League One Stevenage came close to a Capital One Cup Round 2 upset at Goodison Park last night, but goals from on-loan Barcelona ace Gerard Deulofeu and Marouane Fellaini spared Everton’s blushes.
With Fellaini expected to link up with former Toffees boss David Moyes at Manchester United in the coming days, it was perhaps quite fitting that he came off the bench in extra-time to win this tie for the hosts. His class shone through when he was introduced to proceedings and, if it turns out to be his final game in a blue shirt, then it was a performance to remember.
But it was Stevenage who opened the scoring ten minutes from half-time. The Everton defence were all at sixes and sevens and failed to clear Oumare Tounkara’s cross, leaving Luke Freeman with the opportunity to send the travelling supporters wild with the visitor’s first shot of the game.
But the hugely impressive Deulofeu showed why he’s rated so highly by the Barcelona hierarchy by finishing off a mazy run with a curling effort on the stroke of half-time to level things up. And, after Stevenage battled courageously to keep Everton at bay, it was the big Belgian that eventually won it for the hosts with a close-range drive.
One player that didn’t impress the Everton faithful, however, was summer arrival Arouna Kone. Linking up with Roberto Martinez from Wigan once more, it was expected that he’d hit the ground running at Goodison Park. But @sidoyle summed up his performance in the best possible way: “Kone wouldn’t have finished a chip butty tonight.” Make of that what you will.
Stevenage fans were not too downbeat with the last minute heartbreak, though. The performance was something to be proud of and that was plain to see among their supporters. @BenBilling tweeted: “If Stevenage play like that every week we’ll be rocketing up the table!” With just three points from their opening four League One fixtures, they can be forgiven for wondering where last night’s performance came from.
Everton, who managed just eight shots on target from the 31 they had on goal, will no doubt be in the market for an out-and-out goalscorer. With Fellaini seemingly heading for the Goodison Park exit and defender Leighton Baines likely to follow him, Martinez appears to have a bit of a job on his hands before Monday’s transfer deadline slams shut.
The Toffees will now travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in Round 3.
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