Nicolas Jackson scored his first aim of 2025 as Chelsea ran out slim 1-0 winners over Everton at Stamford Bridge to maintain their hopes of a top-five end firmly alive.
The Senegal worldwide struck an exquisite end – his first in 13 video games since coming back from damage – shortly earlier than the half-hour mark to offer Enzo Maresca’s facet all three factors to maneuver as much as fourth within the Premier League.
Robert Sanchez within the Chelsea aim pulled off a few respectable saves within the second half because the hosts withstood a late surge from the Toffees.
However Maresca’s males held on and can go into their Europa Convention League semi-final first-leg in opposition to Djurgarden on Thursday off the again of a hard-fought, and necessary, league win.
For David Moyes’ facet, the consequence leaves them in thirteenth with 38 factors however having performed a recreation greater than each Wolves and Manchester United, who’re on the identical variety of factors.
A vital victory! ✊#CFC | #CHEEVE pic.twitter.com/U4OpmPJ8m7
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 26, 2025
How the motion unfolded
It was a largely uneventful opening quarter of an hour within the west London solar, however Pickford needed to be alert to maintain out a curling goal-bound effort from Noni Madueke.
Maresca, absent from the dugout whereas serving a touchline ban, may very well be discovered behind the press field. And the Chelsea boss would doubtless have had quite a lot of optimistic phrases to explain the end for his facet’s opening aim.
On 27-minutes, Beto was dispossessed near the midway line by Enzo Fernandez. The Argentinian instantly launched Jackson, and the Senegal worldwide drilled the ball into the underside nook from 20 yards.
It was a elegant aim and Jackson’s first in a Chelsea shirt in 2025 after a 13-game aim drought that got here following restoration from a hamstring damage.
What a strike that’s 👏
Nicolas Jackson fires Chelsea forward simply earlier than the half-hour mark!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/aEIdJwiM0m
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) April 26, 2025
It proved to be the final actual motion of a half wherein the hosts have been largely comfy and the guests hardly ever threatened.
After the break, Everton began to make inroads as they went in quest of an equaliser. A Jack Harrison flick discovered its method to Beto, and the Toffees entrance man unleashed a strong low shot from simply contained in the field that required from Robert Sanchez at full stretch.
Pickford was then referred to as upon to make a powerful cease of his personal, saving once more from Madueke, whose low shot regarded destined for the underside nook. However the Everton captain palmed away to maintain his facet within the contest.
It arrange a nervy previous few minutes for the house facet, with the data that three factors could be large within the hunt for a Champions League place.
Jackson turned within the rebound from Marc Cucurella’s preliminary shot from distance however he was nicely offside.
On the different finish, Sanchez saved expertly when he tipped away Dwight McNeil’s effort from a Carlos Alcaraz cross because the hosts held on for a vital victory.
