EVERTON 2, MAN UTD 2
Quite how Manchester United came away from their last-ever visit to Goodison Park with a draw will puzzle fans of both clubs.
Everton established a 2-0 first-half lead with goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure and could have been out of sight.
The Reds remained woeful and there was no indication of the drama in store in the final 20 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes gave United a lifeline with a terrific 72nd minute free kick which suddenly gave Ruben Amorim’s side a sense of belief that had been lacking.
Everton suddenly found themselves on the retreat and Manuel Ugarte came up with a stunning equaliser with 10 minutes left.
That was by no means the end of the drama as Everton were denied an injury-time penalty after a lengthy VAR check.
Amorim was critical of his side’s first-half performance saying they failed to implement what they had done on the training ground throughout the week.
He said: “We just played for one half – we didn’t exist in the first half.
“At half time I said no matter the result we would do what we did during the week.
“In the second half we had more energy and quality which made the difference.
“We have to perform better, especially in the first half.”
Amorim was unhappy with the defending for both goals his side conceded.
“We lost a lot of balls without any pressure and both goals came from us losing second balls which was disappointing,” he added.
Everton manager David Moyes said: “I am hugely pleased with a point which is another towards safety which is our job in the league.
“I am disappointed we didn’t take all three points because at 2-0 we had a couple of big opportunities to make it 3-0 which would have put the game out of reach.
“When we drew 2-2 against Liverpool here. It felt like a win but today it felt a bit like a defeat, though I was really pleased as we did a lot of good things.”
When Moyes took charge in January, Everton were only one point clear of the relegation places – now they are 14 after four wins and two draws from his seven games in charge.
Amorim made one change to the side beaten by Tottenham last Sunday.
Ugarte was back after missing that defeat, replacing Alejandro Garnacho.
Fit-again Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro were both on the bench, alongside the highly rated Chido Obi-Martin and Sekou Kone.
Everton made one change to the side that won at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Embed from Getty ImagesDoucoure returned to the side after serving a one-game ban for his dismissal in the fiery derby against Liverpool, coming in for Carlos Alcaraz, who was on the bench.
Everton had an early chance, but striker Beto could only direct his header straight at keeper Andre Onana.
The Toffees also had a shout for a penalty turned down following a challenge of former Reds’ player James Garner.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when United had umpteen chances to clear a corner but failed to do so as Beto struck from seven yards with a shot into the ground which looped over Onana.
There was a lengthy wait for a VAR check for a possible offside before the Guinea-Bissau international’s 10th goal of the season, and his fifth in his last five appearances, was finally awarded.
And it soon became an even more miserable afternoon when Everton doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute on the break.
Beto sprinted away down the right and squared a pass to Jack Harrison whose effort was well kept out by Onana only for the ball to bounce up invitingly for Doucoure outjumped Harry Maguire to head home from inside the six-yard box for the Mali international’s third goal of the season.
United were out early for the second period but there was no upturn in fortunes as Everton’s two-goal lead was being comfortably held.
Amorim made his first change just after the hour as Casemiro, who had been anonymous, was replaced by Garnacho.
Onana denied Everton a third with a smart stop to deny Doucoure who latched on to O’Brien’s cross from the right.
The Reds made two further changes with 20 minutes left as Noussair Mazraoui and Rasmus Hojlund made way for Leny Yoro and Chidozie Martin Obi.
United somehow found a way back into the game when they halved the deficit with 18 minutes left.
They won a free kick almost 25 yards out and Fernandes bent the kick wide of the wall leaving keeper Jordan Pickford rooted to the spot as he netted his 10th goal of the season, all since the departure of Erik ten Hag.
Remarkably it was United’s first goal direct from a free kick since Cristiano Ronaldo’s effort against Norwich in April22.
Equally remarkable was the fact United, completely outplayed for more than 70 minutes, found themselves level with 10 minutes left.
Fernandes’s free kick was headed out by Beto but only as far as Ugarte on the edge of the box. He allowed the ball to bounce once before hitting a sweetly struck half volley low past Pickford.
What a way for the Uruguayan to open his goalscoring account for the Reds.
Everton had the chance to regain the lead when Beto again rose above Maguire but his header from Ashley Young’s cross was easily caught by Onana.
Fernandes then twisted and turned to create an opening but his drive from the edge of the box was brilliantly tipped over by Pickford.
Everton were denied an injury-time penalty.
Idrissa Gueye’s shot was parried by Onana and Young, following up, was bundled to the ground by a combination of Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt.
Referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot but, after VAR Matt Donohue viewed the incident, he sent the match official to the pitchside monitor and eventually Madley cancelled the penalty, even though it looked as though Maguire was guilty of shirt pulling.
It was a stroke of good fortune for United who held out for a point which looked unlikely with three quarters of the game completed.
Everton established a 2-0 first-half lead with goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure and could have been out of sight.
The Reds remained woeful and there was no indication of the drama in store in the final 20 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes gave United a lifeline with a terrific 72nd minute free kick which suddenly gave Ruben Amorim’s side a sense of belief that had been lacking.
Everton suddenly found themselves on the retreat and Manuel Ugarte came up with a stunning equaliser with 10 minutes left.
That was by no means the end of the drama as Everton were denied an injury-time penalty after a lengthy VAR check.
Amorim was critical of his side’s first-half performance saying they failed to implement what they had done on the training ground throughout the week.
He said: “We just played for one half – we didn’t exist in the first half.
“At half time I said no matter the result we would do what we did during the week.
“In the second half we had more energy and quality which made the difference.
“We have to perform better, especially in the first half.”
Amorim was unhappy with the defending for both goals his side conceded.
“We lost a lot of balls without any pressure and both goals came from us losing second balls which was disappointing,” he added.
Everton manager David Moyes said: “I am hugely pleased with a point which is another towards safety which is our job in the league.
“I am disappointed we didn’t take all three points because at 2-0 we had a couple of big opportunities to make it 3-0 which would have put the game out of reach.
“When we drew 2-2 against Liverpool here. It felt like a win but today it felt a bit like a defeat, though I was really pleased as we did a lot of good things.”
When Moyes took charge in January, Everton were only one point clear of the relegation places – now they are 14 after four wins and two draws from his seven games in charge.
Amorim made one change to the side beaten by Tottenham last Sunday.
Ugarte was back after missing that defeat, replacing Alejandro Garnacho.
Fit-again Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro were both on the bench, alongside the highly rated Chido Obi-Martin and Sekou Kone.
Everton made one change to the side that won at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Doucoure returned to the side after serving a one-game ban for his dismissal in the fiery derby against Liverpool, coming in for Carlos Alcaraz, who was on the bench.
Everton had an early chance, but striker Beto could only direct his header straight at keeper Andre Onana.
The Toffees also had a shout for a penalty turned down following a challenge of former Reds’ player James Garner.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when United had umpteen chances to clear a corner but failed to do so as Beto struck from seven yards with a shot into the ground which looped over Onana.
There was a lengthy wait for a VAR check for a possible offside before the Guinea-Bissau international’s 10th goal of the season, and his fifth in his last five appearances, was finally awarded.
And it soon became an even more miserable afternoon when Everton doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute on the break.
Beto sprinted away down the right and squared a pass to Jack Harrison whose effort was well kept out by Onana only for the ball to bounce up invitingly for Doucoure outjumped Harry Maguire to head home from inside the six-yard box for the Mali international’s third goal of the season.
United were out early for the second period but there was no upturn in fortunes as Everton’s two-goal lead was being comfortably held.
Amorim made his first change just after the hour as Casemiro, who had been anonymous, was replaced by Garnacho.
Onana denied Everton a third with a smart stop to deny Doucoure who latched on to O’Brien’s cross from the right.
The Reds made two further changes with 20 minutes left as Noussair Mazraoui and Rasmus Hojlund made way for Leny Yoro and Chidozie Martin Obi.
United somehow found a way back into the game when they halved the deficit with 18 minutes left.
They won a free kick almost 25 yards out and Fernandes bent the kick wide of the wall leaving keeper Jordan Pickford rooted to the spot as he netted his 10th goal of the season, all since the departure of Erik ten Hag.
Remarkably it was United’s first goal direct from a free kick since Cristiano Ronaldo’s effort against Norwich in April22.
Equally remarkable was the fact United, completely outplayed for more than 70 minutes, found themselves level with 10 minutes left.
Fernandes’s free kick was headed out by Beto but only as far as Ugarte on the edge of the box. He allowed the ball to bounce once before hitting a sweetly struck half volley low past Pickford.
What a way for the Uruguayan to open his goalscoring account for the Reds.
Everton had the chance to regain the lead when Beto again rose above Maguire but his header from Ashley Young’s cross was easily caught by Onana.
Fernandes then twisted and turned to create an opening but his drive from the edge of the box was brilliantly tipped over by Pickford.
Everton were denied an injury-time penalty.
Idrissa Gueye’s shot was parried by Onana and Young, following up, was bundled to the ground by a combination of Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt.
Referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot but, after VAR Matt Donohue viewed the incident, he sent the match official to the pitchside monitor and eventually Madley cancelled the penalty, even though it looked as though Maguire was guilty of shirt pulling.
It was a stroke of good fortune for United who held out for a point which looked unlikely with three quarters of the game completed.