LONDON, 22 October 2006 — Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko ended his Chelsea goal drought with the opener in a 2-1 victory over Portsmouth that moved the champions to the top of the Premier League yesterday.
Shevchenko’s first goal in 10 games ended Portsmouth’s resistance after 55 minutes. Midfielder Michael Ballack headed the second two minutes later before Zimbabwean forward Benjamin Mwaruwari scrambled one back for Portsmouth in the 69th minute.
Victory sent Jose Mourinho’s side three points clear at the top — at least until Manchester United play Liverpool in the weekend’s showcase match at Old Trafford today.
In yesterday’s other games, Everton beat 10-man Sheffield United 2-0, Wigan Athletic notched their biggest ever win in the Premier League by thrashing Manchester City 4-0 and the two bottom clubs Charlton Athletic and Watford met in a 0-0 draw.
Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Fulham in the late kickoff. Though Martin O’Neill’s Villa are still unbeaten, yesterday was their third successive 1-1 draw in the league and their fifth draw in their last six league games.
Shevchenko’s goal, albeit deflected off Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell, will be a huge relief to the Ukraine captain, who cost Chelsea 30 million pounds ($56.45 million) with his move from AC Milan in May. He was booked for his goal celebrations.
After scoring against Liverpool in the Community Shield on Aug. 13 and then against Middlesbrough in Chelsea’s only league defeat of the season 10 days later, Shevchenko had failed to score in any of the nine Premier League or Champions League matches he has played in since then.
The strike, which punctured a superb display by Pompey keeper David James, was his first at Stamford Bridge and will have Mourinho hoping it will trigger a flurry of goals from a player who was prolific for Milan in Serie A.
Germany captain Ballack headed his first league goal since joining from Bayern Munich in the close season after the ball was nodded over by Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba.
Mwaruwari kept Harry Redknapp’s men in the game, bundling the ball home after Portuguese keeper Hilario failed to collect the ball in a goalmouth melee. But an equalizer eluded them and Pompey have not won at Stamford Bridge for 51 years. Chelsea are now unbeaten at home in 49 league matches.
