Everton 3 - 1 Stoke

Share
Everton lifted themselves to within four points of a UEFA Champions League berth with a nervy 3-1 victory over Stoke at Goodison Park.

Their first goal came on 18 minutes after Marouane Fellaini headed a long ball by Tim Howard down to Jo.

The Brazilian then played a neat one-two with Fellaini before burying the ball under Thomas Sorensen into the net.

The Toffees were two up within six minutes when Sorensen could only parry a Tim Cahill header into the feet of Joleon Lescott who gratefully tapped in from close range.

But in the second-half, Stoke were a different team and got one back when Ryan Shawcross headed home from a Liam Lawrence corner in the 52nd minute.

The Potters then put Everton under severe pressure but Fellaini netted in injury time to seal the win, as they made it just one defeat in their last 18 games.

This game marked David Moyes' seventh anniversary as Everton boss and he recalled cup-tied Jo in place of teenager Jack Rodwell in the only change from the side which beat Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-final last time.

Stoke, who produced an encouraging win over Bolton last time out, retained that starting line-up, with Matthew Etherington returning to the bench after suspension.

But Everton looked full of confidence, certainly early on, as you would expect from a side heading for a Wembley semi-final against Manchester United, and with European football all but confirmed for next season by virtue of their current sixth place.

If Arsenal beat Hull City in their delayed cup quarter-final on Tuesday, it will virtually secure seventh place in the Premier League as a European qualification spot, further enhancing Everton's desire for at least Europa League football next term.

Highlight:
Everton v Stoke
Digg this

0 comments: