Two fantastic Everton goals steal a point from the jaws of defeat

Premier League: Everton 2 - 2 Manchester Utd

Everton host Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday for their third game of the new season. 

But it looked like Man Utd had done enough despite a brilliant strike from Tyrique George, with goals from Mbueno and Sesko about to give them the win. That was until the last kick of the game, a tremendous strike from debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles.   

The mood of the Blues fans today will be febrile, to say the least, with anger at the hierarchy over the transfer window fiasco giving way to possible expressions of support for the players and the team we do still have, with David Moyes left to pick them up and put them together into something that can challenge the mighty Red Devils.

Team News

Jack Grealish and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have not been sufficiently integrated into Moyes's squad so both are only on the bench where Braiden Graham comes in... but will he get time on the pitch?

The visitors are unchanged from last week's win over Ipswich.

First Half

Kick-off by Dewsbury-Hall was a bit different, not going back to Pickford immediately. But Barry was bashed into by Maguire who hurt his nose inside the first minute. It was 3 minutes more before Maguire jogged off after treatment and the game resumed.

Everton worked the ball around but could not penetrate effectively. A simple build saw Shaw easily get behind Rohl and Fernandes smashed the cross off the Everton bar with Pickford nowhere near it.

Everton got forward and George's cross was deflected up in the air, Barry trying to trap and falling over, The Blues fans demanding a penalty but there was no foul on him. 

Everton repelled another attack but George was cynically pulled back by Dalot, an obvious yellow card... but only a talking to by John Brookes. A terrible giveawy by Dewsbury-Hall saw Armstrong strong-arm Fernandes, and he got a straight yellow... Sly Six favouritism??? 

Everton were doing well to win the ball back but lacked confidence in what to do with it, eventually punting it up in the direction of Armstrong, playing where you'd expect Barry to be. Armstrong did well to win the ball back but the possession pathway only led all the way back to Jordan Pickford.

Man Utd countered and Tielemans fired at Pickford from a long way out. After a walking-pace build-up, a Fernandes shot was deflected up and behind, Dalaot smacked the cleared corner back into the crowd, Tarkowski blocking.

A really scary Man Utd move saw Rashford dance around Rohl and play it across for Cunha to sidefoot his shot over the bar.  Everton countered with a great pass out from Armstrong to Rohl, but he slowed up, passed back to Armstrong, who would not shoot, and back to Dewsbury-Hall, who was closed down. Chance lost.

Shaw and Rashford again showed up Rohl's weakness at right-back, but this time no clear chance developed. Garner won the ball back well but Everton were far too tentative in possession, going all the way back to Pickford eventually.

The Blues built again, but far too slowly, Barry dropping deep. Mykoleno almost got a good cross in to Barry but it was blocked and the Red Devils were building slowly again. A tremendous Rashford cross was read superbly by Branthwaite. 

Everton got forward quicker this time but the cross in didn't find Barry. Dewsbury-Hall put Lammens off and Everton almost profited but again were too hesitant with the second and third balls. 

Johnson tried to stop Cunha coming down the left side again, and took his man out with a poor tackle: yellow card. The free-kick was cleared, also the workaround, but Everton were living very dangerously.

Rohl and Mykolenko swapped sides, but they were still given the runaround, Man Utd winning a corner. Branthwaite fell awkwardly but Armstrong was wrestling a little. 

Mbueno fouled George; Garner's free-kick flicked on and behind by Barry. Everton won a steal in midfield, but Dewsbury-Hall's low cross was poor. 

Everton did get the ball back, Barry trying a shot that was blocked back to him, and then did an utterly bizarre non-cross! But a fabulous cross in from Rohl, Barry got into the right spot but could only head powerfully over the bar. 

Armstrong tried a clever one-two with Barry that failed. Man Utd attacked and Mykolenko did well, back on the left. Everton had a much better spell, but still did not get close enough for a decent shot, winning only a long throw. It eventually fell to Branthwaite but he could only shoot straight at Lamens. 

Man Utd streamed forward with a tremendous move at the end, firstly a superb tackle from Branthwaite on Rashford to stop him shooting, but the ball went out to Shaw, his shot blocked out again by Branthwaite. Absolutely first class defending from the big guy.  Half-time: 0 - 0.

Second Half

No changes after the break. Mbueno was allowed to run in from the right side and drive beyond Pickford into the far corner. Shocking.  0 - 1.

Rohl tried to run the ball out of defence but lost it. Dewsbury-Hall put in a great cross but Johnson seemed to duck underneath it rather than leap to head it in. Mykolenko had a shot wide left that would have been better as a cross. 

Barry spun his man and looked to advance into the area but thought he could play in Johnson who was easily stalled.

Everton built slowly again, Graner standing on the ball, George playing it back... but eventually he went forward, Dewsbury-Hall playing in Johnson, his shot was blocked and Armstrong's shot also blocked. 

But George ran at Dalot again and won a corner, although nothing came of it.  

But Armstrong played a great ball through Johnson whose shot was deflected just over the bar. Man Utd surged forward from the corner and it needed a great rearguard tackle from George. 

Johnson picked up the ball and drove all the way to the penalty area before inexplicably giving up the ball! 

Barry did really well to get int the area but his shot was blocked to Dewsbury-Hall who could only pass it back to Lamens. 

Rashford drove in and seemed to eat everyone except Branthwaite, and it needed a great tackle by Tarkowski on Cunha, who went down and wanted a penalty. As Rohl broke away, a really cynical foul by Shaw got him a yellow card. 

Rohl rolled Rashford and he saw yellow. From the free-kick, Fernandes sliced his shot well high and wide. Another Man Utd surge saw Tielemas's shot blocked behind by Tarkowski. The corner saw Shaw drive his shot wide and Johnson was replaced by Grealish. 

His first involvement saw Mykolenko force a corner, played short for Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall rolling a shot to Lamens, nowhere near a hard enough strike. 

Everton won a free-kick in midfield as Carrick made a couple of changes, Garner's lopping lob bouncing off the top of Tarkowski's head.  

Everton worked their way forward down the left, Dewsbury-Hall's strike hitting Barry, Armstrong's weak shot dribbling behind. A poor mistake by Garner gave the ball away but Mbueno was stopped.  Hackney replaced Rohl.

Garner moved to right-back but then went down hurt after trying to win the ball, Maitland-Niles coming on for him, a right-back at right-back!

Grealish tried to beat Dalot but lost the ball. Fernandes went down in the centre circle after Tarkowski clipped his foot but the referee missed it, Maguire booked for protesting. 

Grealish brilliantly drew the foul from Dalot, yellow card! Free-kick glanced on by Branthwaite forcing a punched save from Lamens. But a terrible effort from Mykolenko. But Hackney got the ball out to Tyrique George (83') and he absolutely lashed a screamer past Lamens, a fantastic strike to put Everton back level.

Man Utd tried to respond, with the cross Sesko glancing his unmarked header wide.  Another Man Utd attack, Shaw beating Maitland-Niles, and Sesko's header from his cross not fully saved by Pickford as it bobbled over the line.  

Grealish tried to drive in a shot but it was blocked as 5 minutes of added time were shown. Barry got the ball through to George but he was yards offside and Lamens pushed his shot behind this time. 

Grealish tried to work his way in again, setting up George, but back out to Hackney and his shot was driven over. 

Everton attacked again, Dewsbury-Hall winning a very late corner, but it was cleared; however, it was somehow worked around until it was rolled way out to the advancing Ainsley Maitland-Niles (90+6'), who belted an absolutely gorgeous curling strike that Lamens could only watch helplessly fly into the net behind him. What another fantastic strike. 

Incredibly, it finished 2 - 2.

Confirmed Lineups

Everton: Pickford; Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Rohl [Y:64'] (75' Hackney); Garner (77' Maitland-Niles), Armstrong [Y:13']; George, Dewsbury-Hall, Johnson [Y:34'] (66' Grealish); Barry.

Subs not Used: Travers, Keane, O'Brien, Dibling, Alcaraz, Graham.

Manchester Utd: Lammens, Dalot  [Y:81'] (84' Yoro), Maguire [Y:79'], Martinez, Shaw [Y:62'] (90+1' Mazraoui); Tielemans, Mainoo (84' Santos); Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford (70' Dorgu); Cunha (70' Šeško).

Subs not Used: Darlow, Heaven, Mount, Zirkzee

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