AMSTERDAM – Everton star Tim Howard returned to English Premier League action with a sterling road display on Wednesday night, but it was not quite enough as table-toppers Chelsea pulled out a 1-0 victory on Willian's deflected last-minute volley.
Despite missing the last six games with a calf injury, the Toffees netminder showed no signs of rust in piling up six saves, three punches and two cross claims. Howard was at his best with big stops on Eden Hazard and Willian just after the hour mark.
However, the game turned cold for Everton in the late going, starting with the ejection of midfielder Gareth Barry in the 88th minute. Mere seconds later, Willian got his revenge on Howard by one-timing the American's punch into the net from 20 yards with the aid of a small deflection off Toffees attacker Steven Naismith.
Though Howard has not won at Stamford Bridge since starting for Manchester United on opening day 2004, the result gave Chelsea just their second EPL season sweep over him. As for Everton, they stayed put in 12th place despite their first league loss in five games.
Around the league, Geoff Cameron and Stoke had a rough night at the home office, falling 4-1 to holders Manchester City.
The right back was guilty of upending Samir Nasri in the box on 67 minutes, and his punishment was complete when Sergio Agüero bagged his second of the night and City's third from the resulting spot kick. Cameron, who also fired high on a late restart chance to reduce the deficit, did notch six clearances at the defensive end as 10th-place Stoke lost for the first time in four games.
One floor down in the Championship, Eric Lichaj enjoyed a big defensive night at right back in Nottingham Forest's 3-0 home win over Wigan.
The Illinois native rang up six clearances, five pass picks and four tackles to help the Reds pitch their first shutout since mid-December. Forest also snapped a five-game win drought in the friendly confines while climbing up to 10th place.
Across the channel in France's Ligue 1, Alejandro Bedoya worked a decent 84-minute shift as Nantes bowed out of the Coupe de France with a 2-0 round-of-16 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain. The attacker watched two set-ups beg for better finishes and performed a big line clearance before departing.
Meanwhile, over in Norway, Stabæk training visitor A.J. Soares scored the opening goal in a 3-0 preseason friendly win over Strommen. Despite starting the contest, Blue Ones director Inge Andre Olsen reiterated to Budstikka that the erstwhile New England Revolution defender was only staying fit for other opportunities in bigger leagues.
