Match Summary

With the plans for a prestigious tour of Indonesia for the Java Cup laying in ruins, Everton hastliy scheduled a fill-in match against Bulgarian Champions Ludogorets Razgrad at Goodiosn Park, but with the provizo from Everton that the game be played "behind closed doors".  A number of young potential first-teamers were missing: Barkley, Junior, held back for a Reserves game at Bangor on Saturday.

In the early stages, Bakalov got one-one one off a pass from Bakalov Marselinyo but his shot was blocked out by Howard, as Ludogorets surprisingly had more ball possession in the opening minutes of the match. Gargorov scored with a header off a free-kick, but the goal was disallowed for offside, while at the other end, Chvorovich had not been tested. Osman appealed for a penalty after he was fuled by a Bulgarian defender.

Approaching teh quartere-hour, Marsinyo shoot from distance, but near the frame of the Howard's goal.  Then a clash of heads and bllood was flowing from the right eyebrow of Motsi, who received medical attention before he came back on. 

Evertonput together a nice attack, Osman and Fellaini getting into good positions but Fellaini's shot hit the crossbar.  Gibson then had a strong right foot shot, but it was very inaccurate and flew out for a goal-kick.  A good Ludogorets attack on the left flank saw Bakalov feed Gargorov but he was blocked by Neville.  The Ludogrets goal came under some pressure off several headers from a sequence of Everton corners.

After some more fuitless Ludogrets attacks, it was the turn of Jelavic to lash a shot wide, and Anichebe had a shot too that the keeper Chvorovich saved with his legs.  Dyakov was found all alone on the arc of the penalty area but his shot with his left foot flew past the Everton goal.  Then Anichebe was bolled over by Kaysara and the referee awarded a penalty kick that Baines converted. Marselinyo had a couple of chances for teh visitors before the break.

Leon Osman did not appear for the second half, his place taken by newly re-signed Steven Pienaar.  After a good save by Howard off Stoyanov, Chvorovich had to be alert for a free kick from Gibson. the Everton defender sending the ball over the wall, but the Ludogorets 'keeper was well-placed to catch it.

Jelavic came very close to doubling Everton's lead, beating the goalkeeper only to see Gul'dan clear the ball from the goal line.  Everton Reserves player Anton Forrester, wearing Squad Number 42, then replaced Steven Naismith, and Coleman replaced Baines. Soon after, Ludogotrets got a really soft equalizer as Marselinyo benefited from Everton's definsive confusion and hgesitation follwoing a free kick, the ball falling to Gargorov but his shot was blocked. The Brazilian made no mistake, however.

As the rain poured down in a starkly empty Goodison Park, Jelavic was relpaced by defender Tyas Browning, wearing 16.  Gargorov took a free kick from the arc of the box, but put the ball right into the hands of Tim Howard. In the last minute, Forrester put the ball into the net of Ludogorets, but the goal was ruled offside.

Lyndon Lloyd

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