Romelu Lukaku’s double strike inspired a remarkable fightback as Everton recovered from two goals down to win 3-2 at West Bromwich Albion on Monday.
Roberto Martinez’s side looked destined for a defeat when Craig Dawson added to Saido Berahino’s first-half opener to put Albion 2-0 up with 54 minutes gone at The Hawthorns.
However, Belgian forward Lukaku gave Everton a crucial lifeline when he netted one minute later and Ivory Coast striker Aruna Kone equalized in the closing stages before Lukaku bagged the winner with only six minutes left.
Photo: AFP
Lukaku’s first Premier League goals in six weeks came against the club he played for on loan in the 2012-2013 campaign and lifted Everton to fifth in the table following their third league win of the season.
“We were very disappointed with the first half. We were off, every single individual,” Martinez said. “The mountain we had to climb, it would have been easy to lose focus, but we got three goals against the best defensive structure in the Premier League. Every three points is huge but it feels extra good.”
It was the perfect preparation for Everton’s Merseyside derby date with Liverpool on Sunday, while Albion’s third league defeat of the season left Tony Pulis’ team languishing in 15th place.
“The first goal kills us. We should deal with it,” Pulis said. “The other two goals are poor goals, the second one looks offside. We switched off and Everton will punish you.”
There was little hint of the eventual drama, which left Albion winless at home in the league this season, during a wretched first half which was only lit up by Berahino’s opener.
Without injured England defender John Stones, Ramiro Funes Mori stepped in for his full league debut, but the Everton centerback was at fault for Albion’s first goal.
Mori had enjoyed a untroubled half, but imploded when he lost the ball near the halfway line after trying to run out of defense.
It found James Morrison and his excellent through-ball for Berahino saw the striker slip in a low shot via Tim Howard’s legs.
Darren Fletcher had a header turned wide by Howard as Albion pressed after the interval and they doubled their lead from the resulting corner.
Phil Jagielka and Ross Barkley got in a mess trying to pick up Dawson and Jonny Evans, which allowed Dawson to nod in Chris Brunt’s deep delivery.
Everton hit back immediately when Lukaku headed Deulofeu’s cross past Boaz Myhill and Kone levelled in the 75th minute, just three minutes after coming off the bench.
Lukaku did brilliantly on the edge of the box to spot Kone’s run and threaded the ball through to the former Wigan forward, who was just onside, to drill past Myhill.
The Baggies were shell-shocked, but former Chelsea striker Lukaku was not finished as he wrapped up Everton’s comeback with six minutes left.
There was a hint of handball when he met Gerard Deulofeu’s cross, but with Myhill slow to react, Lukaku smashed in from close range to spark wild celebrations among the traveling Everton fans.
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they take into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
RSS