Season › 2013-14 › News Everton despatch Juve on penalties Michael Kenrick , 31 July, 0comments | Jump to most recent Everton 1 - 1 Juventus (6-5 on pens) Everton hit the ground running in the inaugural International Champions Cup with an encouraging performance against Italian champions Juventus, one bolstered by superb goalkeeping by Tim Howard and lit up by an immense performance from young John Stones. Asamoah canceled out Kevin Mirallas' opener to force a penalty shootout that seemed destined to swing Juve's way after Leon Osman saw the first spot-kick saved. But Andrea Pirlo swept his effort wide and Howard saved from Peluso to hand the Blues victory. Watch John Stones' moment of Pirlo magic again Match Summary Everton started with none of their new players, Kone being excused because of Ramadan(!) and kicked off with some nice possession stuff before the ball was somewhat impatiently lashed forward but low just above the ground. Midfield possession football ensued, each side happy to pass it around without much real penetration. An early free-kick from long distance was deflected away, followed by a second that went through everyone although an offside Jagielka was deemed to have touched it an the goal was disallowed. It got pretty lively after that, Everton pressing and putting together some good advance play but it did not produce any real chances. It was reasonably competitive and that was good for focusing the concentration on a very narrow pitch. Anichebe was falling over at the slightest touch, which was not encouraging, as Juve began to settle and get more of the ball, while some hideous music boomed out over the Bay. The first decent shot came from Maronne straight at Howard with 18 mins gone as Everton were making far too many mistakes trying to play it forward from the back, Anichebe too busy fighting to actually chase a good ball from Baines. A classic Bainaar move saw Baines cross well but there was no-one in an advanced position to attack it. Pienaar got a smidgen of space off a long ball headed sown by Anichebe that he tried to curl into the top corner. Juve responded, winning a corner off Stones played short that beat everyone and Maronne had an open goal that he squandered shockingly. Wigan defending by the Blues! Vidal looked to volley in from Anichebe's clearance off a Tevez corner, but it flew wide. But Juve were looking a lot better and starting put the Everton defence under some real pressure. Anichebe did well to steal the ball then win a well-place free-kick that Baines again drove low and into the defence, coming to nothing. Another free-kick, awarded to Anichebe in his perennial battle with Ogbonna, taken by Mirallas, Stones headed onto the post... so close to the opening goal. Everton go in at the half-cruelly denied what could have been a deserved two-goal lead. At the break, no changes, with Roberto Martinez telling Fox Scocer he was pleased with the competitive nature of the first half. Interesting to see Howard throwing out a defensive clearance but nit making enough ground and ceding possession with the Blues pushed back from the kick-off, giving away a corner that Pelouso headed over. Pienaar got a chance but lashed it wide. A through-ball set Mirallis off but Peluso denied him crucially, driving him wide and his shot was saved. Juve counter-attacking and forceing some determined Blues defence off Tevez and then Vidal, who drove his shot into the side netting. Gibson made a poor mistake then lunged in on Tevez, but from the dangerous free-kick, Vidal forced an excellent save from Howard as Everton rocked under the increased pressure, continuing to make more and more poor mistakes. Blues in need of subs... but Roberto dithered! But a quick counter, started deep by Anichebe, saw the ball played up to Mirallas who drove into the box well, beat hos man, and powered home under s lot of pressure, great goal. Baines and Gibson then gave way to Oviedo and Osman as Everton looked to hold their hard-earned lead. Oviedo got called for a foul and Tevez again stepped up but his cross was far too deep and really poor. A cutting move jhelded along by Osman split the Everrotn defenc asunder but incredibly no-one could put the ball in the Everton net, a miraculous escape for the Blues, Tevez then lashing one off the stanchion. Stones was then key in stopping another feirce Junventus attace as Pirlo came on for Maronne and Padoin for De Ceglie. But another good Everton break saw Mirallas cross for a great diving header from Oviedo that was desperately parried by Storari in the Juve goal. Oviedo then fired over in traffic It was really stunning when Pienaar had a glorious opportunity to make it two but incredibly fired wide as the action was end to end, with both teams striving for the win, Tevez curling one around Howard but he produced a magnificent stretching save... followed by a superb reaction save off Vidal that needed a second and a third bite of the cherry right under the bar. At the other end, Mirallas again breaking forward, fired a great shot that Storari saved very well, but at the other end, a horrible mistake by Osman, sets it up perfectly for Asamoah to hammer home an unstoppable shot: 1-1. Really, really poor from Osman. Ogbonna finally went in the book after wrestling Anichebe to the ground for the umpteenth time. But Mirallas curled the set-piece over the wall and straight into the keeper's arms. Everton were struggling to contain Juve near the end, with Martinez strangely reluctant to change the personnel until Ross Barkley replaced Anichebe with 2½ mins left before penalties. A brilliant piece of work by Barkley saw a fearsome shot released from the middle of a crowd that swerved but was too close to Storari who blocked it away for a late corner, and penalties ensued. Penalties Osman up first, passed it into meekly into the arms of Storari: 0-0 Matri lashed it home sending Howard the wrong way: 0-1 Barkley lashed it home. low and hard: 1-1 Asamoah fired well (after some joker ran on and failed to beat Howard), just inside the post:1-2 Mirallas lashed it into the roof of the net, a brilliant penalty: 2-2 Multinic went the other way, beating Howard: 2-3 Jagielka no mistake: 3-3 Vidal easily sent Howard the wrong way, 3-4 Oviedo with Everton's 5th, fired home well: 4-4 Pirlo then to win the game, drove it casually wide! 4-4 Stones, chipped it exquisitely, the best yet!: 5-4 Moota, a good score: 5-5 Coleman, low and hard: 6-5 Peluso... saved by Howard!!! EVERTON WIN — 6-5 on Penalties. Goals: Mirallas (62') Asamoah (81') Everton (3-2-3-1-1): Howard; Stones Jagielka Distin; Coleman, Baines (64' Oviedo); Mirallas Gibson (64' Osman) Pienaar; Fellaini; Anichebe (88' Barkley). Subs not Used: Joel, Hibbert, Jelavic, Deulofeu, Naismith. Juventus: Storari; Ogbonna Y:81', De Ceglie, Peluso Y:42', Marrone, Asamoah, Vidal, Lichsteiner, Isla (84' ); Llorente, Tevez (84' Matri). Attendance: 22,208 About these ads © ToffeeWeb