Paul Lagan at Goodison Park
Everton 0 v Chelsea 1
Jorginho gave the Blues’ new owners the dream start to their Premier League campaign by scoring the only goal – a penalty that secured all three points in a hard-fought but ultimately dour encounter at Goodison Park.
Deep into added time in the first half, a wonderful through ball by new signing Kalidou Koulibaly set up Ben Chilwell who was bundled over in the penalty area by Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Up stepped the Brazil-born Italian who slotted home with ease, sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way.
With both sides not up to speed yet, it was an excellent time to play each other – head coaches Thomas Tuchel me Ex-Blue Frank Lampard who appreciate this was a match that was eminently winnable.
But Chelsea simply had the better players on the pitch and to call from the substitutes bench, and Tuchel used his effectively, whereas Lampard was forced to use his due to injuries.
Kai Havertz had the first effort on goal, a weak header from an in-swinging free-kick by Reece James on six minutes.
Ben Godfrey lasted until the 18th minute when he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher having made a last-ditch challenge to disposes Kai Havertz on the goal-line.
It took medic s seven minutes to treat the defender who was replaced by Mason Holgate.
Mason Mount forced a good save from Jordan Pickford as the visitors tried to take advantage.
Mendy made a fingertip save from. James Tarkowski header on 25 minutes.
Raheem Sterling thought he had opened his Chelsea account on 43 minutes but he was offside when he latched onto a rebound from Pickford to a N’Golo Kante shot and slotted home.
Chelsea did take the lead, deep into the eight minutes of added time.
BennChilwell was upended by Abdoulaye Doucoure in the penalty area. Up stepped Jorginho to smoothly send Pickford’s the wrong way to send the visitors into the break in the lead. There were no changes by either side half-time.
Everton showed greater eagerly in the opening exchanges of the second half, but gradually fell away.
Tuchel opted to make the first of his changes when he brought on Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for Chilwell and ineffective Mount on 65 minutes.
They were swiftly followed by Marc Cucurella and Armando Broja, Havertz and Koulibaly were replaced. Sterling should have scored on 83 minutes after excellent setup ply by Cucurella, but Vitalii Mykolenko made a diving last-ditch save to thwart the striker.
There was a short delay in the game as a policeman came on the pitch to halt play and alert referee Craig Pawson of a medical incident un the Bullens Road stand. Conor Gallagher replaced Jorginho with seconds left of the 10 added minutes.
The west Londoners saw out the remaining seconds to take the three points back down the M1.
Teams: Pickford, Tarkowski, Patterson, McNeil, Gordon, Gray, Mina, Doucoure, Iwobi, Mykolenko, Godfrey
subs: Begovic Holgate, Keane, Allan, Alli, Gbamin, Vinagre, Warrington, Mills
Chelsea Mendy, Jorginho, Silva, Kante, Sterling, Mount, Chilwell, James, Koulibaly, Azpilicueta,
Subs: Kepa, Kovacic, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Borja, Ziyech, Gallagher, Cucurella
Ref, Graig Pawson
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