Our number seven scored the game-winning goal late in the first half of an exciting match at Goodison Park. As the rain fell on Merseyside, Alex Iwobi put the hosts ahead, but Antony and then Ronaldo scored to turn the game around for the Reds. The result is United’s fifth Premier League victory of the season, moving them up to fifth place in the table.
Within five minutes, Iwobi scored with a deadly long-range strike. The Nigerian international fired from outside the area into the top-right corner. The Reds were back on level terms just 10 minutes later, thanks to Antony, who tucked the ball past Jordon Pickford with deft composure after latching onto an Anthony Martial pass.
However, Martial had to be replaced shortly before the half-hour mark due to what appeared to be a hip problem that had caused him discomfort during the warm-up. The French forward was replaced by Ronaldo, who ensured United led at the break by combining with Casemiro to get behind the Toffees’ defence and slot home his landmark goal.
Ten Hag’s team deserved the 2-1 lead at the break, having enjoyed a period of dominance after equalising. Christian Eriksen and Casemiro both had decent chances, but Bruno Fernandes’ effort was ruled out for offside. Frank Lampard’s side began the second half with renewed vigour as they attempted to claw their way back into the game, but while applying more pressure, creating chances remained a problem for the Toffees.
Eriksen could have extended United’s lead when Ronaldo set him up on the edge of the box, but the Danish midfielder hit the crossbar.
Marcus Rashford did find the back of the net with 10 minutes remaining, poking home to finish a driving run after a Ronaldo flick-on. Following a VAR review, it was determined that the ball had ricocheted off the keeper and onto the forward’s hand during the build-up. Despite that decision, the Reds won 2-1, with the only hiccup being a yellow card for substitute Scott McTominay. He will miss our next league match against Newcastle United because he received his fifth yellow card of the season for a foul shortly after being introduced in the closing stages.
MATCH DETAILS
Everton: Pickford; Coleman © (Garner 75), Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gana (Calvert-Lewin 76), Onana, Iwobi; Gray, Gordon (McNeil 67), Maupay (Rondon 84).
Subs not used: Begovic, Keane, Davies, Vinagre, John.
Goal: Iwobi 5.
Booked: Onana, Gordon.
United: De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw; Eriksen (McTominay 83), Casemiro; Fernandes ©, Antony (Varane 93), Martial (Ronaldo 29); Rashford.
Subs not used: Heaton, Malacia, Fred, Sancho, Pellistri, Elanga, McTominay.
Goals: Antony 15; Ronaldo 44.
Booked: McTominay.
