Romelu Lukaku extended his red-hot streak as the Everton striker’s late equalizer rescued a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday.
Lukaku has been in superb form over the past month and Palace were unable to subdue the Belgium international, who poked home from close range with nine minutes remaining at Goodison Park.
Lukaku’s latest crucial intervention was well-timed, coming just five minutes after Palace defender Scott Dann had headed the visitors into the lead.
Photo: Reuters
Everton moved up to ninth place in the English Premier League in extending their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions, while Palace climbed to the lofty heights of sixth.
In a low-key first half, Lukaku was unlucky not to open the scoring when his shot beat Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, but hit the inside of the far post and flew across the face of goal.
Then Dann’s blushes were spared only by the crossbar as he almost headed Barkley’s inswinging free-kick past Hennessey into his own net.
Liverpool fan Dann thought he had completed a memorable Merseyside double, having scored the winner at Anfield a month ago, when he headed in from a corner in the 76th minute.
However, Lukaku had the final word with nine minutes to go when he converted Gerard Deulofeu’s low cross with an outstretched boot from virtually on the goal line.
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