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Contest fizzles out in the Miami heat

Everton 0 - 1 Valencia CF

Everton's final game in the International Champions Cup is a 5th/6th-place playoff with Valencia at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL. The Blues wore their newly released blue and yellow away kit with Roberto Martinez naming an interesting line-up, with Stones and Naismith getting another chance to strut their stuff while youngsters Barkley and Deulofeu start behind Anichebe, preferred to Jelavic in a very young side.

Everton looked unfamiliar and disorganizeed in their new strip, losing possession rather cheaply in a scrappy delayed start to the game that was not a good advert for building progressively from the back. As the Blues looked to advance down the left, Oviedo got whacked by Barragan (Yellow Card).

Both sides looked to construct slick passing moves inside the opposition areas, both failing to airshots, Everton after some great individual possession play in deep from Barkley. Deulofeu was lively playing right wing, but rather overly keen on his Ronaldoesque step-overs.

Robles was put under some pressure from ac corner, punching out, then mis-judging the return shot, which he thought was going in but evaded his lunge to fly wide. Viera then wasted a gifted free-kick as Valencia were starting to dominate the game but with the Everton defence not standing too high and countering most of it.

Deulofeu fired in a great low ball but too close to the keeper. And at the other end, Cissokho fired wide. Jonas then tried to dig one out but it deflected to Joel Robles in the Everton goal. Then a top-class move down the left, Oviedo feeding Naismith, forcing a reaction fingertip save in close.

Deulofeu went on a nice run, but was well covered by the defender, which gave up a corner, that Jagielka almost headed in, with the Blues visibly suffering in the 80+ heat and humidity. Like Mirallas early on, he tends to hold the ball too long only to lose it.

Anichebe went on a crazy run, powering int the area, but overplaying his last touch horribly, gifting it to an intercepting defender. Fellaini then became wingman, firing in a low cross that Anichebe poked just over to end the half.

Jelavic came on in place of Anichebe while Coleman replaced Stones at the break. Jonas almost beat Joel with a low shot as Everton struggled to get forward. But Valencia broke again and it was almost telegraphed at the other end, Herrero poking home a bit too easily.

That prompted some changes from Martinez, Baines replacing Naismith and Mirallas on for Deulofeu, who had not really impressed. Baines played in Mirallas well but the young Belgian had strayed offside, and then Oviedo fell in the same trap.

A poor Fellaini giveaway allowed Bernat to fire in low and just wide. Everton broke with Mirallas at pace but a poor ball to Oviedo, free on the left was followed by an even worse cross in return from Oviedo. Poor fare.

Everton were getting frustrated and resorting to some pointless hoofballs, that only put the defence under more pressure, Ibanez, beating Jagielka but thankfully firing straight at Joel. There were moments of brighter play but they really weren't producing any pressure on the Valencia goal until a corner was powered over but Fellaini, er... powered it over the bar.

Osman came on for Gibson with 7 minutes left for Everton to secure a penalty shootout. Baines got in a looping cross but it was too close to the Valencia keeper for a lonely Jelavic to get to, and indeed he was then replaced by Kone.

Goals: Herrero (52')

Everton: Robles; Stones (46' Coleman) Distin, Jagielka, Oviedo; Gibson (84' Osman), Fellaini; Naismith, Barkley, Deulofeu; Anichebe (46' Jelavic (88' Kone)).
Subs: Howard, Hibbert, Pienaar, Vellios.

Valencia CF: Guaita; Barragan Y:6', V Ruiz, Mathieu, Cissokho; Romeu, Parejo, Robert; Viera, S Ruiz (64' Bernat), Conclaves (64' Benega), Jonas.

Referee: Alan Chapman

Attendance:

 

• Match report and impressions

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