Everton Official Match ReportEverton marked Ronald Koeman’s first official match in charge with an entertaining 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Ross Barkley’s early free-kick gave the new manager the perfect start at Goodison before Spurs struck back in the second half through Erik Lamela’s header.
There were chances for both sides to win the game, with substitute goalkeeper Michel Vorm making a vital save to deny Gerard Deulofeu when the score was 1-0.
Everton were grateful to the contributions of debutant Maarten Stekelenburg late on as he produced two top-class saves to ensure the Toffees opened the new Premier League season with a point.
Everton went into the game without injured duo Romelu Lukaku and Seamus Coleman. The heel cut suffered against Espanyol prevented the Belgian striker from lining up in the season-opener, while boss Koeman revealed in his pre-match interview that Coleman would face “several weeks” on the sidelines.
The defender’s injury allowed a competitive bow for youngster Mason Holgate - one of three debutants in the Blues side, alongside keeper Stekelenburg and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Everton got off to a flyer, taking the lead through Barkley’s inswinging free-kick on five minutes.
After Kevin Mirallas had been upended by Victor Wanyama 25 yards out, the midfielder sent over a cross-shot from the left which evaded Phil Jagielka, the outstretched arm of keeper Hugo Lloris and nestled into the far corner. A dream start.
It was the third time in four years that Barkley had scored the Blues’ first Premier League goal of the season.
Roared on by the sell-out support, Everton searched for more, playing with purpose and intensity. Gerard Deulofeu - playing a striker - cut in and shot straight at Lloris.
The Spurs keeper was kept busy throughout the first half; Jagielka then glanced a header which was dipping under the crossbar before Lloris intervened and Mirallas got in behind the Spurs back-four and brought a low save out of the Frenchman from a tight angle.
Everton were just as impressive in defence during the first half. Holgate was faultless in his 45 first minutes of Premier League football, while Gueye covered plenty of ground and snapped away at challenges as he patrolled in front of Jagielka and Ramiro Funes Mori.
It took Tottenham until the 27th minute to create their first attack of substance. Christian Eriksen side-footed at Stekelenburg who made a comfortable low save.
The visitors were dealt a setback just after the half-hour mark when captain Lloris was forced off with an injury. Former Swansea City man Vorm was the replacement in goal.
The new goalkeeper’s first contribution arrived on the stroke of half-time. A poor back-pass from left-back Danny Rose was intercepted by Deulofeu who was denied by a sprawling save from the Dutchman. It was an excellent chance for the Everton winger to put the Toffees two goals ahead.
Deulofeu was just as spritely once play resumed after the interval. A willing runner of the channels, he tested Vorm again with a long-distance curler. The Spurs keeper saved easily, as he also did with Mirallas lofted effort from a similar area not so long after.
Tottenham then began to come back into the contest and after Dele Alli had placed a shot over the bar, the Londoners were back on level terms through Lamela’s header an hour into the game.
The Argentina international timed his run from deep and glanced in Kyle Walker’s right-winged cross. Stekelenburg was helpless as the ball was guided precisely inside the far post.
Koeman reacted by changing things in attack, with Arouna Kone - the only recognised striker in the matchday squad - replacing Deulofeu who had ran his socks off. Aaron Lennon was also thrown on in place of Mirallas.
After Funes Mori tried his luck from distance and was narrowly off-target, Everton had Stekelenburg to thank twice for producing two world-class saves in the closing stages as the visitors finished strongly.
The former Ajax man reacted excellently to thwart substitute Vincent Jansson low down to his left and he followed this up with another instinctive stop, this time tipping Lamela’s deflected drive onto the bar.
Everton were dominant in the first half, Spurs responded positively after the break, so a draw was perhaps a fair reflection of this opening-day encounter.
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