Matic the secret weapon, as Costa destroys Everton

Diego Costa continued the sensational start to his debut season in the English Premier League by leading Chelsea to another victory in a nine-goal thriller against Everton on Saturday at Goodison Park.

The Brazilian-born Spain forward capped his performance with a brace, opening scoring after 35 seconds and rounding off a courageous display with a composed finish to complete a 6-3 demolition of the Toffees at the Merseyside.

It was the first real test to the London side’s tag as favourites for the title, and in fairness, they had to weather the storm in a feisty battle with Everton who overcame their early shock to make it a real contest.

After Branislav Ivanovic doubled the lead for the visitors with a cool finish within three minutes, it seemed as if the home side, buoyed by their ever-vociferous supporters, needed that challenge to get up to speed.

Matic (right) tackles  Jagielka during their encounter.  PHOTO: Chelsea FC

Chelsea were trying to control the game, but Roberto Martinez’s side ceaselessly attacked, particularly through their marauding fullback duo of Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines, and pressed high up the pitch.

Jose Mourinho opted for the more industrious pair of Ramires and Willian, and they worked really hard to repel Everton’s tenacity to come back into the game, with Kevin Mirallas and Aiden McGeedy supporting their big striker Romelu Lukaku.

Matic the man

The Blues had a more comfortable midfield task in their previous games against newcomers Burnley and Leicester with Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic in central midfield, but had their work cut out at Goodison Park.

Albeit Fabregas brilliantly set up the first goal and could have got another clever assist had Tim Howard not made a fantastic save from Costa, he suffered a bit in advanced role. As Eden Hazard and Fabregas laboured to put their feet on the game in the second half, Matic became fairly isolated in the task to control the game.

Yet Matic won great battles in the middle, making the most tackles (5), and scoring the fourth goal for Chelsea to restore their two-goal advantage at 4-2 with an unstoppable left-foot strike.

Claude Makelele was a stalwart in Mourinho’s back-to-back title success in his first stint at Stamford Bridge, but in the Serbian strongman, he has found a midfielder who possesses more creative slant to his game.

He could shield the back four comfortably, and stimulate the attack with similar efficiency.  77minutes gone in the game, with Everton looking to level after Eto’o had headed in at the other end, and with Gareth Barry closing him down, Matic slid through Ramires to ram home the fifth goal.

That two-touch decision highlights the fluidity the big midfielder has added to this Chelsea side. The team’s hitherto poor  mobility started witnessing a marked difference since his arrival in January, and has got even better with Fabregas by his side.

Costa aside, the former Benfica star has been Chelsea’s best performer over the first three games and could as well emerge the leading player in his position at the end of the season, if he stays injury free.

One thing is certain, after leaving Chelsea quietly to develop in Portugal, Matic is truly ready to play a huge role in Mourinho’s quest for another glorious spell in England.