Everton 3: 2 Watford
Everton
came from two goals down to secure a dramatic 3-2 home victory over
Watford and move out of the Premier League relegation zone, with
ex-Toffees midfielder Tom Cleverley missing a last-gasp chance to level
for the visitors from the penalty spot.
Watford's Christian Kabasele (right) scores his side's second goal of the game. Picture: PAEverton
looked set for a sixth successive defeat in all competitions, and
fourth under caretaker manager David Unsworth, when Christian Kabasele's
64th-minute header put the visitors 2-0 up, adding to Richarlison's
strike in the first minute of the second half.
But Oumar Niasse
pulled a goal back three minutes later, substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin
headed home an equaliser with 16 minutes to go and Leighton Baines
subsequently converted a penalty in stoppage time to complete the
turnaround. Cleverley then had the opportunity to make it 3-3 at the
death but sent his spot-kick off-target.
What was Everton's
first win in nine matches saw them rise from 19th to 15th in the table
and brought a much-needed dose of positivity ahead of the international
break, in which the club's hierarchy are expected to make a decision on
the permanent successor to the sacked Ronald Koeman.
What becomes
of Unsworth, who would like the job full-time, remains to be seen but
what is certain is that he will have taken great satisfaction from this,
the first home match he has overseen since taking temporary charge,
which was watched from the stands by major shareholder Farhad Moshiri
and chairman Bill Kenwright.
The first chance of a game that started poorly but ended up as a thriller fell to Everton in the 22nd minute.
The
ball went from Tom Davies and via Niasse and Wayne Rooney to Baines,
and the full-back's shot was well saved by Heurelho Gomes.
Davies
then sent a hugely ambitious strike from distance off-target, before
Andre Gray failed to make use of Kiko Femenia's low delivery to him in
front of Everton's goal, completely miscuing his attempted shot.
There
was little more in the way of attacking action until just before the
interval, when Richarlison sped forward having been fed by Gray and got
around Jordan Pickford only to shoot wide, and Abdoulaye Doucoure hit an
effort straight at the goalkeeper moments later.
Richarlison then
made amends for his miss less than a minute after the interval. Watford
sprung a counter-attack and Gray sent a pass to Richarlison, who went
around Pickford again and this time finished in very tidy fashion.
As
Everton pushed for a swift equaliser, Gylfi Sigurdsson's shot was
parried by Gomes and the goalkeeper then tipped away Rooney's cross
under pressure from Niasse. Gomes was hurt in the incident and after
receiving treatment on-field, came off with a bandage around his head,
with Orestis Karnezis coming on to replace him.
Everton fans were then left stunned as Watford doubled their lead when Kabasele connected with Jose Holebas' corner.
But
they soon had something to cheer as Niasse latched on to Ademola
Lookman's lofted pass, got the ball past the outrushing Karnezis and
bundled it over the line.
Lookman's fellow substitute Calvert-Lewin then brought things all-square, nodding in at the far post from Baines' corner.
And
Unsworth's third substitute, Aaron Lennon, was subsequently involved in
the build-up to what proved the winner, with the winger being brought
down by Holebas in the box and referee Graham Scott pointing to the
spot.
Baines converted the resulting penalty confidently and a wild roar erupted around Goodison Park.
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