Everton welcomed the visit of Apollon Limassol in Group E of the Europa League this evening with Ronald Koeman's charges aiming to open their first home game of the competition with a victory.
Some slack defending from Ashley Williams allowed Sardinero Corpa to put the visitors in front early on, before Wayne Rooney quickly capitalised on some more lacklustre defending to leave the scores level at 1-1 during the break.
The introduction of youngster Nikola Vlasic appeared to prove vital for the Toffees as the youngster put the home side ahead in the second half, only for Limassol to grab a surprise late leveller to leave the final score at 2-2.
Relive all of the action from the game with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Good evening all and thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Everton's first home game of the Europa League campaign, as Ronald Koeman's charges take on Apollon Limassol in Group E at Goodison Park.
The new season has been harsh towards the Toffees thus, leaving Koeman's men to struggle in both the Premier League and this competition. Tonight Everton are seeking to bounce back from a humbling 3-0 defeat away at Atalanta BC in their group opener two weeks ago.
Fixtures have not been kind to Koeman in the Premier League, but the Toffees were able to secure only their second league win of the season at the weekend as they battled to an important 2-1 victory over Eddie Howe's Bournemouth. Beyond that result, the club's domestic problems have seen them fail miserable against Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Up until the weekend, Everton frontman Oumar Niasse had been overlooked by Koeman, but the Senegalese striker proved to be the difference in the club's win over the Cherries. Unfortunately for the Blues, Niasse is unavailable for selection after originally being frozen out by Koeman when the Toffee's submitted their squad list for the group stages.
One promising statistic for Everton fans this evening is that Koeman has not lost in the three home UEFA Cup and Europa League fixtures that he has managed in. He will be hoping to keep up those stats by leading his charges to their first win of the group stages tonight.
Time for some team news now...
EVERTON STARTING XI: Pickford; Kenny, Holgate, Williams, Baines, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Davies, Sigurdsson, Rooney, Ramirez
EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Mirallas, Martina, Klaassen, Stekelenburg, Vlasic, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman
APOLLON LIMASSOL STARTING XI: Esteves do Vale; Guerra Cunha, Yuste Canton, Roberge, Vasiliou, Rodrigues de Souza, Sachetti, dos Santos Saldanha, Jakolis, Maglica, Sardinero Corpa
APOLLON LIMASSOL SUBSTITUTES: Martinez, Afonso da Silva, Zelaya, Ribeiro Santana, Stylianou, Schembri, Kissas
So the major news is that Koeman has made three changes from the win over Bournemouth at the weekend, leaving Everton with what is arguably one of their strongest starting XIs. Wayne Rooney features up top following his recent horror injury, while there is also room for Gylfi Sigurdsson, Idrissa Gueye and Leighton Baines. Koeman has also decided to hand a start to young right-back Jonjoe Kenny, while Sandro Ramirez has been given the nod over Dominic Calvert-Lewin up in attack.
Apollon boss Sofronis Avgousti has made a few peculiar decisions with his team tonight. There is no place for either Martinez and Alex in the middle, while Jander has also been left on the bench despite his crucial contributions already this campaign. It will, however, be exciting to get a look at Liverpool loanee Allan who starts for the Cypriot side tonight.
This contest will prove to be the first between these two sides. Everton are yet to face Cypriot opponents in a European competition.
Home contests have proven favourable for Everton in recent years. The Toffees have won five of their last six Europa League games when competing at Goodison Park.
Koeman's men were arguably very poor when travelling to face Atalanta earlier this month, but impressive victories against Bournemouth in the league and Sunderland in the cup have certainly given Everton something to build from. One intriguing switch to be aware of tonight is the position of Tom Davies in the home midfield after usurping a struggling Davy Klasssen in the middle of the park.
Apollon's only previous fixture against an English side came back in 1992 when they travelled to Merseyside in order to face Liverpool in the Cup Winners' Cup. That contest proved to be a miserable encounter for the Cypriot outfit, as they lost 6-1 at Anfield.
The absences of both Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka will undoubtedly prove challenging for Everton, but that should provide ample opportunity for Mason Holgate to continue to impress Koeman. The youngster has already filled in at full-back this season, and also impressed at the heart of defence during Saturday's win over Bournemouth.
Rooney's inclusion should be important here too as he brings some much-needed European experience to this Everton side. Much has already been made about his role clouding the duties of Sigurdsson so far this season, although Rooney has scored three goals in his five previous home appearances in the Europa League and could prove vital for the Blues here.
The ground is starting to fill up nicely now and fans should be expecting a largely clear evening at Goodison Park. The visitors have also brought an impressive 2,000 travelling fans with them to Merseyside.
This evening's contest could provide Everton with another important platform to spring from following two back-to-back victories domestically. Rising defender Holgate has been reiterating that point to the press today too. Here is what he recently told reporters: "We had a difficult run of games but as a team we were never worried about getting it back together. Once you've got a few wins confidence comes and things drop for you more. That's what will start happening now."
Koeman must be quietly kicking himself after deciding to leave Niasse out of his squad for the group stages. That said, Ramirez now gets another chance to impress after a fairly uninspiring start to life at Goodison. The former Barcelona forward is yet to find the back of the net despite playing 223 minutes in an Everton shirt this campaign.
PREDICTION! We have just under 10 minutes to go until kickoff now and it's time to make a prediction. Koeman's team selection tonight suggests that the Dutch coach is not prepared to take any risks. The club's difficult start to the new season also means that a number of players are still aiming to make a mark on this Toffees team. That said, Everton might not enjoy a complete walk in the park here, especially when considering Apollon's industrious showing against Lyon on matchday one. I'm backing Koeman's charges to take three points here with a 2-0 victory at home, although the visitors will not make things easy for them.
Koeman is clearly out for revenge tonight following the club's opening showing against Atalanta. Here is what the Dutchman has had to say to the press in the build-up to this contest: "We need to react, because what we saw in Italy was not the Everton we like. We have to show that revenge feeling."
The players are now out on the pitch. Goodison is bubbling as we await the start of proceedings! Time for the handshakes and then we are off...
KICKOFF! The visitors get the game moving featuring in a striped kit, while the hosts turn out in their typical blue and white colours. It's a quick press from the Toffees from the off and the home side win possession back quickly from kickoff.
Everton have settled brightly already with the ball being moved efficiently across the middle. Gueye finds some space initially from the right, but his cross into the middle is turned away at the first attempt by Yuste Canton.
Some early pressure almost tells for the home side as the Everton frontline put the press on the visiting defence. Guerra Cunha makes a complete mess of his clearance, although Roberge is able to clear the danger before Rooney can pounce on the edge of the area.
Rooney has seen very little of the ball thus far, but he soon decides to drop deep in order to pick up possession. The former Manchester United man opts for a cross-field ball towards Davies, but the pass is overhit and the ball flies out for an Apollon throw. Nice idea but poor execution from the veteran.
The home side are almost caught napping early on as possession is threaded out wide towards Vasiliou at left-back. The defender has three players to aim for in the middle of the Everton box, although his cross is poor and Holgate hoofs away.
Not too much to mention in the way of chances so far, but Limassol have settled into the game nicely. The visitors have looked comfortable in possession and have also been able to load players forward when working the ball down the flanks.
CHANCE! Much has been made of PIckford's feet since his arrival at Goodison and he almost makes it count here. The keeper punts a long ball forward over the defence and Rooney drifts smartly onto it, only to miss-control at the vital moment.
GOAL! EVERTON 0-1 APOLLON LIMASSOL (Sardinero Corpa)
Oh my... Ashley Williams! The centre-back should make an easy clearance but instead passes the ball straight into the path of Anton Maglica on the right flank. The midfielder turns the ball into the middle where Sardinero drifts free of Holgate to prod towards goal. Pickford saves the initial effort, but the frontman soon bundles home at the second attempt. Not the start Koeman had planned for his side.
Murmurs are starting to mount around Goodison... The Toffees just have not been at it so far in this encounter, the away side are fully-deserving of their lead at the moment. Everton slowly start to respond with a counter at pace, but Rooney can only skew his attempted cross wide of the box unchallenged.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-1 APOLLON LIMASSOL (WAYNE ROONEY)
This is proving to be a complete horror show for defenders... Yuste Canton collects the ball from his keeper only to be put under pressure. The defender then turns and sprays a hopeless ball back towards his stopper, leaving Rooney with the chance to nip in and poke into an empty net. Arguably the easiest goal of his career.
SAVE! Everton seek to respond to that gift of a goal and they almost grab themselves a second. Some smart attacking play gives Rooney the chance to pull out a bicycle kick only to find thin air. The ball soon drops to Sigurdsson on the volley, who sees Esteves do Vale dive smartly to collect his effort.
Apollon's early intensity have faded slightly and Everton now find themselves with a slither of control. Ramirez has been quite in the early stages and he does not cover himself in glory with more poor control as the home side aim to build a move going forward. Rooney responds by picking up the ball just shy of the box, before bending a promising effort just wide of the far post.
Baines has grown in prominence too and now he makes good progress down the left flank. The full-back picks out Davies in the box, although the youngster is soon tackled as he aims to spin and shoot inside the area. Better from the hosts!
A neat counter provides Ramirez with the chance to run one-on-one at Cunha over on the left, but the youngster disappoints again with a few tepid step-overs before running straight into his marker.
CLOSE! The visitors win a cheap corner down at the Everton end and Yuste Canton almost atones for his earlier error as he leaps highest in the box, only to see his header fly just inches over Pickford's crossbar with the keeper looking a little worried.
Ramirez hasn't given up despite his misfortunes so far. The youngster does well on the edge of the box to turn and beat his man, but the striker soon snatches at his chance and fires wildly across the face of goal and wide.
A lack of pace has arguably been an issue in this first half and raises the point as to whether Everton currently have too many number 10s operating in their attacking third at the moment. Both Rooney and Sigurdsson are looking to do the same job, leaving Sandro as the only real attacking option aiming to get in beyond the visiting defence.
SAVE! Almost a piece of brilliance from Davies. The youngster cuts inside from the left flank and bends a wonderful curling effort with his right towards the top corner of goal. It's a fairly good stop from Esteves do Vale who palms away with an outstretched hand, but you get the feeling that the keeper is playing for the cameras.
SAVE! Everton are given another chance to threaten when Sigurdsson lines up a free kick in a perfect position 20 yards out from goal. His bending effort is a good one, leaving Esteves do Vale to make another stop as he punches clear with both hands.
HALF TIME: EVERTON 1-1 APOLLON LIMASSOL
So the referee calls time on an intriguing half of football for the neutrals, although Everton fans will be slightly perturbed with what they have seen so far. The hosts started poorly and only really find themselves back in contention after a costly error from Yuste Canton.
Koeman will be slightly happier with his side's showing in the final 10 minutes of that half, but up until then Everton had offered nothing going forward. The hosts are having really problems in front of goal, especially in carving out opportunities.
Will Koeman make a change at the break? Calvert-Lewin could bring some much-need pace into this encounter, while Sandro has been rather poor in the opening half.
SECOND HALF! Everton get us moving again in the second period. Koeman has decided to make a change after all, with Vlasic coming on to replace Gueye in the middle of the park.
The Toffees start the second half with some improved pressure. Youngster Kenny makes good inroads down the right flank, but cannot find a way beyond a retreating Vasiliou as he looks to load a cross into the middle.
Early suggestions have hinted at Everton playing a touch higher up the pitch, with both Rooney and Davies looking to make some runs in behind the defence too. That should already give Apollon much more to think about in the second half.
CLOSE! It's Sigurdsson who seeks to break beyond the defence this time, as Rooney drills a clever ball across the face of goal. Vale reads the play well, though, leaving the away stopper to break off his line and collect the ball before the Icelandic playmaker.
Much better from Davies who has endured a quiet game... The youngster gambles with a neat run beyond the backline in order to claim a chipped ball from Rooney. Fortunately for the away side, experienced defender Vasiliou competes well to retreat and head the ball clear.
SHOT! Apollon have been unable to offer much of note going forward, although Jakolis finally gets the chance to fire in an effort from distance, which Pickford does well to get down low and save with two fists.
Instructions from the sidelines see Rooney push further forward and the veteran has a go from range, only to see his speculative effort rise high and wide of the keeper. It appears as though Koeman has been left frustrated at just how deep Rooney has deployed himself in this contest.
Everton have been vastly improved compared to the first period. The Toffees are in complete control of possession at the moment as they aim to find a breakthrough.
Baines offers some width down the left and he seeks to pick out Rooney with a run beyond the defence, although the frontman moves just a little too early and is adjudged to be offside.
Rooney comes deep and then drops wide on the left in order to piece together some smart movement from the hosts. The striker whips a cross into the middle, but there is not one blue shirt waiting for his ball. There is something clearly amiss with this side in the final third. Sigurdsson was merely walking towards the box as that move developed.
GOAL! EVERTON 2-1 APOLLON LIMASSOL (NIKOLA VLASIC)
Wonderful from the youngster, who has certainly added another dimension following his introduction at the break. The home side pour numbers forward and Sigurdsson is able to turn the cleverest of balls around the corner to set Vlasic on his way, and the 19-year-old makes no mistake as he slots cooly beyond the Limassol stopper.
Following the goal, Koeman has since introduced both Calvert-Lewin and Klaassen, leaving the pair to win the hosts a corner. The ball is soon turned away by the Cypriot defence. Can the visitors weather the storm and give themselves something to hope for in the dying embers of the match?
Limassol find themselves with a share of possession inside the Everton half. Allan makes progress down the left before seeing his shot deflected away for a corner. The ball into the box is seen away by Baines and the hosts are able to clear their lines.
Pickford can be so influential at times and he almost sends Calvert-Lewin running free beyond the defence. The keeper picks out his teammate with a delightful goal kick, leaving the youngster to spin beyond his marker. Thankfully for Apollon, Calvert-Lewin makes a mess of his second touch and the away side claim back possession.
YELLOW CARD! 15 minutes from the end and we see our first yellow card of the match. Yuste goes into the book for a frustrated tackle on Rooney. The ball into the middle is a dangerous one, although Roberge is on his toes to head away the danger.
CLOSE! Rooney shows his class to find the clever run of Calvert-Lewin beyond the defence. The youngster brings the ball down before bending his effort agonisingly close of the far post.
Still Everton press forward as they go in search of a third. Apollon have offered very little in this second half, though, which makes you wonder as to whether the Toffees need the added safety net after all...
RED CARD! There is certainly no place for this in football... Roberge produces an absolute horror challenge on Calvert-Lewin, having crunched his studs straight into the youngster's chest. That's probably game over now for the visitors with just 10 men on the pitch.
GOAL! EVERTON 2-2 APOLLON LIMASSOL (YUSTE)
And just as I say that... Klaassen gives away a needless free kick on the left flank. The ball is turned into the middle of the box, where Yuste climbs highest and flicks the deftest of headers beyond a stranded Pickford.
SAVE! How does he not score? Everton break straight after conceding as Vlasic turns in a pin-point cross for Calvert-Lewin, who heads straight at the keeper with the entire goal gaping in front of him. That would have won it for the hosts...
FULL TIME: EVERTON 2-2 APOLLON LIMASSOL
What an end to an enthralling contest at Goodison! Everton were much improved in the second period and did more than enough to win the encounter here. Somehow they failed to kill Limassol off and some average defending has come back to haunt them. That's going to be all from me tonight, thanks for joining us!
Written by
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
