Saha the star for Toffees

Louis Saha
12 April 2012

Louis Saha celebrated his new contract with a stunning double to give Everton a 2-1 win over Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea.

The Frenchman first exposed Chelsea's weakness at set-pieces with a headed equaliser at Goodison Park and then fired a brilliant 75th minute winner.

Chelsea had shaded the early stages and taken the lead through Florent Malouda but Saha, who also missed a penalty, secured Everton's first victory over the Londoners since 2000.

Chelsea took early control with Frank Lampard shooting wide after a Nicolas Anelka dummy and Didier Drogba heading over from a Malouda cross, but they broke through after 17 minutes from a route-one ball.

Peter Cech's long clearance was headed on by Drogba and Malouda brushed off the challenge of Phil Neville to drill a left-footed shot low past Tim Howard.

The Toffees grew in confidence and pulled level after winning a corner in the 33rd minute. Landon Donovan's cross dropped over Lampard and Saha rushed in to power a header past Cech for his 12th goal of the season and his first in five games.

And Everton finished the half with a flourish and Saha should have given the hosts the lead.

Donovan was felled in the area by Ricardo Carvalho but Cech guessed right and saved the resulting spot-kick to his left.

Early second-half pressure finally paid off as Everton deservedly went ahead through Saha after 75 minutes. John Terry missed the chance to cut out a long ball from Sylvain Distin and Saha brilliantly chested the ball down before turning and firing home powerfully with his left foot.

Chelsea, having been subdued for most of the second half, finally sparked into life but the crossbar came to Everton's rescue as Drogba met a Lampard corner with a good header and the hosts held on.

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