Gylfi Sigurdsson’s stunning goal on Monday against his former club maintained Everton’s unbeaten record under Sam Allardyce with a 3-1 win that left Swansea City rooted to the foot of the English Premier League.
The 28-year-old Iceland international left Swansea for a record £45 million (US$60 million) in the close season and his long-range effort in the second half illustrated why Everton wanted him so badly.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with his seventh goal in all competitions, had brought Everton level after Leroy Fer had given the visitors the lead with his first goal in 38 matches.
Photo: AFP
Wayne Rooney wrapped up the points with a penalty — he had an earlier one saved before Calvert-Lewin knocked in the rebound — for his 10th goal of the season.
The victory saw Everton rise to ninth — a heady position given they were in the relegation zone on Oct. 23 — and unbeaten in five matches under Allardyce.
“In games you need something special and Gylfi provided that,” Allardyce told Sky Sports. “From there it was nice and comfortable. It is a great three points considering how poorly we played in the first half.”
Swansea, who lost their sixth successive away match and have only one win in their past 10 games, are four points adrift of safety.
“The mood in the dressing room is very flat,” Swansea manager Paul Clement told the BBC. “We’re bottom of the table on 12 points. We’ve got to focus on getting to 15 points at the halfway mark.”
The visitors suffered a huge blow when Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony pulled up injured with what Clement believes is a hamstring problem and had to go off in the fifth minute.
It was the visitors, though, who broke the deadlock.
Jordan Pickford could do nothing about Fer’s close-range half-volley after the Dutchman had escaped Ashley Williams’ attention, nipping around the back of the defender to give the visitors the lead with only their 10th goal of the campaign.
However, the sides went in at halftime all square as in stoppage-time Roque Mesa felled Aaron Lennon to concede a penalty.
Lukasz Fabianski did superbly to save Rooney’s spot-kick, but Calvert-Lewin followed up to rifle the ball home.
Rooney, though, said he is not going to surrender penalty-taking duties even though he has the second worst miss record in English Premier League history — 10 from 33, with England and Newcastle United great Alan Shearer missing 11 of 67.
“I’m a confident person and believe in myself,” Rooney told Sky Sports. “If you look at the pens I have missed you will see I put a bit of top spin on the ball so someone could follow up. I’m not giving them up.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely