Official Match ReportStand-in skipper Ross Barkley led Everton into the third round of the EFL Cup as Yeovil Town were beaten 4-0 at Goodison Park.
The England midfielder, handed the captain’s armband for the first time in his Blues career, scored a second-half free-kick as the Blues comfortably brushed aside the League Two club.
Barkley’s 70th-minute strike added to Aaron Lennon’s sweeping team goal, which had earlier broken the deadlock on the half-hour mark.
The victory was completed late on when substitute Arouna Kone stepped off the bench and struck a quick-fire double - the first a powerful shot, followed by a prodded close-range finish.
It was a pleasing night’s work for Everton boss Ronald Koeman, with the victory his first on home soil since his appointment as manager.
As well as a clean sheet and progression into the next stage of the competition, other positives from the evening included full debuts for Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie who both got through 90 minutes of action.
Koeman promised to go with a strong side and he did just that, despite making five changes to the team named against West Bromwich Albion three days earlier.
Romelu Lukaku came in for his first start of the season - and the Belgian wasn’t too far away with a second-minute curler from 25 yards.
Lukaku then brought an early save out of Glovers goalkeeper Artur Krysiak with a header from a corner, then saw a shot cleared off the line and skewed a right-foot effort wide.
Bolasie, in for his full debut alongside Williams, captain Barkley and midfielder Idissa Gueye all then fired either over the bar or narrowly past the post as Everton pressed for the breakthrough against the stubborn League Two side.
Yeovil’s resistance was finally broken in the 28th minute when Lennon rounded off an excellent team move.
Lukaku played the ball in behind the visitors’ defence, James McCarthy provided the cut-back and the winger darted in to finish first-time from 10 yards out, to give the hosts a thoroughly deserved lead.
The home fans felt the Toffees should have had the opportunity to extend that lead before the break when Bolasie was seemingly upended inside the area by defender Bevis Mugabe. Referee Chris Kavanagh waved away the penalty appeals, however.
And on the stroke of half-time, the impressive Mason Holgate stole in at the near-post but his flicked header was guided too high.
Yeovil only had one chance of note during the first half and that was when the score was still goalless. It was a decent opportunity, too, as Matt Butcher skilfully pirouetted on the edge of the area but shot just over Maarten Stekelenburg’s goal.
It was more Everton dominance in the second half - 60 seconds after the restart Lukaku spurned a chance to double the lead when he side-footed wide from a promising position. The Belgian’s frustrating evening continued as, on the hour mark, he poked along the goalline and just out of Holgate’s reach.
Bryan Oviedo and McCarthy were next to go close, both causing concern for keeper Krysiak without hitting the target.
Everton put the contest to bed in the 70th minute thanks to Barkley’s 25-yard free-kick.
Many were expecting the midfielder to send over a cross but he caught Krysiak by surprise, whipping the ball up and over the wall and placing it perfectly inside the near post.
Barkley marked his goal by lifting up his jersey and revealing the simple message ‘RIP Sid Benson’ in tribute to the Everton scout who had passed away last week.
Late on, Kone stepped off the bench and impressed with his two-goal cameo.
He made it 3-0 with an arrowing drive from just inside the area, then completed the scoring in stoppage time with a stabbed finish after twisting and turning inside the six-yard box.
Evertonians can now look forward to the third round draw as the encouraging start to the Koeman era gains momentum.
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