Skipper John Terry equalises for Chelsea in extra-time against Everton after own goal; Man City top table
Chelsea skipper John Terry celebrates scoring the equaliser against Everton on Saturday.
London: Sergio Aguero sank Crystal Palace to send Manchester City top of the Premier League on Saturday, while John Terry’s 98th-minute equaliser earned Chelsea a remarkable 3-3 draw with Everton.
Chelsea skipper John Terry celebrates scoring the equaliser against Everton on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
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Aguero scored twice, with Fabian Delph and David Silva also on target, as City beat Crystal Palace 4-0, and Terry atoned for an earlier own goal to earn Chelsea an improbable point at Stamford Bridge.
City provisionally top the standings on goal difference above previous leaders Arsenal, who visit Stoke City on Sunday, and Leicester City, who travel to Aston Villa later on Saturday.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini made a bold approach at a snowy Etihad Stadium by aligning Aguero up front with Kelechi Iheanacho in a 4-4-2 formation. After City goalkeeper Joe Hart had parried an early header by Damien Delaney, Delph opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a skidding 30-yard shot that beat Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey at his left-hand post.
Aguero made it 2-0 shortly before half-time with an effort from outside the box that was deflected past Hennessey by the head of Scott Dann.
Aguero on a roll
Aguero struck again 22 minutes from time by tapping in a low cross from Kevin De Bruyne. The Argentine could have had a hat-trick in the 84th minute, but after sprinting clear of the Palace defence he unselfishly squared for Silva to tap in City’s fourth goal.
Champions Chelsea remain six points above the bottom three after interim manager Guus Hiddink avoided the first defeat of his second stint.
Everton went 2-0 up early in the second half as Terry scored an inelegant 50th-minute own goal and Kevin Mirallas followed up with a slick turn and shot, both goals created by Leighton Baines.
Cesc Fabregas brought Chelsea back into the game, freeing Diego Costa to round Tim Howard and reduce the arrears in the 64th minute before equalising with a deflected shot less than two minutes later.
After Costa had limped off injured, centre-back Ramiro Funes Mori put Everton ahead in the 91st minute from Gerard Deulofeu’s cross, only for Terry to flick home a last-gasp equaliser despite an apparent offside.
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