahill. His right foot shot past Courtois was hit with great composure. His second was just as good, from Barkley’s pass he beat the Chelsea goalkeeper comfortably from the right side of the area.

Chelsea finished with substitute Terry and Cahill up front, and Loic Remy thrown on as well. Costa was already in the changing rooms by then, reflecting on another day when his temper got the better of him.



======================



Mail :


Everton 2-0 Chelsea:

Romelu Lukaku fires Roberto Martinez's side into the FA Cup semi-finals as Diego Costa sees red for apparent bite on Gareth Barry in battle of the Blues at Goodison Park
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock with a superb solo effort with 13 minutes remaining
Lukaku doubled his tally for the evening with a fierce shot through the legs of Thibaut Courtois at Goodison Park
Joel Robles produced a smart save from a 25-yard Willian free-kick in one of the few chances in the first 45 minutes
Diego Costa very nearly scored from a tight angle but his shot flashed past the far post just shy of the hour-mark
Costa saw red for an ugly altercation involving Gareth Barry who himself was sent off for second bookable offence

By ROB DRAPER FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Michael Oliver became the first English referee to send off Costa as he over-stepped the mark one too many times in the latter stages

For one of those men produced a defining performance, scoring two goals, one of them quite outstanding, as he thrust aside multiple Chelsea defenders to finish sublimely.

The other striker is embroiled in a fresh controversy, his jaws appearing to close around the neck of Gareth Barry in a fashion made familiar by Luis Suarez. The fact that Costa seemed to pull back from the apparent intent to bite at the last moment may yet save him.

Yet there is additional footage available that suggests otherwise or contrary evidence from Gareth Barry – and Roberto Martinez indicated that Barry did not seem to think he had been bitten – then a lengthy ban awaits.

Roberto Martinez seemed to think it was all part of the magic of the FA Cup. ‘Diego Costa has a fighting spirit,’ he said. ‘I don’t think it was much. Whatever happens with Diego Costa, I think we should see it as what we want to see in a cup game, real emotions. And I’m sure the players will have shaken it off at the end of the game and there is nothing to look back at.’

That may be. And for Martinez, whose season had been brought back from a precipice, who had re-galvanised a fraught Goodison Park, is was indeed frustrating that a key moment and a trip to Wembley had been overshadowed.

Yet at Goodison they won’t worry much over the rights and wrongs of Diego Costa. They had just witnessed an exceptional goal of considerable strength and no little skill from Lukaku and a famous victory.

In front of their new billionaire majority shareholder, Fahrad Moshri, Everton had made a statement of intent. Their season will not now wither and die; it will at least last until April and the future will be approached with boldness, with Moshri vowing to keep the club’s young stars. That said, with John Stones dropped after last week’s collective defensive meltdown against West Ham. Everton showed there is life with or without their £50million-rated centre half.

‘It was very satisfying,’said Martinez. ‘The pain we had at the weekend came out with an incredible sense of character and responsibility. Two teams went eye to eye. We defended very well. We kept Chelsea to one shot on target. It got up to a moment that needed a moment of magic. Romelu’s goal is going to be one of the best goals scored in the FA Cup and well worth it to take us to Wembley, a great memory for every Evertonian.’

It was indeed. It is not true to say Lukaku unlocked this tie alone. The foundation was provided by a rare, solid defensive performance and an aggressive display by Gareth Barry, wo targeted Costa from the start, not always legally.

And on both occasions he was fed with delightful balls from Ross Barkley. Yet that first goal was a prodigious solo effort, his strength allowing him to shrug off the combined attentions of Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic.

Azpilicueta came back for more but was just brushed aside as Lukaku headed goa-wards, as was John Obi Mikel. For the denouement, Lukaku swerved past Gary Cahill and pulled the ball wide of Thibaut Courtois. The second was more straightforward. Chelsea lost possession from a throw to Barry; Barkley fed Lukaku who outran Ivanovic and smashed the ball home.


As for Chelsea, the future seems clear. Antonio Conte will doubtless arrive. Some improvement is perhaps inevitable. Yet a team which seemed to be the epitome of solidity a year ago has crumbled and it is by no means apparent whether it can be rebuilt.

Costa’s frustration is presumably mirrored by the entire club; they just hide it better. They battled well for much of the gane, had chances notably a Willian free kick before half time and Costa himself on 58 minutes. Yet the next two months are largely an irrelevance.

‘It is difficult to judge whether I have been a success because success here is playing a final and winning a final,’ said Guus Hiddink. ‘But you must be realistic. This year is not just from the start, but from December when it was difficult to go fresh for the prizes. Success is winning FA Cup or Champions League but in December people inside were sweating where they were.’ So that is how 2015-16 will be judged for Chelsea, the reigning champions; the year we avoided relegation.

MATCH FACTS

Everton (4-2-3-1): Robles, Coleman, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Baines, Cleverley, Barry, Lennon (Stones 87), McCarthy, Barkley (Besic 90), Lukaku (Niasse 90)
Subs not used: Howard, Osman, Deulofeu, Kone
Goals: Lukaku 77, 82
Booked: Jagielka, Barry
Sent off: Barry

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Kenedy (Terry 84), Mikel, Matic (Remy 81), Willian (Oscar 71), Fabregas, Pedro, Diego Costa
Subs not used: Begovic, Baba Rahman, Loftus-Cheek, Traore
Booked: Costa, Fabregas
Sent off: Costa

Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 37,283


=======================



Mirror:


Everton 2-0 Chelsea: Romelu Lukaku puts Toffees through to FA Cup semi-finals – 5 things we learned


BY DAVID MADDOCK


The Belgian striker netted a stunning individual goal and then added another against his former club before Diego Costa saw red


Everton sealed a spot at Wembley as a Romelu Lukaku double defeated former club Chelsea.

It was a fascinating, at times brutal contest, but one in which Lukaku proved not only the match-winner, but also the player the London club would SO much love to have in their side.


Chelsea dominated for long periods, and Branislav Ivanovic kept the striker so quiet, but when it mattered he burst into spectacular life, to prove once more you can't put a price in match winners.

And to make matters worse for Guus Hiddink's side, Diego Costa was dismissed six minutes from time, as his frustration boiled over into anger.

It was a titanic showdown with both team's season on the line, and David Maddock was there to discover just who would prevail, and who would be left with nothing to play for during the rest of the campaign.


Here are five things we learned.


1. Diego Costa is a prize....

You can fill your own words in here, cabbage or asset would do equally (though plum is personal favourite) given your team preferences, but whichever way you lean, there's no arguing that he generates energy where ever he goes.

A lot of it is in the form of hot air, but at least he gives a damn, which several clubs – including Manchester United – would certainly appreciate right now.

The desire the striker shows isn't to everyone's taste, and if you're an opposition fan you probably hate him, but he's an old fashioned forward in that he kicks just about everything that moves, and quite often those who don't.

For that, you will sometimes get a stupid red card.


2. He won't be on Barry's Christmas list


There was a real, mutual loathing between the pair that often threatened to boil over into something tasty.

Barry, as Everton's senior pro, probably took exception to the fact his team-mates were getting picked off one by one by the striker, and decided to take justice into his own hands.

Interestingly, Costa is not so keen when he's on the receiving end, and it made for perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the evening...culminating in that dismissal when Barry remained so cool and professional.

The Everton midfielder was booked again soon after though, his second to pick up a dismissal, leading to a tense finale.


3. Lennon has been on the happy juice


He's all smiles now, the sullen, unmoving character who on his first day at Goodison looked about as happy to be there as a nun in Stringfellows (actually, let's face it, ANYONE in Stringfellows) replaced by an enthusiastic, driven character.

It is some transformation, especially in his form, because he has been outstanding since the turn of the year, and his work-rate, ability on the ball and eye for a goal could well catapult him back into the England squad.


4. What has happened to Stones?


If Branislav Ivanovic at least looked settled again, until the final few minutes at least, the same can't be said for John Stones, who really doesn't know whether he is coming or going right now (though clearly would rather be going after getting axed AGAIN by Roberto Martinez).

The defender has come in for some stick this season, but really, it is puzzling why, because for all the fact he made a couple of concentration errors, he was still by far Everton's best defender in the long term absence of Phil Jagielka.

Now the skipper is back, Stones looks a better partner for him than Ramiro Funes Mori, who has obvious talent, but is still weak in the air in English football.


5. Lukaku returns to haunt Chelsea


Chelsea REALLY must be ruing Mourinho's fall out with Romelu Lukaku, and the subsequent decision to sell him.

The striker is the best in the Premier League right now, as his goals showed, and quite possibly amongst the leading lights in Europe.

He's a beast with dancing feet, and a true goalscorer too. Ivanovic kept him so quiet in this game, yet with time ticking down he suddenly burst into life and produced what surely will rank as one of the goals of the season.

Then he finished off his former club with brilliant authority.

£27m? A steal for Everton, he's worth more than twice that now.



=============================



Express:


Everton 2-0 Chelsea:


Lukaku ends Chelsea's hopes of silverware as Everton progress to FA Cup semi-final

CHELSEA's seasons normally end in May with the sheen of silverware but not this one... It is over in March.

By RICHARD JOLLY


A terrible week turned disastrous when Romelu Lukaku scored a five-minute brace to defeat them and when Diego Costa was shown the red card he deserved for an idiotic display of misplaced aggression.

And so Chelsea exited the FA Cup, three days after they were eliminated from the Champions League.

Their chances of defending the Premier League title were gone by Christmas.

Any hopes of a top-four finish were surely extinguished by Stoke last Saturday.

Now this, a third setback in a year of regrets and regression.

There will be no golden goodbye at Wembley for Guus Hiddink.

Instead, he suffered a first defeat to English opposition since 2009.

He will soon be part of Chelsea's history, just as Lukaku already is.

In a tale of Chelsea strikers past and present, one scored and the other was sent off. One was destructive, the other self-destructive.


Lukaku never found the net in Chelsea's colours. He hadn't scored against them either, until the last quarter of an hour last night.

Then he slalomed through the Chelsea defence, beating four opponents - indeed he turned Gary Cahill first one way and then the other - before beating Thibaut Courtois.

And, after he was found by Ross Barkley, he drilled in a second.

Letting Lukaku leave brought Chelsea £28 million but now, more than ever, it looks a mistake.


Keeping Costa carries its risks. He had been prolific under Hiddink. Yesterday, he merely caused himself problems.

He set the tone in a bad-tempered start. Chelsea's pantomime villain flew into Gareth Barry with a body charge more suited to the Six Nations than the sixth round.

Booked by Michael Oliver then, he was ignored by the referee 10 minutes later when he flung himself to the ground in a spectacular and futile attempt to win a penalty.

He had one opportunity, when he was unlucky. He met Cesc Fabregas' pass, escaped from Ramiro Funes Mori and Joel Robles and tried to score from the most acute of angles. The ball rolled agonisingly across the face of the goal. No one was on hand to apply the finishing touch. But he produced the wrong sort of response when Everton scored.

Chelsea were first two goals down, then a man down. Fouled by Barry, he reacted needlessly. For the first time in his Chelsea career, he was sent off.


Barry stupidly evened up the numbers two minutes later, collecting his second caution for a foul on Cesc Fabregas.

It was all watched by Everton's new co-owner, billionaire Farhad Moshiri, who has bought a 49.9 percent stake in the club, promising investment and ambition. But now their fortunes could change before he spends a penny on players.

They have gone 21 years without a trophy but now they are in the FA Cup semi-finals.


MAN OF THE MATCH: Romelu Lukaku - Showed his pace, power and prowess with two goals.

Ref: M Oliver Att: 37,823

EVERTON: Robles, Coleman, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Lennon (Stones, 88), Barkley (Besic, 90), Cleverley; Lukaku (Niasse, 90).

CHELSEA: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Kenedy (Terry, 85); Mikel, Matic (Remy, 82); Willian (Oscar, 73), Fabregas; Pedro; Costa.



=========================


Star:


Everton 2 Chelsea 0: Lukaku comes back to haunt Blues and dumps them out the FA Cup

ROMELU LUKAKU kept Everton’s season alive – and more or less ended Chelsea’s.


By Paul Hetherington


Lukaku sank his teeth into his former club with a brilliant solo goal in the 77th minute after striker Diego Costa almost buried his into Gareth Barry’s neck – before thinking better of it – but was still red-carded for his trouble.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez said he was delighted to be in the semi-finals.

He said: “I am the one bringing expectation and every single player at the club has the right mental character. We wanted to get to Wembley and our chairman deserves that for what he has achieved.

“I can’t comment if Diego Costa did anything. It is a game full of emotions and there were two sendings-off, the referee played a very good game.”

Brilliant Belgian Lukaku stole the show from a footballing point of view.

For his first goal he beat Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, John Obi Mikel and Gary Cahill in a thrilling run before slotting the ball home.


And then, eight minutes from time, the Everton striker rammed home his 25th goal of the season from Ross Barkley’s pass to take the Blues into the semi-final of the FA Cup.

Then, in a dramatic finale, Costa was sent off five minutes from time after pushing his head into Barry’s after a running feud between the pair exploded.

And the midfielder, booked in the incident, was also red-carded two minutes later for a needless trip on Cesc Fabregas.

For both clubs, it was the last chance of keeping alive silverware hopes this season.

Everton were relieved they did that in front of major new investor Farhad Moshiri.

The Merseysiders, who left £50million-rated John Stones on the bench against the club who repeatedly tried to sign him last summer, were competitive from the very start.


Costa was in their sights and following two clashes with Barry in the first ten minutes, the Chelsea striker was yellow-carded.

Earlier, Tom Cleverley forced Thibaut Courtois into a first-minute save.

And when Chelsea came forward for the first time, Kenedy shot over from a promising position.

Costa – never far from the thick of the action – looked hopefully for a penalty after another clash, this one with Phil Jagielka.

But referee Michael Oliver ruled it was simply a coming together of the two players, rather than a push by the Everton captain.

Oliver also adopted a lenient attitude when not booking Kenedy for a foul on Aaron Lennon, which warranted a yellow card.

But a foul by Jagielka on Fabregas did produce a booking – and a free-kick by Willian, which Joel Robles turned over the bar.

That prompted an Everton response, with Courtois diving to his left to save from Cleverley.

Costa, meanwhile, continued to play on the edge, once spitting on the ground close to referee Oliver, who either ignored the incident – or didn’t see it.

It was Costa, though, who almost broke the deadlock in the 58th minute.

The Spain striker moved on to a Fabregas pass, took the ball wide of Robles, but saw his shot from a tight angle travel across the face of the goal.

In a tight battle featuring strong defending, Ivanovic produced a brilliant tackle to prevent Lukaku powering clear.

But there was nothing he or Chelsea could do to prevent the Lukaku late show.



==========================

PSG 1-2

Guardian:

PSG and Zlatan Ibrahimovic send laboured Chelsea crashing out

Chelsea 1 - 2 PSG


Daniel Taylor at Stamford Bridge


By the end, it was a sobering reminder for Chelsea that when it comes to the hierarchy of European football there is no longer a place for them at the top table. They might have unfathomable riches, fierce ambitions and some high reputations, but so do teams such as Paris Saint-Germain and, for a second successive season, the French champions had the personnel to reach the quarter-finals to a celebratory chorus of La Marseillaise from the away end.

Laurent Blanc’s team still look short, perhaps, of the smooth excellence regularly witnessed by the crowds at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and, on their good days, Real Madrid, but they were still a good degree superior to Chelsea and, in the process, it was another fine night to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In this fixture last year the Swede was sent off after 31 minutes. He looked affronted by the memory, laying on PSG’s opening goal for Adrien Rabiot and effectively killing the tie with the close‑range volley that made it 4-2 on aggregate and meant Chelsea needed to score three times in little more than 20 minutes.

It used to be said that Ibrahimovic never played well against English opposition but he made sure of showing his better qualities here. Ángel Di María was not far behind in the list of outstanding performers, no matter the mistake that led to Diego Costa making it 1-1, and the 2012 winners must have left the pitch knowing it might be a long way back to the top. Tenth in the Premier League, Guus Hiddink talked about “lost terrain” and admitted it might be some time before their next European tie.

Chelsea put in a spirited effort and will reflect on the attack, a minute or so before Ibrahimovic’s goal, when Kevin Trapp made two saves in quick succession to keep out Willian and Eden Hazard. Ultimately, however, Chelsea’s leading players did not rise to the occasion and they lost their defensive structure, as they have so many times this season. Costa, the one player PSG could not handle, had to come off after an hour and Hazard was also injured. As he came to the touchline there were some boos for the 2014-15 double player of the year after another peripheral performance.


Chelsea thus could not keep up their fine record of saving themselves in this kind of assignment, having gone through eight times in the previous 13 ties when they have lost the first match. It is coming up for five years since they last played a home match in this competition without scoring and if we are being generous, perhaps it might have been a different conclusion if Costa had remained on the pitch.

Hiddink talked of them being “too respectful” in the opening part of the game and having lost 2-1 in Paris three weeks ago, the first telling blow came after 16 minutes. Di María had quickly made it clear he was determined to have a prominent role and it was his pass that sent Ibrahimovic clear on the right. Kenedy, Chelsea’s young left-back, had deserted his post. Branislav Ivanovic did not follow Ibrahimovic’s run and these small lapses had considerable ramifications. Ibrahimovic slid the ball across the six-yard box and the Swede’s expression was one of joy even before Rabiot applied the final touch at the far post. Ibrahimovic knew the pass had been weighted beautifully.

With a 3-1 aggregate lead, PSG promptly threatened to make it a stress-free night, knocking the ball around with the confidence that might be expected of a team who have turned Ligue 1 into a procession. Costa, however, was focused and forceful from the start. He has seldom looked better since last season’s opening months at the club and in the middle part of the game there were glimpses of the stubborn streak that has been the hallmark of the more productive Chelsea teams.


After 27 minutes, Di María had a sudden and unexpected wave of his old Manchester United form, dithering in the centre of the pitch and allowing Pedro to dispossess him. The Spaniard is hardly a tenacious tackler but his desire to win the ball maybe surprised his opponent. Willian was running in support, breaking with pace, and PSG were vulnerable straight away. Costa took the ball in a central position, turned inside Thiago Silva with great determination and aimed a low shot beyond the oncoming Trapp.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, Costa’s exertions finished with him aggravating the tendon problem that kept him out of the game against Stoke last weekend and that was a significant setback given the problems he was creating for PSG’s all-Brazilian defence. Bertrand Traoré bounded on, offering youthful energy, but he did not have Costa’s simmering presence and Chelsea missed their leading scorer.

The game was still open at that stage but midway through the second half Di María reminded everyone of his penetrative qualities with some brilliantly effective wide play. Thiago Motta’s pass was expertly delivered in the buildup and the Argentinian, operating for the most part in an elusive central role, had peeled away on the left. Ibrahimovic was anticipating the cross and he was delivered just what he wanted and where he wanted it. The volley flashed into the roof of the net and it would have been an incredible feat of escapology to spare Chelsea from that position.



=======================


Telegraph:


Chelsea 1 PSG 2

Zlatan Ibrahimovic simply too good

Jason Burt, chief football correspondent, Stamford Bridge


How do you improve on perfection? You do it again. Zlatan Ibrahimovic walked the walk after talking the talk as his goal, and his clever assist, dumped Chelsea out of the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain emphatically progressing to the quarter-finals.

PSG won home and away in this tie, with the same 2-1 score-line, a 4-2 aggregate, but their supremacy was far greater on this night, exposing a gulf between them and the faded force of Chelsea. A gulf that is widening.

There will be no Champions League football next season at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will not qualify, and it looks a long, long way back for them right now. The reality of that is about to dawn on Roman Abramovich.

Afterwards caretaker manager Guus Hiddink talked of a club once again in “transition” – a biennial occurrence it seems at Chelsea – and there will be speculation over comings and goings with Eden Hazard doing little to endear himself to the supporters.

The Belgian is regarded by Chelsea as the club’s “jewel” but that lustre has faded. He was poor here – again – and was booed by some fans as he substituted in the second-half with a hip injury but he also seemed to have little stomach for this fight by then. His body language spoke of someone who wants out. There was further anger as it emerged he had swapped shirts with PSG’s Angel Di Maria – back to his brilliant best after his terrible season at Manchester United (an indictment of the club more than him perhaps) – at half-time.

As PSG ran through their changes, bringing on the likes of Edinson Cavani and Javier Pastore, Hiddink could only turn to the raw young striker Bertrand Traore to lead his attack as Diego Costa’s half-fit body gave up on him around the hour mark after he had admirably given everything. Chelsea face an extensive, expensive re-build it seems.


Costa – along with Willian – had been Chelsea’s hope as he appeared a man possessed, obsessed almost, by the desire to win this tie, riled as he was by PSG’s ‘fraud’ jibe, even though he was nowhere near fit. There were wounds and wounded pride all around this stadium. Behind the substitutes sat the injured captain John Terry witnessing what might well be his last Champions League night.

It will not be Ibrahimovic’s. Aged 34 the striker is, he declared pre-match, only warming up. He is playing better than ever, he added. And his relationship with English football has been “perfect” since the day he put four goals past the England national team, four years ago, when playing for Sweden. That put them in their place. And so he did it to Chelsea also.

Ibrahimovic is in the final two months of his PSG contract and has dangled the possibility that he might quite like a dalliance with the Premier League although such is his form – he has 42 goals for club and country this season – and his status that the French champions are obviously considering a new deal.


This was some reminder to them of his worth and some revenge, also, even if Ibrahimovic said he was not seeking redress, having been harshly sent off in the tie between the two clubs at the same stage of this competition last season. It was not just about him. PSG’s midfield were formidable – Adrien Rabiot, Blaise Matiudi and, above all, Thiago Motta. They coped without Marco Verratti.

It appeared a team on a different level to Chelsea who can now only look with regret as to how far they have fallen from when they were regarded as one of Europe’s heavyweights; a tough, fierce team who the others want to avoid. Chelsea have gone out of Europe at this stage of the competition before but rarely as limply, rarely with as little drama. Once Costa went then so did their fight.

Costa had ripped off his mask – to protect his broken nose - for this one and it seemed a symbolic moment. Neither PSG centre-half – David Luiz or Thiago Silva – appeared able to cope with Costa and his goal was taken with exhilarating aplomb. It came as Pedro quickly harried Motta in midfield and he worked the ball forward with Willian for Costa to turn sharply on the edge of the penalty area, buy space ahead of Silva, and stroke the ball beyond goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.

Unfortunately for Chelsea they were already behind by then. Hiddink had gambled with the young Brazilian Kenedy at left-back and it back-fired as he was naively caught out of position, Hazard failed to provide cover and Ibrahimovic smartly arced a run in behind to collect Di Maria’s disguised pass and cross low for Rabiot to bundle home as Cesar Azpilicueta reacted too late.


Before that and Trapp had repelled a Costa shot and Branislav Ivanovic had slid in to clear Di Maria’s goal-bound effort. Chelsea, once level, continued to press PSG who nevertheless dominated possession.

Then came the pivotal moments. Costa went off and Trapp made a fine double-save to deny Willian and Hazard before PSG struck with a wonderful precise pass from Motta, first-time and in behind Azpilicueta, for the relentless Di Maria to run on and slide a low pass which was met by the onrushing Ibrahimovic who crashed the ball high into the net.

It was his 50th Champions League; his 100th PSG goal. For him, it was perfection yet again. For Chelsea it was over. Yet again.



========================



Independent:


Zlatan Ibrahimovic sinks Blues' Champions League quarter-finals hopes

Chelsea 1 Paris Saint-Germain 2 (aggregate: 2-4)

Mark Ogden Chief Football Correspondent


Zlatan Ibrahimovic signalled the end of the road for Chelsea with a Champions League masterclass at Stamford Bridge last night, when injuries to Diego Costa and Eden Hazard threatened to have ramifications beyond this one-sided tie.

Ibrahimovic, the 34-year-old forward who may yet be tempted to come to the Premier League this summer, created the opener for Adrien Rabiot and the scored the decisive second as Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Chelsea at the last 16 stage for a second successive season.

But while the Swede was majestic, Chelsea’s star players were scythed down  by injury, with Costa and Hazard limping off in the second half, seemingly now doubtful for the FA Cup sixth-round tie at Everton on Saturday.

Defeat at Goodison Park, following this ultimately comprehensive 4-2 aggregate loss, would bring the curtain down on Chelsea’s season with two months left to run ahead of major rebuilding work this summer.

Since defeating Chelsea at Parc des Princes three weeks ago, PSG have suffered what, for them at least, has been something of a wobble, with Laurent Blanc’s team going into this second leg having collected just one point from their last two league games.

Blanc did not field his strongest XI in the defeat at Lyons or the home draw against Montpellier, but nonetheless, any failure to win for successive games in Ligue 1 is as close to a form slump as PSG have endured for quite some time.

They remain 23 points clear at the top table, however, and that cushion enabled Blanc to rest his key players in preparation for the trip to Stamford Bridge. His counterpart, Guus Hiddink, enjoyed no such luxury and was again forced to do without his injured captain, John Terry, for a game which required all of Chelsea’s leading lights to shine if they were to have any hope of overturning their first-leg deficit.


The Premier League champions certainly began brightly, with Costa forcing the first save of the game from Kevin Trapp on three minutes when his drag-back on the edge of the PSG penalty area preceded a left-foot shot from 20 yards.

It was an early example of Costa’s desire to make a difference, with the former Atletico Madrid forward clearly determined to leave his mark on this tie for the right reasons.

But while Costa looked sharp – he ditched his face mask after nine minutes as if to prove his readiness to lead the fight – PSG’s front three of Ibrahimovic, Angel Di Maria and Lucas Moura were like wasps buzzing around the Chelsea penalty area and their movement and understanding were a threat from the off.

Moura, who rejected a lucrative offer from Manchester United in the summer of 2012 to sign for PSG, was allowed to run across the Chelsea  18-yard box before teeing up Di Maria for a clear chance early on, but the winger’s right-foot shot was blocked on the line by Branislav Ivanovic.


Di Maria then saw a left-foot effort blocked by Gary Cahill before top-quality play between the Argentine and Ibrahimovic opened up the Chelsea rearguard to enable Rabiot to score the opener on 16 minutes.

It was a sublime pass by Di Maria to Ibrahimovic, but the Swede was given too much room by the dozing Cahill and he was able to run into space before delivering a perfect ball for Rabiot to guide home at the far post.

PSG may have it easy at times in their domestic league, but Rabiot’s goal was proof enough that Blanc’s team still possess world-class quality. It was a deserved opener for PSG, whose control of possession was impressive against Chelsea’s more frantic approach, but the home side were able to draw level on 27 minutes, when Costa scored following careless play by Di Maria in the centre of the pitch.

The Argentine, still the British record signing following his disastrous £59.7m move to United last season, was dispossessed by Pedro before the ball dropped to Willian. Spotting Costa’s run, Willian released the forward, who turned Thiago Silva before scoring with a low strike past Trapp.

Costa was a constant menace and the Spain forward almost created a second in first-half stoppage time when his shot was fumbled by Trapp, only for Pedro to fail to convert the loose ball.

Despite claiming a foothold in the tie, largely through Costa’s efforts, the threat of a PSG away goal hung heavy over Chelsea at the start of the second half.

Hiddink’s men needed a second, but another PSG goal would leave Chelsea having to score a further three times and the French champions cleverly turned the screw on the home team by retaining possession and attempting to strike on the break.

Rabiot was at the heart of the visitors’ game plan, with the languid midfielder effortlessly spraying the ball around from the centre of the pitch with incredible economy and accuracy. Chelsea struggled to land a blow, with Willian’s energy their best outlet, but Hiddink’s team lacked the snap and crackle of PSG.

And Chelsea’s hopes of clawing themselves back into the tie were dealt a blow on the hour when Costa, appearing to have pulled a calf muscle, limped off to be replaced by Bertrand Traoré.

Without their talisman, Chelsea now faced an even more difficult challenge than when they started.

PSG began toying with Chelsea, waiting to land the killer blow, and it was delivered on 66 minutes when Ibrahimovic scored his 50th European goal.

Thiago Motta’s pass out wide to Di Maria instigated the move, but the winger’s cross was powerful and precise, leaving Ibrahimovic to guide the ball home from six yards.

The old man of PSG switched off the lights for Chelsea, who appeared a very old and ordinary team against the rising force from Paris.ndependent:


===================


Mail:


Chelsea 1-2 PSG (agg 2-4):

Woeful Blues crash out as Zlatan Ibrahimovic books PSG's place in Champions League last-eight
PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot opened the scoring for the visitors in the 16th minute at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea striker Diego Costa levelled the scoreline on the night with a driven finish past goalkeeper Kevin Trapp
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been linked with a summer move to the Premier League, sealed the match for PSG
PSG have joined Real Madrid, Wolfsburg and Benfica in the quarter-finals of this season's Champions League


By MARTIN SAMUEL FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Chelsea’s season now hinges on an FA Cup tie at Everton on Saturday. Actually, scrap that. Chelsea’s season now is an FA Cup tie at Everton on Saturday.
Lose that, and it is over. Done with a quarter of the domestic campaign remaining. Lose that, and one of the joys of next season will be lost, too. European competition.

This result means Chelsea will not compete in the next edition of the Champions League, and even Europa League qualification hangs by a thread. Basically, they will need to win the FA Cup. Equally, they will need to be better than this.


Chelsea matched Paris Saint- Germain for energy in the first half, but lost their way in the second. A calf injury to Diego Costa which took him out of the game after 60 minutes was a blow, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s winner seven minutes later finished them.
Ultimately, they were not in PSG’s class over two legs. Needing to win 1-0 here they were not, for a solitary second, ahead and trailed twice.

While PSG’s stellar names — Ibrahimovic, Angel di Maria — rose to the occasion, Chelsea’s disappointed, as they have done for much of the season. Cesc Fabregas was anonymous and at times simply overwhelmed, Pedro was loose and if Eden Hazard was hoping to play his way into PSG’s thoughts he might need to say it with flowers. He limped off here after 77 minutes to a smattering of boos from Chelsea followers who were beginning to recall the first six months of the season.

If Chelsea could chuck it then, as champions, heaven knows what will happen if Saturday does bring the curtain down on the competitive campaign. These do not look like players much concerned with playing for pride. If they were, they would not be in this mess.

The folly of those wilderness months is now becoming very real for Guus Hiddink’s side, with three down and one to go, and to be beaten soundly home and away in this competition will have been another sobering experience. In 2012, a Chelsea team who finished sixth in the Premier League somehow rallied to pull off an unlikely Champions League triumph, but there was scant prospect of a repeat here. Chelsea may have started playing in the second half of this season but they fell very short on Wednesday night.

They were behind after 16 minutes, level, then finished off with 23 minutes remaining — Ibrahimovic’s goal leaving them needing three more in normal time.

Ibrahimovic is being touted around English clubs, and some may be tempted after this. Plainly, he is looking for a final payday in Europe at 34, but even in his twilight years he remains quite the handful. He made the first goal, and scored the second — even if Di Maria’s cross was so perfect that, from a bath chair in his dotage 40 years from now, a striker of Ibrahimovic’s class could probably have nailed it.

Di Maria’s poor year at Manchester United looks an even greater mystery after this performance. He was excellent, in a way that his Chelsea equivalents simply were not. A big player seizing a big occasion. Chelsea have not done that against top-class European opposition for a while.
For the winner, played in by Thiago Motta, Di Maria’s left-side cross for Ibrahimovic was perfection, the striker converting from four yards without needing to break stride. He celebrated in front of the boisterous PSG end as if the match was over, which it was. Stamford Bridge fell silent, and a little resentful. By the end, the march for the exits was evident. They had seen enough.


The game played out at half-pace, a contrast to the vibrant first half. Indeed, if the opening 45 minutes had got any faster they would have needed to test it for the stuff Maria Sharapova was on.
So much for continental sides being intimidated by the pace of the Premier League. PSG set off like rockets and dared Chelsea to chase them. Eventually, Chelsea did. And so the game evolved at breakneck pace, both teams covering over 50 kilometres of turf before half-time, much of it at a sprint.

There was little time to think, let alone pick out a pass, and some of the tackling was furious.

European ties used to be slow-burning chess-like encounters, cagey and cautious at the start, as players probed for an opening. Now, it is hammer and tongs. There is so much skill on display, such cavalier concern for defensive solidity, that risks are taken from the kick-off.
David Luiz is a classic example of the modern defender, frequently given to a gamble around his penalty area, and in the third minute he passed straight to John Mikel Obi trying to play out from the back.

He found Willian, who picked out Costa with a point to prove. Foolishly taunted as a fraud by PSG’s Twitter team — they doubted his need for a protective mask — he played like a man on a mission. His first shot of the game forced a save from goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
To be fair, PSG had a point — Costa’s mask was soon discarded — but whether winding up the opposition striker is a wise move is another matter. It was Costa’s equaliser that got Chelsea back in the game, after PSG had dominated.


MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6.5, Ivanovic 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Kenedy 7.5; Mikel 6.5, Fabregas 7; Pedro 6.5, Willian 7.5, Hazard 7 (Oscar 77mins, 6); Costa 7.5 (Traore 60, 6)
Subs not used: Begovic, Baba, Remy, Matic, Loftus-Cheek
Goal: Costa 27
Booked: Fabregas, Mikel, Ivanovic

PSG (4-3-3): Trapp 7; Marquinhos 6.5, Thiago Silva 6.5, Luiz 6.5, Maxwell 6.5; Rabiot 6.5, Thiago Motta 7, Matuidi 7 (Van der Wiel 87, 6); Di Maria 7.5 (Cavani 82, 6), Ibrahimovic 8.5, Lucas 6.5 Moura (Pastore 77, 6)
Subs not used: Sirigu, Stambouli, Kurzawa, Augustin
Goal: Rabiot 16, Ibrahimovic 67
Booked: Rabiot, Motta, Matuidi

Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) 6.5
Attendance: 37,591
Match ratings by Sami Mokbel


GRAHAM POLL ON FELIX BRYCH

Felix Brych is an experienced referee who knows Champions League games well. But he was very weak, letting PSG break up play by allowing too many cynical challenges which should have been cautioned.
Blaise Matuidi pulled Pedro back with a rugby-style tackle but was not booked. Matuidi was cautioned late on for wrestling Cesar Azpilicueta to the ground, but would he have made the foul had he already been booked?
David Luiz pulled Diego Costa, almost taking off his shirt, without conceding a free-kick, and Costa escaped a yellow for tripping Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Eventually, six were booked but it was a disappointing display from the ref.



=================

Stoke 1-1

Independent:

Bertrand Traore strike cancelled out by late Mame Biram Diouf header

Chelsea 1 Stoke City 1
Glenn Moore Stamford Bridge |

A fourth successive win, the best Premier League start by any new manager, kids being given a chance... it was proving the perfect warm-up for Chelsea ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League return against Paris St Germain. Then Mame Diouf scored the equaliser Stoke deserved to remind everyone there is a reason for Chelsea’s absence from the title race this season.

Although Guus Hiddink completed a 12th Premier League match unbeaten since returning to calm the Bridge’s troubled waters, Chelsea remain a side in recuperation. They are much improved, there is a flow to them that was absent in the autumn, but they are still short of their powerful best. Injuries are a problem, with Diego Costa rested and John Terry still absent, but every side has them - Stoke are still without their own inspirational leader, Ryan Shawcross.

Costa was absent with what was described as a ‘minor tendon injury’. In his stead Bertrand Traore, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder from Burkina Faso, was selected ahead of Loic Remy and Alexandre Pato, the latter still to make his debut since arriving in January.

Shawcross v Costa would have been a combustible sub-plot. Without them the game lacked edge and, with both teams safely ensconced in mid-table, tension too.  It did have a surfeit of neat midfield passing with technicians aplenty on both sides. This occasionally led to a goalscoring opportunity with Thibaut Courtois making a flying save from Ibrahim Afellay’s 29th-minute shot and Diouf twice going close after crosses from Marco Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Chelsea, again led by the busy Willain, responded, but one aspect of the Tony Pulis era that Stoke have retained is the willingness to put bodies on the line. Several attempts were blocked, notably by Marc Muniesa’s chest from Traore’s close-range shot.

Then, with half-time looming, Afellay was muscled off the ball by Nemanja Matic in midfield. The ball was switched to Traore who was given time to turn and rifle a shot past Jack Butland from 20 yards.
It was his fourth goal in his nine appearances. The previous three had finished in 5-1 victories but Stoke provided sterner resistance and would have levelled just before the hour but for a smart save by Courtois from Shaqiri.

Stoke dominated the second period - partly because Cheslsea were happy to contain and counter - and but it was only after the arrival of Bojan that they looked penetrative. It was he who released Shaqiri down the right with six minutes left. His fierce cross was parried by Courtois and Diouf headed into the empty net to secure Stoke’s first point here since 1984.
“It feels like a defeat,” said Traore, looking more like he had had his car stolen than scored a screamer on his full home debut. “But now we must focus for Wednesday.”

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Rahman; Mikel, Matic (Fabregas, 82); Willian, Oscar, Hazard (Loftus-Cheek, 63); Traore (Remy, 68).

Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Butland; Cameron, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan (Bojan 74), Imbula; Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic (Ireland, 88); Diouf (Joselu, 85).

Referee: M Clattenburg
Match rating: 7
Man of the match: Imbula

====================

Telegraph :

Chelsea 1 Stoke City 1
Late Diouf equaliser dents Blues' European hopes
Stoke fight back after Bertrand Traore's stunning opener

By Ben Findon, at Stamford Bridge

Just when Chelsea seemed poised for a late run at fourth place in the Premier League, and guaranteed Champions League opportunities next season, along came Stoke City to cast a cloud over the Londoners' prospects.

Chelsea host Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League last 16 clash on Wednesday night but this was not the kind of warm-up Stamford Bridge patrons had in mind.

They looked well set when Bertrand Traore put them ahead as the interval approached but Stoke, determined and adventurous, dominated the second half and deservedly levelled late on through Mame Diouf, moments before he was substituted.

Perhaps with Paris on their minds, this was not Chelsea at their mostfluent. A low key first-half progressed with few moments of inspiration until Traore's dramatic intervention six minutes before the interval.

Eden Hazard twinkled intermittently. After 17 minutes, he slipped through three Stoke challenges to provide Oscar with a shooting opportunity that was blocked. The Brazilian then tested Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland with a low shot and later, Willian let fly over the visitors' crossbar.
Stoke, without a win at Stamford Bridge since 1974, were encouraged to try their luck, and it was Chelsea who were fortunate midway through the first half when Diouf stretched to apply a finishing touch to Ibrahim Afellay's cross but could not make a firm enough connection.

With one eye on Wednesday's Champions League test, Hiddink rested and rotated. Cesc Fabregas started on the substitutes' bench, Diego Costa, still not fully fit, was given the afternoon off.

John Terry, fighting off a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for three weeks, was another absentee, while Hazard was withdrawn just past the hour mark.
Chelsea moved in front in the 39th minute with a goal conjured from out of nothing. Nemanja Matic played a Stoke clearance back towards the visitors' goal but there appeared little danger as Traore gathered possession in front of a Stoke screen of players.

Yet the Burkina Faso striker adroitly stepped around Glenn Whelan before unleashing a 20-yarder shot that rose beyond the reach of Butland for his fourth goal of the season, Stoke had their moments. Gary Cahill's magnificent challenge prevented Marco Arnautovic pulling the trigger in the 57th minute, and two minutes later Thibaut Courtois, the Chelsea goalkeeper, plunged to his left to push away Xherdan Shaqiri's low effort.

It was Stoke who looked more likely to score, pressing forward steadily though the second half, although substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek could have eased Chelsea's nerves but instead saw Butland block his close-range effort.
The visitors fully deserved their equaliser five minutes from the end. Shaqiri's cross was punched only half clear by Courtois and Diouf was able to head back into an unguarded Chelsea net.


==================

Observer:

Mame Biram Diouf strikes late to earn Stoke deserved draw at Chelsea

Chelsea 1 - 1 Stoke

Sachin Nakrani at Stamford Bridge

As preparations go for their biggest match of the season, this was far from ideal for Chelsea. The hosts dropped two points against opponents who for the majority of this contest showed greater intent and quality and will reflect that it was only their lack of a killer instinct that prevented them departing from this venue with a victory. Paris Saint-Germain, one feels, will not be so wasteful when they perform here on Wednesday with a place in the Champions League quarter-finals up for grabs.
  
PSG bring with them a 2-1 lead earned when they faced Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Paris last month and if Laurent Blanc’s men managed to watch back this match after their Ligue 1 contest with Montpellier on Saturday evening their confidence in getting the job done will only have grown. Guus Hiddink’s men were jittery at the back while in attack their play was sluggish and lacking in penetration. That can partly be put down to the absence of key players through injury, most notably John Terry and Diego Costa, the latter absent here because of a minor tendon strain, but all in all this was a display that served as a reminder that despite the recovery Chelsea have made, post-José Mourinho this is a club still struggling to recapture former glories.

Saying that, Stoke deserve huge credit for how they put Chelsea under pressure from the outset and, when in possession, looked to dominate play with their desire to earn what would have been a fourth win in succession not blunted even after Bertrand Traoré had given Chelsea the lead against the run of play on 39 minutes. The visitors’ attacking trio of Marko Arnautovic, Ibrahim Afellay and Xherdan Shaqiri caused constant panic among the defenders in blue and it was the man positioned ahead of them, Mame Biram Diouf, who got the goal Stoke’s display deserved, a close-range header on 85 minutes after Thibaut Courtois had punched Shaqiri’s right-wing cross directly at the striker.

Diouf’s reaction was one of relief more than anything given the numerous chances he in particular had missed, most notably on 21 minutes when the 28-year-old turned Afellay’s cross over the bar when it appeared easier to put the ball underneath it, but ultimately he was Stoke’s hero, securing their first point at Stamford Bridge since 1984 and keeping them in seventh.

“We were arguably hard done by” said Mark Hughes. “We had good opportunities in the first half and got done with a sucker punch. You can be deflated by that but everyone was encouraged by what we had done and it was a case of more of the same in the second half. The goal was somewhat fortunate as I was going to take Diouf off just before he scored but all in all we showed real belief.”

Hiddink was aggrieved with referee Mark Clattenburg’s decision not to award Chelsea a penalty on 72 minutes after Marc Muniesa appeared to push Oscar to the turf inside the Stoke area – “It was a clear penalty,” protested the Dutchman – but he also admitted that a draw was a “fair result” and that Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via their league position have all but vanished. The Londoners remain 10th in the table and are 10 points behind Manchester City in fourth, having played a game more than Manuel Pellegrini’s men.

“That [making the top four] is almost impossible,” said Hiddink, who at least has become the first manager to start a Premier League spell in charge with a 12-match unbeaten run. “Today’s result of West Ham for instance is very respectful that they’re knocking on that door as well.”
The manager’s assessment makes beating PSG particularly important and Chelsea supporters can take heart from his belief that Costa will have recovered in time to face the French champions. In his place here, Traoré delivered a breathtaking strike on what was only his second start for the club.

Having collected Nemanja Matic’s pass and turned into space, the 20-year-old lashed a drive from outside the area into the far corner of Jack Butland’s net. The Stoke goalkeeper had no chance.
Others in blue were not so eye-catching. Their effort could not be criticised but in defence and attack the lack of cohesion and class was glaring. PSG will believe that for a second year in a row they can dump Chelsea out of Europe’s elite competition.

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Mail:

Chelsea 1-1 Stoke
Mame Biram Diouf denies home side all three points after Bertrand Traore's stunning opener at Stamford Bridge

By Sam Cunningham

Stoke squeezed a point out of Stamford Bridge for the first time in 32 years to keep ahead of Chelsea in the pursuit of a place in Europe.
Mame Diouf headed in late on to cancel out Bertrand Traore’s first-half beauty and stay three points ahead of last year’s champions, who would have overtaken them on goal difference had they won.
‘I was going to take off Diouf just prior to his goal,’ manager Mark Hughes admitted, perhaps due to the two glorious chances he had missed before then.

There was no Diego Costa for Chelsea but it, at first, appeared to be no problem for manager Guus Hiddink as his replacement Traore put them in front.
Since he took over in December, Hiddink has been reeling in the the top five like he is big-game fishing on holiday in the Bahamian Bimini, cigar in one hand, huge rod in the other.
Sat comfortably in Chelsea’s stern, he has had them on his hook and refused to let go, but this was a real setback and he conceded that it is ‘almost impossible’ to reach fourth now, adding: ‘Especially when other teams are knocking on the door. It will be nice if we can go into a very beautiful March and April, and I’m referring to the upcoming Champions League and FA Cup.’ 

Hiddink, nonetheless, set a new Premier League record by going 12 games unbeaten in the league since replacing Jose Mourinho, a feat unmatched by any new manager to have taken over at a club.
During that highly-successful spell, Traore, 20, has emerged as a real challenger to Costa, who was rested as a precaution after suffering a minor tendon injury and is expected to be fit to face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
The goal was his fourth in five matches, the previous three all ending 5-1 to Chelsea, against MK Dons, Newcastle and Manchester City, but that unlikely series ended here.

How Diouf will have regretted at the break not converting two clear first-half chances to put Stoke ahead, which would have made him a match-winner.
On 21 minutes, Ibrahim Afellay dribbled the ball at speed down the left as the visitors broke then sent in wonderful, early cross with the outside of his right boot. Diouf ran in at the back post and had just to coax the ball under the bar, but sent it over it instead.

The ball from Afellay was so outrageous he injured himself pulling it off, but after lengthy treatment was able to continue. With 10 minutes remaining before the break, Diouf was found again, this time from the opposite flank and by Xherdan Shaqiri who had raced down the right. Diouf was unmarked and volleyed towards the right of goal, but his effort bounced wide.

Eden Hazard had a low shot saved by Jack Butland and Willian struck narrowly over the top left corner, but just before the break Traore went for that same corner and found it perfectly. Nemanja Matic passed into his team-mate, who had his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area but turned to his left, making space to shoot, before unleashing past Butland with his left foot.
These two quick, effective counter attackers traded chances up either end and back again in quick succession in the second half and Stoke deserved their equaliser.

The last time they earned a point away to Chelsea was 1984 and any reward looked to be eluding them again until Shaqiri made another burst down the right again, his cross was pushed out by Courtois but Diouf finally managed to put a chance into the back of the net, heading in the rebound.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Cahill 6, Ivanovic 6, Baba 6; Mikel 6, Matic 6.5 (Fabregas 82); Willian 6.5, Oscar 6, Hazard 6.5 (Loftus-Cheek 63 6); Traore 7.5 (Remy 68 6)
Subs not used: Begovic, Miazga, Clarke-Salter, Pato
Manager: Guus Hiddink 5.5
Booked: Oscar

Stoke (4-2-3-1): Butland 6.5; Cameron 6, Wollscheid 6, Muniesa 6, Pieters 6; Whelan 6 (Bojan 74 6), Imbula 6; Shaqiri 7.5, Afellay 6.5, Arnautovic 6.5 (Ireland 90); Diouf 7
Subs not used: Haugaard, Joselu, Walters, Teixeira, Crouch
Manager: Mark Hughes 6.5
Booked: Pieters, Whelan

Referee: Mark Clattenburg 6
Attendance: 41,381
MOTM: Shaqiri

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Mirror:

Chelsea 1-1 Stoke City: Mame Biram Diouf rescues point for Potters - 5 things we learned


By Mike Walters
 
The Senegalese striker struck late on at Stamford Bridge to cancel out Bertrand Traore's opener and salvage a share of the spoils
 
In the battle for seventh place, Bertrand Traore had his thunder stolen by Mame Diouf.
Traore's fourth goal in five games appeared to have sealed Chelsea's fourth league win on the bounce until Diouf popped up to head the equaliser five minutes from time after Thibaut Courtois parried Xherdan Shaqiri's cross.
As Chelsea's late surge towards the top four stalled, interim manager Guus Hiddink set a new record with 12 games unbeaten for starters in the Premier League.

Two defeats in the Potteries, in Premier League and Capital One Cup, just about did for Jose Mourinho, and Diouf, stretching to meet Ibrahim Afellay's cross, almost inflicted further damage on the Blues after 20 minutes.
Chelsea, without the injured Diego Costa – whose slight tendon strain is not expected to keep him out of Wednesday night's Champions League return with Paris St Germain – played only with testimonial intensity for 38 minutes.

Apart from Willian's rising drive beyond the angle, there had been little to lift the funereal atmosphere above moribund levels.
But then, out of nowhere, Traore turned, drove towards the Stoke box and unleashed a 25-yard rocket beyond Jack Butland, his fourth goal in five games.
Thibaut Courtois denied Xherdan Shaqiri an equaliser with an excellent save after the Swiss playmaker's jinking run.
But Diouf's late leveller darkened the mood around the Bridge ahead of their win-or-bust Champions League date next week.

1. The caretaker's a record-breaker
Interim manager Guus Hiddink reckons a top-four finish this season would top his achievement of winning the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2009.
Remarkably, The Caretaker – as the Dutchman should now be known – has now compiled the longest unbeaten run of any Premier League manager from the day he took office, 12 games and counting.

2. Hughes has salvaged reputation
Nobody could accuse Stoke of all the cliches once aimed at the previous regime under Tony Pulis: Functional, direct, pragmatic.
There is much more to enjoy under Mark Hughes these days, and it's just as well for 'Sparky' – he was damaged by the expensive dross he presided over at QPR, but now he will be back in the mix for big jobs.

3. Clattenburg: All sins forgiven
Four years ago, referee Mark Clattenburg was accused of using racist language towards Chelsea players – a damaging and uncorroborated slur which led to Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel picketing the officials' dressing room amid dark threats of retribution.
It is a tribute to Clattenburg's professionalism that he is even prepared to set foot in Stamford Bridge, let alone take charge of major Premier League games here. No major issues for him this time.

4. Terry strikes the right note

In his programme notes, injured Chelsea captain paid tribute to Stamford Bridge's favourite son Peter Osgood, who died 10 years ago this week, and reminded patrons of Stamford Bridge of their social responsibilities.
“This is our annual Game for Equality, a chance to celebrate Chelsea's diversity and show that we stand against discrimination of all kinds,” wrote on-message Terry.

5. Shaqiri's a jewel

Cuckoo clocks, cowbells and chocolate used to be Switzerland's finest exports.
But Xherdan Shaqiri's performance in exalted company was a worthy addition to the list.
He set up Stoke's equaliser and forced a terrific save out of Thibaut Courtois.

Player ratings

Chelsea
Courtois 7 - Full-length, fingertip save to deny Shaqiri equaliser.
Azpilicueta 7 - Never a liability at left-back, even more assured on the right.
Ivanovic 7 - Enforced move to centre-back has been the making of his season.
Cahill 7 – Vital interception to stop Arnautovic but Diouf gave him anxious moments.
Baba 7 - Refused to be blinded by Shaqiri's twinkling feet and tricks.
Mikel 6 - Goal machine keeping his powder dry for PSG on Wednesday.
Matic 5 - Still a long way from marauding, rampaging beast of last year.
Willian 8 - Rasping, rising drive just beyond the angle broke the cemetery silence.
Oscar 6 - Booked. Unlikely winner of sweepstake for first yellow card.
Hazard 5 - Flattered to deceive, promised more than he actually delivered.
Traore 7 - Thrilling wake-up call, a left-foot rocket into the corner.

SUBS: Loftus-Cheek (Hazard, 63) 6, Remy (Traore, 67) 5, Fabregas (Matic, 80) 5.

Stoke
Butland 6 - No chance with Traore's thunderous bolt from the blue.
Cameron 7 - Durable, diligent, dealt competently with Hazard.
Muniesa 6 - Makes up for lack of physical presence with tenacity.
Wollscheid 7 - Never buckled, never went missing, never able to relax.
Pieters 6 - Booked. Never an easy task when Willian is in frisky mood.
Whelan 6 - Booked. Steady, unspectacular, no frills, did what it says on the tin.
Afellay 6 - Laid best chance of first half on a plate for Diouf.
Arnautovic 7 - One powerful shot almost knocked Courtois off his feet.
Shaqiri 7 - Brilliant jinking run denied end product by Courtois fingertips.
Imbula 6 - Flirted with bossing the game instead of dictating terms.
Diouf 6 - Took his fair share of whacks but also miscued great chance.

SUBS: Bojan (Whelan, 74), Joselu (Afellay, 85), Ireland (Arnautovic, 88).

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg.

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Express:

Stoke snatch late point but Chelsea boss Hiddink left grateful for youthful contributions
STOKE put a dent in Guus Hiddink's great Blues revival as an 85th-minute goal from Mame Diouf blocked hopes of a fourth successive league win for Chelsea.
By Tony Stenson

They should have won at a canter, having best of the play and creating most of the chances. But this solid, fighting Stoke side never gave up.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: "We're grateful to equalise but we deserved more from the game. It was an excellent away performance."
Hiddink can still be proud, stretching his unbeaten run at Chelsea to a Premier League record of 12 games yesterday.
The Dutch interim manager is proving a genius on and off the field and offered dreams they could still claim a Champions League place.

Chelsea meet Paris St Germain in the knock-out stage on Wednesday, trailing 2-1. Don't write them off.
Hiddink can seemingly do nothing wrong. With Diego Costa injured, he ignored the claims of the experienced Loic Remy and gave Bertrand Traore his home debut.
The 20-year-old Burkina Faso forward responded with what Hiddink later described as "a beautiful goal."
He added: "It's good to see the players who came in, especially the young ones, like Traore and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, do well."

Traore's 39th-minute strike evoked memories of legend Peter Osgood, whose death 10 years ago last week was poignantly marked yesterday.
Nemanja Matic took the ball off Ibrahim Afellay and threaded a pass that Traore controlled then turned to fire in an unstoppable left-foot shot from 20 yards.
But the final word came from Stoke. Xherdan Shaqiri crossed from the right, Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois could only punch out and the ball looped up perfectly for Diouf to head home.

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Star:

Chelsea 1 Stoke 1: Courtois error gifts Potters late equaliser
MAME DIOUF put a huge dent in Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea ambitions.


By Tony Stenson

An 85th-minute goal from the Stoke striker ended hopes of a fourth successive league win.
Chelsea should have won at a canter, having the best of the play and creating most of the chances but this is a solid, fighting Stoke side who never give up.

Hiddink can still be proud, stretching his unbeaten run to 12 games yesterday as he continued to be Chelsea’s saviour.
Their Dutch interim manager is proving a genius on and off the field and had offered hope that they could yet claim a Champions League place by right.
Chelsea entertain Paris St-Germain – who drew 0-0 with Montepellier yesterday – in a vital Champions League clash on Wednesday, trailing 2-1.
That date is followed by an FA Cup tie at Everton on Saturday.
But after Diouf’s late equaliser Hiddink admitted Chelsea’s top-four hopes were over.

He said: “That’s it. I think it’s gone, although we won’t give up.
“It will be tough now even though other teams are throwing away points.
“It’s frustrating but when you consider where we’ve been and where we are then it’s a major step to even think we had a chance.
“We can go into March feeling good. We have Champions League and FA Cup matches ahead and we need to be positive.”
He added: “A late goal against you is always frustrating. You can say we started sloppy but then found our energy and scored a wonderful goal but Stoke are a fighting side with quality also.”

Hiddink has had a huge impact since answering Chelsea’s SOS in December after Jose Mourinho’s side crumbled.
No manager has gone 12 unbeaten matches at the start of a single spell at a Premier League club.
With Diego Costa injured, he ignored the experienced Loic Remy and gave Bertrand Traore his home debut. Result? The Burkina Faso forward, 20, struck a wonderful opening goal that evoked memories of legend Peter Osgood, whose death ten years ago last week was poignantly marked yesterday.
Eden Hazard has started working for a living once more while Chelsea’s Boys from Brazil – Willian and Oscar – were constant thorns in Stoke’s tough and unrelenting defence.
The trio moved the ball swiftly, often cheekily, but failed to get a response from colleagues around them.
But Stoke are a dogged side. They make you fight to earn the right to play and can also play themselves.
Ibrahim Afellay forced a great, full-length 20th-minute save from Thibaut Courtois when it looked as if Chelsea had taken control of the game.
Stoke proved masters of the counter-attack and Xherdan Shaqiri, Afellay and Marko Arnautovic were always menacing and Chelsea’s defence could not afford to sleep.

In fact, Stoke had the best chance of a frantic first half when Diouf miscued his 37th-minute shot from Shaqiri’s cross and turned it wide.
Two minutes later Chelsea took the lead. Nemanja Matic stole the ball off an unsuspecting Afellay and threaded a pass that Traore controlled, turned and fired an unstoppable left-foot shot from 20 yards.
Gary Cahill, in particular, was impressive and must be in Roy Hodgson’s next England squad.
Stoke never gave up and had Courtois diving full-length to deny a Shaqiri effort.
And they finally got a deserved breaththrough. Shaqiri, a menace of a player, crossed from the right, Courtois could only punch out and the ball looped up perfectly for Diouf to head home – his last action before being replaced.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: “I was set to sub him but that’s the kind of luck your need.
“I think we deserved the point. They got their goal just before half-time and that might have deflated some sides – but instead we reacted to that.
“As the game progressed we are more likely to get the next goal. This was our first point here since 1984 so to achieve that is something extra.”

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