Fulham FC 2-2 Everton FC - Final whistle match report

03 November 2012 16:57
  EVERTON were forced to settle for a fourth successive draw in the Premier League after Fulham’s Steve Sidwell equalised in the final minute – but the point was still good enough to take the Blues into the top four on goal difference. Trailing at half-time to Bryan Ruiz’s early free-kick at Craven Cottage, David Moyes’ men came out roaring after the break and looked to have done enough to win the game. After a series of near misses, Marouane Fellaini found the breakthrough when he drilled home Kevin Mirallas’ cross before the giant Belgian put the Blues in front with a wonderful solo goal. Everton went in search of a third goal but Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer produced a string of fine saves to keep their advantage to just one. And in the final minute of the game, substitute Sidwell pounced at the back post after Sascha Riether’s cross was not dealt with by the Everton defence to level the scores at 2-2 and rescue and undeserved point for the home side. Moyes will have been thrilled by the Blues’ powerful second half performance but left ruining the chances his side missed to close out the game and secure all three points. The Blues had dominated the first-half as well  and despite making a positive start, they went behind. After Phil Neville was penalised for a foul on the edge of the area, Ruiz curled a free-kick over the wall which went in via a touch from Tim Howard, despite the Everton goalkeeper getting a hand to it. The goal may end up being credited as an own-goal for the America as it crossed the line after Howard had pushed the ball onto the post only for it to ricochet back off him. Either way, it was the sixth successive game in all competitions that Everton have conceded the first goal of the game. It briefly gave Fulham momentum but Everton were soon back in control of the game but were finding clear cut chances hard to come by. When the Blues played with a good tempo they looked more dangerous, with Seamus Coleman impressing in the first half. Mark Schwarzer was equal to Marouane Fellain, Leon Osman and Coleman before Nikica Jelavic headed Everton’s best chance over the bar. Phil Jagielka would go close either side of half-time, first with a piledriver from the edge of the area which deflected inches wide before his glancing header just after the break skipped agonisingly beyond the far post. But the travelling Evertonians would not have to wait much longer for the equaliser as Fellaini struck. Again Coleman was involved and he fed Kevin Mirallas into space down the right and the Belgian pulled the ball back for his compatriot who drilled the ball past Schwarzer. By now Everton had momentum and only a superb tackle by Sascha Riether denied Jelavic a clear sight of goal before Mirallas wasted a good opportunity after Leighton Baines’ backheel had played him in. But soon after Fellaini struck again. This time, it was a solo effort as the big Belgian chested down a long ball, held off Aaron Hughes, chested the bouncing ball once more before firing low and hard past Schwarzer. Fellaini almost grabbed a hat-trick when his deflected effort hit the post with Steven Naismith’s effort from the rebound, cleared off the line. Schwarzer made a string of other fine saves as Everton pushed for the third and it kept Fulham in the game. And in the dying minutes,  the Blues were punished for the missed chances as Sidwell pounced. FULHAM (4-4-2) Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise (Dejagah 59), Duff, Baird, Diarra (Petric 76), Kacaniklic (Sidwell 68), Ruiz, Berbatov.  Subs: Stockdale, Senderos, Sidwell, Petric, Karagounis, Rodallega, Dejagah. Goals: Ruiz (7) Sidwell (90) Cautions: Riise, Diarra, Baird Red Cards: None EVERTON (4-4-1-1) Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Heitinga, Baines, Mirallas (Naismith 79), Neville ©, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jelavic (Distin 89).  Subs: Mucha, Oviedo, Naismith, Distin, Hitzlsperger, Gueye, Anichebe. Goals: Fellaini (55, 72) Cautions: Osman Red Cards: None Referee: Neil Swarbrick Attendance: 25, 699 Related stories From around the web Related Tags

Source: liverpool_echo