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Seasons2020-21Everton News
Everton 3 – 0 Salford City
Anthony Gordon was the night’s standout actor, beating out his teenage partner Niels Nkounkou, who stood out on the left back.
Everton advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup and a date at Fleetwood Town next week with a comfortable win over League Two Salford City at Goodison Park.
The Toffees led at halftime thanks to an early header from Michael Keane and finally saw the game out by completing their lead with a strike from Gylfi Sigurdsson and a late penalty from Moise Kean.
Keane was the only player from Sunday’s victory over Tottenham in the Premier League to start the game – Lucas Digne came in after 24 minutes when Jarrad Branthwaite was forced to retire with an ankle injury, so it was a chance so that Carlo Ancelotti’s second string would shine and press. your case for inclusion in the Initial XI on a regular basis.
It was an opportunity that teens Anthony Gordon and Niels Nkounkou grabbed with both hands, with the Frenchman emerging from the first half as the standout player and the Scouser beating the man of the match bets overall with the final whistle.
Gordon hit the wood twice and posted Sigurdsson’s goal with an impressive display in the second half, while Kean had to be content with a goal from the spot after heading to the bar and post in what was a mixed performance in front.
In the final tally, while the margin of victory was comfortable, there was little to convince Ancelotti that any of the most important figures in tonight’s lineup should displace the eleven who kicked off the Premier League campaign. in North London three days ago. In the absence of a proper preseason, there may be some degree of rust on players like Sigurdsson, Tom Davies, Theo Walcott and Bernard, but more could have been expected against lower league opponents anyway.
Walcott did well to reach the end of a dangerous ball over the top of Bernard in the third minute, but was only able to guide a header back over the crossbar before Gordon exploded out of defense to the baseline. , but its center was cut off. around a corner.
Sigurdsson huddled on the resulting set piece and Keane easily got up to head home from close range to give Everton an early lead.
Richie Towell forced the only save that rookie Joao Virginia would have to make all night in the 10th minute with a rough play from over 20 yards as Davies threw a cross shot at the other end and Nkounkou almost shocked Václav Hladk, but The goalkeeper blocked his shot from the angle.
Kean missed a wide shot and Walcott went over the other post as the game went on hiatus during the second half of the first period, but Bernard nearly ignited the final stages with a goal, but Hladk made a tremendous save, pointing his finger. to the Brazilian. precise drive behind.
It was the visitors who first saw the goal in the second half when Bernard’s cleared header landed on Jason Lowe outside the Blues area but slipped his effort. At Gwladys Street End, a glorious ball from Sigurdsson gave Kean a chance to double the lead at a plate, but the Italian planted his header on the bar.
More good work from Gordon saw the ball cleared only to Bernard in the 56th minute, but he threw a left foot down the wrong side of the vertical before Towell fired a good chance for Salford.
After Nkounkou’s taunting ball if from the left flank had just eluded Walcott at the back post, Everton finally added a second and it was Gordon who was the provider once again. Driving from the side, he crossed low to Sigurdsson, who swept the ball past the goalkeeper from a central position.
Hladky kept the score low with another excellent save to stop Walcott’s shot behind, Jonjoe Kenny simply cleared the crossbar with a curly shot and Sigurdsson grazed the post before Gordon rocked the vertical with a superb curly shot from the edge of the area.
However, the teenager had not finished tormenting Salford. He had James Wilson trip him up in the box with five minutes left, giving Kean a chance to make the resulting penalty 3-0, which he did with an elaborate run of stuttering steps and a fresh finish in the roof of the net. .
There was time for a quarter almost coming when Sigurdsson slipped a pass to Kenny down the right and sent Kean off with a forward cross, but the forward’s header bounced off the post and Gordon hit the rebound off the bar.
In the end, Digne aside, Ancelotti was able to keep his first-choice starters fresh for Saturday’s league clash with West Bromwich Albion and allow his “B” team to get the result while Gordon and Nkounkou stole the show.
The victory ensures that it is the Toffees who travel to Fleetwood one week today for a third-round tie that will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
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