This was the first full game of Everton's 2011 Pre-season Tour of the USA, and it was supposed to be a full team but Moyes upset his hosts by giving homeboy Tin Howard another week off, and thought nothing of it. Also missing from the tour are Yakubu anbd Yobo, obvious on the transfer list, and Loius Sha, who is on yat another long personal path to recovery from injury, this time with the help of an Oxygen tent. And then there's Tony Hibbert, who also stayed in the UK. Add to that Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman, and Victor Anichebe, who all picked up training ground knocks this week and were not selected to play.
A very very hot and sultry evening in the heat wave: 87°F, humidity 67%: mostly sunny. Philadelphia Union are top of the MLS Eastern Division
Everton started slowly, as if trying to conserve energy while jholding possession buy Gueye was dispossed (fouled) and led to teh first half-chance for teh home side, flicked over the bar by Uliwangi. Vades was then in heavily and clumsily on Arteta, and Baines swung in a free-kick that earned a corner, taken by Gueye. A fantastic in swinger that Cahill, all alone, shoulda buried but somehow he got ahead of the ball and skied it!
After 15 mins or so, the Union got more of a grip of things and Everton were torn apart by sweeping move, free-header, straight at Mucha. Valdes, another free-header, Mucha saves. A hopeless shot by Phily was well skied high wide and horrendous. Neville was in hard on Torres. Good free-kick to the far post was not converted. Cahill did well to win the ball and release Beckford down the left but he was fouled. Arteta sneaked a shot from the FK but it was into the side-netting!
Philly somehow released Justin Mapp who was not offside but well behind the Everton defence, however, he could not beat Mucha. Fantastic movement and great ball by Mikey, and Beckford peeled off nicely but his shot was dreadful. Pretty even game with both sides getting forward but to little effect. Union shooting lackadaisically from distance.
Everton's attacking not much better, relying instead on looped balls into he area that produced little, as Arteta got a nock in the face. A good run from Johnnie, nice ball to Bily and a cross to Beckford who could not finish with his head. From a corner just before the break, Union should have scored with a free volley that flew past the post as Everton visibly flagged.
Eleven changes at half-time for the home-time, while for Everton, Rodwell, Distin and Vellios replaced Arteta, Gueye a and Beckford, Rodwell wearing #4 — his new number for the upcoming season. It took a while for things to get going after the restart until Vellios unleashed a terrific shot from 40 yards. Mouamba had a pop at teh other end and hit the side-netting.
Good pass by Rodwell to play in Neville down the right whose cross won a corner, from which Johnnie H fired wide. Rodwell looking bright and sharp. Great form form Seamus Coleman dancing past players but his shot was blocked away, and the Union looked to do the same down the other end, winning a corner.
Finally a bit of action, Barkle running in well, the keeper parrying hs shot to Vellios who could not convert, then Cahill seemingly pushed in the are but actually handling the high ball, still no goals. Conor McAleny then came on for Tim Cahill.
Yellow card for Heitinga after 83 mins. Finally Phily scored after 87 mins after Mucha pulled off a great save. Rodwell a poor clearance and then dreadful defending and a failure to clear the ball say Hernandez hammer in a low shot that finally beat Jan Mucha. Heitinga flattened Hernandez and got sent off, although he did not appear to have been actually shown a card, bringing the match to an end on something of a sour note for the hot and exhausted Blues of Merseyside.
Michael Kenrick
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Osman (injured)
Anichebe (injured)
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