Simms strikes late as Everton earn valuable draw at Chelsea | Football News

LONDON: Ellis sims caught a last minute equalizer as he struggled Everton strengthened their fight for premier league survival with a spectacular 2-2 draw against chelsea SATURDAY.
Sean DycheThe side were moments away from a damaging defeat until Simms scored his first goal for the club to stun Stamford Bridge.
Everton’s display of defiance came after they hung out twice in west London.

Joao Felix had given Chelsea the lead early in the second half with his second goal since arriving on loan from Atletico Madrid in January.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s equalizer was followed by Kai Havertz’s third goal in his last three appearances as a penalty converted by the German in the closing stages.
Simms was on loan at Sunderland in the Championship earlier this season but the 22-year-old has shown he can be Everton’s savior in the relegation battle with his crucial leveler.

Everton are now two points clear of the relegation zone after extending their unbeaten streak to three games.
“We threw Ellis against Liverpool and he struggled a bit, but he’s maturing. He’s got pace and power and it was a great finish,” Dyche said.
“There’s been a lot of talk about the lack of strikers here, but I’ve always said it’s a team mentality. There’s definitely talent there. We’re establishing a base to work on.”

It was a bitter pill for Chelsea to swallow as Graham Potter’s side squandered the chance to claim a fourth straight win in all competitions.
“We thought we played well enough to get the three points, but at the end of the day if you don’t defend well you don’t get the result,” Potter said.
“We lost duels in the area and when we lose duels, there is danger. We have to do better.”

The game was marred by homophobic chants from Everton fans, who could be heard chanting “Chelsea rent boy”.
It was announced in January that clubs could be charged by the English Football Association if their fans sang the offending song.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service defined the term as a hate crime last year.
It was an ugly side of a memorable game that started with Chelsea Mateo Kovacic volley just off the edge of the area.

Hampered all season by a lack of cutting edge, Chelsea had scored more than once in just two matches in all competitions in 2023.
Scoring three goals for Leicester in their previous game had given Potter the encouragement that he had solved Chelsea’s attacking problems.
There was undoubtedly more dynamism about Chelsea and Felix rewarded their territorial dominance in the 52nd minute.
When Ben Chilwell’s cross deflected off Felix just inside the Everton area, the Portuguese star seized his chance with a low drive that beat Jordan. Pickford and cannonaded into the net at the far post.

Felix’s first goal in seven games was nearly followed by an Everton equalizer moments later when Michael Kean header wide from Demarai Gray’s free kick.
It was a warning Chelsea ignored as Everton equalized in the 69th minute.
Summoning a goal straight from Dyche’s playbook, Everton struck from Dwight McNeil’s corner as Ben Godfrey spun and Doucoure nodded from close range before Havertz could clear the line.
Chelsea were back in front seven minutes later as Reece JamesThe race was interrupted by Godfrey’s trip and an equally clumsy challenge from James Tarkowski in the area.

Havertz recently scored a crucial penalty in the Champions League Round of 16 win over Borussia Dortmund and he coldly sent Pickford the wrong way for his ninth goal of the season.
But there was a sting in the story in the 89th minute as Doucoure spotted Simms’ push into the Chelsea area.
The striker ignored Kalidou Koulibaly’s weak challenge and hit a low shot that slipped under Kepa Arrizabalaga to save a point in a stunning way.